Wheel Advice (again!)

[indysteel]

What's most important to you with respect to your hubs? Cost? Weight? Sound? Durability? Serviceability?

The DT Swiss hubs generally get good reviews and are lighter than the CKs. CKs are a great choice for MTB wheels but IMO there are cheaper and/or lighter choices for road. If you want quiet hubs that are easily serviced, I'd give some thought to Ultegras.

[mauisher]

What's most important to you with respect to your hubs? Cost? Weight? Sound? Durability? Serviceability?

The DT Swiss hubs generally get good reviews and are lighter than the CKs. CKs are a great choice for MTB wheels but IMO there are cheaper and/or lighter choices for road. If you want quiet hubs that are easily serviced, I'd give some thought to Ultegras.

The most important factors to me are weight and durability. Thanks!

[DebW]

I've got Ultegra hubs on my touring/commuting wheels. They are a good choice for serviceable bearings. I've had mine 2 seasons and have overhauled them 3 times now. I repacked after each of 2 week-long off-road tours because I felt some minor grittiness, but it was mostly in the dust caps and not in the bearings themselves, as the sealing mechanism is pretty good. Still, if you plan to ride cross-country through all kinds of weather and not service your hubs mid-trip, then sealed bearings might be a better choice. I was impressed with a DT hub we disassembled at UBI. On the other hand, Ultegra hubs are easily serviced by any shop in the country, and replacement freehubs would not be hard to find.

[tzvia]

I've been VERY happy with the Dura-Ace hubs on my current wheelset. They are lighter than Ultegras. Also, being cup/cone bearings (loose balls), it is easy to service and easy to adjust bearing tightness. Everywhere I went online to check out the possibilities (and get weights), I kept toying with Dura Ace again but they were the heaviest of the hubs I was considering. DT is a fine hub, and easier to service, if you are looking to do it yourself, than CK. I agree with what others here have said, 28/28 and find out about getting 3x driveside. After all, these are custom wheels, the builder should be able to do that. You could also do aluminum spoke nipples (but brass for the drive side rear). If the roads are less than nice, and saddle hours long, it's nice to know the wheels can take it.

So many choices, no wonder it took me a month to get it sorted out. Good luck!

[aicabsolut]

Yeah I'd go with Shimano hubs personally, but DT would be my second choice.

I'd do 28/28, 14/15 double butted (you could do 14/17 on the front). I'd prefer radial lacing on the front. 2x on back, or a mix of radial and 2x. there's nothing wrong with 3x, but i might rather use that for 32 spoke.

BTW, the DT white hubs and rims are hawt.

i've been playing with custom builds on excel a lot lately..

[DebW]

I'd think twice about DuraAce hubs for these wheels unless you can get the 9-speed version. The 10-speed version (last I checked) has an aluminum freehub and takes only DuraAce cassettes (expensive and hard to find). I've got the 9-speed version (from 2006?) with Ti freehub for one of my wheelsets, and that is compatible with all standard Shimano cassettes including 10-speeds. DuraAce hubs aren't recommended for consistent use on a loaded touring bike - they are light enough to lose durability.

[indysteel]

You might want to play around on Excel Sports' website to compare the weight and price of various builds. Certainly, from a weight standpoint, the DT Swiss hubs are the lightest choice (they're a bit lighter than CKs and a lot lighter than Ultegras). Ultegras are also a fraction of the cost of both.

There's a pretty intense debate as to whether loose bearings are easier to service than sealed cartridge bearings, and I won't even begin to weigh in on that one. That debate aside, I think just about everyone agrees, however, that Shimano hubs are very durable and easy to service. I just had an experience at my local bike shop--which is otherwise a good shop--that makes me doubt whether they really understand sealed cartridge bearings. They don't build wheels at the shop and are disadvantaged in that way. Whatever you get, I would suggest reading up on how to service and adjust them before embarking on your trip. And bring some extra spokes as was previously suggested.

Frankly, if it were me, I'd go with an Open Pro/Ultegra build; 28 2x front, 28 3x driveside, 2x nondriveside rear. But I say that because weight on a cross country trip would not be my biggest concern. If weight remains your bigger "want", then I'd go with the DT Swiss or (although you haven't mentioned them), White Industries.