Mountain Biking - New weight weenie xc wheelset

I received my new wheels a few weeks ago I just never got around to mounting the tires to them. I had a little free time today so figured it was as good of time as any. Plus my first race is just over a week away so figured I should probably get busy.

They were built by Mike Garcia at Odds and Endos (www.oddsandendos.com). I originally ordered the new Olympic 347 rims but they ended up being back ordered. I went with the Olympic ZTR's instead. They are only a few grams heavier. The hubs are WTB labeled American Classic hubs. The spokes are DTSwiss SuperComps. The front wheel weighs in at 677 grams. The rear wheel weighs 793 grams. Not too shabby. Oh yeah, they are beautiful!

They weigh 22 grams more than my American Classic wheelset but I should be able to save around 160 grams by not having to use the rimstrips to convert them to tubeless.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b148/LowCel/wheels.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b148/LowCel/hub.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b148/LowCel/spokes.jpg

Look very nice. My only question is why AC? I've heard quite a few horror stories about their hubs, road and mountain. I'd be worried about the seals myself.
And, since you went superlight and less-durable with AC hubs, why go for heavier spokes? Could have gone lighter AND stronger with a set of DT 240's and DT revolutions.

But they aren't my wheels, and damn they sure are pretty :) Congrats on the new set. Light wheels feel so amazing!

Ooooooooooooooooooh...nice, for a weight weenie,:D

Give me a quick run-down on the process of mounting/sealing your tubeless system. I'm thinking about taking the plunge.

Tips, tricks?

Hey, shouldn't you be saving your dough by not replacing stuff that's not broken or worn out yet? :D Seems I saw you say that somewhere today . . . .

LowCel, you should really listen to random opinions to build your stuff. Next time you build up what "you" want you need to think about how some on Bike Forums like it. Nice wheels buy the way.

Look very nice. My only question is why AC? I've heard quite a few horror stories about their hubs, road and mountain. I'd be worried about the seals myself.
And, since you went superlight and less-durable with AC hubs, why go for heavier spokes? Could have gone lighter AND stronger with a set of DT 240's and DT revolutions.

But they aren't my wheels, and damn they sure are pretty :) Congrats on the new set. Light wheels feel so amazing!

This is my third set of AC hubs, I've never had a problem out of them. With the spokes there is only about a 12 gram per wheel penalty. However, these spokes are a little stiffer making a stiffer wheel side to side. They also allow slightly larger nipples which will be more difficult to break.

I've got a couple wheelsets with DT 240's as well. Very nice hubs, about double the cost though.

Hey, shouldn't you be saving your dough by not replacing stuff that's not broken or worn out yet? :D Seems I saw you say that somewhere today . . . .

Probably, but since I have at least one backup for every part on the bike I should be fine. As for wheels, I just did a quick count and found 21. Ten of them are for my mountain bike. I should have a wheel / tire combo for pretty much all occasions now. :D

LowCel, you should really listen to random opinions to build your stuff. Next time you build up what "you" want you need to think about how some on Bike Forums like it. Nice wheels buy the way.

Yeah, what was I thinking??? ;)

Oh, and thanks by the way. When I finally do make it down your way, these wheels won't be with me. :(

Very nice wheels, and very light after all. :)

I'm curious how the racing ralphs are comparing to the karmas, but I'm guessing you haven't tried them yet.

Ooooooooooooooooooh...nice, for a weight weenie,:D

Give me a quick run-down on the process of mounting/sealing your tubeless system. I'm thinking about taking the plunge.

Tips, tricks?

Quick rundown with Stan's rims.

1) install yellow tape (only on the stan's rims)
2) insert valve stem
3) mount tire
4) insert fluid
5) air up

The first one mounted right up, second one wouldn't seat for me. I have installed a tube in it and I am going to let it set for a day then try again. If that doesn't work I will be adding a Stan's rim strip.

Quick rundown with standard rims.

1) install rim strip
2) mount tire
3) insert fluid
4) air up

It's really pretty easy to do. I mounted the Schwalbe Nobby Nics on my american classic wheels. They are the easiest tires I have ever converted using Stan's. They aired right up.

Very nice wheels, and very light after all. :)

I'm curious how the racing ralphs are comparing to the karmas, but I'm guessing you haven't tried them yet.

Nope, haven't tried them out yet. Depending on the weather I will either be using them or the nobby nics Sunday when I pre-ride the race course. It will be nice getting back on the mountain bike, hope I remember how to ride it. :D

Quick rundown with Stan's rims.

1) install yellow tape (only on the stan's rims)
2) insert valve stem
3) mount tire
4) insert fluid
5) air up

The first one mounted right up, second one wouldn't seat for me. I have installed a tube in it and I am going to let it set for a day then try again. If that doesn't work I will be adding a Stan's rim strip.

Quick rundown with standard rims.

1) install rim strip
2) mount tire
3) insert fluid
4) air up

It's really pretty easy to do. I mounted the Kenda Nobby Nics on my american classic wheels. They are the easiest tires I have ever converted using Stan's. They aired right up.


Shoot...that was easy. Stan's site made it sound more complicated.

Thanx

Oh yeah, some sudsy water on the tires does make it a little easier to air them up. Once they are aired up you need to shake the tire some and roll it around a little to seal up all the little pinholes. The Schwalbes are the first tires I've had that didn't have pinholes. The most difficult tires I've ever sealed up were Kenda Karma DTC's. Those things took three weeks to completely seal up. :eek:

As for wheels, I just did a quick count and found 21. Ten of them are for my mountain bike.

21 total?
so that makes 11 road wheels right? Shouldn't you have a multiple of 2? :p

edit: I forgot the roadie side of me, I bet you got a powertap somewhere in there...

21 total?
so that makes 11 road wheels right? Shouldn't you have a multiple of 2? :p

edit: I forgot the roadie side of me, I bet you got a powertap somewhere in there...

Yup, powertap sl makes for an uneven number. ;)

. . . As for wheels, I just did a quick count and found 21. Ten of them are for my mountain bike. I should have a wheel / tire combo for pretty much all occasions now. :DThe Imelda Marcos of mountain biking! :D

The Imelda Marcos of mountain biking! :D

Thank you wikipedia, otherwise I would have been clueless. However, I bet my wife could giver her a run for her money. ;)

I am trying to make my bike a weight weenie's too, but have just managed to get it to 24.5 pounds. (19 inch ). I would have thought upgading to Crossmax's and Maxxis Ignitor tubeless would have got me in the 23 pound range.

Nice wheels LC. I just got some new stans rims also. we should have a wheel sticky!! let's vote

Thank you wikipedia, otherwise I would have been clueless. However, I bet my wife could giver her a run for her money. ;)I keep forgetting how old I am :o

Nice wheels LC. I just got some new stans rims also. we should have a wheel sticky!! let's voteI think LowCel should be planning a 'wheel garage' for his next house.

thats a good idea. I am building a house right now. I have a seperate bike shop in the basement, and the bike bay in the garage, but no wheel room. I think I am off to talk to the designer before its too late

congrats on your new wheels, what happen to your old ones?

Yeah Bruce congrats!

congrats on your new wheels, what happen to your old ones?

What do you mean what happened to them? They are fine and well and are now sporting Nobby Nics. I like to have a wheelset / tire combination ready for all occasions. Never know what the course is going to look like.

I am trying to make my bike a weight weenie's too, but have just managed to get it to 24.5 pounds. (19 inch ). I would have thought upgading to Crossmax's and Maxxis Ignitor tubeless would have got me in the 23 pound range.

This weight weenie crap gets expensive doesn't it?!?!

I keep forgetting how old I am :o

Don't worry, we'll remind you. ;)

This is my third set of AC hubs, I've never had a problem out of them. With the spokes there is only about a 12 gram per wheel penalty. However, these spokes are a little stiffer making a stiffer wheel side to side. They also allow slightly larger nipples which will be more difficult to break.

I've got a couple wheelsets with DT 240's as well. Very nice hubs, about double the cost though.


Weight penalty is closer to 70g when I weighed them. For 64 spokes I came up with 254g for revs and 326g for supercomps. For pure WW points, I'll always go with revs personally :) But riding styles/body types between us are probably different, and I'm sure you took all the variables into account in your decision so the supercomps probably were better for you.
Never had a problem with AC's? Lucky you :) I've never NOT had a problem with them.

Fixed your little typo lowcell, Kenda doesn't make the Nobby Nic.;)

Woops......thank ya. :o

Weight penalty is closer to 70g when I weighed them. For 64 spokes I came up with 254g for revs and 326g for supercomps. For pure WW points, I'll always go with revs personally :) But riding styles/body types between us are probably different, and I'm sure you took all the variables into account in your decision so the supercomps probably were better for you.
Never had a problem with AC's? Lucky you :) I've never NOT had a problem with them.

Yeah, I talked it over with Mike Garcia for about an hour before giving him the go ahead. He convinced me that racing in WV I would notice a pretty big difference in stiffness between the two different spokes. When having these built stiffness was really important since I was also considering the SLR's.

Just wanted to give a quick update about the tire that I wasn't able to get to air up. A couple of days ago I went ahead and mounted it using a tube. This evening I removed the tube, put the valve stem in, and remounted the tire. It aired up in about two seconds.

It even held the air with no stan's fluid in it. I left it alone for a couple of minutes then deflated it. I removed the valve stem, added the stan's fluid, reinserted the valve stem and aired it up. Perfect! The whole process took me about five minutes. Not too shabby.

Very cool. Those are some light wheels. I'd like to hear about the ride and hold up compared to some of the other wheels you have though...

I'll be sure to do a report on them. However, since they were built by Mike Garcia I'm sure they will be the nicest set of wheels I own. Unfortunately I have my dry weather / lightest tires mounted to them so I haven't had a chance to ride them. I've been using the American classic / Nobby Nics the past two days.

Just wanted to give a quick update about the tire that I wasn't able to get to air up. A couple of days ago I went ahead and mounted it using a tube. This evening I removed the tube, put the valve stem in, and remounted the tire. It aired up in about two seconds.

It even held the air with no stan's fluid in it. I left it alone for a couple of minutes then deflated it. I removed the valve stem, added the stan's fluid, reinserted the valve stem and aired it up. Perfect! The whole process took me about five minutes. Not too shabby.

Just curious, are you using a compressor to seat your tires? I am actually having a similar problem getting a converted tire to air up on mavic 819 rims.

Yeah, the air compressor generally makes it a pretty simple task.

Watch the bearings/seals on the rear drive side. The sealing on the set of those I had was not all that hot; required a bit more upkeep time to keep things smooth. A tradeoff for the light weight I guess. I had better luck with my WTB branded ones than the AC set prior to them. The AC set pauls kept popping loose, and ate the crap out of the teeth on the freehub body. That said, AC took care of me when it happened. They've since redesigned things to be a bit more durable I hear. Now a Hadley and King guy anyhow.

Mike at O&E built mine, too. The guy builds a mean wheel.

yes, but I believe that wheelset has around a 175lb weight limit (at least that's what I recall on Stan's site for the rims).

Not good for me. You maybe but not me. I tend to abuse things and at 191...well...

For me, Mavic 819 rims. Heavy yes...but strong.



I received my new wheels a few weeks ago I just never got around to mounting the tires to them. I had a little free time today so figured it was as good of time as any. Plus my first race is just over a week away so figured I should probably get busy.

They were built by Mike Garcia at Odds and Endos (www.oddsandendos.com). I originally ordered the new Olympic 347 rims but they ended up being back ordered. I went with the Olympic ZTR's instead. They are only a few grams heavier. The hubs are WTB labeled American Classic hubs. The spokes are DTSwiss SuperComps. The front wheel weighs in at 677 grams. The rear wheel weighs 793 grams. Not too shabby. Oh yeah, they are beautiful!

They weigh 22 grams more than my American Classic wheelset but I should be able to save around 160 grams by not having to use the rimstrips to convert them to tubeless.

even if you use 819 and non-tubular tires, Stans still wants you to use their rim strip on the inside. If you don't, it is air compressor time. That's the only way I can get my 819s to bead non-tubular tires. Been using Stan's for 1 year now on non-tubular tires. Just have to add new stans about once every 3-6 months.



Just curious, are you using a compressor to seat your tires? I am actually having a similar problem getting a converted tire to air up on mavic 819 rims.

man, I must be old school because 1 tire does me fine from slate, mud, rocks, georgia clay, snow, sand, roots, XC, aggressive XC and anything else I can think of.

I just adapt to the trail. It's not like I'm racing pro level.

BTW, I'm riding again less than 4 weeks post op. Got 80 miles on the road bike this weekend. Feeling less grumpy now. Can ride better than I can walk. Sure do climb slow now that my left leg is like twice the size of my right.







What do you mean what happened to them? They are fine and well and are now sporting Nobby Nics. I like to have a wheelset / tire combination ready for all occasions. Never know what the course is going to look like.

hey Einstein, how about just going under your user control panel and unchecking "receive e-mail notification" under account options or something.

I kinda felt sorry for you and how people reacted to you wanting to sign off until you started posting this everywhere.

If you are going to leave, just leave. Don't make an announcement. Nobody probably cares anyway. It is a cry for attention. Just PM a moderator to delete your account or just stop showing up and uncheck the receive e-mail notification.




Can one of you actually delete my account?

Brian is ********, can't follow a one line instruction. There must be someone else who is actually normal! Delete my account! I sick and tired of receiving mail notification in my email box from this ****ty forum.