Cycling UK Forum

I am looking at buying a new set of 700c wheels and have been looking at the wheelsets offered by Spa Cycles (after having seen lots of recommendations on this forum).

The bike will be used for general (unladen) cycling, occasional lightly laden touring (rack pack and bar bag) and hopefully for audaxing up to about 200k. I was thinking of using 28mm tyres.

I am quite taken with the idea of going for the Shimano Ultegra dynohub and Spa do two rims with this, both at the same price - the Sputnik or Chrina.

Does anyone have any experience of these wheelsets and if so, can anyone recommend which would be more suitable for my intended use?

Thanks, Noel

Hello,
I have both types of wheels mentioned with one fitted Scmidt SON hub and the other pair with Shimano Ultegra hub. Both rear wheels are XT. I am very very happy with both sets.
John.

Thanks John.

Do you know whether they are intended for different applications - e.g. is one of the rims more suited to heavier use?

Noel

I have the Sputniks on my tourer and the Chrina (narrower) on my Audax
I use 28 mm tires on both.
John

I didn't use a dynohub but the new bike has DRC rims, ST17 - that's the narrow one like an Open Pro. 36/36, 3X front 4X rear, onto Ultegra hubs and I fitted the rear hub with an XT axle & spacers, 135oln to reduce the dish. Spokes are Sapim Strong on the rear drive side & ACI double butted stainless everywhere else. I chose Schwalbe Blizzard tyres with the kevlar belt, 700 X 25C. They're fairly comfy at 9 bar, certainly not narrower than they're supposed to be.

noel.shearer@uuplc.co.uk wrote:Thanks John.

Do you know whether they are intended for different applications - e.g. is one of the rims more suited to heavier use?

Noel

The Sputniks are a heavy rim more suited to loaded touring,I've heard good reports about Chrina rims which are a lot lighter and more suited to the type of riding you describe.
My Sputniks are built onto XT hubs and for value and quality wheelbuilding Spa are second to none.
Hope this helps

Thanks very much all for most helpful input - looks like the Chrina rims are the ones I need.

Noel