Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

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?

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

geoffs wrote: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?

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

lunar_c wrote: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.

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).

biker jk wrote: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

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!

biker jk wrote:

geoffs wrote: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.

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" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

geoffs wrote:

biker jk wrote: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.

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" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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

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.

lunar_c wrote: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.

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:)