Mountain Biking - Cane Creek

Cane Creek says their wheel are stronger,stiffer, and faster. Does anybody have experience with them? Their hubs look pretty cool, but I haven't found them in disc compatible form.

Cane Creek makes some pretty decent stuff, but if you are talking about their wheels with the nipples at the hubs, I wouldn't buy them. Here's why:

-First, the nipples at the hub supposedly making the wheel faster because there is less rotational weight at the outer edges is pure marketing BS in my opinion. We are talking about a few grams and at the speed mountain bike wheels are going the net effect is negligible (sp?). I have little tolerance for marketing crap.

-Second, and more importantly, replacement spokes are not something you can pick up at most shops. And, when the time comes to build a new wheel, are you or the shop that does it going to have experience building this type of wheel? Probably not.

-A couple of other things to think about: I wouldn't ride radially laced wheels for mountain biking. In my opinion it is another case of marketing hype and does not yield the strongest wheel for this application. Also, I would never run less than 32 spoke wheels for riding MTB. Again, this is a strength issue and the few grams you save for a couple of spokes is not worth the sacrifice of wheel integrity.

If you want a good set of wheels, get a set built by a good builder, 3 cross w/ 32 spokes min. Check out www.Gravywheels.net, you can get wheels built by a guy who does it for the pros.

I was just asking. But about the rotational weight, that might not be hype. Try taking a baseball bat, hold it the way it is ment to be held(on the handle of course) and swing, then hold the bat by the opposite end and swing. Big difference.

I agree with the theory, just don't think it makes a noticable difference when you are talking about moving nipples (24 front, 28 rear on the CC wheels) to the center of the rim. Plus, at low speeds the effect is even less. So, while technically you way see slight differences, they won't be noticable to the rider, so I chalk it up to marketing hype. Now, drop some weight, like say 1/2 pound, from your tire/tube combo and you may be able to tell a diff.

Originally posted by riderx
I agree with the theory, just don't think it makes a noticable difference when you are talking about moving nipples (24 front, 28 rear on the CC wheels) to the center of the rim. Plus, at low speeds the effect is even less. So, while technically you way see slight differences, they won't be noticable to the rider, so I chalk it up to marketing hype.

Yeah, I see your point.

You might gain quicker acceleration, but wouldnt shifting weight towards the hub compromise stability? Maybe not, but it seems like it. In any case it would definitely be cool to check out.

If I ran a bike store, heck, I don't think I'd have anything to sell, I would always be tryin' the stuff out!!!

-A couple of other things to think about : I wouldn't ride radially laced wheels for mountain biking. In my opinion it is another case of marketing hype and does not yield the strongest wheel for this application. Also, I would never run less than 32 spoke wheels for riding MTB. Again, this is a strength issue and the few grams you save for a couple of spokes is not worth the sacrifice of wheel integrity.
Have you ever owned or ridden radically laced wheels with low count spokes ever? I have a set of mavic crossmaxx tubeless wheels, with only 18 spokes on the front, and 20 spokes on the rear. These wheels can take such a beating!! Ive ridden them this whole year, and the front has a small, not noticible tweak in it. I'm not the kind of rider that takes lines to avoid rocks, roots and other things on a trail, I ride the heck right over stuff. These wheels are very strong, and I got mine for $550, on sale at an internet bike shop.

Cool!! I am looking at upgrading at least my rear wheel so I can get 8 or 9 speeds. 7 speed is outdated and its getting really annoying. But first I have to get my fork.