What rims for a wheelset using 700x37 tires?

[NHAero]

If you were building up a new wheelset to use wide tires, what rims would you use? General riding, not racing, not carrying big loads, non-disc?

And what hubs would you choose?

Thanks

[AngryScientist]

archetypes or save a few bucks and go DT Swiss 460. for the more classic look TB14.

A23's are too soft, HEDs are too expensive.

[oldpotatoe]

archetypes or save a few bucks and go DT Swiss 460. for the more classic look TB14.

A23's are too soft, HEDs are too expensive.

NOT trying to argue but I build a lot of A23 and 'too soft' isn't accurate, IME.

Archtypes, A23 or Fusion, DT 440 or 460.

Shimano? 6800 hubs, DT350, Campag? Miche or Record or DT350.

[ColonelJLloyd]

I'd imagine going any wider than 25mm rims can cause issues with brakes, especially cantilevers whose posts were placed when wide rims weren't a thing. That said, I'd go as wide as my brakes would allow.

[AngryScientist]

NOT trying to argue but I build a lot of A23 and 'too soft' isn't accurate, IME.


i certainly defer to your experience, as you've handled countless more wheels than i. my 130# self dented an A23 long ago, and i've not liked them since, which is only an anecdotal example.

but, can you think of any reason to use an A23 over an archetype or DT460?

[ColonelJLloyd]

but, can you think of any reason to use an a23 over an archetype or dt460?

oc?

[oldpotatoe]

i certainly defer to your experience, as you've handled countless more wheels than i. my 130# self dented an A23 long ago, and i've not liked them since, which is only an anecdotal example.

but, can you think of any reason to use an A23 over an archetype or DT460?

Kinda hard to rank them. A23 are OC and many more drillings and finishes. H+Son Archtype good all around rim but different profile. DT 460 great rim that belies its $...these are the 3 rims makers I build with primarily(Add 440)...they all have their place but SUN rims are soft, A23, now made in Florida, aren't, IMHO.

[ripvanrando]

I've dented two A23 rims and my professionally built HED Belgium plus does not like to stay true nor did the Shimano C50. In fairness I could not avoid a pothole on the A23 but I was riding 32 mm tires both times and also I spend a lot of time riding at night on bad, unfamiliar roads.

Out of the six FloCycling wheels that I own, they all fit a 37mm tire nicely and none of them have ever needed to be trued and I have beat the living hell out of them like 40 mph descents at night over pothole encrusted roads where the banjo music and bourbon flows into the wee hours.

[jruhlen1980]

Clearly not the only option, but I've put a few thousand miles on H+Son TB14s laced to 105 hubs. Got them cheap as hell on velomine a couple years ago. I have 36-spoke because I wanted something bombproof for gravel, but you can get them in 32 and I think 28.

Edited to add: I run 700x38s on these.

[donevwil]

I'd imagine going any wider than 25mm rims can cause issues with brakes, especially cantilevers whose posts were placed when wide rims weren't a thing. That said, I'd go as wide as my brakes would allow.

I agree with this. I run both 32mm Grand Bois/Compass and 38mm Compass tires. I can tell for certain that both feel and handle better on 24.5-25mm rims than 23. It's a small difference certainly, but with thousands of miles on the same roads it's definitely noticeable and at a slightly lower P as well. 23s I've used are A23, Archetype, TB-14 and Belgium, 25s are HED + and Mavic A719 (24.5 and a wonderful beefy rim). Not a lot of lightweight ~25 choices however, Pacenti SL23, Velocity Unobtanium (I mean Quill). I wish H Plus would come out with one for rim brakes.

[jtbadge]

Archetypes and TB14s are highly recommended. Have used them with tires as wide as a 43c Bruce Gordon Rock 'n' Road (also as narrow as a 25c Open Pave) with great results. Archetypes seem to hit the nice balance of stiffness, weight, and price.

I have HED Belgium+ rims (25mm width) on my canti cross bike, and setting up the front brake with that extra width is a challenge.

[adamhell]

i'm using A23 with some BG RnR's (43c or so) and they are fine.

[fiamme red]

A friend of mine runs Mavic A719 with 35mm tires, and he's really happy with them.

[NHAero]

Thanks! Lots of great information here.

[OldCrank]

I was running WTB 38s on A23s, no probs.

The 38s are now on Open Pros as gravel, fun and training/pit wheels for CX.

I use the same type of wheels with 25mm road tires for commuting. They take a lickin'.

[559Rando]

No love for the Velocity Dyad? I've had a few sets over the years and never a problem. Compared to the A23, it's touch wide and stouter.

[MsRN]

I have Velocity Dyads laced with Wheelsmith spokes (14 ga, 36°) to a 105 setup on my '84 Trek 720. Fairly bombproof; I bent a sidewall running fully-loaded panniers on a 700x28 when I hit a big pothole (my fault--should have used a wider tire), and was able to hammer and wrench it back into place with minimal fuss. Minimal re-truing required, and no out-of round; then again, I built the wheel in the first place. Fourteen months later, same rim, no problems. I guess you could say I think highly of Dyads...

[weisan]

Me third on the Dyads, have them on the tandem...bombproof!

[dustyrider]

I've been abusing the heck out of a set of DT TK540 on my cross/adventure/gravel bike. Might be a little more rim than you're looking for... but I've run through a set of RnR, MSO, currently enjoying a set of barlow pass. I've even ran a corsa cx in 25c just for the heck of it. They're pretty great. I typically aim for the rough stuff and these haven't flinched at all!

[Lovetoclimb]

Just throwing my experience in the ring here at 165 lbs and riding a lot of bikes on a lot of roads through the WNC mountains:

Dented both rims on a set of Archetypes, but the A23s I built up years ago are still running strong. The option for OC rear rim is something I almost want to replace the Archetypes with now. HED Belgiums are working well on a set of CK hubs but the performance does not seem worth the cost increase.

Were I to own just one wheelset, it would be Campy Record Hubs 32h 3x on A23 rims. But why would I be silly enough to own just one wheelset :confused:

[donevwil]

I'm happy to hear such positive reviews of A23s, I imagine most must be of "made in America" vintage. Not a lot of <500g wide rims with an OC option out there.

My only "almost" A23 wheelset started with the first domestic production rims and they were a total nightmare. Front was not round so builder swapped for an Aussie A23 he had sitting around. OC rear was worse, unbuildable according to the builder, no replacement available from the factory so an Archetype was substituted. Now I've got a mullet wheelset that drives me crazy aesthetically.

[type2sam]

A23's, definitely.

[Bruce K]

Big fan of HED

A little more mo eye but mine have lasted a LONG time

BK