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I'm still deciding as I've got a SRAM Force groupset I could reuse with TRP Hy/Rd's, but am tempted to treat myself to a new 105 groupset with RS685 hydro STI's and BR-RS785 calipers instead as this is the first new bike I've bought since 1996 and 105 is fantastic value.
I like Hope hubs and they've been good to me, so Crests on Pro 2 Evos sound good. It's a shame that Hope don't seem to make their £330 Hope Hoops version anymore but I have found the Crest 29er rims for £49 on sale.
They will be getting at least 28mm's, almost certainly bigger as the CdF takes up to 40mm tyres.
Fox-
My advice is to go to a shop and try out the SRAM and Shimano hydraulic out in the road, I find them both equally great.
Having said that, I'm very happy with my 105/HY/RD set up, and only gonna change it once I can afford etap.
How come you didn't get the Genesis with the brakes you want? There's a Tiagra equipped one with HY/RD that work very well together and felt just like 105.
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Fuck it, go 650b and fit massive 48mm tyres on the Croix de Fer.
Don't fit 700c, it distracts you from the now.
edscoble
Are you running 10 or 11 speed?
If 11 speed, the X9 only go up to 10 speed, not much choices in the MTB section unless you go for something like the Hope hubs whose freehub body can be changed for 11 speed (or go for a road/cx disc wheelset, like the Hunt, or Kinesis).
IMHO, the Crest/Hope wheelset is the best bang for weight and durability, especially on a featherweight such as yourself, min tyres I recommend is 28mm which look exactly a 23mm tyres on a wide road rims.