Weight limits on racy MTB wheelsets?

Not even close. Mavic Crossmax SL (not the disc version) is 680/820. American Classic makes some
665/794. I use the Crossmax SL front and a *special* rear that a guy at Hed made out of a road rim
for me (about 760g). Totals out under 1500 g. I use this setup for uphill XC races.

-- Jens

"Phil, Squid-in-Training" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hey all... what's the word on light wheelsets?

Is 1700 grams in the stupid light category for race XC wheelsets? Particularly the Ritchey Pro Z
Mountain wheelset (848g F/919g R)? I currently have Deore hubs laced to a Mavic 221 in the front,
Rhyno Lite in the rear, MutanoRaptor 2.4s mounted on both and it's a dog. I figure a lighter
wheelset might do the trick for racing and stuff. This would not include jumping anything or any
significant drops.

I range anywhere from 135 to 145 lbs. (ha!)

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training
i.e. Poser-in-Training

[email hidden] schreef ...

Quoted message said:

Hey all... what's the word on light wheelsets?

Is 1700 grams in the stupid light category for race XC wheelsets? Particularly the Ritchey Pro Z
Mountain wheelset (848g F/919g R)? I currently have Deore hubs laced to a Mavic 221 in the front,
Rhyno Lite in the rear, MutanoRaptor 2.4s mounted on both and it's a dog. I figure a lighter
wheelset might do the trick for racing and stuff. This would not include jumping anything or any
significant drops.

I range anywhere from 135 to 145 lbs. (ha!)

FWIW: we have used a 830 gr. front/980 gr. rear setup for years on an off-road tandem without any
serious trouble. And we weigh 290-300 lbs.

--
Regards, Marten

"Phil, Squid-in-Training" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hey all... what's the word on light wheelsets?

Is 1700 grams in the stupid light category for race XC wheelsets? Particularly the Ritchey Pro Z
Mountain wheelset (848g F/919g R)?

A lot of these lightweight wheels get most of their weight savings from special lightweight hubs. If
you look at the rims and spokes, they're not that much different from anything else. Spokes only
weigh 4-6g each -- there's not much weight savings there, and the rim has to be stronger to
compensate. So if you built conventional wheels using lightweight hubs (Chris King, Hugi 240), you'd
probably get similar weight results -- but have a stronger, more reliable wheel.

Quoted message said:

I currently have Deore hubs laced to a Mavic 221 in the front, Rhyno Lite in the rear,
MutanoRaptor 2.4s mounted on both and it's a dog. I figure a lighter wheelset might do the trick
for racing and stuff.

Geez, forget the wheels, and just get some lighter, faster tires. Those tires are heavy -- you could
probably shave a pound and a half right there.

However, rolling resistance will make a *much* bigger difference than weight. In fact, within
reason, the weight doesn't matter. With the same fast tires, average wheels and light wheels will
feel the same.

I use semi-slicks, which are reasonably light, but very fast. If you want a good, all around XC
tread, try some Hutchinson Python Airlites. Light weight and low rolling resistance ususally go hand
in hand with tires -- the same things that make a tire light, also make it fast -- but not always.

Quoted message said:

This would not include jumping anything or any significant drops.

I range anywhere from 135 to 145 lbs. (ha!)

I'm about 170+ LB. I've ridden for years on "stupidlight" (<400g) rims, like Mavic 230 and Bontrager
Red Label. I'm basically a XC rider, but I do ride a lot of rocky trails. Even so, my wheels have
held up very well. I've worn out the sidewalls on two sets with only a couple of minor truing
adjustments over the life of the wheels. Frankly, I think it's all in the build. You're more likely
to get better wheels from a good hand-builder than with those boutique sets like Ritchey Pro Z or
Mavic Helium. The Ritchey OCR (and Bontrager/Velocity asym) rims are a good idea, though.

Bottom line? Just forget the damn fancy wheels, and get some faster tires.

Matt O.

Quoted message said:

A lot of these lightweight wheels get most of their weight savings from

special

Quoted message said:

lightweight hubs. If you look at the rims and spokes, they're not that

much

Quoted message said:

different from anything else. Spokes only weigh 4-6g each -- there's not

much

Quoted message said:

weight savings there, and the rim has to be stronger to compensate. So if

you

Quoted message said:

built conventional wheels using lightweight hubs (Chris King, Hugi 240),

you'd

Quoted message said:

probably get similar weight results -- but have a stronger, more reliable

wheel.

I've been looking at Hugi hubs lately... They're very attractive. The front isn't as important, as
Sun Ringle's Sun of Bubba hub seems to be a good lightweight hub too.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I currently have Deore hubs laced to a Mavic 221 in the front, Rhyno

Lite in

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the rear, MutanoRaptor 2.4s mounted on both and it's a dog. I figure a lighter wheelset might do
the trick for racing and stuff.

Geez, forget the wheels, and just get some lighter, faster tires. Those

tires

Quoted message said:

are heavy -- you could probably shave a pound and a half right there.

Whoops, I forgot to mention that this wheelset is my only wheelset right now. See below:

Quoted message said:

I use semi-slicks, which are reasonably light, but very fast. If you want

a

Quoted message said:

good, all around XC tread, try some Hutchinson Python Airlites. Light

weight

Quoted message said:

and low rolling resistance ususally go hand in hand with tires -- the same things that make a tire
light, also make it fast -- but not always.

I'm all over that already 😉

My Giant XTC2 came with Python Airlights, and I've had them off in favor of the MutanoRaptors (620
grams on a scale) specifically because my OEM rear rim kept going out of true and eventually crapped
itself. So currently, I have a big, heavy wheelset and I want to have an XC wheelset for XC stuff,
naturally. I was going to mount the Pythons on whatever light-ish wheelset I eventually bought.

I think that I will end up checking out prices on the OCR rims and see if I can get some Hugi hubs.
Thanks for your input.

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training