Race/Trail Wheelset for NJ

[The Heckler]

I'm about ready to put a little money into my epic and I'm thinking about a wheel set. Originally was thinking about building some Kings to Light-Bicycle china carbons but now I'm thinking a little about a I-9 factory built wheel set because America Bling.

Current wheelset is the stock 29" Rovals that came with my 2014 Specialized Epic Comp, internal rim width is 22mm. 15mm maxel and 142+ F/R. Looking for stiffer/lighter wheel set.

My weight hovers around 150+/-5(ish) all year. I wanna make sure these things will hold up to the likes of Jungle, Wayway and whatever other rocky NJ "XC" riding/racing throws at me. The MTB is not my main bike but when if comes out I'm not one to baby it.

Thoughts on rim width? The I9 ultralight is 21mm internal and the trail is 24.5 internal. I've never owned wider than 22mm internal rims. What am I missing?

I'm not 100% sold on I9 and am open to any other rim/hub or wheel system suggestions. I do love building me wheels so that's totally an option.

HAAALLLPP ME MTB INTERNET OF THE GREATER NJ AREA!!

 

[RobW]

going wider is like bumper bowling- I noticed a huge difference from riding 19mm internal to 24.6mm on my stans....

 

[Pearl]

meh, just buy the stock arch ex wheels with stans hubs. i run the crests and they ding easily, but since you said "trail" i would go one step in the burlier direction.

save whatever other money for other things. LIKE ENDURANCE RACE FEES WITH ME

 

[UtahJoe]

i-9 hubs look amazing, but goddam $1200 starting price is alot of money for a set of alloy wheels that are basically the same spec as a set of crests that you can get for ~$400. But if you need bling, they definitely have it. I have multiple friends with i-9 wheelsets and they have nightmare stories of not being able to get replacements spokes because they changed the hub design and stopped making replacements

You want the best? Stans Valors...Best set of wheels I have ever ridden, by far.

If you are going to shell out over $1000 for wheels, I wouldn't settle for aluminum.

I like JPs suggestion...A crest/arch set is cheap, they are more than strong enough for your weight...Very easy to fix or repair if you break something.

 

[RobW]

meh, just buy the stock arch ex wheels with stans hubs. i run the crests and they ding easily, but since you said "trail" i would go one step in the burlier direction.

save whatever other money for other things. LIKE ENDURANCE RACE FEES WITH ME

i wont lie, the arch ex is a sweet wheel

 

[Pearl]

Very easy to fix or repair if you break something.

this should be priority for mtb stuff.

 

[Magic]

Arch EX if you don't want to spend a ton and have a good set of wheels for everything, but Stan's isn't super light unless it's not a big deal and you just get some bling hubs for the fair priced hoops. Since you said stiffer and lighter, I think light-bicycle hoops with i9's would fit the bill. Do you have an idea on tire size yet? I'm guessing 2-2.2in for racing, in which case I believe the 21mm would be more than enough. I ran 2.5/2.3 Minions on an 18mm, split tube tubeless and it was ok. Now I have the same tires on Flow EX's and I definitely feel a difference under load in turns and the tread isn't as rounded as it was on the narrow wheels. Not the lightest since I have some poor man Deore hubs that Jim made fun of me for, but I love them as all purpose wheels since I don't race much. Wether you feel the difference between the 22mm you have and the 24.5, I don't know.

Either way, everything depends on how much you want to spend. Like Utah mentioned, if you're dropping $$$ then go carbon. Otherwise, Arch EX with as best hubs as you can afford.

 

[Jeremy]

I like the light bicycle rims. I've had them for 3 years and they are still good to go.

Lace them to some Bike Hub store hubs (which are the same as Stans) and you could have a carbon wheelset for not much more than a stans wheelset.

I have the light bicycle rim on one bike arches on my other. You can definitely feel a difference in stiffness with the carbons. They also spin up much faster. I think this was probably the best upgrade i've ever done to my bike..

 

[Robson]

Stan's ZTR Flow still going strong after 5 years of abuse.

 

[Mountain Bike Mike]

Crests with DT Swiss 240s cause you a smooth brotha from anotha mutha.

 

[Mountain Bike Mike]

I like the light bicycle rims. I've had them for 3 years and they are still good to go.

Lace them to some Bike Hub store hubs (which are the same as Stans) and you could have a carbon wheelset for not much more than a stans wheelset.

I have the light bicycle rim on one bike arches on my other. You can definitely feel a difference in stiffness with the carbons. They also spin up much faster. I think this was probably the best upgrade i've ever done to my bike..

I'm poaching this advice - for my FS build up.. You're the second VERY trustworthy person to recommend Light rims. @Juggernaut

 

[gtluke]

I love my i9s. They are really old and take little to no service and I've never had trouble getting parts or spokes in a few days.
My stans hubs are clunky as shit and I don't like them.

 

[axcxnj]

I love my i9s. They are really old and take little to no service and I've never had trouble getting parts or spokes in a few days.
My stans hubs are clunky as shit and I don't like them.

EVERY time we ride you would tell me to buy stans and say how they are the best and never break...now you dont like them? what is this.....

 

[gtluke]

EVERY time we ride you would tell me to buy stans and say how they are the best and never break...now you dont like them? what is this.....

Okay. For you... stans would be a massive upgrade and you'll like them. The rims more importantly are awesome. The hubs compared to my 2 sets of i9's and 2 white industries trials hubs are really clunky.

 

[Norm]

I ride Arches. Heckler at 50 pounds less than me, does not need Arches. Crests are good for you.

Honestly you should not be spending too much on this. KISS. Spend the extra dough on bread. DOUGH ON BREAD.

Don't build your own MTB wheels. They have this down now. They're better than you.

 

[Kirt]

Stans has new & improved hubs:

http://www.notubes.com/Neo/

 

[Kirt]

I ride Arches. Heckler at 50 pounds less than me, does not need Arches. Crests are good for you.

Honestly you should not be spending too much on this. KISS. Spend the extra dough on bread. DOUGH ON BREAD.

Don't build your own MTB wheels. They have this down now. They're better than you.

The updated version of the Arches are only 80 grams per rim heavier than the Crest. If you are looking for a trail/race wheelset probably a better option as the wheels will be stiffer. Crest are flexy and dent easy if you forget to check your pressure.

 

[Mountain Bike Mike]

The updated version of the Arches are only 80 grams per rim heavier than the Crest. If you are looking for a trail/race wheelset probably a better option as the wheels will be stiffer. Crest are flexy and dent easy if you forget to check your pressure.

My crests are crazy flexy but light and spin up quick. 80 grams is nothing...

 

[soulchild]

This post is right in my wheelhouse 🙄

I like the light bicycle rims. I've had them for 3 years and they are still good to go.

Lace them to some Bike Hub store hubs (which are the same as Stans) and you could have a carbon wheelset for not much more than a stans wheelset.

I have the light bicycle rim on one bike arches on my other. You can definitely feel a difference in stiffness with the carbons. They also spin up much faster. I think this was probably the best upgrade i've ever done to my bike..

This this this and this. Like Jeremy said, the biggest thing that stood out to me was the overall stiffness of the wheel. It's literally night and day.

I have run Arch EX's exclusively the last couple of years and they were rock solid. In February I went and built up a set of Chinese carbon wheels that I absolutely love. I went back and forth a bunch on hubs and ultimately decided on Hopes.

Here's what I had built and some weights.

Light-Bicycle carbon wheels & Hope Pro 2 Evo's 32/32 set built with DT Comps and brass nipples. If I had to do it again, I'd use DT Race Comps that are about 70 grams lighter like I used for my CX race wheelset.



Weights without tape:
Rims 340 grams
Front w/Lefty - 690g
Rear w/ Hope P2E 40t - 870g

 

[merritt]

Lighter than the $1200 carbons for half the price and they match your bike. Use the rest of your cash to upgrade something else.