16h/20h Rim suggestions?

[slidey]

I'm planning on building up a durable yet light wheelset and to this effect I've already got hold of some 7900 hubs. Now I need to find adequate rims to put them on...any specific suggestions?

[oldpotatoe]

I'm planning on building up a durable yet light wheelset and to this effect I've already got hold of some 7900 hubs. Now I need to find adequate rims to put them on...any specific suggestions?

'Cept shimano doesn't make a 20h rear 7900 hub(24 lowest)...not sure about the 16h front either.

BUT if you are opting for durable and light weight, gotta be carbon rims at that low of a spoke count.

[tv_vt]

Or Zipp 101 alloy rims.

[oldpotatoe]

Or Zipp 101 alloy rims.

I would look at a couple of wheel reviews of these before I would buy these rims AND Zipp doesn't sell rims anymore anyway, just wheels.

[ergott]

If you managed to get a hold of 16/20 7900 hubs there's only one rimset I can think of. Enve 8.9s

That's how I roll.
:banana:

[slidey]

You could be right there...my friend just told me that these were 7900's for sure and were most likely 16h/20h one's in his basement. But if these are 20/24, then would alloy rims work?

'Cept shimano doesn't make a 20h rear 7900 hub(24 lowest)...not sure about the 16h front either.

[slidey]

I guess it might help to add that I'm <150lbs and tend to do a lot of climbing.

[ergott]

Current availability that I know of is 24/24. Is it possible that these were hubs that were from a set of Dura Ace wheels?

What sort of budget are you looking at? Tubular/clincher? Alloy/carbon?

[oldpotatoe]

You could be right there...my friend just told me that these were 7900's for sure and were most likely 16h/20h one's in his basement. But if these are 20/24, then would alloy rims work?

'cept alloy rims, generally pretty light, with these few spokes 'may' make for a not very reliable wheel. Add 20 spokes(28h front and rear), add 140 grams or so(about 5 ounces) and get a much more reliable wheelset. OR use that 20/24, use heavier rims, and make the wheelset reliable. yes, yes, I know, there are 'some' who say they have a 1200 gram, aluminum rim-ed wheelset, they weight 200 pounds and these wheels 'have never needed truing'....

BUT...light and reliable and low spoke count pretty much means carbon rims, and tubular to boot.

[Chance]

If you managed to get a hold of 16/20 7900 hubs there's only one rimset I can think of. Enve 8.9s

That's how I roll.
:banana:

Their web site lists the carbon tubular rims at 500 grams front and 545 grams rear. Can a light set of wheels be made from these? Site also shows wheelsets around 1500+ grams.

Would it be practical to increase spoke count and use alloy rims in 400 gram range? Would that be lighter?

[redir]

I'd never consider a 16/20 combo in the durable category. But that's me. I have broken my last 20 spoke carbon rear wheel ever.

[ergott]

Can a light set of wheels be made from these? Site also shows wheelsets around 1500+ grams.


My wheels came in at 1522g (Alchemy hubs). Those wheels aren't about weight. They are about being fast and carrying speed. They are a real boot in the pants to ride your limits.

[Chance]

My wheels came in at 1522g (Alchemy hubs). Those wheels aren't about weight. They are about being fast and carrying speed. They are a real boot in the pants to ride your limits.

So maybe not ideal for a 150 pound rider looking for light climbing wheels? Unless, that is, the descents are more important?

[AngryScientist]

BUT if you are opting for durable and light weight, gotta be carbon rims at that low of a spoke count.

disagree. i've got thousands of miles on these. well known to be pretty bulletproof. i know these are pretty different that a handbuilt set, just sayin.

http://www.shinybikes.com/images/P/shamal-ultra-black-wheels.jpg

[tv_vt]

OP, I saw custom Zipp 101 wheels available through Wheelbuilder.com:
http://www.wheelbuilder.com/store/custom-zipp-101-front-wheel.html

Can't say whether these rims are good or not. Haven't used them. But they do come in low spoke count options.

Thom

[kgreene10]

I'm close to you in weight at 155 lbs. I have a set of Reynolds DV46c in 16/20 and they are great. I also have Hed Belgiums in 24/24 and they are good, but not nearly as stiff, so I wouldn't do 16/20 in alu and the deeper the carbon, the better. You might also want to use cx-ray or aero lite spikes for rigidity.

[oldpotatoe]

disagree. i've got thousands of miles on these. well known to be pretty bulletproof. i know these are pretty different that a handbuilt set, just sayin.

http://www.shinybikes.com/images/P/shamal-ultra-black-wheels.jpg

Ain't that light. When I hear 'light weight wheels', I think 1200 grams or so.

[ergott]

So maybe not ideal for a 150 pound rider looking for light climbing wheels? Unless, that is, the descents are more important?

He expressed interest in climbing wheels after my initial post. That's when I asked for more information.

[Chance]

He expressed interest in climbing wheels after my initial post. That's when I asked for more information.

Sorry. Didn't mean for it to sound like it was questioning your wheel wisdom. Just have similar interest myself.

Recall you posting about +/- 1200 gram wheels that were plenty strong. Trying to decide was is reasonable strength-vs-cost-vs-weight if aero is not the most important factor.

[ergott]

I've had so many different sets of wheels now it's hard to keep track. You can definitely get wheels around 1400g and a bit under that are pretty strong and durable for the average size rider. I think the lower limit for a solid, alloy clincher rim is about 410g. When they get lighter than that, the won't be stiff or will have some other sacrifice. So if you were to take a set of rims at 410g (some Velocity Aeroheads come in this light) and build them up with light hubs and spokes you would get something like this.

Tune hubs
Velocity Aerohead rims
Sapim CX-Ray spokes with Wheelsmith, DB14 spokes for the right, rear side
alloy nipples
24/28 spoke count

That's around 1350g. More weight can be lost, but that's a pretty normal set of wheels that will hold up under your typical 180lb or less rider.

[slidey]

Thanks everyone for your inputs...please keep them coming. Unfortunately I'm traveling now and hence my responses will be very sporadic.

[sjbraun]

A Ligero wheel set, 1400 gms: Kinlin rims, XR-220 in front, XR-270 in the rear, CX-ray spokes, 20x24. These wheels are a gas. They whatever bike they're on feel faster. 2 years out they have been trouble free.

Next set, (waiting on parts)
Velocity A23 rims, 24x28, Chris King hubs, Sapin spokes (Lasers??) per the calculator at Wheelbuilder.com, should come in close to 1400 gms.

[slidey]

Quite possible, yes. No way of verifying until next week when both of us are back in town (coincidence...both of us are out traveling)
Is it possible that these were hubs that were from a set of Dura Ace wheels?

Looking for a regular use training + racing clincher wheelset, mainly for climbing, semi-aero profile, alloy preferably. Budget...hmm, around the 400 mark perhaps?
What sort of budget are you looking at? Tubular/clincher? Alloy/carbon?

[ergott]

Sounds like you should get something like the Kinlin XR-300 for the front and the XR-380 for the rear. Those are semi aero profiles. With the spoke counts you are talking about they could work. Check back when you can confirm the spoke counts.

[slidey]

Cool, will do.

Out of curiosity, can any of you shed some light on the Niobium rims (I've heard of 30 and 27, assuming these are isotopes, etc)? I've heard them pop up in conversations but don't know much else about them.

[slidey]

So I'm back in town and have the hubs with me...they're 16h/20h DA7900 one's. Impeccable condition and they seem to be whispering to me to build them up.

Just to remind you of my previous expectations of this wheelset: semi-aero profile, extremely durable, being lightweight wouldn't be too bad, definitely will not be used as a rain check wheelset, expecitng to use this as an everyday training + race wheelset.

Kind of riding I do: practice climbing a lot, also don't mind some menial aero advantage on flats.

Me: 147~150lbs usually, have been as low as 137lbs...still deciding on what kind of weight I want to retain within the above range.