Cyclocross - Inexpensive Wheel choices - advice

I'm trying to keep my costs down enough while still getting something that will work for flowing XC trails and road use. Basically all around use. No crazy bombing DH, racing, stairs, drops etc. Just basic utility wheels should do very nicely

I am building a cross bike for my brother who is 220lb and with the nice big 700x35 tires I figured it wouldn't beat up the rims too much. Watching ebay is turning up lots of things out of my price range, or dealing with the basic age and wear factors.

I'd like to just get a set of alex rims 32 spoke for $100 I see around. Or maybe Vuelta wheelset for $140?

These are obviously listed in the road section of sites and for what i see most basic cross bikes have the same wheelsets as road bikes.

Yes, I'd like open pros but can't afford them so any tips in the 100-140 range?

Alex R500 wheel set (http://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_STOR20.cgi?Action=Details&ProdID=1562) for $110. Alex DA 22 wheel set (http://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_STOR20.cgi?Action=Details&ProdID=1255) for $120. Both have 32 spoke front/back.

Bicycle Wheel Warehouse has Mavic CXP22's laced to Shimano 2200 (http://bicyclewheelwarehouse.com/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=28) hubs for $135. I've got the rims and can vouch for their strength. I used mine in a couple of cross races last year and they survived with no obvious problems. In one race, I hit something under the mud hard enough to rotate the handlebars and the rim stayed true. I've also been happy with the build of the two BWW wheelsets I've bought (one of which was the aforementioned CXP22's with Formula singlespeed hubs). I can't say anything about the Shimano 2200 hubs, but for the price they're probably OK.

Sweet!

Firsthand advice is just what I needed!

I second the bicycle wheel warehouse wheels. cxp-22's are awesome. I have them on my fixed/SS cross monster and I have ridden it- albiet slowly, on the horribly rocky trail we have in town once or twice. they have held up very well for 2 years under my weight- i am normally between 180 and 200. I have easily put over 2k miles on these wheels with only a few truings. i don't even remember the last time i trued them.

just checked- still true.

Alex R500 wheel set (http://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_STOR20.cgi?Action=Details&ProdID=1562) for $110. Alex DA 22 wheel set (http://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_STOR20.cgi?Action=Details&ProdID=1255) for $120. Both have 32 spoke front/back.

Wow, there is very little difference between those two. Tires and the type of ball bearing hubs? Isn't 3 cross spoke lacing stronger?


The BWW wheel does look good too. For his budget build I may even give him mine and buy something better with cartridge bearings for myself.

That BWW wheel set sounds like a better deal. I got an inexpensive Alex wheel set from them. I was/am very happy with the quality and their service. :thumb:

The specs of the CXP22 say the hub is only 8/9 speed compatible. Wouldn't work if you currently have a 10speed cassette.

no 10s here. If I could afford that I wouldn't be looking for budget wheels.
9s for my nice stuff and i think 8s for my bro's workhorse.

I don't see the correlation between having $150 wheels and affording a 10speed group. Fulcrum 7's and 5's can be found at or a little bit more than your price range and are very common in $2000 bikes. What is your budget for the group?

Just saying that I can't afford a $100 cassette and if i did i'd probably want a wheelset worth more than 100.
Not a judgement, just saying I've got some spare parts laying around I'm using to populate a new frame and am trying to keep cost down.

How are the Fulcrum 7s? I see they are sealed bearings which is nice. I was also thinking of just getting Performance's Titans for myself at around the same price for the better sealed bearings instead of the cup and cones I have to maintain.

Didn't realize you were going to use spare parts for the build so I apologize.

As far as Fulcrum 7's go everything I have read and heard about them is that they are pretty much bombproof. Bikeradar says the sealed bearings will last a very long time but unfortunately they do not come with the spoke count you are looking for.

Ribble had them on sale for $150 last week but they are now sold out. Maybe you can find a deal like that somewhere else.

I've bought a few of the front Titans because they go so cheap when they are on sale. They will take a lot of abuse on the road, but they didn't hold true for cyclocross. I didn't even really expect them too, as I weigh 180-190 during cross, and a 16h front rim just won't cut it for that, so I only used it for a couple races. The bearings have stayed good after a long time though.