Originally Posted by
nashcommguy
Get yourself a 48h rim/hub combo. Use a CR18 rim and whatever hub you can afford. Phil Wood, White Industries..VERY Pricey. There're are older models that are cheaper...try looking at older tandem parts, etc. Purchase 2 boxes of DT Alpine 3 spokes. Have a qualified, proven wheelbuilder do the build and your worries are over. Guaranteed. It'll cost you more than your whole bike, but WELL worth it. I use this for touring purposes where I'm carrying 40-50 lbs of gear. I weigh 185
Holy spiteful overkill, Batman!
I weigh 235 pounds, I've been as much as 265, and I've never ridden anything except 32h rims and straight gauge 2.0mm (14g) spokes. A well built 32h wheel will hold up just fine, and even with my SON28 front hub I didn't spend anywhere near the cost of my entire bike for the wheel build.
DT RR1.1 rims = $130/pair
64 DT 2.0 spokes ~ $50 (80-ish cents each at LBS, no need to buy a whole box)
SON28 hub = $300
Tiagra hub = $0.00 (used from stock wheel on bike)
Total $480 plus 3 hours of my time to build them. I've got almost 9000 miles on the front wheel. The rear was actually just transfer laced to a new rim when I wore out the original Alex DA16. The RR1.1 is the same ERD, so I zip-tied the rims together and did a hole-for-hole transfer of the spokes then tensioned/trued it. 5000 miles and going strong.