HELP! NEED HELP ON WHEEL / RIM Selection on Build!
HELP! I NEED HELP / INPUT!
Nice build Brother. I myself am nearing completion of my Chilcotin build. I've yet to commit to a wheel or wheel build. My budget, from saving all winter, is pretty good : I have $1,200 to spend on wheels....IF....I need to be happy.
I am curious about your Evil-Thirteen wheels : ARE they holding up well? Any problems? Do you like them? ---I tend to blaze through rough rocky stuff, but I don't do 'big gap' jumping stuff or anything higher than 4 or 5 foot drops. NONE of my riding buddies are 'aggressive' as I am, so their input does not help me much.
As for custom built wheels : I'm flip flopping between using Mavic 823 for bombproofness, and Mavic 717 for responsiveness on climbing technical stuff as well as for long-rides..which I tend to do a lot of. I've heard that the new 'DT' FR-600 rim is good and it is lighter than the 823. Regarding the Macic 717's : A variety of people have told me they are pretty tough for being classified as an 'xc' rim??? Obviously the 823 has a great rep for being super tough, but it is overkill for me @ 160lbs with gear?. .....Should I try the 717's and enjoy the light-but stiff and strong wheel build? Or should I build a heavier wheelset and learn to 'tough it out' on long climbs? I'm stuck now for a month trying to decide what to do. I feel like I am in the movie : 'Goundhog day' because every day I re-live the same nightmare of wheel selection issues??????
For pre-built wheels I've looked at Spinergy Xclone's, Easton Havoc's, and Evil-Thirteen. But E-Thirteen hubs can have problems??? I know the Spinergy hubs are based on Hadley's with some alterations. I'm not interested in I-9 or anything else that is 'loud'. I like quiet but tough wheels.
I'd like to be able to just buy a set of factory wheels, but if I build up a custom wheelset, I will always be able to replace and repair stuff Myself...as I've built some wheels in the past, and have no issues replacing spokes or rims if need be.
For Hubs : I'm pretty set on using a White Industries Rear Hub with Titanium Drive and Ceramic bearings 36 hole / 4 cross, and perhaps a Hadley front hub. I like a fairly quiet rear hub, and White Industries hubs have been great for me for the past 10 years...and are nice looking to me. I could use some input on wheels / rims.
If anyone has any time, Input would be MUCHO appreciated. But know this : If I 'build' the wheels, 36 hole with 4cross bladed sapims are amazingly responsive, and that is what I'd like to use after trying a friends for an all day ride. Amazingly responsive and 'stiff' feeling which is now 'stamped' into my brain...that's how much difference I 'felt' from them. But they were built up on 717's, and I'm not sure 717's will stand up to aggressive chunk and boulderish / aggressive technical single track descending---which is my FAVORITE type of riding...and I 'tend' to steam through this type of stuff, where others I know tend to 'dismount' and walk.
Sorry for the long winded reply. Details are key to communication / input clarification.
GREAT BUILDS everyone!