Handbuilt wheels... the big thread

ugo.santalucia

thecycleclinic wrote:

Cx-rays or laser with alloy nipples x 44 is 220g and 52 are 260g so ugo your weights are a bit off.





No idea how the bitex hubs (DCR hubs are bitex) fair but the novatec hubs can require bearing replacements every 3000 miles for the rear hub some get more some get less when they ride through winter.

Yeah, I worked out one wheel only, didn't I?

The new Bitex are actually good hubs and so are the Chosen. IMO they are both better than the light Novatec.

cycleclinic

Good because there is a U.K distributor that stocks a bitex hub RAF12/RAR12 295g/pair apparently. I should give them a try. Similar price to the Novatec hubs so these maybe a option.

ugo.santalucia

thecycleclinic wrote:

Good because there is a U.K distributor that stocks a bitex hub RAF12/RAR12 295g/pair apparently. I should give them a try. Similar price to the Novatec hubs so these maybe a option.

I still struggle to understand why people put themselves through the misery of light hubs... IME even Royce can't make light hubs which are actually durable

sub2

Thanks guys, looks like 1300 grams would be achievable on my budget.

itboffin

the wheels i ride the least as in never are my 1200g alpha 340 they just feel fragile, they might not be but they dont fill me with confidence so i dont ride them, saving weight vs confident riding.

mrb123

I should add that I've been impressed with the DCR/Bitex hubs. 2000 (admittedly good weather) miles in and no complaints so far.

I've no idea about the bearing sizes as I've not had any cause to open them up.

jdee84

Help with the wiser option from each please!

Pacenti sl23 or HED Belgium plus for rims?

And

Dura-Ace or DT 240S for the hubs?

ugo.santalucia

jdee84 wrote:

Help with the wiser option from each please!

Pacenti sl23 or HED Belgium plus for rims?

And

Dura-Ace or DT 240S for the hubs?

HED and Dura Ace. DT 240 don't build a good rear wheel with shallow rims, the flange spacing is too narrow

jdee84

Thank you Ugo!

brettjmcc

I built some HED Belgium Plus up on Hope Mono RS last year and very happy with them. Used DT Revolution on the front and on the NDS on the rear, Competition on the DS both 2x. I got a colleague to bring the rims back from the US for me, so worked out cheaper.

ugo.santalucia

The Mavic 819 arrived, complete with FORE cups and UST valve. They are a tight fit, but road tyres go on. The ERD measured as if I was using 12 mm nipples is 594. Mavic recommends 16 mm nipples, but I am pretty sure I can get away with 14 mm ones, as the square section just about clears the cup... nice not having to use rim tape... one less hassle

Now to source a rear hub somewhere...

BlueNGT

Do the anodised brake surface like on these H Plus Son eventually just become normal Silver brake track with use?

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/h-plus-son-arch ... -road-rim/

ugo.santalucia

BlueNGT wrote:

Do the anodised brake surface like on these H Plus Son eventually just become normal Silver brake track with use?

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/h-plus-son-arch ... -road-rim/

Yes, very quickly

brettjmcc

So the next question on the Anodised rims, purely from a Bike OCP point of view. White and Black bike (PX Pro Carbon), Black Novatec hubs - Silver or Black spokes? Need to order, rims turned up yesterday

ugo.santalucia

brettjmcc wrote:

So the next question on the Anodised rims, purely from a Bike OCP point of view. White and Black bike (PX Pro Carbon), Black Novatec hubs - Silver or Black spokes? Need to order, rims turned up yesterday

Black will probably look more in keep with a carbon bike

brettjmcc

Thank you once again Ugo, will post pics once finished

jdee84

If using dura-ace hubs for wheels for use from march/april to september/october, so trying to avoid their use in the worst of the weather in northern UK, how often would the hubs need serviced?

agent_buchwald

Hello, I am building a rear wheel using a DT Swiss R460 rim and ACI Alpina DB spokes - the max spoke tension of the rim is 1200N, I'm imaging it's pretty close as in it's true and the spoke tensions are even - the DS spokes are 110Kgf which leaves the NDS so low that Park don't even bother converting it, in the 40s.
Is it a case of bringing the DS spokes up to the max to get some tension in the NDS?
I'm using a Park TM-1 which is probably not god's gift to scientific accuracy but I am worried about the NDS loosening.
Thanks in advance.

ugo.santalucia

jdee84 wrote:

If using dura-ace hubs for wheels for use from march/april to september/october, so trying to avoid their use in the worst of the weather in northern UK, how often would the hubs need serviced?

For dry use only, I suggest never

ugo.santalucia

Agent Buchwald wrote:

Hello, I am building a rear wheel using a DT Swiss R460 rim and ACI Alpina DB spokes - the max spoke tension of the rim is 1200N, I'm imaging it's pretty close as in it's true and the spoke tensions are even - the DS spokes are 110Kgf which leaves the NDS so low that Park don't even bother converting it, in the 40s.
Is it a case of bringing the DS spokes up to the max to get some tension in the NDS?
I'm using a Park TM-1 which is probably not god's gift to scientific accuracy but I am worried about the NDS loosening.
Thanks in advance.

The Park is good for relative tensions, but not good for absolute tension. The calibration can be as wrong as 30-40% off and pretty much always overestimating.... so your 1200 N can be 1000 or even 900 N. Ask around to borrow a better one or overbuild a tad

agent_buchwald

Thanks for the reply - I'll try and get a calibration off someone but I suspect it's reading pretty low. really appreciate the responses - there's a lot of info out there, some conflicting and it's good to get some sensible advice.

steoroc

Hi, Just wondering what's out there to rival RS81, either C24 or C35, for price and performance.
I like hilly rides, average 5-6000km a year. I don't race, just looking to upgrade my RS11s and want something a little bit blingy. I like the look of the 35mm rims, I think they'd be a happy medium between deep section looks and shallow section crosswinds performance.

Any ideas would be appreciated

ugo.santalucia

steoroc wrote:

Hi, Just wondering what's out there to rival RS81, either C24 or C35, for price and performance.
I like hilly rides, average 5-6000km a year. I don't race, just looking to upgrade my RS11s and want something a little bit blingy. I like the look of the 35mm rims, I think they'd be a happy medium between deep section looks and shallow section crosswinds performance.

Any ideas would be appreciated

In terms of bespoke you are probably looking at the Kinlin 31 mm rims built on a pair of half decent hubs (Hope, Dura Ace, DT Swiss) and spokes to suit your weight

brettjmcc

Agent Buchwald wrote:

Thanks for the reply - I'll try and get a calibration off someone but I suspect it's reading pretty low. really appreciate the responses - there's a lot of info out there, some conflicting and it's good to get some sensible advice.

Agent Buchwald, where do you live? I have built a calibration meter for my TM-1 following an idea from another forum member here. You do it per type of spoke for your build. If you are near me, we can put in your spokes take them to the tension you wish and then see what the TM1 reads so you know what you should be going to.

I am by the M25/A13 in Essex

Brett

cycleclinic

wide deep section rims with the right profile dont get blown around by side winds. Shimano deep wheels are v shaped and will get blown around by side winds. So you conclusion about optimium rim depth is flawed and based only on v section rims.

C24 flexy piece of ... I know many like them and think they are stiff but when stress reliving and you see the wheel flop you know it is not stiff.
C35 decent but pricey.

Your not buying an upgrade you are buying bling.
Ugo suesstion of the Kinlin rims would at least get you something wide aero and very very stiff. Not as light though but the extra grams wont slow you down.

matt_n-2

@ Thecycleclinic

Do you have any plans to move to a wider 35/38mm tubular rim for your builds more like your 50mm 23mm wide option?

agent_buchwald

Agent Buchwald, where do you live?

Brett

Thanks for the offer Brett, I'm in Brighton which is a shame from this point of view - I'll ring round and try and compare with an LBS but in the meantime go a bit tighter.

cycleclinic

Old post deleted because i misread.

Once dyock of current rims whittles doen i mighg replace with a 23mm wide version i have built a set bug sold them. The only problem is there are still a bunch of 22mm tubs out there though and these would leave the rim more prone to damage. So for shallower rim i can stick with the narrower rim but for the deeper ones a wider rim is needed for stability in crosswinds there still are not enough 25 to 27mm tubulars to use the 25mm wide version of the rim. Although when conti release the 28mm wide competition tub there will be 3 good choices and then wider rims can be used. Tyre availability dictates everything.

ugo.santalucia

Finally managed to source a rear hub for my Mavic 819 tubeless disc build. I got a SRAM X9 from Planet X for 29.99. It arrived today and I am pleasantly surprised it looks like a pretty solid thing. Steel axle, big bearings (6000 2RS) and a steel freehub, which is ideal for my Fugio single speed conversion, as sprockets dig into the alloy splines. To keep the costs down I went for Sapim Race silver all the way, so in the end this wheelset will come at 130 pounds all in, given the front hub is recycled... which in these days and age buy you a shoddy pair of non tubeless Mavic Aksium disc. Will post photos once it's built

brettjmcc

Finished the rims tonight, very happy with the look and overall weight (according to my luggage scales); certainly a lot lighter than the Mavic CXP22s that are coming off.

Build is Archetype Anodised on Novatec A291SB with radial DT Revolution and F482SB 2x Revolution NDS and Competition DS