Yeah, I gave up trying to find drop bars that were a 'normal' shape as opposed to the flared cx shape that would fit 25.4mm stems and went oversize road bars and then you can have anything and any length of stem etc as there are so many out there.
If you do go cx bars, Bontrager make a good not cx flared shaped (like Salsa and even more extreme flared bars) cross drop bar. I'd have had it but they didn't have any 42cm in stock.
As for wheels, I have ridden some superlight spinergy's off road and tehy stood up ok. Got some boggo £100 Mavic Aksium's on at the mo on one and they work fine. And the other has 18 or so spoke bontrager's and discs and still holds up ok off road.
Think the strength of the wheels etc is not as much of an issue as how light/ skillfully you ride whether you are a masher or a finesse rider. ?
Great fun these bikes. Couldnt be without one now.
If you do go cx bars, Bontrager make a good not cx flared shaped (like Salsa and even more extreme flared bars) cross drop bar. I'd have had it but they didn't have any 42cm in stock.
As for wheels, I have ridden some superlight spinergy's off road and tehy stood up ok. Got some boggo £100 Mavic Aksium's on at the mo on one and they work fine. And the other has 18 or so spoke bontrager's and discs and still holds up ok off road.
Think the strength of the wheels etc is not as much of an issue as how light/ skillfully you ride whether you are a masher or a finesse rider. ?
Great fun these bikes. Couldnt be without one now.
me? 
