So, what’s everyone’s top vote for the best alternative to these wheels? Custom build Nextie right now? Reserve? Nextie has 29/30mm internal and 40mm external, Reserve is 27mm internal, 34/36mm external…
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My buddy just got a set of the non dimpled version. They look so rad I don’t even care about flats!
Joe
@BCM from what I’ve decided on, I think the Reserve 40/44 GR is the best option at the moment. I have a set coming on my Mosaic being built.
303 XPLR look amazing, but the jury is still out on performance IMO
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Light Bicycle WG44
Nextie AGX45
BTLOS ARC45
DT Swiss GRC 1100 dicut
Reserve 40/44 GR
Parcours FKT
3T DISCUS 45|40
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I think you need to compare them relatively - are you in the 25mm, 27mm or 30mm internal width camp?
To me, a 30mm IW and 40mm EW rim profile with a 40mm tire is the perfect match and it will give great characteristics on larger tires also. If you have a rim that is not that wide, its a great choice (safer also) for tires smaller than 40mm.
Nextie offers rims in the 22, 24, 25 and 30mm IW profiles while Reserve offers rims with a IW of 22, 25 and 27mm. Reserve rims are also all drilled (not tubeless/hole-less). Nextie can be hookless or hooked, reserved are only offered in “semi-hooked.”
IMO the reserve wheels are porky for the price they have on them, that’s just my opinion. The Reserve 40/44 are 1376g for a price of $2500 while a Nextie wheel set at 1297g will run you about $1600 before shipping.
It comes down to comfort level, you may be surprised at how many rims are either the same or come from the same OE manufacturing mold/manufacture.
YMMV
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It’s starting to feel like in 5 years were are going to be looking back on the this and say:
“Remember that Zipp 303 XPLR wheelset that everyone flatted on…”
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5 years? I feel like we were there 2 months ago.
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Paul Voss used same set up as Cromwell and surprise… also said he suffered a puncture.
I think Valtteri was also running a similar set of wheels and punctured near the end of worlds.
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https://www.instagram.com/p/DA8XfoKuTwb/?igsh=aG1uNzcwZzZhenR0
Yet another puncture from Worlds on the XPLR. Yikes. Beginning to think I need to rule these out as my next wheelset.
I’m wondering if it’s the combination of the Internal Width and the Tire Sizes being used, or the actual design of the specific rims.
A 32mm IW is a good amount of stretch changing the tire profile a lot as compared to 25-27mm. Hell, I’ve been running 2.2" Race Kings on my XC Bike on a 25mm wheelset and they work great from a performance and durability perspective. I have the exact same rims for my MOG, just considering something more aero for my second wheelset.
Actually, two different guys puncturing in that post - both John Borstelmann and Juri Hollmann. Might be shorter to count the number of pros that rode those tires and made it out in one piece.
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Yeah, I kinda question having rims that wide and then officially releasing 45’s as the widest option when they hit the market.
Dunno what tires everyone was running at Worlds (and how much is correlation vs. causation), however….
I’ve been running wide rims (3T Discus, LB WG44) on gravel for quite a while and have had no major issues with punctures. Various tires including Pathfinders, Racekings, Gravelkings, G One RS.
I think in the case of the Zipp the issue is with the rim-approved tires. And because they’re hookless, at least in theory you’re locked into their limited list of approved tires. This has struck me as a terrible idea from day 1; I’d never consider a wheel set that so drastically reduces tire choices.
I also wonder if some pros are running pressures that are just too low. Wider rims should allow lower pressures without tire squirm, but just a couple PSI too low and it’s pinch flat city, especially in race conditions where speeds are high you can’t pick your line carefully.
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Do we actually know if the flats are all on “Approved” tires? Are people ignoring the Approved tire list? I.e. - is it a crappy list of approved tires, or again, rim design / width that’s driving the issue?
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I’m pretty sure that if you race with the pressures that Zipp recommends, you will have a lot of snake bites. The pressure Zipp is recommending seems more suitable for people having an easy Sunday ride on smooth gravel (to the cafe) with a clear view of the terrain ahead.
I think from what I have seen on various socials, whether it was what they ran in the race can’t confirm. Cromwell, Bottas were running Schwalbe G-One RS but not sure of the size. Voss was running Schwalbe Pro One road tires in size 38, Borselman looks to be running the Xplr Goodyears
I think there is a lot to be said in pressures and in tire width. I run a 30mm ID on my mountain bike tires running a 2.4 and they have been amazing. So far I have run gravel tires from 35 to 45 on 25mm rims and have had good luck.
Also tend to use the Silca calculator and have been able to dial things in with recon in the days prior.
Would be great to hear from others with experience with wider rims like 3T. Rumours are that Reserve are going to launch a wider rim soon too.
Yeah, setting aside people running “non-approved tires”, and just looking purely at the XPLR Goodyears, I think even if you run them per the SRAM/Zipp calculator, you’re gonna get snake bites. I think that calculator is simply too optimistic for the sidewall of that tire (optimistically low).
I’ve been running them now 2-4psi higher than the calculator recommends on the slick’s (versus the inters) on terrain that is arguably MTB at times, with sharp rocks, for about 6-8 weeks, and haven’t flatted yet. I bought a pair of Inter’s to swap back to, once I flat on the Slick’s. But…fingers crossed.
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I wonder if they were running inserts. I know DJ says you dont have to, but that will prevent a snake bite.
Where did you hear/see that rumor? They just game out with the 40/44 GR wheel which one fhte was the widest prior to these XPLR wheels. Would be surprised if they already launched something that would take sales from the 40/44