I purchased myself a cyclocross bike and plan on trying it out in the fall for some fun. In the mean time I'd like to use this bike as my road training bike for traithlons etc. Instead of swapping tires out (which i know is cheaper) I though about getting a second wheelset. I've been searching around here but really not knowing anything about wheels it's making it harder to narrow down the information I want.

Bike has a Shimano Tiagra rear derailleur (if it matters) and a SRAM 9-speed, 11-26T cassette. If I bought a 2nd set of wheels I would need another cassete and hub for the rear also right? I don't want to dish out a thousand bucks or anything. Just looking for affordable and decent but those might not go together

The wheels on the bike now are Alex R500. Could I do something for a couple hundred bucks or is that just a pipe dream?

sure, no problem.

these are super durable wheels with 105 hubs for 160:

https://www.bicyclewheelwarehouse.com...d&productId=72

+ another 30 bucks or so for a cassette:

https://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...e.aspx?sc=FRGL

+ your choice of tires, anywhere from 30 bucks for a set to 100, depending on how nice of tires you want, thats up to you.

maybe I missed it while reading the site there.. if I ordered something from bicycle wheel warehouse would I have to put it together??

nope, they come fully assembled. and well built too.

One more dumb question concerning the cassette. If the stock is 11-26 will I have to adjust the chain length for 12-23?

hmm, i think you should be fine.