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What 29er Wheelset?


TrailWarrior

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Posted

I have the factory fitted Roval 29 wheels that came with my Specialized Epic Comp - would an upgrade to the ZTR/Crest Wheelset be worth it? 

 

I guess what I am really asking is would the difference in performance/ride be enough to warrant dropping that much money?

 

Some guidance would be much appreciated  :)

 

Depends on your own weight, if you fall inside the parameters specced for the rims. Rims are the 1st place to start dropping bike weight, and going tubeless. Best bang for buck because of the rotational weight thing as well.

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Posted

Depends what you want to achieve. Wider rims and fatter tyres equals lower pressures and better grip but also more spun mass and the like. You could change rims to wider carbon rims etc. 

 

The list is endless.

At the moment I am running Crossmarks on the back and Ardent Lust on the front - really enjoy that combo. Doing some technical riding but nothing too crazy - enjoy more XC racing than anything else to be honest - oh, and I weigh around 87kg.

 

Thoughts?

Posted

At the moment I am running Crossmarks on the back and Ardent Lust on the front - really enjoy that combo. Doing some technical riding but nothing too crazy - enjoy more XC racing than anything else to be honest - oh, and I weigh around 87kg.

 

Thoughts?

So again it depends what you want to do or achieve or whether you just have money to blow and upgrades to do. You have said XC so weight and rolling resistance are normally what XC riders care about.

 

FWIW - the Maxxis i rode were great tyres but never had the grip of a Schwalbe or a Specialized. I think i am not the only one to think that. So before rims and Hubs I would start there with new tires as they would possibly give you a great result for about R 1k.

 

Then on to the serious job of wheels - some wider carbon rims spoked to your existing hubs with some new rubber on would probably cost you about R 5to R6k and would give you a pretty dramatic result.

 

I think if you replaced your Rovals with a Hope/ZTR combo now and you were XC focused you wouldn't really get a great gain, so I question the logic. 

 

If you are wanting a good solution a set of AC WIde lightnings would be good for you. They are light and wide so you have the best of both worlds.

Posted

AM Classics Wide Lightnings AFAIK have an 87 Kg rider limit. So at 90kg you may be on the limit fully dressed with your AM kit on and there were many comments about their fragility. As well as a post that the Flow EX wider rims were only 100 Grams heavier with Hope Pro 2's.

 

I followed the other thread on the wider rims and have built a set of Hopes on ZTR Flows with 2.3 rubber.

 

Rode them last weekend for the first time - the grip is pretty spectacular. The tires and V Rubber 2.3's which do have a higher rolling resistance but also a stupid amount of grip.

 

So go wider as they said and for a less fragile rim look at the ZTR's

Wide Lightings have a 107kg weight limit. 1569grms in total weight and stiff and strong as hell, even specified for Enduro discipline... I have not had to true one of the 3 Wide Lighting sets I've had. I think you might refer to the White Lightings, which is alot different in so many ways

Posted

Wide Lightings have a 107kg weight limit. 1569grms in total weight and stiff and strong as hell, even specified for Enduro discipline... I have not had to true one of the 3 Wide Lighting sets I've had. I think you might refer to the White Lightings, which is alot different in so many ways

Aah okay.

 

Thanks - stand corrected.

Posted

Wide lightning's have 107kg rider weight limit. American Classic all mountains or wide lightning's both are outstananding wheel sets. And the all mountain don't have much of a weight penalty but are plenty stiff.

post-51529-0-71053900-1437743290_thumb.jpg

Posted

So again it depends what you want to do or achieve or whether you just have money to blow and upgrades to do. You have said XC so weight and rolling resistance are normally what XC riders care about.

 

FWIW - the Maxxis i rode were great tyres but never had the grip of a Schwalbe or a Specialized. I think i am not the only one to think that. So before rims and Hubs I would start there with new tires as they would possibly give you a great result for about R 1k.

 

Then on to the serious job of wheels - some wider carbon rims spoked to your existing hubs with some new rubber on would probably cost you about R 5to R6k and would give you a pretty dramatic result.

 

I think if you replaced your Rovals with a Hope/ZTR combo now and you were XC focused you wouldn't really get a great gain, so I question the logic. 

 

If you are wanting a good solution a set of AC WIde lightnings would be good for you. They are light and wide so you have the best of both worlds.

Thanks, I have some thinking to do.

 

Reading up about the AC Wide Lightings though they seem to be a fantastic set - maybe a bit of pricey side but will have to see how generous the end of year bonus is  :ph34r:

Posted

I have the factory fitted Roval 29 wheels that came with my Specialized Epic Comp - would an upgrade to the ZTR/Crest Wheelset be worth it?

 

I guess what I am really asking is would the difference in performance/ride be enough to warrant dropping that much money?

 

Some guidance would be much appreciated :)

Everything is an upgrade from Rovals if you weigh more than 80kg. I have destroyed 2 sets and I weigh 95kg. I also don't use brakes going downhill. Brake pads are expensive.
  • 1 month later...
Posted

I'm also in the market for Wide Lightning....any specials and are the hubs decent that come with a set?

Hubs are first class. Heard of people buying the wheelset just for the hubs. Really impressed with my set!

Posted

Hubs are first class. Heard of people buying the wheelset just for the hubs. Really impressed with my set!

What difference did the wheel set made to your riding? Faster downhill / Easier on the climbs ect. ???

Posted

Talking about AC Wide Lightnings... I have a set of Stan's Arch EX with Stan's 3.30 Hubs.

 

My question... Is the AC's hubs better than the Stan's 3.30???

Heard and read that some guys say they engage faster than the Stan's? 

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