Mountain Biking - upgrade time/wheelset?

All right it's time to upgrade.Actually i just bought my wife a new frame and i'll be upgrading my big sur and using some of these parts(which are in great shape) for hers:D Anyway the wheelset is one of the first things i'm upgrading. I ride xc and live in the s.east.Ride mostly singletrack,sand,clay,roots,logs,etc.Dont really need discs and i'm not sure about tubeless.The bike has bontragersuperstocks by the way.I've thought about the mavic crossrides.Any opinions on these or are there others that you can recomend.

Buy a set of Chris King hubs and lace them to a set of Mavic X-517 Ceramic coated rim using either Wheelsmith or DT double butted spokes.

If you get them built up by a reputable wheel builder, this set-up will last for years!

Plus, cost is about the same as a new set of Mavic's or other built wheelsets.

L8R

I wouldn't bother with chris king. Unless you are really hardcore or you are doing trials where you will actually need instant engagement they aren't worth the 500$ cdn you will likely pay. Shimano LX hubs will be fine for the riding you are describing. If you want to add excess strength make it a 36 hole hub and rim setup. IF you do get Chris King be sure to get the metal shell (I forget exactly what it is called) I have many a friend who has destroyed Chris King aluminums.

I wouldn't even recommend tubeless. I live in a very rocky thorny area and never get flats I just have a high quality thick tire with normal tubes.

I like the Rim above recommended. Lighter than mine but still strong. Mavics Rule.

By going the custom builder route who is good to use.I love my lbs but he's not a great wheelbuilder.

Ask around with local riders. Or you can find a few online. I only know canadian companie so really I am of no help now :)

Mavic CrossMax non-tubeless/non-disc...you WILL feel a difference in weight...and your wallet weight too :D

oh, and for how much the Crossrides costed, it's better to go w/ a shimano hub w/ a mavic rim. i found the crossride came out of true quite easily on my buddy's bike (and he rides singletrack and weighs 140lbs). the Xmax on the other hand never seems to go out of true...i've had them trued once last year and they're still straight...

Try this site for wheels www.bicyclebuys.com

Well the king hub/517 is a little pricier than i was hoping.I'd like something in the $300-350 range.

Go for the simano LX. Overlall best value. Possibly the xt. The xtr is outrageously priced for most riders. IMO it doesn't offer anything worth paying the extra for.

LX is a wonderful value, very tough and very well-sealed (dirt-filled world > Rubber cone overseal > metal labyrinth shield > rubber lip seal > bearing and grease). Plus the Shimano QR's are included with the hubs, and IMHO the Shimano QR's are functionally the best on the market, with a metal-on-metal cam sealed out of harm's way and aluminum levers for light weight. :)

Have you ever heard of Velocity rims? I have set that I had built two years ago with an XT rear hub and a Specialized Stout front hub. I weigh around 200 lbs and I have yet to bend a rim. The XT hub is almost bullet proof and rebuildable (haven't touched it yet), and the Stout hub is sealed and rebuildable (fixed it once).

The rims were recommended by my mechanic because of their strength. I know two other people that have them, one set on XTR hubs, and the other on LX hubs; neither one of them have had any problems either. We also ride on rocky and rooty terrain.

The prices aren't bad either.

32 hole LX hubs, M517 rims, 14/15/14 double-butted spokes, alloy nipples. You should be able to find a wheelset with this spec under $200 hand built. Unless you are >200 lbs. 36 hole is overkill.

Many of the big mail order houses offer custom built wheels. For example, Colorado Cyclist lists an XT hubbed, 517 rimmed custom built wheelset for $198. Mavic Crossrides from the same catalog are $299.90 for the set.

If you are looking for pre-built wheels you can also check out
supergo.com or wheelworld.com
They usualy have good deals going. The other place you can try is 123wheels.com
If you decide to have a set built up they do good work along with wheel world. You could also try to build the wheels your self, I find it very relaxing. Find a comfy spot, grab a pint, turn on some music and build away.
Slainte
:beer: