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New gravel bike wheels - Commute - Advice needed

Hello, I'd appreciate some advice in terms of getting new wheels. I've got a Specialized Diverge A1 sport with the original wheels and hubs (AXIS Classic Disc, wide). I ride about 250km a week on a commute from South to West London. The route is all road in winter but when it's dry about 30% is on a gravel path. I weigh about 75kg probably and travel with a pannier and rack which probably has 5kg> of stuff usually.

I have done a few thousand kms since April '15 and the hubs are on their last legs but rims don't have any obvious damage. I have a budget of £400 but preferably less, however I want some wheels that can take the commute for at least the next year and appreciate I may need to splash out. I am lost in the sea of options between factory builds, ordering hand-builts, buying parts separately and getting my LBS to put them together or to try and do it myself.

I'd be grateful for anyone's opinion/pointers/suggestions on which options to take. Thanks.
Dabulamanz

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8 comments

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bendertherobot | 8 years ago
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Get some Hunts. The Pro Lite Revo are worth a shout at Wiggle as well. 

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Severus | 8 years ago
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What is the weight of classic wheelset?

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DabuDabu | 8 years ago
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Cheers for the advice.  I've decided to go for a hand built DT Swiss 460 rim, DT comp spokes and a DT Swiss 350 hub.  Just seems like their gear lasts forever and is easily servicable.  Has set me back £370 in all but in the long run I reckon it'll save me money and hopefully be a joy to ride.

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gunswick | 8 years ago
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Alex 470 disc rims
Mavic aksium discs
Shimano rs05 discs
All are around £150 and are simple, effective and strong. I use these with 28mm continental gp4 seasons and it is a good combination

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Luv2ride | 8 years ago
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Kinesis CX Disc wheels.  I have the V3's and they've been good, but think they now also do some lighter V4's?  My V3's are@ 1540g, have reasonably wide rims and I run them tubeless with a Stans conversion kit.

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ajvb65 | 8 years ago
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A mate & me both have those Axis wheels on our winter bikes & have lasted less than a year.  I would have liked to replace them with the Hunt wheels but couldn't spend that much so ordered some Cosine wheels from Wiggle. Very happy with them especially considering the price.

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ajvb65 | 8 years ago
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I've no experience of them but the Hunt 4 seasons are getting great reviews

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CXR94Di2 | 8 years ago
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Look at 'just riding along' website from Sheffield. I have just had some custom mtb wheels made with Hope Pro 4 hubs, Stan Flow-ex rims and Sapin ray spokes. They also do road wheels. Quick service reasonable prices

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