Tubular Rims

mavic reflex rims on ultegra hubs work well,

Ambrosio nemesis and Velocity escape are also nice.

The Nemesis rims are probably the most 'stylish' of the three though.

Easton EA70 Xs from chainreactioncycles.com - I got a sweet deal on those.

There are a bunch of options depending on how much $$ you want to spend. 

The Easton EA70Xs are a great production wheel.  I've used a set all year and they are still as true as the day I got them.  I also run Neuvation C50 Carbon tubulars (www.neuvationcycling.com) .  About the same price as the EA70s, even after exchange and duties.

My back-up wheels were custom built Mavic GP4s (heavy) and Reflex(much lighter) tubular rims on Dura-ace 7800 hubs with DT spokes.  Everything was purchased on E-bay for less than $350 per set.  I'm sure you can go with different hubs and save even more $$.

Or, find a good used set for sale.  You don't need anything fancy for CX.  Especially if its your first or only set of tubbies.

To follow up what others have said, I agree with Pete that it doesn't have to be fancy. I'd always go for a better set of tires on simple wheels than cheap tires on expensive wheels. As long as they are reasonably light, any tubular wheels will do.

I would buy a used pair as opposed to a new pair. Some of the Elite riders have sold some of their extra wheels on this site form time to time, just keep a lookout. Spend the money on the tires, as previously suggested.
Martin
www.urbanimages.com

Eric is selling a set of wheels.  Good guy.

http://www.cyclocrossontario.com/node/1437

 

Ambrosio Cronos F20 and Dura Ace 7800 32-hole hubs.

... with DT Revolution spokes. Da bomb! Built these up as my Paris Ancaster "specials", but was unable to keep them under wraps so I raced with them in Good Friday O-Cup.

They are 1350 grams and are now my favourite wheel set having pushed aside my Ksyriums and Zipp 303s.

You can purchase the hubs for $225 on ebay, the rims retail for $75 each and the spokes were another $75. A build, if you aren't up for this, is $40 a wheel at Biseagal on Carlaw.

If you build yourself, that adds up to $450 for a light, stiff-yet-comportable wheelset.


Graham Jones
Toronto, Ontario
Racing for Sweet Pete's Bike Shop in M2

light wheels

 

 braking is on the poor side for that rim

the non machinched rims like the cono are hard anodized  and tend to increase brake shudder. I ran a set 3 yrs ago a ditched them as they were not as consistent as the machined rims.

I would put them above a carbon rim but below a

machined rim like reflex , ksyrium or bontrager racelies

 

nathan

 

Interesting feed-back, Nathan. I have to admit that I have not yet used the hoops on my Cross Ride -- just in the Good Friday Race with Dura Ace road calipers -- where they performed like champs and kept me clear of around a dozen crashes.

I selected the Cronos as they are the lighter version (I weigh 149 lbs) of the Nemesis, which is still in active use by many of the teams racing in the Paris-Robaix this Sunday.

The Nemesis has anodized brake-surfaces -- so I suppose the shudder you are refering to comes from cantis. We shall see on the 18th for Paris-Ancaster.

Graham Jones
Toronto, Ontario
Racing for Sweet Pete's Bike Shop in M2

Yeah for the road no issues with them as the caliper brake does not have the shudder issue that canti's have

 

don't run the yellow swiss stop with them- it will eat them up fast.

good luck next weekend

Thanks for the advice, Nathan, running Koolstop Greys. Fingers crossed, so to speak. See you near the front, I hope!

Graham Jones
Toronto, Ontario
Racing for Sweet Pete's Bike Shop in M2

Im with nathan on the bontragers, I've had mine for 3 years and they are solid wheels and a lot lighter then the ea70s.