Rim choices for cyclocross bikes?

"Antti Salonen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've been considering building a cyclocross bike, possibly a single-speed one around the Surly
Cross-Check frame. I have a pretty good list of components to buy ready, but I haven't been able
to decide on a good rim for the purpose.

I'll probably end up running three kinds of tyres on the bike. If only possible, a single set of
wheels should suit all tyre choices.

- As a poor weather road bike, 25 or 28 mm slicks.
- As an offroad vehicle, 32-37 mm cross tyres.
- As a winter bike, Nokian 40-622 studded tyres.

I'm guessing that a regular road rim like the Mavic MA3 isn't wide enough to run the 40-622 winter
tyres safely. Sun-Ringlé seems to make some wider, tough road rims for tandems and touring, which
probably would be excellent, but their availability is poor here. Is there any reason why a Mavic
trekking/hybrid rim like the T522 wouldn't be good enough?

-as

Mavic T520 should work well. I am not sure if your T522 was a typo. I have used T519 and T520 for
tandems, touring, off road, and winter riding. I think the only difference between the T519 and
T520 is a wear indicator that I understand is required in some countries. David Ornee, Western
Springs, IL USA

The Mavic's should be fine but if you want to keep it a little lighter and possibly a little
less expensive, one of these three might work for you. All three of them are about 475g and
about 23mm wide.

Sun CR-18. 32, 36, 40, 48 hole, single eyelets. Good rim, very good value, in my opinion.
approximately US $30 each One of the retailers on this list would probably be happy to send them to
Finland. (If not, I will!)

Ritchey Trekking. (32h only but nice offset-spoke design on rear), single eyelets. approximately
US $40 each

Velocity Dyad. 32, 36, 40, 48 hole, no eyelets. approximately US $50 each

-Bruce-

Quoted message said:

I'm guessing that a regular road rim like the Mavic MA3 isn't wide enough to run the 40-622 winter
tyres safely. Sun-Ringlé seems to make some wider, tough road rims for tandems and touring, which
probably would be excellent, but their availability is poor here. Is there any reason why a Mavic
trekking/hybrid rim like the T522 wouldn't be good enough?

-as

David Ornee said:

I wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'm guessing that a regular road rim like the Mavic MA3 isn't wide enough to run the 40-622
winter tyres safely. Sun-Ringlé seems to make some wider, tough road rims for tandems and
touring, which probably would be excellent, but their availability is poor here. Is there any
reason why a Mavic trekking/hybrid rim like the T522 wouldn't be good enough?

Quoted message said:

Mavic T520 should work well. I am not sure if your T522 was a typo.

Yes it was. I was thinking of T224 and T520, and somehow came up with that.

Quoted message said:

I have used T519 and T520 for tandems, touring, off road, and winter riding. I think the only
difference between the T519 and T520 is a wear indicator that I understand is required in some
countries. David Ornee, Western Springs, IL USA

-as

Antti-<< Is there any reason why a Mavic trekking/hybrid rim like the T522 wouldn't be good enough?

Good choice...

Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535 vecchios.comvecchios.comOpen ↗ "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

From what I've heard, the newer Sun CR18 rims are very poor quality. Rivendell didn't want to sell
them to me after I had one of them on backorder because the quality if these rims went downhill and
apparently didn't want to be associated with them. I also talked to touring cyclist and he said that
he wore them out really fast and he ended up getting something else. "Bruce Lange"
<[email hidden]> wrote in message news:w5wGa.939304$OV.933480@rwcrnsc54...

Quoted message said:

The Mavic's should be fine but if you want to keep it a little lighter and possibly a little less
expensive, one of these three might work for you.

All

Quoted message said:

three of them are about 475g and about 23mm wide.

Sun CR-18. 32, 36, 40, 48 hole, single eyelets. Good rim, very good value, in my opinion.
approximately US $30 each One of the retailers on this list would probably be happy to send them
to Finland. (If not, I will!)

Ritchey Trekking. (32h only but nice offset-spoke design on rear), single eyelets. approximately
US $40 each

Velocity Dyad. 32, 36, 40, 48 hole, no eyelets. approximately US $50 each

-Bruce-

Quoted message said:

I'm guessing that a regular road rim like the Mavic MA3 isn't wide enough to run the 40-622
winter tyres safely. Sun-Ringlé seems to make some wider, tough road rims for tandems and
touring, which probably would be excellent, but their availability is poor here. Is there any
reason why a Mavic trekking/hybrid rim like the T522 wouldn't be good enough?

-as

Bruce Lange said:

Perhaps the CR-18's have gone downhill, but I've had more problems with the Bontrager Fairlane
rims sold by Rivendell (cracks around the eyelets). I really like Rivendell but they do have an
uncanny knack for promoting what they have in stock as being superior to what they don't. Anybody
else notice this?

Quoted message said:

From what I've heard, the newer Sun CR18 rims are very poor quality. Rivendell didn't want to sell
them to me after I had one of them on backorder because the quality if these rims went downhill
and apparently didn't want to be associated with them. I also talked to touring cyclist and he
said that he wore them out really fast and he ended up getting something else.

I build with CR18s quit a bit and have not seen any quality or wear problems. Did Rivendell
elaborate on the problems they saw? Did your touring friend say how they wore out?

Todd Kuzma Heron Bicycles Tullio's Big Dog Cyclery LaSalle, Il 815-223-1776
heronbicycles.comheronbicycles.comOpen ↗ tullios.comtullios.comOpen ↗

My touring cyclist friend didn't elaborate on how they wore out - I guess I should have asked him
about specifics. Anyway, I have them on my English 3-speed bike (32h ft and 40h rr when I converted
it to 700c rims) that I ride quite a bit and I like them alot. I don't know what Rivendell was
talking about but I guess they're the experts! "Todd Kuzma" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Bruce Lange said:

Perhaps the CR-18's have gone downhill, but I've had more problems with

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Bontrager Fairlane rims sold by Rivendell (cracks around the eyelets). I really like Rivendell
but they do have an uncanny knack for promoting

what

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

they have in stock as being superior to what they don't. Anybody else

notice

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

this?

Quoted message said:

From what I've heard, the newer Sun CR18 rims are very poor quality. Rivendell didn't want to
sell them to me after I had one of them on backorder because the quality if these rims went
downhill and apparently didn't want to be associated with them. I also talked to touring cyclist
and he said that he wore them out really fast and he ended up getting

something

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

else.

I build with CR18s quit a bit and have not seen any quality or wear problems. Did Rivendell
elaborate on the problems they saw? Did your touring friend say how they wore out?

Todd Kuzma Heron Bicycles Tullio's Big Dog Cyclery LaSalle, Il 815-223-1776
heronbicycles.comheronbicycles.comOpen ↗ tullios.comtullios.comOpen ↗

<[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

From what I've heard, the newer Sun CR18 rims are very poor quality.

Quoted message said:

. I also talked to touring cyclist and he said that he wore them out really fast and he ended up
getting something else.

I'm suspicious. I wonder what "quality" issue would cause a rim to wear out quickly?

"Peter Cole" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<lGFHa.55840$YZ2.218650@rwcrnsc53>...

Quoted message said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

From what I've heard, the newer Sun CR18 rims are very poor quality.

Quoted message said:

. I also talked to touring cyclist and he said that he wore them out really fast and he ended up
getting something else.

I'm suspicious. I wonder what "quality" issue would cause a rim to wear out quickly?

Good point- I have a CR18 that I got about 16 months ago that I ride every day in the city on my
fixed gear that seems to be holding up well- although being properly built doesn't hurt. This bike
sees no brakes (rear rim, fixed gear) but I do jump up and down from curbs and otherwise abuse it in
ways that stress rims. So what are the problems?

Whitfit

"Antti Salonen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'll probably end up running three kinds of tyres on the bike. If only possible, a single set of
wheels should suit all tyre choices.

- As a poor weather road bike, 25 or 28 mm slicks.
- As an offroad vehicle, 32-37 mm cross tyres.
- As a winter bike, Nokian 40-622 studded tyres.

I'm guessing that a regular road rim like the Mavic MA3 isn't wide enough to run the 40-622 winter
tyres safely.

. Is there any

Quoted message said:

reason why a Mavic trekking/hybrid rim like the T522 wouldn't be good enough?

I use a range tires like that on most of my bikes, including the Nokians. I typically use Mavic 520
or Sun Cr18, but have gone as narrow as an Open Pro, so I think an MA3 would be no problem, although
the 520 is a very nice rim, particularly for an "all rounder" bike.

"Peter Cole" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<JA_Ha.979050$OV.1080813@rwcrnsc54>...

Quoted message said:

I use a range tires like that on most of my bikes, including the Nokians. I typically use Mavic
520 or Sun Cr18, but have gone as narrow as an Open Pro, so I think an MA3 would be no problem,
although the 520 is a very nice rim, particularly for an "all rounder" bike.

I've used both MA3 and Open Pro with tyres up to 32mm without any problem. However, if the original
poster's looking to run even wider tyres, one of the heavier-duty Mavic touring-type rims might be
better, especially if they're not racing 'cross (thus meaning weight isn't so much of an issue).

David E. Belcher

Dept. of Chemistry, University of York

"David E. Belcher" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Peter Cole" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<JA_Ha.979050$OV.1080813@rwcrnsc54>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I use a range tires like that on most of my bikes, including the Nokians.

I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

typically use Mavic 520 or Sun Cr18, but have gone as narrow as an Open

Pro,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

so I think an MA3 would be no problem, although the 520 is a very nice

rim,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

particularly for an "all rounder" bike.

I've used both MA3 and Open Pro with tyres up to 32mm without any problem. However, if the
original poster's looking to run even wider tyres, one of the heavier-duty Mavic touring-type
rims might be better, especially if they're not racing 'cross (thus meaning weight isn't so much
of an issue).

The rim weight difference is insignificant next to the weight of studded tires. All things being
equal, a wide rim like the T520 would probably be ideal for the range of tires he's planning, but
I've used the Nokians on Open Pro rims. The bigger the tire, the better protected the rim, you don't
need a rugged rim to use big tires.

Peter Cole said:

"David E. Belcher" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

I've used both MA3 and Open Pro with tyres up to 32mm without any problem. However, if the
original poster's looking to run even wider tyres, one of the heavier-duty Mavic touring-type
rims might be better, especially if they're not racing 'cross (thus meaning weight isn't so much
of an issue).

The rim weight difference is insignificant next to the weight of studded tires.

This is very true. The Nokian 40-622 studded tyre weighs no less than 910 grams each. 50 or 100
extra grams in the rim is not likely to be significant compared to that.

Even with lightweight slicks I don't really care about the weight difference. I'll probably make the
cross bike a single-speed machine, so obsessing about low weight and high performance does seem a
bit counter-intuitive.

Quoted message said:

All things being equal, a wide rim like the T520 would probably be ideal for the range of tires
he's planning, but I've used the Nokians on Open Pro rims. The bigger the tire, the better
protected the rim, you don't need a rugged rim to use big tires.

Thanks for all the informative replies. I'll probably use either MA3 or T224, as T520 doesn't seem
to be available with 32 holes in black. The Surly 1x1 single-speed hub is only available with 32
holes, and I might want to use a black rim for aesthetic/vanity reasons.

-as

Antti Salonen said:

Peter Cole said:

"David E. Belcher" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

I've used both MA3 and Open Pro with tyres up to 32mm without any problem. However, if the
original poster's looking to run even wider tyres, one of the heavier-duty Mavic touring-type
rims might be better, especially if they're not racing 'cross (thus meaning weight isn't so
much of an issue).

The rim weight difference is insignificant next to the weight of studded tires.

This is very true. The Nokian 40-622 studded tyre weighs no less than 910 grams each. 50 or 100
extra grams in the rim is not likely to be significant compared to that.

Even with lightweight slicks I don't really care about the weight difference. I'll probably make
the cross bike a single-speed machine, so obsessing about low weight and high performance does
seem a bit counter-intuitive.

Quoted message said:

All things being equal, a wide rim like the T520 would probably be ideal for the range of tires
he's planning, but I've used the Nokians on Open Pro rims. The bigger the tire, the better
protected the rim, you don't need a rugged rim to use big tires.

Thanks for all the informative replies. I'll probably use either MA3 or T224, as T520 doesn't seem
to be available with 32 holes in black. The Surly 1x1 single-speed hub is only available with 32
holes, and I might want to use a black rim for aesthetic/vanity reasons.

-as

Have you considered ceramic rims? I'm building a Surly Cross-Check right now and have ordered Mavic
Open Pro Ceramic 32 hole rims for it. I plan to use exactly the same types of tyre as you, up to 40
mm wide (Nokian studded winter tyres) and with fenders in the winter. My experience with a
mountainbike during winter is that ceramic rims will last much longer than ordinary rims and more
than pay for the extra cost. An extra benefit that I appreciate is to not have that black aluminium
stuff from the rims contaminate my wheels when it rains or the snow is wet.

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