Personal Wheel Building Questions - Lacing, Spoke Counts, Spoke Choices

Greetings!

I am looking at options for building up a pair of "racing" wheels (as
racing as I get). I weigh about 200 lbs and have been looking at the
following:

Rear Choices:

36 hole rear, 14/17 radial ND, 14/15 2x Drive, Velocity Aerohead

-OR-

32 hole rear, 14/15 3x, Velocity Aerohead OC

The 36 hole is lighter by a little bit (based on mfr weights) but
which would be stronger/more durable? The radial lacing, from my
searches of the NG, is frowned upon by some (or most?, or all but
Sheldon?). Would the OC rear make up for the smaller number of
spokes? I must admit a bias toward the look of the 36 hole radial/non
but will give in to practical considerations.

Front Choices:

32 hole, 2 or 3x 14/17, Velocity Aerohead

-OR-

28 hole, 3x 14/15, Velocity Aerohead

-OR-

28 hole, 3x 14/17, Velocity Aerohead


Again, the wheels with 14/17 are going to be a bit lighter but which
will be stronger and more durable? Can a guy my size ride a 28 hole
front with 14/17's on a regular basis and expect durability?

Cost is an issue but I think in the end, the final cost will be about
the same, no matter which configuration I use.

TIA

App

"No left wing hysteria, guaranteed, since 11/19/2004."

Appkiller Wrote:
Greetings!

I am looking at options for building up a pair of "racing" wheels (as
racing as I get). I weigh about 200 lbs and have been looking at the
following:

Rear Choices:

36 hole rear, 14/17 radial ND, 14/15 2x Drive, Velocity Aerohead

-OR-

32 hole rear, 14/15 3x, Velocity Aerohead OC

The 36 hole is lighter by a little bit (based on mfr weights) but
which would be stronger/more durable? The radial lacing, from my
searches of the NG, is frowned upon by some (or most?, or all but
Sheldon?). Would the OC rear make up for the smaller number of
spokes? I must admit a bias toward the look of the 36 hole radial/non
but will give in to practical considerations.

Front Choices:

32 hole, 2 or 3x 14/17, Velocity Aerohead

-OR-

28 hole, 3x 14/15, Velocity Aerohead

-OR-

28 hole, 3x 14/17, Velocity Aerohead


Again, the wheels with 14/17 are going to be a bit lighter but which
will be stronger and more durable? Can a guy my size ride a 28 hole
front with 14/17's on a regular basis and expect durability?

Cost is an issue but I think in the end, the final cost will be about
the same, no matter which configuration I use.

TIA

App

"No left wing hysteria, guaranteed, since 11/19/2004."

I suggest Aerohead 36 OC rear with 14/15 DB 3x both sides.
Small spoke support angles on the rear make stiffer spokes more
desirable.
Front Aerohead 32 3X 14/17 or 15/16. 15/16 is usually less expensive
than 14/17.


--
daveornee

"Appkiller" wrote in message
om...
Greetings!

I am looking at options for building up a pair of "racing" wheels (as
racing as I get). I weigh about 200 lbs and have been looking at the
following:

Rear Choices:

36 hole rear, 14/17 radial ND, 14/15 2x Drive, Velocity Aerohead

-OR-

32 hole rear, 14/15 3x, Velocity Aerohead OC

The 36 hole is lighter by a little bit (based on mfr weights) but
which would be stronger/more durable? The radial lacing, from my
searches of the NG, is frowned upon by some (or most?, or all but
Sheldon?). Would the OC rear make up for the smaller number of
spokes? I must admit a bias toward the look of the 36 hole radial/non
but will give in to practical considerations.

Front Choices:

32 hole, 2 or 3x 14/17, Velocity Aerohead

-OR-

28 hole, 3x 14/15, Velocity Aerohead

-OR-

28 hole, 3x 14/17, Velocity Aerohead


Again, the wheels with 14/17 are going to be a bit lighter but which
will be stronger and more durable? Can a guy my size ride a 28 hole
front with 14/17's on a regular basis and expect durability?

Cost is an issue but I think in the end, the final cost will be about
the same, no matter which configuration I use.

TIA

App

"No left wing hysteria, guaranteed, since 11/19/2004."

Do yourself a favor and skip the funky lacing patterns. At min for a "racing"
wheelset, I'd go 2x Ft and 3x RR.

I'm usually running 180-190-ish and have found that 15/16 front wheels are too
flexy for me when sprinting on them. IME if yer just JRA they're great. I
stick to 14/15 spokes and haven't had an issue with either flex or keeping the
wheels true.

I haven't tried the RR 14/17 NDS lacing thing yet, so can't comment on that.
Sounds intriguing tho.

HTH,

M

"daveornee"
wrote in message
...

Appkiller Wrote:
Greetings!

I am looking at options for building up a pair of "racing"
wheels (as
racing as I get). I weigh about 200 lbs and have been
looking at the
following:

Rear Choices:

36 hole rear, 14/17 radial ND, 14/15 2x Drive, Velocity
Aerohead

-OR-

32 hole rear, 14/15 3x, Velocity Aerohead OC

The 36 hole is lighter by a little bit (based on mfr weights)
but
which would be stronger/more durable? The radial lacing,
from my
searches of the NG, is frowned upon by some (or most?, or all
but
Sheldon?). Would the OC rear make up for the smaller number
of
spokes? I must admit a bias toward the look of the 36 hole
radial/non
but will give in to practical considerations.

Front Choices:

32 hole, 2 or 3x 14/17, Velocity Aerohead

-OR-

28 hole, 3x 14/15, Velocity Aerohead

-OR-

28 hole, 3x 14/17, Velocity Aerohead


Again, the wheels with 14/17 are going to be a bit lighter
but which
will be stronger and more durable? Can a guy my size ride a
28 hole
front with 14/17's on a regular basis and expect durability?

Cost is an issue but I think in the end, the final cost will
be about
the same, no matter which configuration I use.

TIA

App

"No left wing hysteria, guaranteed, since 11/19/2004."

I suggest Aerohead 36 OC rear with 14/15 DB 3x both sides.
Small spoke support angles on the rear make stiffer spokes more
desirable.
Front Aerohead 32 3X 14/17 or 15/16. 15/16 is usually less
expensive
than 14/17.

With the caveat that these are 400 gram rims and rather tender
for a bigger rider, IMO. I do like the more balanced tension,
but a CPX33 or Deep V probably would be more durable. If you are
not doing criterium courses with railroad tracks or pot-holed
road courses, however, you are probably O.K. with the Aerohead
OC. -- Jay Beattie.

Appkiller wrote:

Greetings!

I am looking at options for building up a pair of "racing" wheels (as
racing as I get). I weigh about 200 lbs and have been looking at the
following:

Rear Choices:

36 hole rear, 14/17 radial ND, 14/15 2x Drive, Velocity Aerohead

-OR-

32 hole rear, 14/15 3x, Velocity Aerohead OC

The 36 hole is lighter by a little bit (based on mfr weights) but
which would be stronger/more durable? The radial lacing, from my
searches of the NG, is frowned upon by some (or most?, or all but
Sheldon?). Would the OC rear make up for the smaller number of
spokes? I must admit a bias toward the look of the 36 hole radial/non
but will give in to practical considerations.

Front Choices:

32 hole, 2 or 3x 14/17, Velocity Aerohead

-OR-

28 hole, 3x 14/15, Velocity Aerohead

-OR-

28 hole, 3x 14/17, Velocity Aerohead


Again, the wheels with 14/17 are going to be a bit lighter but which
will be stronger and more durable? Can a guy my size ride a 28 hole
front with 14/17's on a regular basis and expect durability?

Cost is an issue but I think in the end, the final cost will be about
the same, no matter which configuration I use.

More spokes are always stronger and more forgiving. If you do break a spoke, or
otherwise suffer damage, a 36h wheel will go less out of true. Afterward this
can be the difference between a wheel that's still perfect, and one that's never
quite right again. Also, IME, well built 36h 3x are bulletproof unless you get
something in the spokes and break them. Fewer spokes means occasional truing.
So I think 4 more spokes are well worth the extra weight, or aerodynamic
resistance, or whatever else people like to pretend is slowing them down.
There's a good reason -- 100 years of trial and error -- that 36 spokes were the
standard until the recent wacky wheel fad. The problem now is getting 36 hole
rims and hubs.

Ask yourself, when tempted to move away from a known-bulletproof recipe -- why
twiddle when you can ride?

Finally, do yourself a favor -- buy Jobst's book.

Matt O.

On 19 Nov 2004 05:50:51 -0800, (Appkiller) wrote:


I am looking at options for building up a pair of "racing" wheels (as
racing as I get). I weigh about 200 lbs and have been looking at the
following:

Rear Choices:

36 hole rear, 14/17 radial ND, 14/15 2x Drive, Velocity Aerohead

-OR-

32 hole rear, 14/15 3x, Velocity Aerohead OC

I'm about your weight and have great luck with Velocity Aerohead OC
rear and Velocity Aerohead front. My wheels are 32 hole and laced 3x.
I don't bother lacing 2x or radial because I don't want to have to buy
different spoke lengths. I use a 28 hole front wheel that hasn't
given me any problem either. For single bicycles, I don't use 36 hole
hubs because they are difficult to find.

On Fri, 19 Nov 2004 11:08:29 -0800, "SDMike"
wrote:

I'm usually running 180-190-ish and have found that 15/16 front wheels are too
flexy for me when sprinting on them. IME if yer just JRA they're great. I
stick to 14/15 spokes and haven't had an issue with either flex or keeping the
wheels true.

How do you know that a wheel is flexy?

Appkiller Wrote:
Greetings!

I am looking at options for building up a pair of "racing" wheels (as
racing as I get). I weigh about 200 lbs and have been looking at the
following:

Rear Choices:

36 hole rear, 14/17 radial ND, 14/15 2x Drive, Velocity Aerohead

-OR-

32 hole rear, 14/15 3x, Velocity Aerohead OC

[snip]

TIA

App

"No left wing hysteria, guaranteed, since 11/19/2004."

At 175lb, my homemade wheels came from:
Rims = CXP33
Hubs = 32h Ultegra
Spokes = DT 14/15 2-cross everywhere
Nips = Brass.

I can't remember the weights, but they're lighter than the Shimano 535s
they replaced (some readers might note that almost anything would be
lighter...)

I'd say there's about 5000mi on them so far and I ride them in races as
well as commute on potholed roads in Sydney, Australia. No problems so
far, not even had to get the spoke wrench out of the toolbox.

I reckon your choices are pretty sensible - the 32h 3x option with
Velocity Aerohead OC would be my choice, but it's not a big difference.
At least with 14/15 spokes all round and 3x, the build is a bit simpler,
but not much.

Good luck with it,
Ritch


--
ritcho

Pete- I am looking at options for building up a pair of "racing" wheels (as
racing as I get). I weigh about 200 lbs and have been looking at the
following: BRBR

I answer-"If you came into the shop and asked..I would recommend a well built
32 hole(or 36 hole, 4 spokes weigh 28 grams), Aerohead OC rear using 14/15
spokes and brass nipps laced 3 cross(2 cross on 32 or 36 is silly).

On the front use a 32 hole Aerohead laced with Revolution spokes(14/17) brass
nipps and laced 3 cross.

The other things like radial or mixed gauges on the rear will do nothing but
make the wheel less reliable."

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

Jay writes- I do like the more balanced tension,
but a CPX33 or Deep V probably would be more durable. If you are
not doing criterium courses with railroad tracks or pot-holed
road courses, however, you are probably O.K. with the Aerohead
OC BRBR

I say-" I agree altho also look at a Velocity Fusion rear. Cheaper and lighter
than CXP-33, nice inbetween rim from the Aerohead to the Deep V.'

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"