Do disc brakes affect wheel options?

[Wafer]

Not looking to buy anything in the short term, but I am interested in upgrading the wheels on my new bike at some point.

When I'm shopping (window shopping for now anyway) do I need to look out for certain types of wheels bearing in mind my road bike has disc brakes?

 

[MacB]

Hubs are the key part they need to have disc brake fittings. also whether you want a brake track on the rim or not, ones without are often referred to as disc brake specific.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

Simply put, yes but it's getting better.

Looking for replacements for my Synapse I found the options pretty slim on the ground meaning it's a bit harder to get lots of recommendations. In the end I went for getting some built, but that's as much me as anything else. Having said that, I wouldn't let it put you off, there were options that seemed good enough for the same sort of price range as the non-disk stuff(i.e. £200 up for a wheelset) and with the number of people producing disk brake bikes now options will only increase.

 

[BSRU]

You just need to think about the hubs, you can get hand made wheels and there is growing selection of off the shelf.
When searching, look at 29er wheels as well as 700c, just remember to get the right width rear hub.

 

[Wafer]

Heh, yeah it's a Synapse I've got, looks like there are slim pickings outside custom builds at the moment then.
Kinesis Crosslight seem about the only option in the price range I was thinking (seen too many posts on here about wheels like Campagnolo Zonda's being good!) based on searching for 'disc wheels'.

Perhaps it's a good thing I'm not looking to get something soon, might give it a few months and see if the options improve! I'm sure my stock wheels will be fine for my needs for a while.

Only looked at 700c so far but will try the 29ers too, BRSU, thanks.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

I had a couple suggested to me, I've upped the budget either bit (if you go on 'tanks of petrol' or a lot if you go on percentages) and am going for built at £370. To be honest I'm perfectly happy with the wheels it comes with, I'm not good enough to tell the difference anyway, but I need new wheels for my Sirrus Disk and the 'sensible' choice seemed to be to put the Synapse wheels on the Sirrus and buy new for the Synapse. For very varying values of 'sensible' :-) .

 

[Wafer]

Yeah, guy I sit near at work was pleased to hear I hadn't 'bought a bike', I'd 'bought into bikes', seems far too easy to spend more money on them for 'sensible' reasons!

 

[BSRU]

I upgraded my disc wheels to Hope Hoops, Hope disc hubs with Mavic Open Pro rims.
They don't come with skewers and they are 11 speed hubs.

 

[Wafer]

Did you put them together yourself BSRU? Can't say I'm brave enough for that yet, the idea of getting new wheels and swapping the cassette and stuff over is scary enough for my current level of expertise.

What sort of price was that lot?

 

[BSRU]

Did you put them together yourself BSRU? Can't say I'm brave enough for that yet, the idea of getting new wheels and swapping the cassette and stuff over is scary enough for my current level of expertise.

What sort of price was that lot?

No came already built, bought from Merlin Cycles, cost £300 for the wheels, then needed to buy skewers, rotors and a 1.85mm spacer as I use 10 speed cassette
Swapping cassettes is easier than falling of a log, just need the right tools.

 

[Wafer]

Hmmm, very interesting, thanks, will bear them in mind!

I'm sure it is easy, the fear is more due to the unknown I expect.

 

[Soltydog]

Never thought about replacement wheels when I bought my new bike. Hopefully the rims & wheels will last longer without rim braking, or is that just wishful thinking????
Anyway, hopefully the stock wheels will last a good or two before I need to worry about replacements

 

[BSRU]

Never thought about replacement wheels when I bought my new bike. Hopefully the rims & wheels will last longer without rim braking, or is that just wishful thinking????
Anyway, hopefully the stock wheels will last a good or two before I need to worry about replacements

Not really replacements just upgrades. Often the wheels a bike comes with are lower quality to save money to keep the price down.
Also having a spare set can be handy.

 

[Wafer]

I wasn't bothered till I read threads where people had got new, lighter, wheels and said they noticed a difference! Hence I'm in no rush, it's a want not a need

 

[Soltydog]

Not really replacements just upgrades.

Is there a difference

I wasn't bothered till I read threads where people had got new, lighter, wheels and said they noticed a difference! Hence I'm in no rush, it's a want not a need

Mine's a hub gear, so weight isn't really an issue, until I have sufficient funds for an upgrade