Tandem Cycling - Tandem rim recommendation

Time to build a new wheelset- the set I built a few years back is beginning to show signs of being worn out. The wheels were done with Alex R390 36h rims, and have been great. If I could find more of these rims, I'd just use them and get on with it, but I can't (or haven't been able to so far).

I want to stay with the DT Swiss 36h tandem hubs that I have, and I want a rim that will comfortably mount a 700x25 tire, which means not wider than about 20mm. The Alex rims are 19mm I think. I also prefer a box section double eyeleted rim, but I'm beginning to think that's out of the question too.

So far what I've been able to dig up that more or less fits the bill are the Velocity Aerohead and Fusion rims. I have heard of the Fusion being used on tandems. (I probably should mention that we are a 290 lb. team and do only fast sport riding- no loaded touring)

Anybody have suggestions, recommendations, anecdotal experience, etc. ?

Rick

I like the Velocity rims a lot. I'm runing a 36h Deep-V on my solo, and I can re-shape potholes with it.

We had set of wheels built for our new tandem using Swiss DT tandem hubs and Velocity Deep-V rims. Don't have many miles on them yet but they help this bike to be the fastest tandem I've every ridden. Plus they came in red to match the colors my stoker picked for the bike.

Jeff

We had our LBS build a new front wheel using a Sun (?) rim. I think it is either a 32 or 36 spoke rim. I haven't had to touch it in 6,000 miles.

Howdy,
I built up our road tandem wheels with DT Swiss 36h tandem hubs, DT alpine spokes and Velocity Fusion rims about 4 years ago. Building up the rims went very smooth.
The fusion rims have been fantastic for us (320lb team). Our riding included some light touring, dirt roads, rough roads and I've hit more than a few good sized stones too.
I don't believe that I have had to re-true or re-tension them.
Good Luck,
John

I second the 36 Hole Velocity Deep V rims. I run a set of them along with the White Industrys light wheight tandem specific hubs on our 2006 Custom Co-Motion Robusta. They have proven to be a great wheel or rim and hub combo. We come in at 350 lbs plus the wheight of the tandem and gear, the Velocity Deep V are bullet proof wheels, they look good and perform great.

Good Luck,:)
Bill G

Been riding Velocity Aerohead rims, Chris King hubs and DT Revolution spokes. Front is 32H, rear 36H. 16,000+ miles on 'em on our Zona tandem. We are just under 250 lbs team. No problems.
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

I want a rim that will comfortably mount a 700x25 tire, which means not wider than about 20mm. The Alex rims are 19mm I think. I also prefer a box section double eyeleted rim, but I'm beginning to think that's out of the question too.

The Sun CR18 "sounds" like it fits the description of what you're looking for:
http://www.lickbike.com/productpage.aspx?PART_NUM_SUB='2084-32'

The CR18 is a narrow version of the Rhyno Lite, which is another very good tandem rim... just a little portly and perhaps a bit wider than what's needed for a 25mm wide tire. No stupid machined sidewalls: just a classic, box section rim with eyelets.

The Sun rims with eyelets build up pretty well, but don't take as much tension as the eyelet-less Velocity rims. If you or your wheel builder have experience building wheels with eyelets it probably won't be an issue. However, if they've been building wheels without eyelets then some additional care may be called for as it's very easy to over-tension wheels with eyelets.

Aerohead is a nice rim for weight weenies as it falls into the ultra lightweight category. A good choice as a daily use wheel for Zona and Kay @ 250lbs, but not necessarily for teams that weigh in the mid 300's or who have less than ideal roads. The Fusion and Deep-V strike me as better choices for tandems. We've used the Deep-Vs for about 5 years now (replacement for the discontinued Mavic CXP30s) and they've proven to be very durable, light enough, and are very easy to build. Well, that and they come in a rainbow of colors with a wide range of drillings.

With the exception of the Mavic CXP33, their other Trekking wheels with eyelets (decendents of the T217) are robust and even heavier than the Deep-Vs. Dollar-for-dollar, I think the Velocity Fusion is a better value than the CXP33 so, once again, the Velocity family of rims is better friend to the tandem community.

Thanks everyone for the info, and thanks TG for your typically thorough coverage of the subject. I did not know that rims with eyelets couldn't take as much tension as the rims without eyelets. In fact, that's why I want to replace the current rims- they've begun to pop eyelets :)

I know from experience that the Sun CR18 is too wide to mount a 700x25 tire properly (the beads won't quite seat properly giving an out of round situation), and I've about narrowed it down to a choice between the Deep-V or the Fusion.

Given that the Deep-V is heavier than the Fusion, is there any outstanding reason to prefer it over the Fusion?

Rick

Given that the Deep-V is heavier than the Fusion, is there any outstanding reason to prefer it over the Fusion?

Deep-V is a lot stronger and mildly more aerodynamic. The Fusion is no weakling, and you're not a heavy team... I guess I'd consider the roads you ride on. If you occasionally nail a big hole or bump, I'd say Deep-V. If you want the aero benefit (probably greater than the weight benefit in the other direction, though both are minimal), I'd also say Deep-V.