Best value for money disc thru axle wheelset options for heavy touring/audax

[bludger]

Unfortunately found a crack in my rear wheel. Big oof.



I am in touch with chain reaction regarding warranty but I get the feeling that the time for a new wheelset is soon, especially with a big ride to Spain with the kitchen sink on the back on the horizon.

On my last bike I had a very well trusted old 105 hubbed, Ambrosio alloy rimmed wheelset that rode like the mutts nuts. I have looked at spa for a hand built option but also products like the Mavic all road range. Broadly out my requirements are:

Tubeless ready and well known for actually sealing up and doing the job properly.

Disc brake ready (ideally 6 bolt)

12 mm thru axle.

Shimano 10 speed ready

Suitable for combined loads of 140kg (factoring bike, rider and cargo)

Suitable for gnarly surfaces (for instance the arenberg which I did on my current wheelset) as I will also use them for cyclocross racing

Fitting 28-33mm tyres (preferably even 25s but I accept this may be asking a bit much).

I am not that fussed about weight, and recognise my wheels may need to be a bit north of 1.9 kg.

Ideally I wouldn't like to spend more than £300 but if that's what it costs then what it costs. Definitely a hard limit at £450.

[trekker12]

I have no experience of them myself but a friend is very pleased with his mavic UST Allroad which are on Evans for £225 a set. He's only ridden offroad and without touring load though but they seem to be pretty tough.

https://www.evanscycles.com/mavic-allroad-ust-tubeless-6-bolt-disc-brake-700c-road-wheelset-EV348913

You might need to factor in the cost of Mavic only approved tyres, I'm not sure though, you might be able to use what you already have but I thought I read somewhere the UST was designed as a rim and tyre combination.

[Brucey]

FWIW the failure you have is a very common one; a crack that is near the rim joint. What happens is that the rims are made badly, and the spoke tension is least even at (or near) the rim joint, else the wheel isn't round.   In your case the crack is immediately adjacent to the joint, which means the rim would otherwise have had a distinct 'hop' in it.  Failures which occur about three holes away from the join are more often associated with rims that have a flat spot at the rim joint.

Anyway I think you have a 'big ask' in that you want the same wheelset to be strong enough for the heavy touring/audax use as well as light enough for racing.  Given that you will be using different tyres for each task there is something to be said for having a separate wheelset for each task, else you will be buying a wheelset that is a compromise for one or the other task plus you will have the schlep of swapping tyres as often as you swap tasks.

cheers

[bludger]

Yes I'm not looking for F1 grade racing wheels. Tbh I race on a steel bike anyway, the emphasis is definitely on the heavy laden touring shenanigans. Basically I want them to be suitable for banging about in a cross race and have fun.

[jiberjaber]

I have had a similar failure on my Hunt wheels twice now, replaced FOC each time but last one only lasted just under a year!

My first Audax & touring bike had H SON Plus all round and was bomb proof, if you get the matt back rims and use it on a disc bike they look like deep section wheels and are very strong!

Looks like you can get a none dynamo set for circa £268 at Spa Cycles with Deore hubs.  Tricky bit is you would like  t/a which they dont have as a option so you would have to ring, the problem then is potentially joining a build queue - though they did once do my a SON28 HSON+ front wheel in 3 days from order to doorstep...

https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m2b0s178p3189/SPA-CYCLES-Handbuilt-Wheelset-Shimano-Deore-with-H-Plus-SON-rims

Other wheelbuilders certainly have t/a displayed as an option, for example Malcom @ Cycle Clinic but at an increase in price (£400)
https://thecycleclinic.co.uk/collections/road-disc-brake-wheels/products/borg22-disc-road-cx-wheelset-front-and-rear-heavy-rider-32-spoke

[DuncanM]

<snip interesting bit about rim joints>

Anyway I think you have a 'big ask' in that you want the same wheelset to be strong enough for the heavy touring/audax use as well as light enough for racing.  Given that you will be using different tyres for each task there is something to be said for having a separate wheelset for each task, else you will be buying a wheelset that is a compromise for one or the other task plus you will have the schlep of swapping tyres as often as you swap tasks.

He specifically said:

I am not that fussed about weight, and recognise my wheels may need to be a bit north of 1.9 kg.

The compromise has been decided upon - so long as it's strong enough for both the load of touring and the bashing of cyclocross, weight is not a problem.

There should be a reasonable choice of disk road/cross wheels around the £350 mark, I guess the question is about which components they should be built from, and if they will take the touring weight.  Maybe something like this with the 32 spoke build would suffice? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stans-Grail-disc-wheels-for-Road-Cyclocross-CX-and-MTB/162075143156?hash=item25bc6e6bf4:g:QL0AAOSwYshUZmu1 Ebay link because the website doesn't list prices but does have contact details so you can get them cheaper direct - I have no affiliation or experience of this particular wheelbuilder, this is just an illustration.

[rafletcher]

Have a look at some of the offerings here:

https://thecycleclinic.co.uk/collections/road-disc-brake-wheelsets

[Dtcman]

Planet X:

https://www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/wheels/road-bike-wheels
 

[Brucey]

He specifically said:

I am not that fussed about weight, and recognise my wheels may need to be a bit north of 1.9 kg.

The compromise has been decided upon - so long as it's strong enough for both the load of touring and the bashing of cyclocross, weight is not a problem.

its the 1.9kg bit that concerns me. Gawd know whether that 'wheel weight' includes skewers or not in this crazy world.... .  In any event to my mind you are only going to bring a strong touring wheelset (whatever that means) around 1.9kg by spending money on boutique-ish hubs of some kind. Hope or DT spring to mind.  I don't think you'll do it with middle of the range TA shimano hubs for example.

cheers

[Paul H]

I've had two rims split like that, in neither case did I consider it an excuse for a new set of bling wheels required replacement wheels.  Unless you were planning to replace them anyway a simple rim transplant (Assuming you can find one with a similar ERD) will return you to the position you were in before noticing the crack.  I'd do that even if you get a new set, you could keep them for the hammering they'll get from cross.
For new wheels, your requirements are outside my experience, but I have preference for cup and cone bearings and I'd need a compelling reason to look beyond Shimano.

[grams]

Best value is always going to be building them yourself (it's not hard!) and then you can choose whichever rim and hub combo you like.

[bludger]

I have no experience of them myself but a friend is very pleased with his mavic UST Allroad which are on Evans for £225 a set. He's only ridden offroad and without touring load though but they seem to be pretty tough.

https://www.evanscycles.com/mavic-allroad-ust-tubeless-6-bolt-disc-brake-700c-road-wheelset-EV348913

You might need to factor in the cost of Mavic only approved tyres, I'm not sure though, you might be able to use what you already have but I thought I read somewhere the UST was designed as a rim and tyre combination.

Brilliant. Cheers have got a set of these in for click and collect. 120 kg weight limit ( https://shop.mavic.com/en-gb/allroad-rr0994.html#1028=3283 ) should be fine in adding extra motivation to shift the pounds in time for October 

Grateful for the other suggestions too especially the cycle clinic ones - maybe for days to come where there is a bit more pocket money around. I would like to build wheels one day but since I have a 300 next Saturday I don't think a wheelbuilding crash course would be a good option.

[suffolkngood]

Exactly which rim will depend on how often the load spirals.

The ryde andare 321 is truly robust but heavy. You end up with heavy wheels for sure but one that cant fail. It the rim I use for customers over 140 kg to avoid boomerang. Hubs can shimano xt m756 6 bolt or the xt m765 in 36h drlling. Triple butted or single butted spokes are wise. 10 speed shimano is great for heavier riders as these hubs can be had in 36h drilling although shimano have stopped making them. Supplies still exist.

The kinlin xr 22rts with washers and triple  butted spokes is reliable. My guess is loads above 120kg day in day out will challenge them in the end as your limited to 32h drilling.

Most touring rims are simply not designed to take loads like this. Cargo bike rim's are. Thecrydes weight limit is 180kg.

Lower spoke count wheels will in then give trouble. It's simply a matter of time.

[bludger]

The Mavic Allroads arrived and are now on the bike with a pair of 31mm Vittoria Terreno dry tyres. I was absolutely blown away at how easy the mounting was to do. Astonishing.

I am not completely ruling out getting a handmade rear wheel in the fullness of time that is rated for more cargo but right now money is not in great supply so if the Mavics can do me for a year or two I'll be a happy man.

Thanks for your suggestions everyone, taking them for their first proper test on Saturday in the London Orbital 300.

[Brucey]

the mavics are a 24 spoke wheelset; I think they would work nicely as a wheelset for unladen riding, but are less likely to last well if you use them for loaded touring.  I suspect that you might yet end up with two wheelsets as suggested previously.


For less than £20 each you can buy a ryde sputnik rim (in 32h) and re-rim you present wheel. Probably you will need new spokes too but you might get lucky.  This would make a pretty strong wheelset for touring.

cheers

[grams]

I’ve done lots of laden miles and offroading on my 24 spoke Mavics. They’ll be fine.

[bludger]

Not the most critical criterion but they do look nice too

[Brucey]

I’ve done lots of laden miles and offroading on my 24 spoke Mavics. They’ll be fine.

I've seen multiple set of mavic wheels fall apart for no good reason. YMMV.