Cyclocross and Road Disc Wheelsets

Cyclocross and Road Disc Wheelsets: The disc brake revolution Part 2

A quick chat with my local wheel builder, DCR Wheels in Lewes, reveals that you can get yourself a handbuilt set of wheels for around the £400 mark (including build) with Novatec hubs, Ryde MC-1 rims and Sapim D-Light spokes, weighing in at approximately 1600g. Obviously other options are available and David of DCR Wheels tells me his lead time is approximately 2 weeks, but he is flexible…

Strada Wheels based in Lancing, West Sussex, also offer a number of build options between £360 and £475 depending on your specification for cyclocross wheels. They offer either clincher, tubeless ready or tubular wheelsets, and the current lead time for wheel builds is 4 weeks.

So what about off the shelf?

Budget and Training Wheels

Alex Rims Black Dragon – CX Disc – Switch Hubs

Alex Rims Black Dragon

Alex Rims new Black Dragon CX are disc specific rims built onto Switch 6 bolt disc mount hubs with Sapim D-Light multi butted spokes. Apparently they are light, durable and fast…

We certainly think that they are suitable for cyclocross racing, though the weight is probably a little restrictive at 1880g for the pair. Quick releases are not included but they only cost a very reasonable £179.

Alex Rims CXD – CX Disc – Tesla Hubs

Alex Rims CXD26 Rim

Alex rims CXD are disc specific and tubeless ready clincher rims with Sapim D-Light multi butted spokes and built up with SKF bearing equipped, 6 bolt disc mount, Tesla hubs. They are said to be lightweight yet stiff but like the Black Dragons, weigh in at 1880g for the pair. The cost is a reasonable £259.99.

Kinesis Crosslight CXDisc

Kinesis Crosslight CXDisc

The Kinesis Crosslight CXDisc wheels have proved very popular due to their quality, relative light weight and value for money. We are currently waiting for details of the 2014 range of CX Disc wheels.

The 2013 wheelset have a true disc-specific rim profile and the wheels use the same high-tension triple butted, stainless spokes and alloy nipples as the popular Kinesis Maxlight wheels. They are 28 hole, with a 3-cross pattern build and are clinchers. The weight is 1800g for the pair and the cost is again reasonable at £279.99.

So in the Budget and Training Wheels category there is a reasonable selection which whilst you will not get lightweight, will offer you disc specific rims, and sturdy and dependable components which is what you want at this level. But what if you are after something a bit lighter and have a bit more to spend?
 
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