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wheelset recommendation

jacksonpt

Turbo Monkey
Jul 22, 2002
6,791
59
Vestal, NY
Good to see this place is still kickin. Anways...

I'm building up a HT 29er. It'll be a trailbike first and a race bike second... I'm set on all components except the wheelset. I've read the reviews, but it's hard to get a feel for one wheelset vs another.

So what do people recommend? Please base you recommendation on first hand experience - I don't care what you've heard or what you've read (I've heard it and read it, too)... I want real world recommendations.

I go 170-175lbs with a pack. I'm anything but a finesse rider... and I ride rough, technical trails in the northeast.
 

jacksonpt

Turbo Monkey
Jul 22, 2002
6,791
59
Vestal, NY
If it matters... leading contenders at this point are:

DT Swiss M 1700 Spline
Pros - Cheapest of bunch, DT quality. I've had good luck with mid-level DT stuff before, so I have some confidence with their wheels, which is good for peace of mind.
Cons - little real info/reviews on them

Mavic Crossmax ST
Pros - lightest of the bunch, Mavic name/reputation (though I'm not sure what that really means)
Cons - lightest of the bunch (makes me wonder about strength)

Fulcrum Red Metal XL
Pros - fantastic hubs, running 26" version on my FS trail bike (couldn't be happier with them)
Cons - most expensive (price is really the only thing holding me back)
 
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Nick

My name is Nick
Sep 21, 2001
23,926
14,438
where the trails are
what about Stan's Arch EX?

pros: regular j-bend spokes, quality wide rim, light as other wheels you're considering, price
cons: unknown hub quality long term
 

mdc

Monkey
Jul 8, 2006
243
15
Uxbridge
Stans rims are really pretty good. I've been running Arch Ex's for years with zero problems. Get a set laced to DT Swiss 240 hubs and you'll have a pretty great setup for many years....
 

mattmatt86

Turbo Monkey
Feb 9, 2005
5,347
10
Bleedmore, Murderland
I've had the E.13 TRS+ wheelset on my 29er hardtail for a little over a year and they have been amazing. Super stiff, responsive, great engagement and are still round and true. Couldn't be happier.
 

jacksonpt

Turbo Monkey
Jul 22, 2002
6,791
59
Vestal, NY
Stans rims are really pretty good. I've been running Arch Ex's for years with zero problems. Get a set laced to DT Swiss 240 hubs and you'll have a pretty great setup for many years....
I looked into that as one of my first choices, but the 240 put them out of my price range.
 

SkaredShtles

Michael Bolton
Sep 21, 2003
65,375
12,529
In a van.... down by the river
I've been running light-bicycles carbon 26" wide rims for almost a year. No issues with the rims or hubs, but the spokes were kinda dodgy on the build. Had the rear re-laced with non-"aero" spokes.

$600 for a pair of carbon wheels is what suckered me. So far so good.
 

jacksonpt

Turbo Monkey
Jul 22, 2002
6,791
59
Vestal, NY
I went with the Spline 1700s. I trust DT, they were the perfect price, and I could get them off Amazon which allowed me to use my credit card points... so they were, in a sense, free.