[bigduddy]

Hey, all-

I wanted to upgrade my stock wheels (Bontrager dual duty XC with deore hubs).

My ride is a ’05 Tassajara hardtail that I use full time for both commuting (ie roads) and trail-riding. I’m a novice rider.

When I hit the trails its nothing too hardcore. No drops more than 1 foot if that….roots, rocks, loose gravel in Norcal. I’m about 215lb with all my gear and I want something that I can “grow” into as I get more skilled as a rider.

I have a budget of about $550+/- $50. I was looking at Cane Creek Zonos team disc wheels as a prebuilt set, but I wanted to get a quote on a custom set as well. Cane Creek says their zonos wheels are totally 100% hand built. I've seen a few odd cases of people having problems with the freehub(?) but far more people seem to love these. I can get them for $570 with skewers.

As for a custom build:

Rims: I was reading good things about the DT Swiss 5.1d. I think the 4.1d might be a little small for my size? I doubt I will ever run a wheel bigger than 2.3”

Hubs: This is difficult. I was looking at the Hope Pro2, but most places only have in black and I was looking for a little bling. I was also looking at maybe a Hope XC (front), Bulb (rear) combo. Other choices, DT Swiss 240s –out of my price range most likely, same with CK hubs.

Spokes: DT comp or super comp most likely although if I could eek out the CX-Ray’s I thought that might be a worth while upgrade.

I’d probably get some red or green skewers and make the nipples match that….

I don’t run tubeless and don’t plan on it…..

I sent out an email to Larry and will probably call up Mike Garcia. I was also looking at Jenson, Speedgoat and Universal Cycles. In fact Jenson has a DT Swiss 4.1d set of wheels with a 240s hub for about $550. They are built by DT Swiss and Jenson wasn't sure about the spokes they came with. The other problem is I think they are a bit light-duty for my size. Seem like a great price though--Universal's wheel builder has them for over $650, speedgoat over $700 I believe.

I know you guys are probably sick of these types of threads. i've been doing forum searches for about 20 days now, 5 hours a day, and I thought it was time to get some opionions directly! Thanks

Matt

 

[40hills]

How can Jenson not know what spokes they're built with??? That's lousy. I would want to know exactly what spokes are on those... or else you'll end up getting stuck with straight gauge iron coat hanger spokes. I like buying online, but that's the kind of thing that you have to watch out for. Otherwise, those are excellent wheels. As far as being too light for you, I'm thinking they'd be o.k. since you don't seem to be doing anything too extreme. The 4.1d is a good reasonably lightweight rim, but it's not a noodle. Also, I don't recall if they are 28h or 32h, but if they're 32h then that makes them even stronger.

 

[baraant]

You might want to check my post below questioning the reliability of the Cane Creek Zonos freehub pawls. I just sent an email to their customer service asking the question I had on the pawl retainer spring. If their answer verifies what I guessed then the freehub problems people have been having my very well be related to improper assembly.

I really do love these rims they are fast as hell and my control is great. If it wasn't for the freehub problem I've been having I would no doubt buy these again, with the sealed bearings and bearing adjustment system they have on these rims they work great. Although you do need to learn how to fix these yourself because your lbs isn't going to have a clue.

 

[bigduddy]

Yeah I read your thread. I've seen a few cases of people complaining about this, but it seems far more love them and have no problems. Its hard to tell if its coincidental or suggestive of a design problem.

 

[bigduddy]

How can Jenson not know what spokes they're built with??? That's lousy.

Yeah tell me about it. Maybe I'll call Jenson or email/call DT Swiss

 

[Cheers!]

In fact Jenson has a DT Swiss 4.1d set of wheels with a 240s hub for about $550. They are built by DT Swiss and Jenson wasn't sure about the spokes they came with. The other problem is I think they are a bit light-duty for my size. Seem like a great price though--Universal's wheel builder has them for over $650, speedgoat over $700 I believe.
Matt

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/WH406A12-Dt+Swiss+240S++Xr+41D+Disc+Wheels.aspx

I saw those too. Seems like a bargin at 545.98 for front and rear. I too wondered what spokes are on those wheels. I have a suspicion that they were not built by DT swiss. DT swiss only sells two XC wheel prebuilt - XR 1480 and XR 1540.

But the price is pretty good.
Parts alone are:
240S front $150
240S Rear $288
Spokes and Nipples estimated at 1 dollar each would be $64
Rims DT 4.1D $70 each
Total: $642

Compare $642 for parts compared with $546 for prebuilt ready to go wheels equals good deal to me. Try to find out what spokes are used. Maybe they are the DT-Swiss Champion 2.0

 

[bigduddy]

They're not built by Jenson. Jenson said they were built by DT Swiss and they have been "very sucessful" whatever that means. Who knows they could have been hand-built by DT swiss. They are a great deal, but I don't like the black box factor.

 

[Cheers!]

TO be honest. I think it's still worth a shot. Even if they are poorly tensioned you could bring them a LBS for perhaps around 50 bucks and have them rework the spokes, or even maybe replace them if they aren't your liking.

546 is a deal.

Else you can recheck the tension yourself. I site says the wheels are built using DT swiss stainless spokes. But almost all spokes are stainless no?

 

[PointBoy]

I have been running the Zonos wheels for about 6 months now; I ride a lot and they have a lot of miles on them in such a short time. I have had no issues with the freehub; the only problem that I have with the rear hub is that it requires frequent adjustment as it seems to work loose far too often. Cane Creek sent me a new pre-load ring but that didn't seem to help; to make matters worse adjusting the hubs is a pain in the butt. On my other bike I have crossmax XL's and have had to have the rear hub replaced twice in the last year; now that hub is a piece of crap (not intending to offend anyone).

 

[baraant]

adjusting cane creek rear hub

Point, I have found adjusting the rear hub to be very easy. I keep the bike on the car rack or just turn it upside down, pop the plastic ring off then loosen the adjusting screw on the retaining ring and then turn it by hand until it's tight. Then I spin the wheel for a few minutes, try to push the tire side to side to see if it moves and if it does loosen the screw and tighten it a little more. All in all it only takes about 5 minutes. I have found that once I reach the tightest setting then to back it off about 1/16-1/8 turn so it rolls more freely.

 

[bigduddy]

Bump!

Well its d-day folks. I'm going to order after my ride this morning. DT Swiss emailed me. They rims at Jenson were handbuilt by DT Swiss and use supercomp spokes. I'm leaning this way because I'll have the 240s hubs to rebuild if I ever need to, instead of a proprietary hub from cane creek. A little worried about the 4.1d holding up with my size, but I think it'll be okay. Thoughts?

Matt

 

[Cheers!]

Now you got me tempted at whipping out my credit card...

 

[bigduddy]

I dropped the ball.

I couldn't pull the trigger. I had the cart ready, my CC info put in and all I needed to do was hit submit and I couldn't do it.

DAMN YOU WHEELSETS!!!

I'm feeling totally emasculated. I'm a shell of a man now. I don't know what to do. I can't make a decision.

So why didn't I pull the trigger? I forgot about $45 in CA taxes. That pushed the price to $590. Secondly, I'm 215lbs and I'd like these wheels to last several years as I get more experienced. I think they just seem a little light for me. No I don't do any drops, but I don't want to worry about them every time I hit some rocks. The Hope Pro 2 laced to 5.1d with CX-ray spokes is only a few bucks more at Universal Cycles. I'm still thinking hard about the Zonos team issue wheels....

CK's or Industry Nine's are just 150 more than I want to spend. What if I upped my budget to $650? Should I call Larry or Mike G? I don't know what to do. I haven't been able to get out of bed all day. I've read just about every single thread in the Wheels forum.

If I just give one of you guys $650 will you make a decision for me? Help me. I'm dying a slow rolling, draggy death over here.

Edit: I am a broken and defeated man

 

[Spin Cycle]

I dropped the ball.

I couldn't pull the trigger. I had the cart ready, my CC info put in and all I needed to do was hit submit and I couldn't do it.

DAMN YOU WHEELSETS!!!

I'm feeling totally emasculated. I'm a shell of a man now. I don't know what to do. I can't make a decision.

So why didn't I pull the trigger? I forgot about $45 in CA taxes. That pushed the price to $590. Secondly, I'm 215lbs and I'd like these wheels to last several years as I get more experienced. I think they just seem a little light for me. No I don't do any drops, but I don't want to worry about them every time I hit some rocks. The Hope Pro 2 laced to 5.1d with CX-ray spokes is only a few bucks more at Universal Cycles. I'm still thinking hard about the Zonos team issue wheels....

CK's or Industry Nine's are just 150 more than I want to spend. What if I upped my budget to $650? Should I call Larry or Mike G? I don't know what to do. I haven't been able to get out of bed all day. I've read just about every single thread in the Wheels forum.

If I just give one of you guys $650 will you make a decision for me? Help me. I'm dying a slow rolling, draggy death over here.

Edit: I am a broken and defeated man

Check your email !! Call Larry or Mike and have one of them build your wheels at our size it really pays off to have custom built wheels! and it hard not to go with a stans wheel it so so easy to run tubless !! and if your in goat head country it means NO more flats !!

Stans 355 ZTR / Hugi 240/CX rays!!

 

[PointBoy]

You might want to wait a few months until Mavic releases their revamped Crossmanx line; from what I have seen it looks promising. Do a search; there have been a few threads highlighting the changes.

 

[bigduddy]

Got the email, checked out the new Crossmax. My disease (obsessive compulsive) prevents me from waiting months to do this. I'm going to call Mike G and Larry both tomorrow.

New thought. CK rear and hope 2 front? Can I get the colors to match? Best of both worlds?

 

[bigduddy]

And no, I still haven't gotten out of bed yet. I'm pretty much useless until I get this sorted out.

 

[Spin Cycle]

Got the email, checked out the new Crossmax. My disease (obsessive compulsive) prevents me from waiting months to do this. I'm going to call Mike G and Larry both tomorrow.

New thought. CK rear and hope 2 front? Can I get the colors to match? Best of both worlds?

Have you looked at tune ?? these will blow your budget to h#LL, but they sure are light, fast, bling, bling and did I mention expensive !

 

[glagola1]

I bought a set of Cronos Ti deep V wheels back in 1998 and I'm still riding on them. I've rebuilt them once and rarely need to true them. The only problem I've had is that the rims are starting to get really worn down due to the brake pads. I weigh 190 and ride fairly hard. My next set of wheels is going to be from Cane Creek. I enjoy supporting a smaller company that has stellar customer service and who makes terrific rims. It just makes me feel warm and fuzzy... just like my Gunnar.

 

[baraant]

follow up - get the cane creeks

I hate to add to your confusion, but since my earlier post and my CC rear hub problems I got a call from CC customer service. They said I have an earlier pair of the zonos rims and after 2004 they modified the design. The customer service guy explained the revision to me and he even offered to rebuild the rear for free, minus the cost of the new bearings.

I only weigh 160 lbs, but these rims are fast as heck!!! I would highly recommend CC rims. Whatever you do get the disc version.