Short answer: yes, a 20/24 spoke wheelset can be plenty strong enough for a 200 lb. rider. Good wheel building skill combined with quality components will equal a reliable set of wheels.
Context: a little under three years ago, I built two, identical 20/24 spoke wheelsets for a friend and myself. We’re both amateur racers who wanted dependable, “everyday” racing wheels. Neither of us fit the bike racer mold. I used to be a 215 lb. hockey player (now down to 170-ish) and my friend Jon is 190 lbs. of single-digit body fat weight lifter. We both put down a lot of power. The wheel build specs:
- Kinlin XR31T rims (offset rear), 20/24 spokes
- Sapim CX-Ray spokes in front, radially laced
- Sapim CX-Sprint spokes in back, two-cross laced
- Brass nipples front and back
We chose the XR31T rims both for strength and
aerodynamics. The finished wheelsets weighted about 1535 grams. Both wheelsets have been 100% reliable, with no trueing needed since they were built. Jon likes them so much that they have stayed on his bike full-time, even when towing his kids in a trailer. He claims towing the trailer is great training...
Greg