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XPOST: Silver tubeless/compatible rims (29er)?

2002 Views 22 Replies 12 Participants Last post by JST169, Feb 18, 2011

JST169

Discussion Starter · Feb 17, 2011

My current wheelset is Hope Pro2/Wheelsmith DB/Arch. I stripped the black anodization off the rims and polished them up. It was a lot of work and I'm not super thrilled with them. It's been a few years and it's time to start thinking about new wheels...

I'm looking for silver tubeless (or easily tubeless compatible/convertable) rims. They'd have to be 29er rims and in the same category as the Arch (XC, not superlight, not overly burly). I'm 165 in the buff, probably 175 ready to ride. I ride a rigid 29er SS (disc brakes) on the rocky, rooty, sometimes unfriendly trails of southeastern PA. I'm not particularly hard on wheels, but I did not have luck with NoTubes 355s a handful of years back. The Arch is about the lowest level of durability I'm looking for.

Any suggestions? Wider than the Arch is OK, but I don't want narrower. I'm not a weight weenie. Tubeless compatibility is a requirement. I currently use Nevegal/Rampage, and plan on going to an Ardent and/or Conti (X King or Race King).

I emailed NoTubes and they said they're not planning on any silver rims.

Thanks for your help!

Jeremy

1 - 20 of 23 Posts

mikesee

· #2 · Feb 17, 2011

Bontrager Duster rims tick all your boxes. Similar level of 'burl' to the Arch, little bit wider, killer tubeless.

Currently available in silver, 32h.

JST169

Discussion Starter · #3 · Feb 17, 2011

mikesee said:
Bontrager Duster rims tick all your boxes. Similar level of 'burl' to the Arch, little bit wider, killer tubeless.

Currently available in silver, 32h.

Nice. Thanks, Mikesee. It looks like they're genearally only available through Trek/Bontrager dealers. Do you offer them?

To run them tubeless, is the TLR strip mandatory or can the NoTubes tape and/or strip be used?

Do you know the max recommended spoke tension?

Thank you,

Jeremy

two-one

· #4 · Feb 17, 2011

I've got some Salsa Delgado Race rims in polished/brushed silver, looks really trick, and made them Ghetto-tubeless. I heard a Bontrager rimstrip solves the tubeless issue too!

jeremy524

· #5 · Feb 17, 2011

I know you probably do not want to go through the trouble of stripping and polishing a set of rims again, but that is exactly what Garth Weinberg (singlespeed champion riding a Niner) did and they turned out nice.

I just had a set of white Crests laced up and if I would have seen this article first, I would have done the same thing. Or, although I am very partial to Notubes, I would have taken a serious look at the silver Bontrager Duster rims.

Here is a link with pics:

bloo

· #6 · Feb 17, 2011

i have seen some pics of some silver Salsa rims in here somewhere, I think they were Semis but not 100% sure. nonetheless, they looked fancy and wish I had known about them before i built up my current wheelset.

mikesee

· #7 · Feb 17, 2011 (Edited)

JST169 said:
It looks like they're genearally only available through Trek/Bontrager dealers. Do you offer them?

Correct, and yes.

JST169 said:
To run them tubeless, is the TLR strip mandatory or can the NoTubes tape and/or strip be used?

I'd think you could get them to inflate with just tape and valve, but I'd also expect burpage from that setup when really getting after it. The Bontrager TLR strips are the bomb--not sure why you'd run these rims any other way.

JST169 said:
Do you know the max recommended spoke tension?

I think it's ~115kgf but I've found that these rims don't (long term) like that much tension. I build them to ~105kgf as an average/max and they seem to last longer that way.

Cheers,

MC

JMac47

· #8 · Feb 17, 2011

Sharp looking

bloo said:
i have seen some pics of some silver Salsa rims in here somewhere they looked fancy and wish I had known about them before i built up my current wheelset.

But a little too flexy given the OP's specs. I just had a couple spokes/nipples fixed and had my bros Salsa wheel trued yesterday and the shop was commenting on these rims being pretty light duty with straight gauge spokes and alloy nipples, Said they'd be better setup w/double butted/brass nipples. Specially for a heavier rider. Another ride buddy had them and could stand next to bike with one leg on crank and have the wheel fold underneath him, would spring right back into place. Needless to say he replaced them shortly after. :skep:

bloo

· #9 · Feb 17, 2011

ooh, that's not good! i'll pass then!

FreuderLocks

· #10 · Feb 17, 2011

Velocity makes both the VXC and Dyad come in silver and a 29er size. Check them out here http://www.velocityusa.com/default.asp?contentID=658

Hope this is of some help.
-FreuderLocks

fritZman

· #11 · Feb 17, 2011

Velocity P35: http://www.velocityusa.com/default.asp?contentID=715

and their tubeless kit: http://www.velocityusa.com/default.asp?contentID=745

@ 595gr, not the lightest rim but the wide 35mm cross section will add volume to most tires and soften your rigid's ride a bit.

JST169

Discussion Starter · #12 · Feb 18, 2011

Great information and suggestions. Thank you.

I think I'll look into the Dusters a bit more. The Salsa Delgado Race rims sound too flexy, and I've always heard the Velocity rims are made from a rather soft alloy or minimal profile, allowing them to be damaged more easily.

Mikesee, do you offer the rims separately or only built up?

Jeremy

JMac47

· #13 · Feb 18, 2011

Have him build 'em!

JST169 said:
Great information and suggestions. Thank you.

I think I'll look into the Dusters a bit more. The Salsa Delgado Race rims sound too flexy, and I've always heard the Velocity rims are made from a rather soft alloy or minimal profile, allowing them to be damaged more easily.

Mikesee, do you offer the rims separately or only built up?

Jeremy

He could have them built them up by now for you in the time he's given on advice.

BruceBrown

· #14 · Feb 18, 2011

3

JST169 said:
I'm looking for silver tubeless (or easily tubeless compatible/convertable) rims. They'd have to be 29er rims and in the same category as the Arch (XC, not superlight, not overly burly). I'm 165 in the buff, probably 175 ready to ride. I ride a rigid 29er SS (disc brakes) on the rocky, rooty, sometimes unfriendly trails of southeastern PA. I'm not particularly hard on wheels, but I did not have luck with NoTubes 355s a handful of years back. The Arch is about the lowest level of durability I'm looking for.

Any suggestions? Wider than the Arch is OK, but I don't want narrower. I'm not a weight weenie. Tubeless compatibility is a requirement. I currently use Nevegal/Rampage, and plan on going to an Ardent and/or Conti (X King or Race King).

I emailed NoTubes and they said they're not planning on any silver rims.

Thanks for your help!

Jeremy

Velocity Blunt is a nice XC wider rim (28mm wide) that converts easily with the Bontrager Rhythm plastic strips and comes in silver. It's not a polished silver though. 489g per rim.

Here's a view with 2.4 Ardents mounted up tubeless:

I've run them with yellow tape and DIY valves only as well (Karma 1.9's and Raven 2.2's):

Currently, they are wearing the Continental Race King 2.2's with the Bonty strips and sealant. They've been that way for nearly a year.

See less See more

jager7

· #15 · Feb 18, 2011

Do dusters have the offset spoke holes?

moschika

· #16 · Feb 18, 2011

BruceBrown said:
Velocity Blunt is a nice XC wider rim (28mm wide) that converts easily with the Bontrager Rhythm plastic strips and comes in silver. It's not a polished silver though. 489g per rim.

second the Blunts.

JST169

Discussion Starter · #17 · Feb 18, 2011

moschika said:
second the Blunts.

Anyone have experience with both Blunts and Dusters? Am I offbase in my thinking that Velocity's rims aren't generally as strong as, say, the NoTubes or Dusters?

I've seen a lot of wheelsets built with Blunts around these boards!

Jeremy

jeffj

· #18 · Feb 18, 2011

jager7 said:
Do dusters have the offset spoke holes?

Yes (just built one yesterday for a friend).

BruceBrown

· #19 · Feb 18, 2011

JST169 said:
Anyone have experience with both Blunts and Dusters? Am I offbase in my thinking that Velocity's rims aren't generally as strong as, say, the NoTubes or Dusters?

I've seen a lot of wheelsets built with Blunts around these boards!

Jeremy

Which NoTubes rim are you comparing to the Blunt?

New Blunt SL tubeless just announced here. It will be narrower and lighter than the current Blunt.

JST169

Discussion Starter · #20 · Feb 18, 2011

BruceBrown said:
Which NoTubes rim are you comparing to the Blunt?

New Blunt SL tubeless just announced here. It will be narrower and lighter than the current Blunt.

Bruce, I'm not directly comparing the Blunts to the NoTubes rims. I am currently riding Arch rims (self-polished) and was looking for a rim similar in strength and intended application (rigid SS on rocky/roots/techy trails). The Duster and Blunt surfaced as probably the best options.

Thanks for the post on the Blunt SL. I wonder if they'd fit the bill for what I'm looking for. Seems likely, but I hesitate a bit when I see the "race day" moniker in Velocity's description. I'm looking for an every day wheelset.

Jeremy

1 - 20 of 23 Posts