It doesn't matter the cycling discipline, I love wheels! Anything round with spokes.
My youngest child is riding with our local NICA team this season, so I've been thinking about XC mountain bike wheels. The "XC" stands for cross-country. A typical cross-country race will usually consist of some climbing, descending and flatter singletrack sections. Lap length will vary, but 4 to 5km per lap is fairly common. An ideal wheel for this would be lightweight, stiff, tubeless compatible, have a low degree to engagement, and be able to take a beating. Considering this wheel on a NICA student athlete's bike, budget also comes into play.
To that end I came up with this; A Boyd Kanuga rim and Bitex BX211 hub set laced together with Pillar 2017 triple butted spokes and brass doublesquare nipples. The Kanuga rim is tubeless ready, light, and made in the USA. The Bitex hubs are tough, easily serviced and repairable while budget friendly. The Pillar 2017 spokes are a bit thicker at the J-bend, giving a tighter fit and less movement at the hub's spoke holes, 1.7 mm midsection for reduced weight and more flex, ending with 2.0mm for compatibility
with standard spoke nipples. I like the doublesquare nipples for through the rim adjustability, and more thread engagement. All that and the attention to detail that comes with a handbuilt wheel for a bit less than $700.
If you're local to the Boise area, I have a couple of these available now, and parts to build yours to order with upgraded hubs, bladed spokes, or colors to match your bike! Talk to me about what we can do!
Fred
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