Need some bike advice.

[DoubleHelix]

I want to get into bikepacking.  I currently have a 2009 Rockhopper Pro.

I am curious if the stock 28/32 Specialized Hi Lo hubs and DT Swiss 445d can hold up on the GDMBR.  If not advice on upgrading would be nice, wheelsets are my least knowledgeable area.  The specs on the Hi Lo:

FRONT HUB
Specialized Hi Lo, forged alloy, double sealed, ground race, 28h
REAR HUB
Specialized, forged alloy, double sealed, ground race, cassette, QR, 32h

QR means quick release, but the front has a quick release also so not sure why it is only listed on the rear.  Not really sure on the sizing either (15mm/20mm) or what that is actually a measurement of, I think the skewer.

Thanks for any help.

[Bikeabout]

I don't know if I can help, but here goes:

Those wheels would probably be fine. But there's no real answer to that. I've met guys who have toured tens of thousands of miles on low-end bikes. And guys who have broken high-end wheels the first week.

I'm a pretty big fan of Ride Whatcha Got. If it were me, I'd ride them. Unless they're already beat to death, then I'd replace them. I've ridden basic off-the-shelf wheels like those with good results. I've also toured with a rear wheel that should have been replaced (I knew that) and ended up replacing about 1 spoke per day. (I had some spokes, since I knew that, and bought more along the way. Dumb.)

Those wheels shouldn't stop you from getting out there and going for it. Nothing "wrong" with them. Have fun!

--Greg

[redtabby]

I want to get into bikepacking.  I currently have a 2009 Rockhopper Pro.

I am curious if the stock 28/32 Specialized Hi Lo hubs and DT Swiss 445d can hold up on the GDMBR.  If not advice on upgrading would be nice, wheelsets are my least knowledgeable area.  The specs on the Hi Lo:

I'm thinking your wheels and hubs will be fine, but you might want to start researching tubeless setups.  Some Specialized wheels come "tubeless ready", with blue tape inside the rim to seal the spokes.  Yours may already be setup that way if the bike came with a pair of valve stems.  Search the forum here for more info on tubeless setups.  If your rims are already taped, the Specialized "2Bliss" ready branded tires like Captain Control would probably set up very easily.  Some of the TD racers here run tubeless, then carry spare tubes with stans sealant inside to use along with a tire boot if the tire gets cut and cannot seal itself.  I believe Jill Homer ran the TD using slime tubes as a primary flat avoiding setup.  In any case, reasonable volume 29er tires setup tubeless with 22-30psi depending on your weight, handling preferences, etc - should give a relatively comfortable and flat-free ride.

[redtabby]

oops - I was thinking your bike was a 29er.  I think you'll still want to find a tubeless setup that works for you, but I'm not sure if the 26er tire volumes give as much of a cushion as with the 29ers.  With tubes on the 26er, I could never find a sweet spot for tire pressure that gave good bump compliance and reasonable handling (but I'm a clyde).  Looks like a nice ride however, and definitely solid for lots of abuse!  Get out there!!!

[DoubleHelix]

Thanks for the info.  Was looking at going tubeless already, my wheels are not currently set up for it.  In any case I will definitely get out and see how it goes

So far the little trips I have done have not been pretty, getting over some torn ligaments in my left ankle has left me completely out of shape.  I'm slowly getting back to where I was, I just hate the slow part.

[Slim]

Those wheels are not tubeless. You can try a Stans conversion kit.

The best thing you can do is take em too a good wheel builder and have them true and tension them properly, and check the hubs for adjustment, a lot of those factory wheels are not built very well.
After that, if you want lighter, tubeless etc there are thousands of wheels to upgrade to.