What's the current thinking on a solid/durable wheel build?

[MattTuck]

My White Industries T11 hubs laced to HED Belgiums have been giving me problems (the rear in particular. pulled a spoke out of the rim, so the rim is shot, and rear hub has been suspect, though could possibly have just been bad bearings. Either way, needs to be rebuilt and not too keen on rebuilding with the same hub)

Options are, build a new rear with the same set up, or go with something new.

I care most about durability/reliability -- 32/32 or 28/32.

What are people liking these days?

[AngryScientist]

32/32 Record hubs to archetypes.

lifetime hubs do damned good rims

[MattTuck]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

32/32 Record hubs to archetypes.

lifetime hubs do damned good rims

Shimano drive train

I should add. I do about 1/3 of my riding on dirt roads, and the rest on crappy new england paved roads.

[AngryScientist]

Originally Posted by MattTuck

Shimano drive train

those freehubs are readily available.

but alternatively, and believe me, it's hard to say this as a campy guy - dura ace hubs are absolutely perfection IMO.

super easy to adjust and excellent bearings. you could easily keep a set of DA hubs going for longer than you'll be cycling. they're spendy, but worth every penny.

[tv_vt]

DT R460 rims on those hubs, Matt.

[macaroon]

DT Swiss hubs.

Not sure what the best rims are, but Archetypes are good. There must be better ones now though, plus Archetypes are not as wide as they could be.

[donevwil]

Ultegra hub and Mavic A719.

[wpod]

Record 32h hubs laced to Kinlin XR-31T rims have been built proof for my 105kg girth riding rough pot hole strewn Baja tarmac and sandy ranch roads the past year.

[simonov]

Kinda surprising you'd have issues with the Belgiums. That's been my go to excellent durability rim for years.

[m_sasso]

I would not be looking at the HED Belgium rim if you pulled a spoke through it, good rims. I would be more inclined to look at unequal/high spoke tension from a poor initial build, lack of wheel/spoke maintenance or just plain bad luck hitting an obstruction.

Yea! 1000 Posts!

[jamesdak]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

those freehubs are readily available.

but alternatively, and believe me, it's hard to say this as a campy guy - dura ace hubs are absolutely perfection IMO.

super easy to adjust and excellent bearings. you could easily keep a set of DA hubs going for longer than you'll be cycling. they're spendy, but worth every penny.

Yep, these 1989ish hubs were just laced to some Pacenti SL23 rims for this bike. Hubs are still in awesome shape!



And the ones on my 87 Prologue are still going strong too!

[bikinchris]

Honestly? I would suggest Phil Wood hubs with Velocity A23 rims and DT spokes.

[Gummee]

Hard to beat D/A hubs for longevity. 6800 only if you're only going 32h or 36h

The Ancient Tater likes the DT Swiss rims, but I haven't built with em. I have built with A23s, Open Pros, HED Belgiums (not the +), and a few others over the years. For road rims, it really is less about the rim than the biulder. Its not like mtn bike wheels that see more severe duty.

YMMV etc

M

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by MattTuck

My White Industries T11 hubs laced to HED Belgiums have been giving me problems (the rear in particular. pulled a spoke out of the rim, so the rim is shot, and rear hub has been suspect, though could possibly have just been bad bearings. Either way, needs to be rebuilt and not too keen on rebuilding with the same hub)

Options are, build a new rear with the same set up, or go with something new.

I care most about durability/reliability -- 32/32 or 28/32.

What are people liking these days?

DT350, Record, shimano hubs laced to DT, Velocity Or H+Son rims using Sapim Race Or DT Comp spokes, 32/32 laced 3 cross, brass nipps.

[FL_MarkD]

Originally Posted by oldpotatoe

DT350, Record, shimano hubs laced to DT, Velocity Or H+Son rims using Sapim Race Or DT Comp spokes, 32/32 laced 3 cross, brass nipps.

oldpotatoe built me a pair with Ultegra 6800, H+Sons Archtype and Sapim in 32/32. They are nice looking and ride great. One happy purchaser here. And I don't have to worry about eating that extra slice of holiday pie like I did with previous low spoke count wheels.

Mark