Cyclocross - Cross Wheels

I'm starting to see more cross bikes with "aero" wheelsets--with things like radial lacing (e.g., Ritchey DS), bladed and/or paired spokes (e.g., Bontrager Select on new Poprads, Rolf Vector Pros). Does anyone have experience racing with these lighter road wheelsets? How do they hold up offroad? Or would you recommend sticking with a presumably sturdier setup (e.g., Mavic Open Pros)? Thanks

I am just getting into cross and haven't seen any aero wheels yet. I personally don't know which wheels are good for cross I am using an open pro type rim.

I'm starting to see more cross bikes with "aero" wheelsets--with things like radial lacing (e.g., Ritchey DS), bladed and/or paired spokes (e.g., Bontrager Select on new Poprads, Rolf Vector Pros). Does anyone have experience racing with these lighter road wheelsets? How do they hold up offroad? Or would you recommend sticking with a presumably sturdier setup (e.g., Mavic Open Pros)? Thanks
My personal racing choice would be the tried & true Open Pro's, when I have to replace my rear wheel (stock Trek Aurora Matrix). I replaced the front wheel 2yrs ago with a MA3 rim / Deore XT hub combo. Quite bombproof as I am rather crash prone, racing or otherwise.
Using aero-wheels can get quite expensive if you happen to destroy a wheel in a crash. If you break a spoke, you could be in trouble too as some lbs may not carry aero spokes.

"Aero" wheels are used more for the utility of getting through sand mud and snow more than for their aerodynamic effects. You'll see them in races sometimes, especially at the Elite/pro level (and maybe as phredware in some C races!) My opinion ain't worth much, but I agree that the better choice is more traditional wheels, no paired or bladed spokes. Mostly because the rotational weight savings is negligible (over traditional light rims like Mavic Open Pros or CXP 33's) because the rims need to be beefier with fewer spokes. Carbon wheels for cross racing are way over the top unless you have someone else buying them- they do break, as everything breaks eventually if you race. The other consideration is that these newer factory wheels with fewer spokes need to have higher spoke tension for adequate stiffness. Great until you pop a spoke, but then you are SOL in a race, on the road, or on a trail because you generally can't true the wheel well enough (assuming you have a spoke wrench with you!) to be able to ride home. With a well built traditional wheel, you can usually ride the bike to the pit, or home with your brake open if 1 or 2 spokes are loose or broken. At 150 lbs I have had no issues with 32h open pro clinchers front and back and similar tubular rims for my fancier race wheels. Not the lightest, not the heaviest. You might consider a rim with a low "aero" profile like Mavic CXP 33's to help cut through the mud a little better than a flat profile rim. The other consideration when choosing wheels/rims is that it's better to have a rim with eyelets at the spoke holes. They are stronger (spokes are less likely to pop through the rim) and they prevent water and grit from getting inside the rim- not a good thing. There are less expensive rims without eyelets that are strong enough for cyclocross riding, but if your wheels are ever going to see mud or water you want better rims with steel eyelets. People argue this stuff endlessly, but really, for your average amateur cyclocross rider/racer, keep it as simple and least expensive as possible. But what do I know?

I'm starting to see more cross bikes with "aero" wheelsets--with things like radial lacing (e.g., Ritchey DS), bladed and/or paired spokes (e.g., Bontrager Select on new Poprads, Rolf Vector Pros). Does anyone have experience racing with these lighter road wheelsets? How do they hold up offroad? Or would you recommend sticking with a presumably sturdier setup (e.g., Mavic Open Pros)? Thanks

I purchased a Motobecane Fantom Cross bicycle; which uses Formula Hubs and Alexrims X2100 rims. The front wheel is radial laced. The wheelset is sturdy and requires no truing yet as I ride around Baltimore City. I am fanatical about true wheels. I haven't tried racing CycloCross.

http://www.alexrims.com/rims/ct_x2100.htm

I don't race 'cross (yet?), but my Cannondale Cyclocross does have "aero" rims, namely Gipiemme. Apparently, the advantage of these deep-dish rims is that they are machined to shape and can take a beating. If I were racing, though, and bashing my wheels into things at high speed, I'd want tough-ass wheels and not just pretty ones. Remember, in road racing those deep-dish carbons look sweet on the wide open roads and help the riders go damn fast, but once it comes to something like Paris-Roubaix, those pretty aero wheels go to the back of the team bus and the tough, heavily spoked rims come out.

But those Gipiemme's are great for my commute!

1) There's no "aero" advantage because you never go fast enough for far enough for it to make the slightest difference.

2) If someone is getting shop or factory assistance they want to use the fancy EXPENSIVE wheels in order to advertise them.

3) The wheels are protected by the fat tires more than anything else.

This doesn't mean that there isn't an advantage to good wheels. For one thing they are less a bother if you don't have to worry about knocking them out of true. So the Mavic wheels rate really good here.

Hi guys
I just ordered a set of American Classic Hurricane cross wheels, go take a look. 1545gm for the set. That’s as light as a lot of lightweight road wheels.
There three cross so very strong. With aero rim’s. and the Aero rims help keep the mud off your wheels were you really feel it.
Oh and the price is very good.
Later
Dan…

I don't race 'cross (yet?), but my Cannondale Cyclocross does have "aero" rims, namely Gipiemme. Apparently, the advantage of these deep-dish rims is that they are machined to shape and can take a beating. If I were racing, though, and bashing my wheels into things at high speed, I'd want tough-ass wheels and not just pretty ones. Remember, in road racing those deep-dish carbons look sweet on the wide open roads and help the riders go damn fast, but once it comes to something like Paris-Roubaix, those pretty aero wheels go to the back of the team bus and the tough, heavily spoked rims come out.

But those Gipiemme's are great for my commute!

Don't have any first hand experience with Gipiemme's but this guy shows that they are pretty rugged:
http://www.singlespeed.net/main/forum.mv?forum=103&module=view&viewid=36&mode=com&row=0

Don't have any first hand experience with Gipiemme's but this guy shows that they are pretty rugged:
http://www.singlespeed.net/main/forum.mv?forum=103&module=view&viewid=36&mode=com&row=0

Sweet bike on that link, thanks for posting it.