What wheel rim?

colm_gti

Collecting the necessary parts to have a backup clincher wheelset built for racing on. Hubs are sorted, spokes and nipples will be supplied by wheel builder, just trying to decide on rims.

I'm going for a relatively high spoke count, 32 spokes front and rear as I'm tipping the scales at about 85kgs. This, combined with the fact that the hubs give a good bracing angle (so I've read), should lead to a stiffer wheel.

Would this allow me to go for a lighter rim, along the lines of a DT Swiss RR415? Or should I look at something a bit beefier?

Choices are;
DT Swiss RR415
DT Swiss RR465
Mavic Open Pro
Kinlin XR270
Velocity A23

Would like to hear any opinions on the above if you've owned and/or worked with them.

Jgos1000

Hi Colm,

As the RR415 has only a single eyelet i would be a little concerned a durability especially for the rear wheel. The open pro is a similiar type rim and has a double eyelet.

Ps, i'd be interested to know what hubs and spokes you are using for the build.

Regards

John

letape

colm_gti wrote: »

Collecting the necessary parts to have a backup clincher wheelset built for racing on. Hubs are sorted, spokes and nipples will be supplied by wheel builder, just trying to decide on rims.

I'm going for a relatively high spoke count, 32 spokes front and rear as I'm tipping the scales at about 85kgs. This, combined with the fact that the hubs give a good bracing angle (so I've read), should lead to a stiffer wheel.

Would this allow me to go for a lighter rim, along the lines of a DT Swiss RR415? Or should I look at something a bit beefier?

Choices are;
DT Swiss RR415
DT Swiss RR465
Mavic Open Pro
Kinlin XR270
Velocity A23

Would like to hear any opinions on the above if you've owned and/or worked with them.

Ambrosio excellence and Excellight are also very good rims you might consider.

Very similar weight and durability as to the open pros and a little less common. I have a set of wheels built with excellence rims and two sets with open pros (one open pro and one open pro cd). There is no real difference between them.

I'm interested in what hubs you will be using,

mirv

The velocity a23 rims have a road tubeless ready bead, if you're that way inclined. Might be handy as an option to run with sealant as a bombproof combination.

colm_gti

Thanks for the info lads, sounds like I may be as well to just go with Open Pro's for the sake of availability, wheel builder in question stocks them...

Going for Novatec 171/172 hub combo on recommendation, supposedly a similar hub body to the 291/482 combo, roughly 80g heavier for the pair, but a third of the price. In terms of spokes, will be using DT Swiss competition spokes as that what the above wheel builder stocks and favours. Going for the above hubs over offerings from shimano on the basis that sealed cartridge bearings are easier to maintain, they're lighter, and the same price as tiagra hubs...

The above should build up a sub 1700g wheelset, not that weight is my main concern.

letape

Any idea what the wheel build will cost?

colm_gti

letape wrote: »

Any idea what the wheel build will cost?

Depends on the price of whatever rims I go for...

Should be €300 at the most.

letape

colm_gti wrote: »

€60 for the hubs
€60 per wheel for spokes and labour

Then the price of whatever rims I go for...

Should be €300 at the most.

Good price for hubs. I found chainreactioncycles the best place to buy open pros this time last year.

pprendeville

Reading on Sheldon brown or the Wheelpro pdf that it's better to go for a lower spoke count on the front than rear so for example 32 front, 36 rear as the rear wheel takes most of the weight. Only read this after buying my own 32/32 rims/hubs for my own build which I won't get around to finishing til after exams. Went with Ultegra hubs and DT swiss RR415s.

bcmf

Colm, Drop into Humphries cycles. He has his own rims available for build.

colm_gti

Just to update this thread....I ended up not going for any of the above rims

Based on the fact that they'll purely be used for racing, and because I like my deep section tubs...I decided to go for aluminium tubular rims...Kinlin TB-25's to be exact. I've read that they're very stiff and durable.

While weight isn't my main concern (strength and cost were more important), it would be nice to have a lighter wheelset...

Hubs: 384g (according to Novatec website)
Rims: 840-850g (according to bikehubstore)
Spokes: 311g (according to DT Swiss website)
Nipples: 64g (according to DT Swiss website)

Should give me a 1590-1600g wheelset that will be stiff as a board and not break the bank.

A mid-range set of tubs (conti sprinters @ €35) weigh 470g, which is lighter than a GP4000s and tube.

Parts are ordered an on their way, and will be dropped in to be built up as soon as they arrive...I'll update with first impressions when I have them in my possession.

mp31

Where did you get the hubs/spokes/nipples from ... I'm after something similar (I already have Excellight rims) at a good price.

colm_gti

Front hub

Rear hub

They're also available in silver from the same site.

Kinlin TB-25 rims from the same site.

Chap building the wheels will be supplying the spokes and nipples.

I've actually ordered a second pair of the same hubs to have them built up with open pro's and DT swiss competition spokes, again supplied by the chap building the wheels. I might see if it's possible to have the tubular rims built up with DT swiss revolution spokes to shave a few grams without sacrificing stiffness...

This should leave me with a set of ~1700g, 32 spoke training clinchers and a set of ~1600g, 32 spoke racing tubulars for roughly €600 altogether...