stans alpha's for cx - any good

[cycleofaddiction]

I've just ordered some new wheels with stans alpha's for my sscx and i've seen a lot of mixed responses on other forums and wondered what the good people of this forum thought

 

[Giuseppe Magnetico]

Negatory on the Stan's rims, much better rims out there.

 

[TexPat]

Soft flexy wheels for anyone under 55kg.

 

[Notso Swift]

THey have been "upgraded" to be heavier to stop the flex in the last 2 months, but I still will not be getting them because of my weight. I did ride a set of the old ones and I think if some one is a smooth type they could get away with maybe 75-80, but sprinters need not apply even if they are 60... actually climbers who throw the bike are in the same boat!

 

[TexPat]

THey have been "upgraded" to be heavier to stop the flex in the last 2 months, but I still will not be getting them because of my weight. I did ride a set of the old ones and I think if some one is a smooth type they could get away with maybe 75-80, but sprinters need not apply even if they are 60... actually climbers who throw the bike are in the same boat!

Not for cx. Not for sscx especially. High torque, hard cornering, and lots of accelerations beneath the average crosser will turn them to mush.

A23s are the answer.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Not for cx. Not for sscx especially. High torque, hard cornering, and lots of accelerations beneath the average crosser will turn them to mush.

A23s are the answer.

What he said or Major Toms...nancys ride clinchers...for cross.

stans are junque.

 

[Giuseppe Magnetico]

Never understood buy first-ask questions later. Maybe the OP could chime in here and let us know why they did it backwards. If you really look around on the forums the response to Stan's Alpha's isn't just "mixed" reviews, I'd say they're some of the most poorly reviewed rims out there.

 

[TexPat]

What he said or Major Toms...nancys ride clinchers...for cross.

stans are junque.

I'm so glad to not be in your "nancy" category, since I use an ancient pair of Mavic Monthlery Pro tubular rims on my sscx.

Since the OP asked about a clincher rim...

 

[Bustedknuckle]

I'm so glad to not be in your "nancy" category, since I use an ancient pair of Mavic Monthlery Pro tubular rims on my sscx.

Since the OP asked about a clincher rim...

Those are sweet...

 

[richwagmn]

Not for cx. Not for sscx especially. High torque, hard cornering, and lots of accelerations beneath the average crosser will turn them to mush.

A23s are the answer.

Are the velocity wheelsets (not just the rims) any good? I have no idea who's making the hubs.

Also, I see two different disc attachment methods for hubs. A 6 bolt and one that's splined (centerlock?). Is one better?

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Are the velocity wheelsets (not just the rims) any good? I have no idea who's making the hubs.

Also, I see two different disc attachment methods for hubs. A 6 bolt and one that's splined (centerlock?). Is one better?

The hubs are Formula..not bad for Asian made, cart bearing, hubs.

One isn't better than the other. Centerlock is shimano's idea..some setups will have bolt heads rubbing on things with 6 bolt..not as much with centerlock.

in the WTF are they thinking department..saw a wheel with only 3 bolts...gent wanted to 'save weight'-really..AND run 26 inch, ultralight tubes in 29er tires..again, to 'save weight'..yikes!!

 

[cycleofaddiction]

ive changed the speck to the alpha 400's , also i've spoke to someone who recently did the 3 peaks race with alpha 340 rims and he said they performed as they should and at no point did he think that he needed stiffer wheels, i think when built custom they build into a good wheel time will tell !

 

[Giuseppe Magnetico]

ive changed the speck to the alpha 400's , also i've spoke to someone who recently did the 3 peaks race with alpha 340 rims and he said they performed as they should and at no point did he think that he needed stiffer wheels, i think when built custom they build into a good wheel time will tell !

No doubt that there are people who like them. Lots like Mavic wheels, little do they know they're riding the most poorly built hubs in bikedom. Know what I mean? Of the 6 sets of Stan's builds I did in 2010 only one likes them, the rest were sold, or relaced with better rims. Never again. Either Velocity rims as mentioned above would have been a much better choice for CX. Stan's rims are also awfully spendy for what you get,$120 for something which is basically an underbuilt, rebranded, cheap Alex rim.

 

[zachateseverything]

I've used the Alpha 340's for two seasons of cross now. This includes riding a fair amount of singletrack and doing Iron Cross. The rims are plenty stiff enough (I can't feel them flex at all when running them at cross pressures) and I haven't had any issues keeping them true. I would use this rim again.

Contrary to what others will tell you, the wheels won't collapse if you look at them funny.

 

[durianrider]

Ive riden em, I rate em.