One of the annual traditions of Cyclocross Magazine is reflecting back on a year filled with reviewing products and award those that struck us as the best of the best in the realms of cyclocross, gravel and cycling gear. Over the course of the next few weeks, we will be releasing all of the awards one day at a time. Be sure to keep checking back to see what products are most worth your hard-earned dollars. Issue 28 also has the Editors’ Awards and the Readers’ Choice awards, so be sure to order your backcopy today, which is also available on Uberflip, in the App Store on iTunes, and on Google Play for Android.
After testing a year’s worth of workingman’s wheels, we unveiled that our 2015 Editors’ Choice Award to the Neugent A220DTW for Best Affordable Tubular Wheelset. Today we look at our Best Affordable Tubeless Wheelset, with the award going to American Classic’s Hurricane.
The American Classic Hurricane took home the Editors’ Award for Best Affordable Tubless Wheelset. © Cyclocross Magazine
We’re hesitant to call a $850 wheel affordable, but this wheel can replace both cyclocross and mountain bike wheels, and will save you money in inner tubes and tubulars.
Thanks in part to the Bead Barb that holds the tire’s bead in place and prevents burps, the Hurricanes set up easily for tubeless and the rim profile holds fast for the tires we tried (Kenda SCT, non-tubeless Ritchey Excavader). With the 32 spoke count in the front and rear wheels, the Hurricane might not be the lightest set of tubeless wheels, but is certainly a heavy duty option that will stand up to the conditions of cyclocross.
American Classic Hurricane Cyclocross Wheel Specs:
Rim: 400gr Aluminum Clincher 24mm depth, 22.3mm width, 18mm internal width
Spokes: AC 14/15 Gauge Spokes Black, 32 count front and rear
Nipples: Spoke Nipples Silver
Weight: 736g front, 844g rear
Freehub: Gray Color Front 105 100mm, Rear RD 205 130mm Shimano/SRAM 10/11 or Campagnolo 10/11
Warranty: One year
Max Rider Weight: 250 pounds
More info: amclassic.com
Be sure to keep checking back to our Readers’ and Editors’ Award Pages for day by day updates.
