Pair of spare wheels - advice and recommendations?

[Oldfentiger]

I've bought myself a Raleigh RX Comp to use as a winter bike.
So far I've changed the tyres - taken off the knobblies and fitted a pair of 28mm Schwalbe Marathon Plus, as most of my riding will done round local tarmac lanes. Also fitted mudguards.
Now I've got to thinking what if I want to ride some rougher tracks, where the knobblies would make more sense?
So, I'm casting around for another set of wheels to fit the knobblies on, so it's a simple matter of just swapping the wheels.
I'm confused because I don't want to spend a fortune but I don't want to buy crap (still a bit new to this mullarkey).
Here's the bike spec:

http://www.raleigh.co.uk/ProductType/ProductRange/Product/Default.aspx?pc=1&pt=14&pg=12141

What would you chaps recommend please?

 

[Citius]

Any cheap, 700c or 29er disk-compatible wheels should do the job. Planet X is usually a good source. Nice looking Ossa, by the way...

 

[raleighnut]

If you plan on swapping the discs/cassette over when you change the wheels I think you'll take that long to swap over that changing the tyres would be quicker. The only other way would be to buy exactly the same set of wheels and fit the same cassette and discs to them as another brand of wheels probably won't be machined to the same precise dimensions (So you'd have to re-index and re-set the brake calipers every time you swap)

 

[Oldfentiger]

Any cheap, 700c or 29er disk-compatible wheels should do the job. Planet X is usually a good source. Nice looking Ossa, by the way...

Thanks for the reply.
The OSSA is one of the rarer 350cc versions.

If you plan on swapping the discs/cassette over when you change the wheels I think you'll take that long to swap over that changing the tyres would be quicker. The only other way would be to buy exactly the same set of wheels and fit the same cassette and discs to them as another brand of wheels probably won't be machined to the same precise dimensions (So you'd have to re-index and re-set the brake calipers every time you swap)

I would plan to buy cassette an discs for the spare wheelset, but I hadn't realised there may be variance dimension-wise. Still undecided then

 

[raleighnut]

Thanks for the reply.
The OSSA is one of the rarer 350cc versions.


I would plan to buy cassette an discs for the spare wheelset, but I hadn't realised there may be variance dimension-wise. Still undecided then

The difference won't be much, a mm or so but it'll be enough to throw out the tiny adjustments needed to keep everything sweet.
It's much easier with rim brakes but even then it can throw the indexing out, I've seen TDF riders having their indexing re-set whilst on the move,

 

[Oldfentiger]

I've tried sourcing the OE wheels with no success - is it likely they are only available to OE customers?

 

[raleighnut]

I've tried sourcing the OE wheels with no success - is it likely they are only available to OE customers?

Probably not worth Raleigh dealers stocking them, most people would sooner fit an up-rated set than stick with OE when they need to change?

 

[MichaelW2]

Check the Over Locknut Distance of the rear dropouts. MTB/Hybrid=135mm, Road=130mm.
You have to fit a 160mm rotor
Take care about using a new cassette on worn chain.

OEM wheels are nothing special, probably a Formula hub or similar. Shimano hubs are always good value for a hard life of use.

 

[raleighnut]

Check the Over Locknut Distance of the rear dropouts. MTB/Hybrid=135mm, Road=130mm.
You have to fit a 160mm rotor
Take care about using a new cassette on worn chain.

OEM wheels are nothing special, probably a Formula hub or similar. Shimano hubs are always good value for a hard life of use.

I've always found OE wheels to be the cheapest the manufacturer can get away with.