Lightweight wheel build advice

dieselgeezer

Hi,
I've done loads of research & now need more detailed info from the BR wheel experts!
I'm looking to build a lightweight set of wheels (around the 1400g mark) for general summer use, racing, training, sportives. I weigh 68kg & like the climbs.
I'm looking for wheels that are laterally stiff, fairly bullet-proof & which don't cost the earth.
My thoughts are:-
FRONT Bikehubtore superlight wide hub, 20 spoke radial with either XR270 or A23 rims, Laser spokes & Al nips.
REAR Either BHS Superlight or Dati hubs, 24 spoke, 2x both sides, Laser NDS & Al nips, Race DS with brass nips OR 16/8 triplet with Race & brass nips both sides, 2X DS & radial NDS, both options onto either XR270's or A23's.
My questions are;-
Are these rims drilled centrally for triplet lacing?
Which option will be laterally stiffer?
Heads in or out on radial spokes?
What spoke tensions are recommended for these rims?
Any other options or comments?

Thanks in advance for your time.

Monty Dog

You'll probably find all the info you need over on the Weightweenies forum - they're far more into that kind of stuff. You'll find most rims are drilled offset for spokes - you'd have to get some drilled specifically for triplet lacing. The XR270 is likely to be stiffer due to the deeper rim section. Heads-in or out depends on the hub flange design and spoke angle.

napoleond

Have a look at Stan's.
Pair that with some light hubs and CX Rays and you'll be looking at sub 1300g.

Monty Dog

Stans 340s are pretty flexy so wouldn't go below 24 hole. If you really want lightweight, look at tubulars. I built a pair of CX wheels using Chin Haur (Rotaz) hubs, CX Rays and DT Revs and some Mavic tubular rims and they came under 1350g for about £250.

dieselgeezer

Hi Monty Dog,
Have you had any issues with the freehub? From info on the web it would appear that the pawls chew at the body & drastically limit the hub's life.

ugo.santalucia

One word: DT

DT hubs with the ratchet mechanism are the best on the market, in my opinion... they're not cheap, but they last forever, they're super easy to service, super light, smooth... the all package

DT rims build very well, 465 are my favourite, but if you want light, the 415 are probably your best bet... they were on offer half price somewhere, maybe branded as DT 1.1, which are the same

DT spokes are excellent, I like the DT comp., as the light revolution are a bit frail in my opinion, but I know some MTBikers who swear by them...

Monty Dog

No problems with the Rotaz hubs as of yet - but I'm not a heavy rider. I'll probably strip them down and have a look at the end of the CX season - the design isn't that different from AM Classic's. The problem on weightweenies is you get these 200lb guys who muscle-around sub-1200g wheels and start whinging that the components aren't strong enough.
DT Swiss hubs are great apart from the stupid prices - buy them for Germany and likewise the spokes.

ugo.santalucia

Monty Dog wrote:

No problems with the Rotaz hubs as of yet - but I'm not a heavy rider. I'll probably strip them down and have a look at the end of the CX season - the design isn't that different from AM Classic's. The problem on weightweenies is you get these 200lb guys who muscle-around sub-1200g wheels and start whinging that the components aren't strong enough.
DT Swiss hubs are great apart from the stupid prices - buy them for Germany and likewise the spokes.

I get the DT comp. spokes from CRC, bundles of 36 for £ 17.99, which is not a bad price at 0.50 each ... can you get them cheaper abroad?

huuregeil

You want to go carbon tubular - 50mm carbon rims 20f/24r is going to be stiff, aero, and light (around 1400g for typical hubs). Plus you save weight on the tub vs clincher too. No brainer, imo, this is the best bang for buck package around, particularly if you're racing, because you get both the light & responsive, and the significant aero benefit.

Alternatively, and into the extremes of weightweenieism, planet x has a ridiculous deal on their 20mm carbon wheelset with dt240 hubs....

Monty Dog

Taken to the extreme of weightweenie-ism is the 1000g wheels for $1000 - nearest so far is about 1050g using Gigantex 20mm carbon rims (Planet-X ones).
Seeing as I took a couple of chunks out my carbon rim in a race I'm currently exploring options for next year - I'll buy the rims and hubs from China for sure.
To the earlier post - I buy my spokes from Starbike in Germany - CRC only stock limited spoke lengths