Front wheel for an S40

M

Maker Matt Design

New Member
I'm building an eBike on the S40 frame and am looking for a front wheel. I have not been able to find a single wheel that meets specifications on eBay or Amazon. I mostly see wheelsets. Any pointers appreciated.

Specifics:
  1. 700c wheel size
  2. 28-32 spokes
  3. 135 hub spacing
  4. Quick release hub
  5. Accommodate a disc brake
  6. Accommodate SRAM 11-speed cassette
  7. About 25mm rim width
  8. Dark bronze/brown in color
  9. Presta valve
  10. Clincher

I'll post details on the complete build when the project is complete.

Thanks in advance
 
Last edited:
K

KiwiGuy

Well-Known Member
You can run tubes in tubeless rims and in tubeless tires. Because I had trouble getting tubeless tires to seat in my tubeless rims (unless I took the wheel to my LBS who used a compressor), I run latex tubes inside (and put the sealant in the tube).
 
R

Ross Jantz

Member
The Velocity Aileron rims that shipped with my S40 are tubeless-ready but work just fine with tubes and mine are brown. Like Blair, I run tubes with sealant (although mine aren't latex). They seem to meet all your requirements with the exception that you cannot run an actual quick release in an S40 front wheel - its there but you have to remove it completely to take the wheel off (but I'm sure you know that already).
 
Robert Holler

Robert Holler

Administrator
Staff member
The new S40 in the current batch are equipped with ALEX GD26P rims, not Velocity. The Alex are really nice wide rims with a matte finish. 32 spoke, which IO would never run less than 32 spoke on a Cruzbike unless a rider was very lightweight.

Robert
 
M

Maker Matt Design

New Member
An Alex GD26P rim on the front would be nice, but I am still not finding compatible wheels made with them.
It seems that most of the new wheels are made with the thru axle design.
There are older wheels out there, but they don't work with an 11-speed cassette.
 
paco1961

paco1961

Zen MBB Master
Check out American Classic, particularly the Victory 30. Excellent buy. Black rather than brown. They list wheel sets but will sell singles. I have ridden many miles on their Argent (gravel DF) and they are excellent.
 
paco1961

paco1961

Zen MBB Master
And by the way I run Novatec CXD 24 front, 20 rear and with more than 4500 miles in on potholed KY roads they remain true and rock solid.
 
M

Maker Matt Design

New Member
Today I found two wheels but each was a bit narrow, 19mm and 20mm and I'm looking for 25mm. Am I too picky? I figure the front wheel is one of the most important components of a CruzBike, given it is the primary drive wheel, stopping wheel and required for quick avoidance of road hazards and other obstacles. We have all been there, rain, gravel, sand in the turns with the guy next to you hanging on for dear life. Traction is important!
BTW, Copenhagen makes a cool rear wheel and American Classic shows out of stock and has not responded to my email yet.
 
chicorider

chicorider

Zen MBB Master
Hi Matt,

I am also picky with my wheels, so I build my own. Have for years. Also, after trashing a few nice aluminum rims on my V20, I switched to carbon, and the ride and durability difference has been amazing. For my S40 front wheel I used:
Light Bicycle carbon rim (700C FALCON rim, 28mm wide-36mm deep. $154.00)
Bitex hub from Bikehubstore.com (MTB270 Rear Disc Hub, $110.00)
DT Swiss double butted 14/15 gauge spokes, laced in a 2-cross pattern with DT Swiss aluminum nipples (about $40.00 from Colorado Cyclist)

Add another $50.00 or so for a shop to build the wheel, and you have a really nice, strong, light carbon wheel for not quite $400.00. The rim is even a sort of brown-black color.

"Cheap Chinese" carbon rims have come a long way since the early days. Three of my bikes are running them with Bitex hubs without a glitch--and two of those bikes are mountain bikes that take a fair pounding on our local lava-cap trails. I went with high-end Nox rims for my V20 and S30 before taking a chance with Light Bicycle and Nextie for the S40 and mtn bikes. If I ever wear out the Nox rims (four seasons on the V20, three seasons on the S30), I would have no qualms with replacing them with Light Bicycle or Nextie rims.

I love building wheels. It's very meditative and satisfying.
 
paco1961

paco1961

Zen MBB Master
chicorider said:
Hi Matt,

I am also picky with my wheels, so I build my own. Have for years. Also, after trashing a few nice aluminum rims on my V20, I switched to carbon, and the ride and durability difference has been amazing. For my S40 front wheel I used:
Light Bicycle carbon rim (700C FALCON rim, 28mm wide-36mm deep. $154.00)
Bitex hub from Bikehubstore.com (MTB270 Rear Disc Hub, $110.00)
DT Swiss double butted 14/15 gauge spokes, laced in a 2-cross pattern with DT Swiss aluminum nipples (about $40.00 from Colorado Cyclist)

Add another $50.00 or so for a shop to build the wheel, and you have a really nice, strong, light carbon wheel for not quite $400.00. The rim is even a sort of brown-black color.

"Cheap Chinese" carbon rims have come a long way since the early days. Three of my bikes are running them with Bitex hubs without a glitch--and two of those bikes are mountain bikes that take a fair pounding on our local lava-cap trails. I went with high-end Nox rims for my V20 and S30 before taking a chance with Light Bicycle and Nextie for the S40 and mtn bikes. If I ever wear out the Nox rims (four seasons on the V20, three seasons on the S30), I would have no qualms with replacing them with Light Bicycle or Nextie rims.

I love building wheels. It's very meditative and satisfying.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the note on the Light Bicycle wheels/rims. I've looked at them for some time and quite honestly they've always looked a little too good to be true for the price. Nice to hear from someone who has been on them for some miles. I like the wheels I have now for the s40 but secretly pining for a set of deepish profile carbon discs. Maybe 45 front and 55/60 rear? Will see . . . Have been tempted on the Williams wheels but they've been out of stock for quite a while.
 
M

Maker Matt Design

New Member
Good news, I have a wheel! I kept asking locally and found a friend with a spare. Longer term I like the Light Bicycle rim idea.
After a shakedown period with the current setup, I'll revisit the front wheel topic.
Thanks for your help.
 
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