Rim width for gravel

[superpiki]

Current trend it to go wider and wider with lower pressures.
How wide would you go, what you consider too wide?
Any thoughts of using mtb rims?

[jdms2k]

32mm sounded nuts until Zipp did it.

Note that for gravel rim trends, it's both wide for lower pressure AND deep for aero.

[CarlosFerreiro]

I suppose right now I see 25mm iw suiting current tyres. That might change really quickly if tyre designs start taking 25mm as a minimum design width.
From reviews of the Zipps it sounds like they have have maybe moved to a bit too much towards the bleeding edge for current tyres, but the next tyre cycle might sort the downside issues.
I'd like to try 27-28mm iw. It does all seem like it there will be changes happening as fast as new product cycles allow.

[CampagYOLO]

I suppose right now I see 25mm iw suiting current tyres. That might change really quickly if tyre designs start taking 25mm as a minimum design width.
From reviews of the Zipps it sounds like they have have maybe moved to a bit too much towards the bleeding edge for current tyres, but the next tyre cycle might sort the downside issues.
I'd like to try 27-28mm iw. It does all seem like it there will be changes happening as fast as new product cycles allow.

Given that a lot of the gravel racers are using 2.1" or bigger MTB tyres now, I'd say the Zipp wheels are the trendsetter and in a couple of years every brand will have similar wheels.

If it wasn't for Boost spacing then a lot of people would have been using XC wheels.

[warthog101]

I am uninclined to pay zipp prices.
These may be an alternative for others too
https://www.nextie.com/customize-your-o ... l-wheelset

[CarlosFerreiro]

The move to a setup a lot wider than 45mm looks to have lots of momentum, but beyond the tyre and rim issues there aren't that many race gravel frames where well over 50mm tyre width is comfortable? That's another part of the design cycle - folk may go for the widest that fits, but what's available is still a fairly big limiting factor at the moment? Sram 1x13 is about the only thing lately that helps cram wider everything into road drivetrain constraints?
I'd see it as a period of flux, buy and try anything, but it'll be a little while before things start to settle down.

[jdms2k]

I bought 29mm Btlos.

Light bicycle - 30
Nextie - 29
Reserve - 27
Parcours- 27

[OtterSpace]

If you can fit it lightbicycle WG44 30mm hooked inner & 40mm outer is very nice with 38 marked 42 WAM tires.

Came out around a year before the Zipp 32 hookless inner & 40mm outer.

[kofsw4]

I bought 29mm Btlos.

Light bicycle - 30
Nextie - 29
Reserve - 27
Parcours- 27

What are your thoughts on the BTLOS now? What depth did you get and what was the weight?

[FreaK]

Depends on your priorities. Also what tyre size you're tending towards. I do feel like there's a bit of a ride quality penalty with an overwide rim despite the volume bonus. But if aero is a factor to you then wider rims are the best way to square the circle.

[jdms2k]

I bought 29mm Btlos.

Light bicycle - 30
Nextie - 29
Reserve - 27
Parcours- 27

What are your thoughts on the BTLOS now? What depth did you get and what was the weight?

45mm depth. Weight with 240 hubs is 1452g (doesn't have drilled holes or tape).

My two fav things about running wider internal width wheels are (1) my 42mm pathfinders became 47mm and (2) my gravel tire pressure is around 27 PSI so rides are much more comfortable. I don't know if I got any aero benefit.

I didn't realize until after I ordered that the BTLOS wheels are hooked. I would prefer hookless for even lower tire pressure. I also would have liked wider external...something like 40mm instead of 36 for potentially more aero benefit.

One unexpected con is my setup catches crosswinds more often. I think it's because the rim (45mm) and tire (47mm) total about 92mm. If this was a road setup with 28mm tires, that would be similar to running a 60mm rim.

[kofsw4]

I bought 29mm Btlos.

Light bicycle - 30
Nextie - 29
Reserve - 27
Parcours- 27

What are your thoughts on the BTLOS now? What depth did you get and what was the weight?

45mm depth. Weight with 240 hubs is 1452g (doesn't have drilled holes or tape).

My two fav things about running wider internal width wheels are (1) my 42mm pathfinders became 47mm and (2) my gravel tire pressure is around 27 PSI so rides are much more comfortable. I don't know if I got any aero benefit.

I didn't realize until after I ordered that the BTLOS wheels are hooked. I would prefer hookless for even lower tire pressure. I also would have liked wider external...something like 40mm instead of 36 for potentially more aero benefit.

One unexpected con is my setup catches crosswinds more often. I think it's because the rim (45mm) and tire (47mm) total about 92mm. If this was a road setup with 28mm tires, that would be similar to running a 60mm rim.

Thanks for the feedback. I assume your weight is for premium rims (rather than extra light)? I've been quoted 1400g for 45/50 extra light rims on their in house hubs but might reconsider given your stability comments.

I only have 45mm clearance in my frame so will run 40c tyres that hopefully blow out to 42-43mm.

Liked 36mm width to balance some aero benefits against potential rim damage if they're too wide but honestly mostly interested in something that will look cool

Sent from my CPH2305 using Tapatalk

[jdms2k]

I might have been one of their first orders for that rim. There was no extralight option when I ordered.

They're huge and cool looking rims. Then I saw the XPLR wheels, which are even wider and deeper.

[LittleBobcat]

I'm currently working on a 28mm iw rim with friends in Xiamen. 50mm depth, symmetric with max ow 38mm & 34mm ow at hook. Would come with 28mm hooked & 29mm hookless option. The rim being manufactured by EIE, should be on market soon or already (shxx even from the same place i dont understand how they sell these stuff out)
the 28mm iw choice went after some aero & weight research and tire combination experiments which i personally think would be the sweet spot for current gravel riders. The WAM of tires would be more predictable and the threads shape would stay more like how tire manufacturers want them to be which i think is quite important to get decent performance unless you always run on tires dedicated for the wheels, just like what ZIPP goes for. For gravel, i think the tires are falling behind the wheels with still old standards for rim-tire combination and i don't see a quick transfer in the next 2-3 years. Afterwards some 30-ish width for gravel would be the norm maybe.

[cerro]

I bought 29mm Btlos.

Light bicycle - 30
Nextie - 29
Reserve - 27
Parcours- 27

What are your thoughts on the BTLOS now? What depth did you get and what was the weight?

45mm depth. Weight with 240 hubs is 1452g (doesn't have drilled holes or tape).

My two fav things about running wider internal width wheels are (1) my 42mm pathfinders became 47mm and (2) my gravel tire pressure is around 27 PSI so rides are much more comfortable. I don't know if I got any aero benefit.

I didn't realize until after I ordered that the BTLOS wheels are hooked. I would prefer hookless for even lower tire pressure. I also would have liked wider external...something like 40mm instead of 36 for potentially more aero benefit.

Why would you run lower pressure with hookless than hooked?