jdawkins

Hello, anyone have an opinion?

dirtyphotons

i'd guess most people would say deep section tubular rims are best for cross, since they're light, aero, they cut well through mud and sand and can be run at low pressures.

i really have no experience with high end wheels though, so all i can give you is hearsay.

jdawkins

dp,
Thanks.
Could you recommend a rim, as you described?

dirtyphotons

well, again this is based on no personal experience, but i see people riding zipps in the higher categories. that seems outrageously expensive, since i have to figure that they will need to be replaced every two or three seasons, but who knows.

forum member cardstock has been kicking ass with his cane creeks, which are supposed to be more affordable but still quite light and strong. i believe he uses the aros 48mm:

briscoelab

Best wheel for real world cross: Mavic Reflex CD rim (tubular), Dura Ace/White Industries/Campy Record/DT Swiss hubs (take your pick), laced with Sapim CX-Ray spokes (if you can afford them) or DT Revolutions and alloy nipples. If you are heavier than 180 lbs or so, I'd use DT Comp spokes and brass nipples on teh drive side rear wheel.

These wheels will cost $400-$600 depending on spoke choices and wheel builder. You can buy two of sets for the price of a carbon deep section wheel. Two sets are always better than one for cross. Then you can have tires for different courses already glued up. Have Dugast Typhoons on one set and Dugast Rhinos on the other.

irish pat

I would take my roval wheels from my s-works and use them, They m ay only last a few races, but then I have an excuse to buy a set of zipps!!

cardstock

I am riding Cane Creek Aros 58s. I have found that they perform at a higher level than my old wheels and to me have been worth the added cost. For instance, this weekend, in Mass they were able to take a continued beating over lots of roots and rocks and train tracks, but also tracked perfectly through the deep sand in farmington CT on Sat. Yes they are expensive. Yes they are worth it.

[edit] by no means am I claiming them to be the best or right option for everyone. I am just giving my feed back on them, since there was little feedback from people who ACTUALLY raced on them when I was looking to buy them. The same goes for the Dugast Flying Doctors i am running. I do feel that they are a better tire than the tufos I had before, but again, it is just my opinion

briscoelab

Agreed, tufos are worthless when compared to a good tubular cross tire. My wife and I are running various Dugasts right now (32 and 34 mm Typhoons and 32 and 34mm Rhinos depending on the conditions). I do have a set of FMBs that I just glued on and I am excited to try them out.

My comment is just that while carbon wheels are nice (and we use them), for someone starting out, it is MUCH better to buy two sets of traditional wheels than one set of "nice" wheels.