Gravel wheels

[blizzard]

Pretty hard to beat. Biker comes through with the goods!
Some no rim bed spoke hole goers headed your way yet?

Prob part of the reason I've got no money.

And it is done! Thanks @biker jk.

Ordered the Farsports 30mm depth, 25mm internal diameter hookless gravel wheels with DT350 hubs in matte black.

An old Hambini review also yielded a discount code of 'HAMBINI50' which was another $74 odd off. So $1170 delivered. Pretty hard to argue with 1370g for that.

Managed to work out the weight of my Bontragers on my ALR5 today - apparently it's over 2.1kg with the rim strips. They're also only 21mm internal diameter and the hubs aren't serviceable so definitely the entry level choice by Trek there.

Should make a bit of a difference. Also fitted the Hope carbon seatpost off my Bowman and a Selle Italia SL-R Kit carbonio today. Wasn't really looking for weight savings (more comfort) but it still dropped the seat/post combo from 520g to 260g. So the bike should be about 1.1kg lighter when the wheels arrive. Nice.

Sounds like a big upgrade, shame LB are so expensive now.

[Mr Purple]

Light Bicycle AR25 were $1800 delivered With DT350.

That’s crazy for Chinese wheels. I’d spend a little extra and get Zipp 303s for that price.

[warthog1]

My WR50s were even more.
Those far sports are a great price.

[mogwaiboi]

I recently got the Farsports 35's hooked with 32mm external diameter. It's my 3rd set, but I went for Bitex hubs this time instead of DT350. They roll so smooth, $1180 delivered 1330g.

[Mr Purple]

I recently got the Farsports 35's hooked with 32mm external diameter. It's my 3rd set, but I went for Bitex hubs this time instead of DT350. They roll so smooth, $1180 delivered 1330g.

Thanks for the feedback. They're certainly not quick with the postage - posted 21 calendar days after ordering, but the tracking seems to be working, will post some pictures when they arrive.

Only problem is now I'm looking at their 'Kaze' with DT240 hubs for road bike. Will get my disc braked road bike under 7kg for not very much, which is tempting!

[biker jk]

I recently got the Farsports 35's hooked with 32mm external diameter. It's my 3rd set, but I went for Bitex hubs this time instead of DT350. They roll so smooth, $1180 delivered 1330g.

Thanks for the feedback. They're certainly not quick with the postage - posted 21 calendar days after ordering, but the tracking seems to be working, will post some pictures when they arrive.

Only problem is now I'm looking at their 'Kaze' with DT240 hubs for road bike. Will get my disc braked road bike under 7kg for not very much, which is tempting!

Mine were delivered two weeks after ordering. They were in stock and didn't need to be built.

[mogwaiboi]

I recently got the Farsports 35's hooked with 32mm external diameter. It's my 3rd set, but I went for Bitex hubs this time instead of DT350. They roll so smooth, $1180 delivered 1330g.

Thanks for the feedback. They're certainly not quick with the postage - posted 21 calendar days after ordering, but the tracking seems to be working, will post some pictures when they arrive.

Only problem is now I'm looking at their 'Kaze' with DT240 hubs for road bike. Will get my disc braked road bike under 7kg for not very much, which is tempting!

I'd be looking at the gravel wheels for road as well, more choice of wider widths. I've got the Kaze 28mm external and the gravel 32mm external, gravel set is lighter. I use the Kaze for light gravel and the gravel wheels for all road

From memory the Kaze series are a bit more robust so weigh a little bit more. I used the Kaze for rough gravel initially before I got my Grizl and they were bulletproof.

[Mr Purple]

From memory the Kaze series are a bit more robust so weigh a little bit more. I used the Kaze for rough gravel initially before I got my Grizl and they were bulletproof.

I thought Kaze were the light ones at 1270g in 35mm, but no the 'Hyper' come in at 1230g for around the same price. Crazy!

My road frameset is a crazy light (790g) 2017 Focus Izalco Max Disc, so one of the disadvantages is limited tyre clearance. They may apparently take 28mm but everything says 'but this depends' so I think I'll stick with 26mm wide rims and 26mm tyres.

With a couple of other small changes this should get it close to 6.8kg and not get me in trouble for buying a new bike. I can see 28mm and Di2 at some stage in my future though - it'll have to wait for another frame.

[Mr Purple]

So the Farsport 'Gravel' wheels arrived yesterday, exactly a month after ordering.

Nothing too fancy - the newer DT350 hubs, 30mm depth, 25mm internal diameter hookless.

They look brilliant.



723g rear.



620g front.



So 1344g of a quoted weight of 1370g. I won't be sending them back because they're too light! For a wide, 'not particularly exotically specced' wheelset that's seriously impressive.

Very impressed by the wheels. Service is definitely a lot more 'no frills' than Light Bicycle, but if you know what you're ordering and don't need your hand held through the process you'll save $400-600.

Only problem is now my gravel wheelset is about 300g lighter than my road. Time to start saving a bit more!

[warthog1]

Nice!

[Retrobyte]

So the Farsport 'Gravel' wheels arrived yesterday, exactly a month after ordering.

Nothing too fancy - the newer DT350 hubs, 30mm depth, 25mm internal diameter hookless.

They look brilliant.

I was very happy with my Farsports ordering experience as well, and the wheels (road, not gravel) have been faultless and troublefree for close to 3 years now. Still nicely trued despite my 95 kilos of abuse.

[MichaelB]

I need a new set for the roadie, but not keen on the hookless

[Mr Purple]

I need a new set for the roadie, but not keen on the hookless

Plenty of hooked options on there as well. I’m looking at the Hyper 40mm/26mm wide with DT240 hubs and 1277g.

Only went hookless here because they will literally only ever run gravel tyres.

[Mr Purple]

Well that was the easiest tyre installation I've ever done. Literally popped straight on with thumbs only, beaded instantly and although I used the compressor reckon I could have done it with the track pump.



Sorry for the dodgy photo. Weight savings of 330g for the front only, will do the rear next week.

Of course now the brake offset is slightly different so I'll probably drop it off for a full service and adjustment before riding it, but can see this being a lot faster immediately!

[Mr Purple]

And we're finally all fitted up.



Pathfinder Pro S-Works 42mm. Bike weight is now down to 9.3kg with cages. Not as light as I expected given factory is 9.75kg but I probably should have weighed it before I started modifying. In my defence I started modifying before I even picked it up.

Brief spin on the road to bed in the sealant confirms it feels a lot lighter than it did before. Probably a combination of the 500g or so saved, the decent 350 hubs and a bit less rolling resistance from the Pathfinders.

Will feed it a few more KOMs next weekend.

[warthog1]

Pathfinder Pro S-Works 42mm.

I am interested in how the tyres go. Keep us updated if you remember please.

[Mr Purple]

I have the Mary Valley Alleycat (unsanctioned event, 100km/2250m with 84% gravel) coming up so that'll be a good test!

[warthog1]

Enjoy!
The wheels look good, good buy.

[Mr Purple]

Pathfinder Pro S-Works 42mm.

I am interested in how the tyres go. Keep us updated if you remember please.

Change of plans so only managed a short gravel ride today. The combo of the new wheels and pathfinders is notably faster.

Took two KOMs, one a downhill tarmac segment (!). The other was a 6.9% climb through a park complete with grass and tree roots. Was previously a second off the 1:22 record after a few attempts. 1:12.

You just don’t notice the tyres are there either on gravel or tarmac. That’s all I ask of gravel tyres. That and the air staying inside, which will take a bit longer to judge.

[warthog1]

Pathfinder Pro S-Works 42mm.

I am interested in how the tyres go. Keep us updated if you remember please.

Change of plans so only managed a short gravel ride today. The combo of the new wheels and pathfinders is notably faster.

Took two KOMs, one a downhill tarmac segment (!). The other was a 6.9% climb through a park complete with grass and tree roots. Was previously a second off the 1:22 record after a few attempts. 1:12.

You just don’t notice the tyres are there either on gravel or tarmac. That’s all I ask of gravel tyres. That and the air staying inside, which will take a bit longer to judge.

Thanks, if they stay reliable they sound good.

[Mr Purple]

In the 'things I would recommend not buying' column there was a feature on the Lightwehgt Pfadfinder EVO gravel wheelset in the latest Australia/NZ Cyclist magazine.

https://lightweight.info/en/wheels/pfadfinder-evo

Yes, they look ok, with a few slight issues:
1. Maximum 40mm tyres. On a gravel wheel. What?
2. They weigh 1427g. 'Lightweight'.
3. They're $6999 a set, or $7799 if you want the 'Schwarz' Edition. I.e. the same thing in black.

Um. Are people stupid? Considering my Farsports were $1200 odd, 1351g and will take up to 50mm tyres without a problem I have no idea who is buying these things. I suspect, in Australia at least, 'no-one'.

[MichaelB]

Um. Are people stupid ?

Ummmm, YUP !

[MichaelB]

In the 'things I would recommend not buying' column there was a feature on the Lightwehgt Pfadfinder EVO gravel wheelset in the latest Australia/NZ Cyclist magazine.

https://lightweight.info/en/wheels/pfadfinder-evo

Yes, they look ok, with a few slight issues:
1. Maximum 40mm tyres. On a gravel wheel. What?
2. They weigh 1427g. 'Lightweight'.
3. They're $6999 a set, or $7799 if you want the 'Schwarz' Edition. I.e. the same thing in black.

Um. Are people stupid? Considering my Farsports were $1200 odd, 1351g and will take up to 50mm tyres without a problem I have no idea who is buying these things. I suspect, in Australia at least, 'no-one'.

And as an example at the opposite end of the spectrum, just snaffled a lightly used set of G1800's (the ones I tried to buy earlier but mistakenly bought the 27.5" version ... ) for $325 shipped to the door, so that'd leave me with an extra $7,474 to spend on a two week riding holiday to Italy or Andorra .....

Backstory is that I managed to get a replacement rim for the rear one I killed, but will use that wheelset as the roadie/commute for the ICAN, and use the G1800's as the Gravel wheelset.

[Scott No Mates]

Is it necessary or recommended to swap out my Conti GP 5000 or the Gatorskins for some 25-28mm gravel tyres if taking my roadies on some rail trails?

Pretty sure that I can't go any wider than 28mm.

PS. I note that @Propagate passed away mid-race in March 2022

memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=36284

[owly]

Is it necessary or recommended to swap out my Conti GP 5000 or the Gatorskins for some 25-28mm gravel tyres if taking my roadies on some rail trails?

Pretty sure that I can't go any wider than 28mm.

PS. I note that @Propagate passed away mid-race in March 2022

memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=36284

I would, for some better grip.
IRC Marbella comes in a 28mm and is supposed to measure closer to a 27mm or less when mounted.