Enve G23 or Zipp XPLR wheels?

Equipment
1

Which is these would you recommend I buy for my Crux - go lightweight with Enve G23 or go deep and wide with Zipp XPLR SW?

My gravel rides are 70 percent pavement and 30 percent rough gravel with 1k feet climbing for every 10 miles. I average only 10-14 mph over an entire ride. I’ll typically run 42-50mm gravel tires. I also have a redshift stem for comfort on gravel.

My main concern with the G23 is they’re an old design with 23 internal width. My concern with the Zipp is if they’re too wide. I also won’t be riding approved tires.

2

Neither, Id get Roval terra clx. Light and dt internals on the hubs.

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3

What are you looking to get out of new wheels?

Those two options are quite different. The Enve have great weight, but that IW is a bit dated. Most new road wheelsets have are wider than that. The Zipps are bit polarizing with how wide they are and what effect that will have on tires that were designed around rims much narrower.

Have you already crossed other options off your list? The Roval Terra which are mentioned above would be high on my list as would the Reserve 40|44

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I generically want to go faster with more comfort :grinning_face: I purposely picked wheels at the extreme end of options.

This could work out many ways. For example:

  • go lightweight because I’m too slow for real aero benefits, especially on 45-50mm tires. And iI’ll appreciate the lighter weight with all my hill climbing and rolling gravel trails.
  • Go Enve rims because they’re more complaint for comfort
  • Go Zipp because I’ll be able to run extra low tire pressure for comfort and speed on gravel
  • Go Zipp because the extra wide rim will ride better with super wide tires, including if I ever start running 2.1” MTB tires.
  • Go Zipp because 70 percent road is where I will spend a majority of my time so go for aero.
  • Go Zipp because the logos are huge on the deep rims.
5

I have the 40|44 and absolutely love them. Great all around wheel. 27mm internal width and lifetime warranty including crash replacements. Your choice of the latest DT Swiss hubs. No rider weight limit which may not matter for most, but tells me they really stand behind their wheel.

I enjoy them so much I bought a set of the 42|49 for a secondary wheel set with road tires.

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You’ve picked the two extremes….there are a lot of really good wheels in the middle which would probably suit your needs better.

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My vote goes to Roval Terra too. Another option would be the Reserve 40/44 GR. Note that the standard 40/44 (without GR) is rated for road bikes only.

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This!

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Looking at Reserves site, it looks like the regular 40|44 might be discontinued. Not seeing them on there. The 42|49 doesn’t appear to have any use limitations.

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if you want enve I’d honestly go AG25 with innerdrive hubs, the G23 being 23 internal is kinda dated at this point

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Or the 3.4’s. 25mm IW and lightweight. I use them for my gravel bike and love ‘em.

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12

Neither. Just say no to hookless.

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Hookless is perfectly fine for low pressures used with gravel tyres.

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There are also HED Emporia 26mm iw, made in the US. The only gripe with mine is the internal channel shape makes taping for tubeless a challenge. I finally gave up on standard tubeless tape and used gorilla tape. No more issues ever since.