Currently having alloy rims (Hson Hydra) on my adventure bike.
It gets used for a range of things:
- Bike packing
- Pretending it’s a 90s MTB
- Wet weather road
- Club runs with the slower groups (have to work hard to overcome it’s average slower speed)
It’s not has any upgrades since built in 2020, just routine maintenance and after some hardcore overtime I’ve got a fancy to improve her. I’m happy with 11speed GRX so nothing to change there. Wheel improvements seems like the best option.
Something around 30mm and tough enough play off-road seems like a plan. Just after discussion/thoughts on whether you’d expect to see gains in speed/feelings/weight and if it was your money you’d splash the cash.
I’ve just had some wheels rebuilt, shallow alloy 19mm ID out and 25mm ID 38mm deep carbon in.
I’ve ridden the same bike with three different wheel configurations in the same month and can conclude that…
On the same hubs and tyres, on the wider carbon, the ride does feel a little plusher and the vibrations that come through the bike feel different. I can’t say that it is noticeably faster, just different, less harsh on bad roads, marginally quicker. From swapping wheels around, gains in speed were more noticeable when using faster tyres.
The bike looks better.
I’ve got a kinesis AT as well and upgraded the wheels about 18 months ago. I went from alloy Hunt 4 Seasons (probably very similar to what you have) to some Scribe carbon wheels. Use case is similar to yours albeit my AT does fewer road miles since I built a dedicated winter bike.
Weight wise I think the difference I measured was around 300g which isn’t huge but I do think is noticeable. Riding up little steep kickers is definitely more fun - I remember feeling like a superhero in my local forest the first time I rode the wheels.
The main difference to me has been the handling. I assume its a combination of stiffer wheel and wider profile but I generally feel like I have more grip & control with these wheels.
I’ve no idea if they’re faster or not.
Obviously I’ve already spent the money so there’s an element of me justifying my purchase post hoc but my gravel bike has certainly had more action since I ugraded the wheels than it had in the past. I don’t regret spending the money.
If it were me, I’d sell the alloy wheels whole, they’re much easier to sell used than just rims and spokes.
Looking at this currently 3 options
- Hunt Gravel 35mm wheelset - £850
- eBay Strayer 45mm -£850
- Lbs rebuild 35mm - £800
Hunt, on social media at least (mapdec spring to mind), have comments on hub lifespan and serviceability.
Strayer, 45 might be excessive for UK gravel and my use case. Hope hubs are definitely a bonus.
Lbs, cheapest but does leave two useless rims to add to the collection of spares.
