I could argue the contrary - standards can be accounted for, and more importantly the whole frame or fork has to change for that to matter (which is a comparable investment)... it's not as though good wheelsets have an expected lifetime that different than the complete bike.
Modular hubs exist, and are good (DT-Swiss, Chris King), so one good set of wheels logically could last through two or three bikes before becoming obsolete.
I think it's a case where a high end trail/AM set of wheels could also gradually move over towards a bike with less aggressive intentions as those wheels age - especially since hub standards tend to trickle down that direction too. The idea I'm currently toying with is taking my already well work LB 35/30mm wheels and letting them hand-me-down over to a Canfield EPO, then acquiring a set of 38/32mm LB's for when I bump the travel up on my full suspension rig.
I'd say if you're looking to do a two frames plus two wheelsets equals four bikes type setup, there probably is adequate justification for getting one set of carbon wheels... but I'd keep the other set aluminum.
Dec. 27, 2017, 9:48 a.m. - Tehllama42
I could argue the contrary - standards can be accounted for, and more importantly the whole frame or fork has to change for that to matter (which is a comparable investment)... it's not as though good wheelsets have an expected lifetime that different than the complete bike. Modular hubs exist, and are good (DT-Swiss, Chris King), so one good set of wheels logically could last through two or three bikes before becoming obsolete. I think it's a case where a high end trail/AM set of wheels could also gradually move over towards a bike with less aggressive intentions as those wheels age - especially since hub standards tend to trickle down that direction too. The idea I'm currently toying with is taking my already well work LB 35/30mm wheels and letting them hand-me-down over to a Canfield EPO, then acquiring a set of 38/32mm LB's for when I bump the travel up on my full suspension rig. I'd say if you're looking to do a two frames plus two wheelsets equals four bikes type setup, there probably is adequate justification for getting one set of carbon wheels... but I'd keep the other set aluminum.