Bicycle Mechanics - Strongest 32 hole 26" rim

Can I get some opinions on what you think is the strongest 32 hole 26 inch rim. Weight and price are not an issue.

The type of hub I want to use is mostly available in 32 hole (grease guard). I will (I hope) to be using it to tour with loaded bags on dirt roads and I am not light myself.

How about steel rims, are there any high quality steel rims?

thanks for your vote

ps anyone got a 36 hole grease guard hub for sale?

Velocity deep v's are killer rims. plus they look cool http://velocityusa.com/rims/atb-rims.php

Sun Ryno rims, as used by expedition tourists are very highly rated by those who know about these things.

Might as well get a mavic rim. There are few more reliable hoops out there.

Sun Ryno rims are very strong.

Might as well get a mavic rim. There are few more reliable hoops out there.

mavic's are the mcdololds of rims. everyone and their dog has one. get something interesting and better.

Rynolites are probably the longest standing name in reliable, strong rims.

Rynolites are probably the longest standing name in reliable, strong rims.
They work fine for me, and chances are I'm as rough (or rougher) on my equipment as any tourer

300 + wheels built (half road half MTB).

I won't recommend Velocity as they are not heat treated or eyeletted.

I will recommend the double eyeletted Mavics and Sun Rhyno Lites.

As a minimum, ensure that the rims you select are double eyletted, get them built by a professional wheel builder, and use quality spokes.

velocity rims work great and a good wheel does not have to have eyelets. Mavic does not stand behind their wheels velocity does.

velocity rims work great and a good wheel does not have to have eyelets. Mavic does not stand behind their wheels velocity does.

Agreed. If I were you, I would probably go with the velocity psycho's. Those things are friggin bombproof if you ask me, and they're eyeletted, if you really care about that. Velocity is a great company.

Try Velocity Cliffhangers, tough as hell rims. It was well said that Mavic is the McDonalds of rims

Velocity told me the Psycho is their strongest rim. It is also the heaviest (over 800 grams) but with 100 pounds of luggage I don't think another 200 grams matters. Except for the rolling mass theory. Am leaning towards this rim.
Also I would feel better with this rim in a 32 hole (going for a common grease guard hub). Anyone got a NOS 36 hole Grease Guard hub?

what is a grease gaurd hub? I can't find them in a google search.

steveknight, phantomcow, have you ever rode a set of mavics? If not then don't knock them. Remember, if alot of people use them, it means that mavic is doing something right. I have had nothing but good things to say about mavic's customer service, to say that mavic doesn't stand behind their product is pure bs. The low level rims are handbuilt and welded just like the high level rims are, don't see that with velocity or sun.

steveknight, phantomcow, have you ever rode a set of mavics? If not then don't knock them. Remember, if alot of people use them, it means that mavic is doing something right. I have had nothing but good things to say about mavic's customer service, to say that mavic doesn't stand behind their product is pure bs. The low level rims are handbuilt and welded just like the high level rims are, don't see that with velocity or sun.

lots of people use them because they are the mcdonolds of rims
yes I have had them and the first one cracked after 600 miles. the next needed trued often. nothing thrilling to me.

lots of people use them because they are the mcdonolds of rims
yes I have had them and the first one cracked after 600 miles. the next needed trued often. nothing thrilling to me.

That saying is more deserving of Sun Rims, the one who is responsible for most inhouse rims on the market. I've destroyed my share of Mavics in the past, each time were warrantied without issue. The rim probably cracked because the fool who built them tensioned them too much, and I'm assuming it wasn't a mavic build up,witht he constant retruing that spoke prep wasn't used, sounds like builder error to me. I got you beat though I decimated a velocity psycho rim in the first 10 miles hit a bermed turn and the wheel collapsed under the stress that a banked turn creates and the spokes were tensioned perfectly, couldn't get it warrantied.

the fool who biut it is a very good mecanic. when it happened I posted on usenet (did not find this forum yet) and I found out it was a issue with mavic trim. several dealers would not even carry it anymore buecause of the problems. but mavic still sells it. the president of USA velocity says he will stand behind any of his rims no matter what.

the fool who biut it is a very good mecanic. when it happened I posted on usenet (did not find this forum yet) and I found out it was a issue with mavic trim. several dealers would not even carry it anymore buecause of the problems. but mavic still sells it. the president of USA velocity says he will stand behind any of his rims no matter what.

Mavic fixed that, there was a batch last year that had the cracking issue. I got burned by Velocity, but I will admit that I was part of the problem for the collapsed wheel, I was coming off of a set of DeeMaxx's which are the strongest wheels ever concieved of.

lots of people use them because they are the mcdonolds of rims

That is probably one of the stupidest statements I have read.

im not saying there is anything wrong with mavic rims, they are a fine product. But i think that they are overpriced and that Sun is a much a cheaper alternative and they are just as good. Sometimes threy are not perfectly true from the factory, but i have not had a Sun rim that i cant get true within +/- 1mm, which you will not notice while riding

Can I get some opinions on what you think is the strongest 32 hole 26 inch rim. Weight and price are not an issue.

Aren't you glad that you asked? Everybody has their opinions. We can't agree on things like rim tape and handlebar wrap, why would you expect to find a consensus on rims?

If it was my bike, I'd lace up a pair of Sun Rhyno Lites - the welded version. They are among the easiest rims to lace up that I've ever built. My sons, using Rhyno Lite wheels that I built, have done some things on their mountain bikes that I'm not sure I approve of with nary a rim failure. I have no doubt whatever they would be more than adequate for your touring use. My only reservation is that Rhyno Lites are a pretty wide extrusion. They're not the easiest rims to mount tires on and you might be limited as to how narrow a tire you will be able to use.

I agree that RHyno lites are nice rims. The thing i dont like is their width, for some people its not a problem but for me it is. Velocity Deep V will also serve you really well for any touring application. I see them on tandems around here

They're not the easiest rims to mount tires on
They're not that bad.

I think that for touring, the Rhyno Lite is the best choice. It's different for guys that are racing and jumping, as they subject their wheels to different loads. We've got Rhyno Lites on the tandem with no problems, and I've got them in 24" on my BMX. I've also got 2 sets of Mavic wheels, on very light set, and one stronger XC disc specific set. Only the stronger set has had truing issues, but they were also subjected to more abuse. Tire swaps with the Mavics seemed to be a bit harder than the Sun rims.

The Rhyno Lites have held up fine for me. No issues though I'll probably have to take them in to work with me should I go playing the dirt tomorrow having said that.