w00die

I am getting ready to get a set of wheels for my Cypress, it currently has stock single wall on it and I want something more sturdy. I am on an extremely fixed income/budget so I need to know if i can get away with some "lower" components and be ok?

I need to know what the specific differences are between:

Shimano HB-M525 Deore Hubs

and

Shimano FH-M756 XT Hubs

Are there any differences that should make me as a 290lbs Uber Clyde choose to pay the extra for the XT's?

Also would like to know if any clydes here ride Mavic A319 rims? and their opinions on them.

I'd really like to get a set of wheels with XT hubs, A719 rims, 36 Wheelsmith spokes and brass nipples.
What I can afford though is Deore hubs, A319 rims, 36 Wheelsmith spokes and brass nipples.

Will I be ok on the Deore/319 wheels? Will they hold up to regular country road riding on decent roads?


Thank you for all input.

evblazer

I've got a set of deore with 319s on my xtracycle.
Largest load on it to date (a while ago so my weight was up)
70lbs bike/bags/supplies
100lbs purchased at store (60+lbs of dog food)
Nearly 300lbs of rider.

So far the only hit they took was when I pedaled hard when the chain dropped off the inside. Broke 4 spokes bent another half dozen. Continued to ride the sucker home with 4 12 packs of diet coke and other groceries on it.
Note I ride 700x32(35?) Marathon Plus tires which help take the load. They also were frustrating to put on *shrug* Well worth it though.

The bike is now my utility only bike but it had about 3500 miles of commuting on it before that. Chip and seal, potholes, expansion joints even crashing the bike when my mind wandered and a island in a parking lot mysteriously appeared.

andymac

In my experience the stock Deore level hubs hold up fine but they allow a lot more water in than even the LX level so they need repacking much more frequently. I commute 35 miles a day, often in the rain so this is a big consideration for me. One of my bikes came stock with the Deore and I have gotten pretty proficient at repacking them, I built the wheels for my winter beater with LX level and they require much less maintenance. If you are a fair weather rider then there is probably little to be gained by going to the XT level.

jaxgtr

I have some of the Deore LX hubs and have had no issues with them. The 319 and 719 rims are very nice, I have a set of the A119 and while they are a little soft and hard to true when needed, I have yet to have issues. If I had to do it over, I would have moved to the 319's.

chewybrian 

I got a set of XT, 36H, 319's on Ebay for $230 including shipping. No issues, would recommend them. I also saw the same set as high as $375, so it could pay to shop patiently. I'm 215, commute lots of miles, haul groceries and such; also riding a brevet series on them.

w00die

Great responses folks, I thank you much. I will likely go for the Deore/319 set unless I get a little extra and then I'll move up to the xt/319 option. I was mainly concerned that the 319 rim would hold up and that there was no structural difference on a practical level for the hubs. I figured if I went with the Deore I'd just make sure to service them more often.

You have all been very helpful.

+karma to all.

cyccommute 

To be honest, the hub and rim make little difference in the strength of a wheel. The wire bits that hold them together is far more important to the overall strength and longevity of the wheel. If you are having these wheels built, go with the Deore hubs and the A319 but tie them together with an Alpine II spoke or a Wheelsmith DH13 spoke. Both have thicker heads and elbows to make them stronger. I can't vouch for the DH13 but the Alpines are far superior to other spokes. My mountain bike wheel made with them lasted for ~8 years before the hub wore out. Spokes are just fine

w00die

I was planning on having them built with wheelsmith butted spokes. Thanks for the input.

socalrider

I bought a set of the XT hubs with A719 from Rocky Mountain cycles on ebay over a year ago and have used them on my cross bike with no issues.. Lots of offroad punishment.. I had them checked out at my lbs for spoke tension and there were no issues.. I would give them a look.. There price is pretty close to cost just for the parts..

https://cgi.ebay.com/2008-XT-Mavic-A7...QQcmdZViewItem

they also sell the a319 with xt hubs for a little less: https://cgi.ebay.com/XT-M765-Mavic-A3...QQcmdZViewItem