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| Ready for truing |
For the second installment of ClydEssential dropping the bomb on my wheel-set. As a Clyde you are carrying a lot of weight ordinary wheels on your bike just wont cut it. Before building my second steed researched a lot about how a strong, stiff set of wheels can make a huge difference on twenty niner. So the main focus was on the rims, spokes, and hubs.
Bombproof? YES I am an aggressive rider this wheel set has proven its worth for almost a year of usage with minimal maintenance. The only issue that I encountered was on the hubs and until it disintegrated it was performing up to par.
Rims: Spank OOZY 29er EVO 32 holes
Spokes: DT Swiss revolutions
Nips: Brass
Hubs: Shimano XT, replaced by Dartmoor vee (front and back)
Spank OOZY
DT Swiss
Shimano XT
Dartmoor Vee
Rims chose Spank mainly because its width and moderate weight. According to manufacturers website these rims usage aggressive XC, trail, and Enduro.
Spokes at first I wanted to get the triple butted DT champions but those where not available. So a friend who happens to be a veteran Downhill racer showed me hes steed sporting front and rear DT revolutions, so if the revs could survive real-downhill runs then it could take what ever abuse I could give it.
Nipples not a secret that Brass Nips are better all around because it does not warp under stress unlike aluminum.
Hubs the initial hubs I installed was Shimano Deore XT, 6 bolts. It served me well for one and a half-year until that faithful trail jump landing destroyed the front. A month later the rear free-hub took a dump.
Looking for a replacement opted for sealed type hubs. Decided to try Dartmoor vee's (front and rear) as it was just in budget 4 pawl, 24 points of engagement and comes in anodized green. The Dartmoor's now has four trail rides, dozen or so on-road, and one brutal all day mix of road, trail, river crossing for a total of 400 km on its belt without any issues.
Going for sturdiness over weight the setup proven reliable only needing a single true during its assembly. Was not expecting the XT hubs to survive for long but it has seen its share of abuse and probably would last longer with lighter rider. Just have the bearing checked regularly and watch out for the Free-hub, when play starts to show while pedaling between the cassette and free hub time to look for a replacement. Rim, spoke, nipples remain flawless till today.
What could improve the setup? Replacing the QR9mm to 15mm thru-axle. Changing the Spokes to triple butted variety. Running 36 holes at the back, since hard tails tend to take a lot of abuse from behind (sic).
ClydEssentail tips:
When building your own Clyde wheel set consider the rim's intended use and overall width (wider the better). All mountain, free ride, DH rims are a little heavy but the added strength plus increased tire contact easily puts it on an advantage.
Go double or triple butted for the spokes.
Brass nipples all the way.
Burlier hubs the better, 32 holes minimum.
PapaHamster
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