Custom wheelset build advice.

ithymanbags

I think i have decided on my first pair of custom wheels. I have a choice of 2 builders. Im now looking to you good people to give me some advice on parts eg hubs, rims, spokes, nipples and how many holes and lacing patterns ect.

My budget for parts~ £400
My weight~ 145lbs (10stone(ish)
My riding involves, climbing,occasional group rides. Lots of strava KOM segment bashing. So i dont want anything over 1500g if possible, stiff but easy to maintain. I can give alittle in comfort for a extra climbing plus but would nice to still feel my bum when i get home.
Am i expecting to much? Go easy on me im abit of noobie when it comes to custom wheels. If you could give any builds for me to start doing my homework id be most greatful. Thanks so much, looking forward to your input.

Mickyg88

I would have thought that your wheel builder would be the best person to advise you, have a chat and tell him what you want from the wheels and he should sort you.

ugo.santalucia

As Micky says, your builder should be the one to advise you... basically that's what you are paying... some skill and some good advice.

However, if you expect mileage and reliability, no wheels at under 1500 grams will give you that. There isn't the engineering to build that light and durable. You can compromise one way or the other.
If you are happy on a set that will cover 5-10,000 miles before needing major work (new rims, new bearings, new freehub, maybe spokes) then go for light, if you want something more durable, then compromise your expectation to something more like 1600-1700 grams.

I have ridden (and built) enough wheels to have got over the weight obsession. What you need is a set of reliable hubs, a set of stiff rims which don't weigh a ton and the correct spoke count for your weight... the rest is all bullxxt, if you allow me to be direct.

That said, you seem to be at a more enthusiastic phase of your cycling development, where you want new PB and stiffer stems, so maybe reliability is not a concern.

ithymanbags

Thanks ugo, I always find your wheelset post helpful. The reason im asking here is because id like to my homework and have an idea of what I what before speaking with a builder. Im guessing your right ugo, im ready to compromise durability for weight alittle. Im happy to play with bugdet as I can buy hubs first and then the rims when funds allow. Another reason why id like input here and not just rely on one builder (who iv never met or used).

Monty Dog

How about Stan's Alpha rims, Novatec Superlight hubs with CX Rays on front, DT Revs NDS and DB on DS - about as light and strong as you can get without spending really stupid money on Tune or CK hubs. Run them tubeless too.

arlowood

Maybe you could start with these rims - still available in the classifieds AFAIK

viewtopic.php?f=40091&t=12912258&p=18216746&hilit=IRD#p18216746

Not sure how IRD Cadence rates in the hierarchy of rims vis-a-vis weight vs durability and longevity.

Maybe Ugo can comment if these are worth a punt. At 70 notes for the pair posted they may be worth a punt??

ithymanbags

Monty Dog wrote:

How about Stan's Alpha rims, Novatec Superlight hubs with CX Rays on front, DT Revs NDS and DB on DS - about as light and strong as you can get without spending really stupid money on Tune or CK hubs. Run them tubeless too.

Hi, monty. Thanks for the reply im very greatful.
The novatec hubs look pretty good, found them here for 37euros. How many holes do think id need for me. 20h?
http://www.merileth.com/shop/index.php? ... anguage=en

The stans alpha rims look the ticket at $120 each, if these are the ones you mean?
http://www.notubes.com/Alpha-340-Rims-C68.aspx

Not sure id run them as tubs though, feel more comfortable with a spare tube or 2 in my pocket.

ithymanbags

arlowood wrote:

Maybe you could start with these rims - still available in the classifieds AFAIK

viewtopic.php?f=40091&t=12912258&p=18216746&hilit=IRD#p18216746

Not sure how IRD Cadence rates in the hierarchy of rims vis-a-vis weight vs durability and longevity.

Maybe Ugo can comment if these are worth a punt. At 70 notes for the pair posted they may be worth a punt??

Thanks for the heads up.
Anythoughts ugo? I could also run these on ultralite hubs or novatec superlights?

ithymanbags

ithymanbags wrote:

arlowood wrote:

Maybe you could start with these rims - still available in the classifieds AFAIK

viewtopic.php?f=40091&t=12912258&p=18216746&hilit=IRD#p18216746

Not sure how IRD Cadence rates in the hierarchy of rims vis-a-vis weight vs durability and longevity.

Maybe Ugo can comment if these are worth a punt. At 70 notes for the pair posted they may be worth a punt??

Thanks for the heads up.
Anythoughts ugo? I could also run these on ultralite hubs or novatec superlights?

After some digging around, they seem to have a rep for being abit soft and a pain to build.
http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index ... 41764.html

ugo.santalucia

Last year I have built 10 sets of Novatec 291/482, the light ones... half of them required new bearings within 6 months. Then 2 of them also required new freehubs. As a result, I don't build them anymore unless people supply them. They are not bad hubs per se, but they don't go well with British Weather I guess.

Cadence rims... I guess a 28/32 combination as advertised is probably stiff enough... if they weigh 390 grams it is because they have shaved off life from the brake track, which obviously will last a lot less... there is ALWAYS a price to pay to save grams. Use them in dry weather with new pads, great, use them in the wet or with worn pads, they'll be in the bin in 3000 miles

ithymanbags

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Last year I have built 10 sets of Novatec 291/482, the light ones... half of them required new bearings within 6 months. Then 2 of them also required new freehubs. As a result, I don't build them anymore unless people supply them. They are not bad hubs per se, but they don't go well with British Weather I guess.

Cadence rims... I guess a 28/32 combination as advertised is probably stiff enough... if they weigh 390 grams it is because they have shaved off life from the brake track, which obviously will last a lot less... there is ALWAYS a price to pay to save grams. Use them in dry weather with new pads, great, use them in the wet or with worn pads, they'll be in the bin in 3000 miles

Yuk! This isnt going to well. What lights hubs and rims have you been building recently ugo? Thanks

ugo.santalucia

ithymanbags wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Last year I have built 10 sets of Novatec 291/482, the light ones... half of them required new bearings within 6 months. Then 2 of them also required new freehubs. As a result, I don't build them anymore unless people supply them. They are not bad hubs per se, but they don't go well with British Weather I guess.

Cadence rims... I guess a 28/32 combination as advertised is probably stiff enough... if they weigh 390 grams it is because they have shaved off life from the brake track, which obviously will last a lot less... there is ALWAYS a price to pay to save grams. Use them in dry weather with new pads, great, use them in the wet or with worn pads, they'll be in the bin in 3000 miles

Yuk! This isnt going to well. What lights hubs and rims have you been building recently ugo? Thanks

I don't use light hubs anymore... People seem to be happy with an extra 90 grams...

smidsy

ugo.santalucia wrote:

However, if you expect mileage and reliability, no wheels at under 1500 grams will give you that. There isn't the engineering to build that light and durable. You can compromise one way or the other.

OP - You seemed to have missed this before.

ithymanbags

smidsy wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

However, if you expect mileage and reliability, no wheels at under 1500 grams will give you that. There isn't the engineering to build that light and durable. You can compromise one way or the other.

OP - You seemed to have missed this before.

No not at all, iv read Ugo say similar things before. Thats why i said under 1500g if possible. If someone of ugo expierience is saying a heavier hub is the way to go im happy to go that way.

ugo.santalucia

ithymanbags wrote:

smidsy wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

However, if you expect mileage and reliability, no wheels at under 1500 grams will give you that. There isn't the engineering to build that light and durable. You can compromise one way or the other.

OP - You seemed to have missed this before.

No not at all, iv read Ugo say similar things before. Thats why i said under 1500g if possible. If someone of ugo expierience is saying a heavier hub is the way to go im happy to go that way.

The cheaper novatec that Smidsy has are about 90 grams heavier than the 291/482 and they do last longer. I hve built about 30 sets of those last year and only one needed new bearings after one year of very wet weather and about 6000 miles. Striking difference and for me a no brainer

smidsy

Hubs have very little rotational effect where as rims have lots. This fact leads one to a light rim heavy hub compromise.

Perhaps similar to these.


If you do it the other way round you will certainly know it was the wrong thing to do :-)

ugo.santalucia

smidsy wrote:

Hubs have very little rotational effect where as rims have lots. This fact leads one to a light rim heavy hub compromise.

Perhaps similar to these.


If you do it the other way round you will certainly know it was the wrong thing to do :-)

I have now built a book shelf from a ladder where your wheels were ...

smidsy

ugo.santalucia wrote:

I have now built a book shelf from a ladder where your wheels were ...

How many rungs?

What weight are the stiles?

Can you replace damaged components...or are they Mavic Ladders

ithymanbags

so is it the
Novatec A141/F162 that are more durable? Are a fan of any other manufacter?

They look nice, whats the build? Ambrosio rims?......
What weight is the complete wheelset? How do they ride and climb? what were you riding before? Thanks.

ugo.santalucia

ithymanbags wrote:

so is it the
Novatec A141/F162 that are more durable? Are a fan of any other manufacter?

They look nice, whats the build? Ambrosio rims?......
What weight is the complete wheelset? How do they ride and climb? what were you riding before? Thanks.

Yes, those are more durable... In the same price range, Miche Primato come at 28 holes and are nice hubs. Hope are a lot more expensive.

smidsy

Yes Ambrisio Excelleight rims, Novatec hubs and DT Swiss Competition spokes 32f/32r.

Not an overly light build (circa 1800g) but that was not my focus. If you went for less drillings you would shave a few grammes.

They ride really nice (very smooth, like slippers), no noticeable flex and I have done about 1000 miles on them on my wet weather bike. Still smooth and perfectly true, despite several ford trips (as in floods) and dodgy winter tarmac.

I also run AC 420 Aeros which are much harsher and not that much more responsive (although they are 38mm deep and 1580g).

ithymanbags

smidsy wrote:

Yes Ambrisio Excelleight rims, Novatec hubs and DT Swiss Competition spokes 32f/32r.

Not an overly light build (circa 1800g) but that was not my focus. If you went for less drillings you would shave a few grammes.

They ride really nice (very smooth, like slippers), no noticeable flex and I have done about 1000 miles on them on my wet weather bike. Still smooth and perfectly true, despite several ford trips (as in floods) and dodgy winter tarmac.

I also run AC 420 Aeros which are much harsher and not that much more responsive (although they are 38mm deep and 1580g).

Sound like a nice future build for my winter bike, they do look really nice. maybe next autum if im lucky.