Orient Express - Cheap Chinese Rims / Wheels / Forks / Frames / Cranks / Etc

whats the erd difference between your current and option 1 (assuming you're using same hub)?

2mm. But I think my NDS spokes are aready over 1mm too long, and the DS spokes are just under 1mm too long. Triplet lacing is a fecker for spoke calculations.

If you're doing lots of decending are you not drawn to an alu braking surface?

70% of my riding is on undulating coastal paths. I rarely brake at all.

If you are descending then that generally points to having done some ascending first.

Also this.
When I do hit the local mountains, I'm only really timing myself for the assents.

I bet you £100 I can make up on the descent any time I lost on the ascent due to using ~100g or whatever heavier rims.

Using me, my bike, and the Dalsnibbe climb as an example. Thats 18 seconds extra time for a 200g increase.