Cyclocross wheels

fat bloke

I dunno if this is bravery or stupidity, but I'm deviating from the "all in one thread" cyclocross norm here and flying the cx flag with a whole new thread!!!

Yeah, so cx wheels. -Is there actually such a thing? Chain reaction et al don't have a category for them - it's road or mtb. So is a cx wheel just a road wheel that you don't give a sh1t about then?

I have Fulcrum wheels on my focus that seem to be cx specials (they're branded cx 6.5 or something) but I may need to replace them after the weekend and I'm not sure what's appropriate or what's good. - Can I just fit cx tyres to my aksiums or my zipps or whatever, depending on simply how deep my pockets are?

Alek

Wheels for cyclocross should be generally a bit stronger than for road (= skip the lightest ones) and preferrably have well sealed hubs.

Deep section rims are popular these days, they are told to track better in sand and mud, but I'm a bit sceptic about this

I use Shimano XT MTB 29" wheels as they are strong, well sealed, tubeless out of the box (no tape required), and reasonably light at 1800g/pair. And were the cheapest option (280e)

crosswords

Wheels with higher spoke counts are usually better but you can use any type of road wheel really.

Just ride what you can afford to replace.

fat bloke

Stupid question? How do you use 29'er wheels instead of road size rims?? How do they fit??

Alek

29" rims are exactly the same diameter as road rims. Just slightly wider, but not always - but this only helps with wider tyres

Only the rear hub is wider by 5mm, but most CX bikes are already using this size or can take both 130 and 135mm.

nak

fat bloke wrote: »

Stupid question? How do you use 29'er wheels instead of road size rims?? How do they fit??

They're the same size.

fat bloke

Well blow me down. I did not know that. So what makes them 29 then, the added circumference of the rubber is it?

And can road tubes be used in 29ers then?

Alek

29" is the diameter with the rubber. Very inaccurate description, isn't it?

Re: road tyres, I normally run 28mm road tyres in 19mm MTB rims. Wouldn't risk 23mm (just a gut feeling), but I'd say no problem with 25s.

If you have wider rims (21-24mm internally), I'd be more careful, maybe 28mm as minimum.

fat bloke

So after riding around on a flat last Sunday I got an appreciation of how very low air pressure can affect grip on the mud, so what are the entry level tubular cx options?
Or if stuck with tubeless, what would be a mid priced wheelset?
Bearing in mind I'm on cantilevers - that in itself probably rules out the mtb 29'ers which I'm sure are all generation disc brake

nak

fat bloke wrote: »

So after riding around on a flat last Sunday I got an appreciation of how very low air pressure can affect grip on the mud, so what are the entry level tubular cx options?
Or if stuck with tubeless, what would be a mid priced wheelset?
Bearing in mind I'm on cantilevers - that in itself probably rules out the mtb 29'ers which I'm sure are all generation disc brake

You could build up a cheap, light enough wheelset using Velocity Major Tom rims or Chinese carbon.

fat bloke

Yerra by the time I got them over from China, it'd be summer time!!

Looking at campag Quattro's and scirocco's and stuff on chain reaction. Look good, but not sure if they're a huge upgrade on what I have. Probably a few rungs up the ladder alright in fairness

dave2pvd

nak wrote: »

You could build up a cheap, light enough wheelset using Velocity Major Tom rims or Chinese carbon.

That's what I've got. The Major Toms for the canti bike. The Chinese carbon for the disc bike.

Tubs really are the way to go. Expect to run 10psi less than clinchers, 5psi less than tubeless.

You can pick up a Major Tom build just about anywhere, but I'd start on eBay. 10sp non-disc wheels are going for little money these days.

Chinese carbon, have a look at http://www.yoeleobike.com/ What i bought from them:

700C Cyclocross Carbon Tubular Wheelset 38MM With 4 In 1 Hubs
Weave: UD. Finish: Matt. Width: 25mm. Hubs: Novatec D771SB/D772SB Shimano 9,10,11 speed. Front Axle: 15thru. Rear Axle: QR. Hub Color: Black. Holes: 28H/28H. Spokes: Black Pillar Aero Blade 1420 Spoke. Nipple Color: Red.

nak

fat bloke wrote: »

Yerra by the time I got them over from China, it'd be summer time!!

Looking at campag Quattro's and scirocco's and stuff on chain reaction. Look good, but not sure if they're a huge upgrade on what I have. Probably a few rungs up the ladder alright in fairness

Tyre choice is the important thing, some of them sell out during the season though. Tubs are definitely an improvement on clinchers.

fat bloke

Yeah. Just looking at tyres there. Any recommendations for tubeless?

I had a look at the rear and the rim seems fine tbh and at this stage the handiest and cheapest option by far is to stick with what I have, wheel wise.

MediaMan

While we're at it - any specific recommendations for disc brake CX wheels? Something like the equivalent of a Fulcrum 5 level wheel?

nak

MediaMan wrote: »

While we're at it - any specific recommendations for disc brake CX wheels? Something like the equivalent of a Fulcrum 5 level wheel?

Novatec CXD

dave2pvd

MediaMan wrote: »

While we're at it - any specific recommendations for disc brake CX wheels? Something like the equivalent of a Fulcrum 5 level wheel?

<€500:

Chinese carbon, have a look at http://www.yoeleobike.com/ What i bought from them:

700C Cyclocross Carbon Tubular Wheelset 38MM With 4 In 1 Hubs
Weave: UD. Finish: Matt. Width: 25mm. Hubs: Novatec D771SB/D772SB Shimano 9,10,11 speed. Front Axle: 15thru. Rear Axle: QR. Hub Color: Black. Holes: 28H/28H. Spokes: Black Pillar Aero Blade 1420 Spoke. Nipple Color: Red.

Mr. Grieves

I train on these, they're grand and a bargain at that price I think (I paid more):

http://www.rosebikes.com/article/mavic-crossone-disc-29-mtbcross-wheel-set--100x5135x5-2014-/aid:649802

CramCycle

Mr. Grieves wrote: »

I train on these, they're grand and a bargain at that price I think (I paid more):

http://www.rosebikes.com/article/mavic-crossone-disc-29-mtbcross-wheel-set--100x5135x5-2014-/aid:649802

You really cannot argue with that

fat bloke

They're nice alright. What would be their non disk equivalent?

Mr. Grieves

Aksiums I guess.

Redm0

I got a pair of wtb chris cross rims on 105 hubs hubs built up (cantis) . Night and day from the kyriums they replaced and The first reliable tubeless (at low pressure ) wheels I've had for cx . really stiff wheel that tracks way better than any of the road wheels I've used on the cx bike . Prob helps that Seymour built them ( expert cycles) . If the rims aren't deep section carbon, then it's worth getting cx specific IMO

poochiem

Mr. Grieves wrote: »

I train on these, they're grand and a bargain at that price I think (I paid more):

http://www.rosebikes.com/article/mavic-crossone-disc-29-mtbcross-wheel-set--100x5135x5-2014-/aid:649802

Further to this, and thanks for the link, I've not bought brake discs before - any you recommend from Rosebikes or otherwise?

Mr. Grieves

poochiem wrote: »

Further to this, and thanks for the link, I've not bought brake discs before - any you recommend from Rosebikes or otherwise?

I got the cheapest Shimano ones they have cos they're only for training. They say "resin pads only" on them but I use sintered - I'm probably going to die :eek:

I think superstar are supposed to be good for lightweight discs.