"weighing in" on wheelsets

[extra-vert]

Anyone want to weigh in on wheelsets? Good, bad, ugly, favorite, light, heavy, reliable, prone to issues, cool looking, expensive, cheap - all that jazz

If one is in the market for a new race worthy light wheelset, what might you recommend?

[SadieKate]

You need to give us more direction. What do you want to do with this wheelset? Race on the road? Race downhill? Race XC? Race tri's? What?

[DebW]

I can tell you that high flange hubs are noticably stiffer than low flange hubs. But since there are almost no high flange hubs on the market these days, that may be a moot point. I build my own wheels (36-hole, 3-cross, sew-up rims) but know nothing about the current fad of low spoke number and fancy rims. I would always go with a hub that had serviceable bearings, but that may not be best for everyone.

[extra-vert]

Sorry SadieKate - road race I guess (for me). But also, in general just to get some banter going about people's wheelsets to get the chance to know more in general.

[velogirl]

I build my own wheels as well. I use 32-spoke Velocity Aerohead rims (OC in the rear). Front is laced radial and the back is three-cross. The front hub is a pink Chris King and my rear hub is a PowerTap SL.

If I were to buy a set of wheels out of the box it would be the Mavic Ksyrium SSL -- unarguably the best pre-built wheels on the market for road or cyclocross and a killer value.

[DebW]

I build my own wheels as well. I use 32-spoke Velocity Aerohead rims (OC in the rear). Front is laced radial and the back is three-cross.

VG, what's the advantage of radial spoking, other than saving a tiny bit of weight?

[sarahk]

I use Easton Ascents. Advertised at 1419 grams. I love these wheels their light, smooth, and haven't had to be trued since I got them over a year ago. I'm not sure on the price, I got a deal on them from the local shop. I've been racing and training on them, gone over some pretty nasty things and they've been 100% durable. I weigh about 115 now, but can get up to about 125ish coming back into things from the winter. There is a weight limit for them but I think it's something like 160lbs.

Sarah

[velogirl]

VG, what's the advantage of radial spoking, other than saving a tiny bit of weight?

It's pretty.

[DebW]

It's pretty.

That's it? It's pretty? Harder or easier to true? More or less stress on the rim? Softer or stiffer ride?

[velogirl]

That's it? It's pretty? Harder or easier to true? More or less stress on the rim? Softer or stiffer ride?

Too funny! Yes, sometimes we do things just for the look.

Radial is much easier to build, to dish, to round, and to true. And it's so pretty spinning in the sun (I like silver rims and silver spokes). Tri-spoke is stronger and typically stiffer laterally.

Both are pretty old-skool, especially in the days of minimal spoke counts. But I wanted something on my road bike that I could train and race on. I've got a set of carbon tubulars just collecting dust because I love these wheels so much.

Funny thing is that I originally bought the pink Chris King hubs to build up for my cyclocross bike but since I built them during road season they ended up on my road bike. And since my road bike is white & pink, they look great. In another month I'll swap them over to my cross bike.

And they're pretty.

[velogirl]

VG, what's the advantage of radial spoking, other than saving a tiny bit of weight?

BTW, radial lacing doesn't save any weight. Same spoke count as my rear wheel (which is 3-x) -- it's just a different way to pull the spokes. I laced the rear 3-x because it's a bit stronger (good for the rear since it takes more weight and more stress) and with the PowerTap hub I wanted a good strong wheel.

[DebW]

BTW, radial lacing doesn't save any weight. Same spoke count as my rear wheel (which is 3-x) -- it's just a different way to pull the spokes. I laced the rear 3-x because it's a bit stronger (good for the rear since it takes more weight and more stress) and with the PowerTap hub I wanted a good strong wheel.

The spokes have to be shorter, right? So slightly less weight (maybe a couple percent). The only place I ever saw radial wheels in the old days was on track bikes. Any difference in ride feel of radial vs 3x?

[velogirl]

The spokes have to be shorter, right? So slightly less weight (maybe a couple percent). The only place I ever saw radial wheels in the old days was on track bikes. Any difference in ride feel of radial vs 3x?

Hmm, I'll have to look at my notes at some point and see what the spoke lengths were. I have no idea off the top of my head. But, because the hubs are radically different, it's also hard to compare. I guess I could just spoke-calc based on using the same hubs. Good point.

The ride feel is very solid. Velocity makes superior rims (in my opinion). Nice and stiff and strong. Besides one other set of cyclocross wheels I built, I don't have any other 32-spoke wheels so it's hard to compare. These ride just as well as my old Ksyriums (with a lower spoke count), better than my Campy Eurus, and similar to my Bontrager carbon tubulars.

Did I mention they're pretty?

[ridebikeme]

Umm... great to hear that people are building their own wheels sets!! I too, have wheels that I have built, but also have some that aren't... as far as a racing type of wheel.. I have the Hed Alps and an older pair of Campy Shamals...both ride great and are stiff. The debate as far as low flange vs high flange seems to be a thing of the past(at least according to the manufacturers).. many of the wheels and hubs are made with different composite materials, so not a true comparison... but much lighter and stiffer.

As for radial lacing, it can be a lighter wheel, but the main advantage is that they are more aerodynamic...now whether it's more aerodynamic than another wheel with the same spoke count is another question... most radial laced wheels use flat spokes that do indeed slice throough the air easier than a round spoke.... and as someone else said, generally are a shorter spoke.

With that said, I bet the wheels with the pink Chris King hubs are beautiful!! If, I'm building or buying I generrally buy/use Mavic... the best out there. My Campy and Hed wheels are very good as well. I've seen lots of problems with Shimano and Bontrager wheels, but everyone rides a bit different...

Very interesting to hear everyones comments!!

[DebW]

Did I mention they're pretty?

Only three times. So far.

But I rather enjoy looking at the cross pattern in my wheels and knowing that that crossed 3rd spoke adds alot of strength. Radial would be easier if you had dozens of wheels to build. Getting the right box pattern over the valve hole always addles my brain.