Ultralight clincher wheels - Custom are fine

Daimler
Daimler Posts: 215
edited March 2010 in Road buying advice
I am looking into a pair of lightweight clinchers.
I currently have a pair of American Classic 350 sprints with AC stainless spokes at 1410g a pair. An upgrade to CX-Rays will get me to 1300g. I'd be looking at about £220ish

I am awaiting the rim weight from wheelsmith.co.uk for the gigantex 27mm carbon/alloy clinchers to mate to Extralite hubs with CX Rays.
Could be around the 1300g mark, possibly less? Around £900

I have also looked into American Classic Magnesium alloy clinchers with CX Rays but due to production problems it seems these might not be possible for a long time/if at all. 1180g with CX Rays. £700 with AC spokes and I'm guessing around the £850 for a CX Ray build.

Alternatively I am happy to buy the parts separtely rims/spokes/hubs and have a pro wheel build. The Extralite hubs I like and being light at 144lb I should be ok using the lightest Extralite hubs.
CX Rays are the spokes I want. So it's just a case of finding a very lightweight rim.

Suggestions welcome!
:D
Planet X RT-57 custom build

Comments

  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    www.fairwheelbikes.com

    weight weenie stuff galore
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    Edge
    I like bikes...

    Twitter
    Flickr
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    How about www.topolinotech.com

    Seems that they claim to have the lightest clinchers(among others making similar claims).
    Got to buy the whole wheel though.
  • Daimler
    Daimler Posts: 215
    Shame fairwheel bikes is in the US and I'm not... :(

    Topolin wheels are only light on the tubular rims.
    Planet X RT-57 custom build
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    Daimler wrote:
    Shame fairwheel bikes is in the US and I'm not... :(

    Topolin wheels are only light on the tubular rims.

    Usually I'm not a person to fall into all the hype of various wheels and all the great things they are going to do for me but for some reason Topolino wheels strike me as a good idea. I guess it's because I like things that are different from the masses. Hmmmmm, light
    tubulars huh???? Maybe......
  • CarbonCopy
    CarbonCopy Posts: 492
    Dennis your showing signs of going soft.next you`ll be sporting anodized bits on your Pennyfarthing. :lol::lol:
  • AidanR
    AidanR Posts: 1,142
    Wheelsmith will do IRD Cadence rims which are rebadged Kinlins. They're about the lightest metal clinchers (i.e. not stupidly expensive carbon jobs) you can get at 390g-ish and seem to have a good rep. At 144lbs you shouldn't have an issue with them so long as you don't go too low on the spoke count. Give Wheelsmith a bell and discuss your options as you already seem to be leaning towards them.
    Bike lover and part-time cyclist.
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    CarbonCopy wrote:
    Dennis your showing signs of going soft.next you`ll be sporting anodized bits on your Pennyfarthing. :lol::lol:

    You'll discover that as you get older you actually start becoming like fruit. You get a little soft, mushy, and start to smell bad if you're around too long.
  • CarbonCopy
    CarbonCopy Posts: 492
    Like you say Dennis you may be getting old, but your still pushing the pedals round so all is good and thats all that matters.Its when you start pushing daisy up you need to worry.But by then its to late. :lol:
  • stevenb
    stevenb Posts: 717
    AidanR wrote:
    Wheelsmith will do IRD Cadence rims which are rebadged Kinlins. They're about the lightest metal clinchers (i.e. not stupidly expensive carbon jobs) you can get at 390g-ish and seem to have a good rep. At 144lbs you shouldn't have an issue with them so long as you don't go too low on the spoke count. Give Wheelsmith a bell and discuss your options as you already seem to be leaning towards them.

    Thanks Aidan.
    I have spoken to them already.
    The IRD Rims are about the lightest I can see.

    My curretn American Classic wheels use a 350g rim though....and a micro 58g front hub and a 205g rear hub. So for the 80g saving of going for Extralite hubs I'd gain weight going for the IRD rims meaning that only the CX-Ray spokes will save weight.

    I asked Dave at Wheelsmith if he could rebuild my AC wheels with CX Rays and using the Exralight rear hub only but he said my wheels would be too soft? I guess he means too soft an alloy.

    Seems like I'm getting thin on the ground for choices. I guess I'll have to find a wheel builder who can rebuild my current rims with CX Rays if I can't get the American Classic Magnesiums.
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    CarbonCopy wrote:
    Like you say Dennis you may be getting old, but your still pushing the pedals round so all is good and thats all that matters.Its when you start pushing daisy up you need to worry.But by then its to late. :lol:

    Thanks for those comforting thoughts. I think? :wink::wink:
  • Daimler
    Daimler Posts: 215
    I just found these:

    http://www.extralite.com/index_euro.htm

    Looks like it's worth hanging on for either these or the AC Mag wheels. 8)
    Planet X RT-57 custom build

Categories