Wheel Advice (again!)

[tzvia]

I just went through the same torture. What to get, then how to get it setup. I guess you would know best how you ride and the locations you ride most. Aggressive masher riding over very poor roads? Maybe 28/28 (or even 32 rear), 2x front, 3x rear. More like me, a finesse spinner? I went 24/28, 2x 2x with Sapim race spokes, White Industries hubs and Velocity Aerohead rims, (trying to go light without being silly-light). These are tough choices, I kept building wheelsets in my head for a month (no kidding). And you know, everybody has an opinion all their own. I looked at EA-90 slx Eastons, but the low spoke count worried me. I think my custom build beats it on weight and I feel better about the spoke count. I weigh 148 and dropping to 120 (and yes I was almost 170lbs before taking up cycling again around 5 months ago.)

I almost bought the CK hubs, because they are awesome, but that angry bee noise made me change my mind. Also needs a $pecial tool to rebuild it and no that dollar sign is not a typo. Then I looked at DT Swiss hubs, but settled on WI hubs because they are made in the USA like CK and are very light and strong. When the bearings wear out or I win the lottery, I will replace with ceramics myself.

My current set revolves around old Mavic Reflex clincher rims (pre open-pro), DT spokes and Dura Ace hubs, 32/32 3x 3x. Bullet proof but on the heavy side. If you lean to the bullet proof over weight, 28/28 2x 2x is a good compromise that should last. With quality rims and spokes like Mavic/DT, you could drop the front to 24. Also, some would go radial up front, but I think that puts a lot of extra stress on the hub and on the wheel overall for really nothing more than looks. It's wise to go 2x IMO.

[mauisher]

Thanks for the reply and info Tzvia! I wasn't aware of the special tool and cost to maintain the CK hubs, so that's some new info to consider. Also, I'm not too crazy about the 'angry bee' noise of the CK hubs. Do you know of any problems with the Swiss DT hubs? (the other brand I'm considering)

I'll probably go for 28 holes and 2X lacing for front and back since I already have a lightweight Easton (Velomax) wheelset with the low spoke count you mentioned.

Thanks so much!