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

http://r2-bike.com/lightweight-kleiderbuegel

Narrowed it down to two open mold rims.

1. 350g, 50mm deep, 20.5mm wide, basalt braking surface, internal nipples.

2. 420g, 56mm deep, 27.5mm wide (21.5mm tyre mount width), basalt braking surface, external nipples.

I like internal nipples, as in theory you can use higher spoke tension. I also like light things. Plus they are $65 cheaper for the pair. But I'm drawn to the new wide U shape. Which should build a stiffer wheel.

hmmmmmm.

I vote 2

If they'll fit in your brakes.

Well 2 will come in at at 1.3kg the pair.

My brakes and frame look like they will fit.

I'm kidding myself that option 1 will allow me to reuse my existing spokes. Buts they'd be theoretically 2mm too long, and realistically a little longer. So thats likely to be wrong.

If the U shape is, as claimed better in variable wind directions. Its a no brainer. 90% of the time I ride coastal roads. That wind in and out of mountains and fjords. So the wind direction is always changing.

internal nipples + tubs seems masochistic even by my standards anyway.

If I'd wasnt in my current financial situation, I'd have bought the G3 powertap that went on EBay for $700, and killed two birds with one stone. I need to find another way to fund my MAMIL status.

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

Melted rim :(

And you want another?

Alu ftw

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

If you are descending then that generally points to having done some ascending first- and alloy rims with a carbon fairing/alloy-carbon hybrids (C24 aside) tend to be heavy.

They're also relatively pointless if you have a carbon rim that can deal with the heat- unless it's pissing down.

I've gone for disc brakes on my new bike in an attempt to render this a moot point- I think it makes more sense to move the braking to a seperate item that can be replaced independant of the rim, and doesn't introduce compromises to the rim design/safety.

Fair points. For me the extra faff and costs of carbon rims and pads is a consideration. But I understand the counters.

...I think it makes more sense to move the braking...etc.

I completely agree with that. It's a pain all the rest of the components aren't fully there yet. But if your at the top end chasing marginal gains then discs have a lot going for them.

Although tbh even at the commuting level I've realised discs have a lot going for them. Having a quick spin on my mates pompetamine (which I think he set up with some avids that came in at sub£100 for levers, disks, cables) I realised its miles ahead of my Ultergra 6700 / Swiss Stop green combo.

You don't see many motorcycles with rim brakes.

You're using heavy as a relative term here. My alu/carbon 45mm deep rovals are 1400g - which is plenty light for pretty much anyone except Contador

If you are descending then that generally points to having done some ascending first- and alloy rims with a carbon fairing/alloy-carbon hybrids (C24 aside) tend to be heavy.

They're also relatively pointless if you have a carbon rim that can deal with the heat- unless it's pissing down.

I've gone for disc brakes on my new bike in an attempt to render this a moot point- I think it makes more sense to move the braking to a seperate item that can be replaced independant of the rim, and doesn't introduce compromises to the rim design/safety.

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.

There's always a chance of rain in the mountains.

Disc brakes on road bikes >>>

You're using heavy as a relative term here. My alu/carbon 45mm deep rovals are 1400g - which is plenty light for pretty much anyone except Contador

The Ksyriums I have are around 1400g. No idea what my 404s weigh but the aero benefits on the flat and descents far outweigh (excuse the pun) any of this light wheel bollocks.

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.

I'm only really timing myself for the assents.

OK, you have my agreement in about 1 minute.

Now go and do some timed ascents.

I never get them right.

Well I found a DH run 5km from my house. I'll time myself down that. Riding downhill on roads is kinda fun I guess. But I've never seen the point in timing it.

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

Job done.

18 seconds difference over 97mins of climbing 7% is feck all, when you consider the usual price difference between a 1300g wheelset and a 1500g wheelset.

#stillbuildingflashwheels.

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.

There's always a chance of rain in the mountains.

Disc brakes on road bikes >>>

You weigh 30kg more than me so that's hardly fair.

18 seconds difference over 97mins of climbing 7% is feck all.
It's the difference between winning and losing.

Between fame and glory, or shame and recrimination.

It's the difference between reaching the finish 30 minutes behind the leaders, or 30 minutes and 18 seconds behind the leaders.

P.S. I shall be riding my Farsports 50mm basalt cabron tubs.

1250g (ish) wheelset. I shall be smashing the *de*scent.

The *a*scent - not so much.

You weigh 11kg more than me so that's hardly fair.

ftfy

Admitting defeat already?

Ok, let's factor in the climb as well, you can have whatever advantage you can gain on me up the climb, not just the 18s of wheel benefit. £500 says I still beat you, up, down and in the pint drinking competition afterwards.

Fighting talk