Road Wheels & Road Wheel Recommendations?

Just checking- I don't get to that part of the world very often, so post it would have to be.

I've found some Open Pros on 7800 hubs on ebay for £250+£18 delivery: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mavic-Open-Pro-Shimano-Dura-ace-7800-Wheel-Set-Grey-Silver-/130617273303?pt=UK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item1e69656bd7

Which is less than I paid by quite a lot, actually. Bugger.

Never buy Shimano RS 10 wheels. They are the worst pieces of shit I have ever encountered and if they were made of straw would probably be stronger and more effective on Londons roads. I'm not sure what sort of rider they are aimed at and why any manufacturer in their right mind would ship their bikes with them. I have snapped two spokes inside one month on brand new wheels. What a joke

When it comes to freehubs, there's noisy and then there is Chris King.

How do CK compare to Hope on the noise stakes?

Different type of noise.

I'm toying with the idea of slowly building up a set of new wheels for my road bike, after seeing these Token hubs on ebay. The first question is of course, what type of riding will I be doing on them? I'd like to park that, as the truth is they'll be more for fun and as a project. The build's in part inspired by Smallfurry's wheelset, and more recently Dammit's... I'm sort of looking for an in between version - cheaper than SF's and more practical than Dammit's.
**
So the aim(s) in order:**

• cheap
  
• light
  
• bling / fun
  
• strong enough
  
  

The drilling is 20/24h. Which to me says an absolute minimum of 30mm, but realistically somewhere around 40mm sounds more sensible, from what I've read it also sounds like a good balance in terms of handling. I'm about 80-90kg. I'm hoping to drop a bit of weight, but to be honest I'm never going to be under 75kg.

I'd like to build them to a budget, so the two options that spring to mind are kinlin-style light alu rims, or budget carbon. I'd like them to be clinchers, just to save the cost of buying new tyres.

The last thing (a long shot) is I've been sold on the marketing for wider rims.

Anyone got any thoughts, or suggestions?

Velocity A23 Rims?

Ha!

Yes. They were my first thought, and quite probably what I'll end up with using some of these hubs.

But I saw those and thought "why not"?

I'd want something more like 24/28h with the A23's. Or if I could work out a way to get the HED Belgium C2 rims, that would be even better.

Also do you mean 80kg rather than 180kg?

I wouldn't be riding such a low spoke count if I weighted 180kg!

Well spotted and edited!

You can get the A23's in a lower spoke count than 32.

I'm toying with the idea of slowly building up a set of new wheels for my road bike, after seeing these Token hubs on ebayhttp://rover.ebay.com/roverimp/1/710-53481-19255-0/1?ff3=2&pub=5574889051&toolid=10001&campid=5336527178&customid=&item=290594925157&mpt=6089400. The first question is of course, what type of riding will I be doing on them? I'd like to park that, as the truth is they'll be more for fun and as a project. The build's in part inspired by Smallfurry's wheelset, and more recently Dammit's... I'm sort of looking for an in between version - cheaper than SF's and more practical than Dammit's.

So the aim(s) in order:

• cheap
  
• light
  
• bling / fun
  
• strong enough
  
  

The drilling is 20/24h. Which to me says an absolute minimum of 30mm, but realistically somewhere around 40mm sounds more sensible, from what I've read it also sounds like a good balance in terms of handling. I'm about 80-90kg. I'm hoping to drop a bit of weight, but to be honest I'm never going to be under 75kg.

I'd like to build them to a budget, so the two options that spring to mind are kinlin-style light alu rims, or budget carbonhttp://rover.ebay.com/roverimp/1/710-53481-19255-0/1?ff3=2&pub=5574889051&toolid=10001&campid=5336527178&customid=&item=250969648043&mpt=6089400. I'd like them to be clinchers, just to save the cost of buying new tyres.

The last thing (a long shot) is I've been sold on the marketing for wider rims.

Anyone got any thoughts, or suggestions?

Definitly go for something deep with that drilling. If you consider 75Kg as a standard cyclist weight. Anything over 80Kg is a tad heavy (This includes me). Deeper rims, and bigger hub flanges, increase the bracing angle of the spokes. You need this if you are to reduce spoke count.

You could get around this by using a deeper rear rim. This would also reduce handling issues in windy weather. It was my original plan to do this, in order to perfect my wheel. But, hey, rims are cheaper in pairs.

If you want to stick with alu. You could try some American Classic rims. These are special editions of the kinlin jobbies, and pretty rare.
http://xx-light-bikes.de/index.php/cat/c21_Felgen-RR---Clincher.html/category/Felgen-RR---Clincher/XTCsid/a6064af08242bd0372e9bcf80dd8895a

This will give you bracing angles.
http://www.kstoerz.com/freespoke/

My rear wheels only have 8 NDS spokes. This is shit because, due to dishing, thats where all the bracing angle is. Having 18 3x DS spokes will heavily reduce wind up. But I wonder if they flex, as a result of me throwing my weight around. Havent felt it though TBH.

Cheers.

What would you say is the minimum depth?

Now drawing up a couple of spreadsheets. My quick guestimate of an A23/SuperLight is around the 1,500g mark for about £250... I guess I'm going to use that as a rough benchmark. But I'm also going to look at the cost of getting a pair of the HED C2.

Still an uber-bling carbon jobbie would be fun.

I'm sure you could get away with 24/18 with those Heds.

But bare in mind for a 85Kg rider, you'll need a fair amount of tension, and those rims wont be massively stiff. So building will be a tricky and time consuming process. There is'nt a massive selection of 18hole front hubs though.

hmmm.... The WW listing for A23's is 435g.

No cheap deep rim seems to come close, and the saving from loosing 10 spokes with DT Comps and brass nipples seems to be ~12g. So it almost doesn't seem worth it....

I have to say I think I'll be going with the A23's 32 build. Maybe on Ultegra.

Does seem to be "A23 or GTFO"

OK. That was a short lived wheel build :(

I think it's going to be these for hubs
[URL="http://www.bikehubstore.com/SuperLight-211-p/sl211.htm"]
[/URL]

...probably in black, because my frame is white, read and black...with either A23's or the C2's (if I can get them without getting screwed too hard). Most probably 24/28h or possibly 20/28h.

gunmetal!

What do you think of the planet x a57 or model c wheelset from what I've read online you can't get anything near them for the money.

I had a pair of their track wheels and they were awesome 1 spoke went in circa 2500 miles.

OK. That was a short lived wheel build :(
...probably in black, because my frame is white, read and black...with either A23's or the C2's (if I can get them without getting screwed too hard). Most probably 24/28h or possibly 20/28h.

Red hubs. (Doesnt the giant have red ano bits already?)
You can get red brass nipples too. Red fastness counts double near the rim.

Defo 28 2x, 20 radial.
Defo A23s
Defo Pillar aero spokes.

Red hubs....

Aghhh...my inner conscience says no to red ano on road bikes!!!!

However, yes, there are lots of red ano bits on the Giant. A lot are coming off in time...which means I can probably have red hubs.

You don't think 28h x3 for the rear?

I think you're right on the A23's... excluding any deliver or customs mucking about the HED.'s are going to be an extra £50. Plus if I get the A23's from BLB I have a shop to take them back to... still I'm going to check my bank balance and spares to see what I can sell.

On the spokes is that your fake Sapim spoke source?

http://www.bdopcycling.com/Pillar-Spokes.asp

Hmm so the ck wheels arrived further inspection of them tonight the rear flange had a hairline crack. They're going straight back in the morning.

The hunt is on again for a solid pair of audax wheels for year round commuting.

Fire away!

my new touring wheels:

hope (or maybe ambrosio depending on budget constraints) x pillar triple butted spokes x rigida grizzly rims.

bomb proof.