Wheel build for a light rider

[lunar_c]

Hi all,

I want to build some lightweight <1600g wheels for my fiancés LeMond Zurich. She weighs around 48kg and appreciates a more classic looking wheel. Currently riding some 1900g training wheel and deserves better! I'd prefer to stick with brands I trust.
Any suggestions from the clever wheel builders among us?

[geoffs]

you don't say what your budget is but here's my idea FWIW

HED belgium rims
Sapim cx-ray spokes
Chris King R45 hubs 24/28

I built these wheels up for a customer the other day and they built up really well and weighed in just over 1500gr

[biker jk]

you don't say what your budget is but here's my idea FWIW

HED belgium rims
Sapim cx-ray spokes
Chris King R45 hubs 24/28

I built these wheels up for a customer the other day and they built up really well and weighed in just over 1500gr

Nice build but that looks to be a $1000 wheelset and for a 48kg rider you could build much lighter. How much does the OP want to spend?

[lunar_c]

I was thinking up to $500, anything below 1600g would be great.

[Ozkaban]

I was thinking up to $500, anything below 1600g would be great.

You should be able to manage that building it yourself. As a value benchmark, the pro-lite braccianos are $399 and weigh 1500g.

[biker jk]

Kinlin XR-200 rim
BHS Hubs (SL218, SLF85W)
Sapim Laser spokes front and rear non-drive side, Sapim Race drive side (24 front, 28 rear), Brass nipples

Weight 1370 grams

Cost just over $300 if you build them yourself (sourcing from http://www.bikehubstore.com/ including delivery).

[geoffs]

Kinlin XR-200 rim
BHS Hubs (SL218, SLF85W)
Sapim Laser spokes front and rear non-drive side, Sapim Race drive side (24 front, 28 rear), Brass nipples

Weight 1370 grams

Cost just over $300 if you build them yourself (sourcing from http://www.bikehubstore.com/ including delivery).

Good pick
My only suggestion is to pay the extra for the cx-ray spokes. Stronger and just so much easier to build

[lunar_c]

Excellent. Thanks for the suggestions guys. So you wouldn't recommend .. Say mavic rims or Shimano hubs?

I'm not very up with wheel building, so I don't know the component brands well. Can you recommend the BHS products? I'm curious as to servicing / longevity if you've got experience with their hubs etc.

Thanks again!

[__PG__]

you don't say what your budget is but here's my idea FWIW

HED belgium rims
Sapim cx-ray spokes
Chris King R45 hubs 24/28

I built these wheels up for a customer the other day and they built up really well and weighed in just over 1500gr

Nice build but that looks to be a $1000 wheelset and for a 48kg rider you could build much lighter. How much does the OP want to spend?

Agree. I built some HED rims with Alchemy hubs and Sapim CX-Rays with 28/32 spokes. It came in at 1600 gr with Velox rim tape and KCNC skewers. But I'm 88-90 kg.

For a 48-kg rider you could look at a very lightweight Kinlin or Stans rim. For hubs, the White Industry hubs hit a nice price point of weight and quality, and you'll find the 10-speed hubs are on sale. More expensive than the BHS hubs but not as pricey as Chris King/Alchemy/DT Swiss.

[jacks1071]

I'm not sure if you are 100% set on building your own, but these are popular with light weight riders, hill climbers and people who want minimal cross-wind effects. Also popular with riders who already have a set of Bracciano's and want to have something different. They are a little over your budget but you won't have to assemble them and they come with warranty.

I think they are classic looking although the hub design is definitely something different. I have stock due April 2013 and can reserve stock for anyone who wants to back-order a set.



http://www.pro-liteoz.com/store/index.p ... oductId=83

[biker jk]

Kinlin XR-200 rim
BHS Hubs (SL218, SLF85W)
Sapim Laser spokes front and rear non-drive side, Sapim Race drive side (24 front, 28 rear), Brass nipples

Weight 1370 grams

Cost just over $300 if you build them yourself (sourcing from http://www.bikehubstore.com/ including delivery).

Good pick
My only suggestion is to pay the extra for the cx-ray spokes. Stronger and just so much easier to build

Yes using CX-Rays only adds another $100 to the total price so still within budget. I agree that a bladed spoke is much easier to build. Not really a stronger spoke as a CX-Ray is really just a flattened (bladed) Laser, they weigh exactly the same. I used CX-Rays on my most recent build and they're very easy to observe and correct any spoke wind up.

[Crawf]

This should be ok for a weight weenie who won't stress the wheels to much.
http://www.cyclingdeal.com.au/buy/grp-s ... er/A200-FR

[lunar_c]

I'm sold on the idea of building our own wheels now - she's keen on the idea too and my lbs owner is a good friend who will give me a hand true'ing them.

Biker Jk I'd love your input on some wheels for myself.. I'm after some light shallow climbing rims for myself.. I am 6'5 and 79-81kg depending on how much I'm training. I ride an 8.5kg steel frame bike (we both do) and would love something shallow and fairly traditional looking.

Cheers,
Ben

[Crawf]

Weight weenie build on a budget...

ZTR Alpha 400 rims
Pillar Bladed Spokes, will save a fair bit over CXRays - 24/28 min, or 28/32 to be safe.
Alloy nipples
Front Hub & Rear Hub

Would be around 1380g, probably less actually.

[biker jk]

I'm sold on the idea of building our own wheels now - she's keen on the idea too and my lbs owner is a good friend who will give me a hand true'ing them.

Biker Jk I'd love your input on some wheels for myself.. I'm after some light shallow climbing rims for myself.. I am 6'5 and 79-81kg depending on how much I'm training. I ride an 8.5kg steel frame bike (we both do) and would love something shallow and fairly traditional looking.

Cheers,
Ben

Hi Ben

If you want a classic looking rim to go with your steel bike I would recommend the following build:

Kinlin XR-19W rims (406 grams, with eyelets, black or silver). It's a little stronger than the XR-200 rim I suggested for your fiance.

Sapim Laser spokes front and non-drive side rear, Sapim Race spokes drive-side rear (28 front, 32 rear). Or Sapim CX-Rays all round depending on your budget. Brass nipples all round.

BHS hubs. SL218, SLF85W.

Total weight: 1460 grams (but low rotating weight given the light rims).

Cost: $325 (including shipping from BHS).

The Stans No Tubes ZTR Alpha 400 rims have gaudy decals and won't look classic. They actually weigh 425 grams not 400. I also believe they don't come in a silver option.

[lunar_c]

I was looking at the XR19W.. Thanks mate you're so helpful! I'm going to take your advice and order them after we we married.. New wheels for all:)