I already had a front wheel I want to use:

- Mavic XC 717 rim
- XT 32H disc hub
- Marathon XR 26 x 2.0"

Given that I weigh around 160lbs I think this wheel should hold up fine.

I'm going to build up a back wheel with:

- Mavic EX 325 or EX 521 rim
- Rohloff disc hub
- Marathon XR 25 x 2.0"

My LBS doesn't have any EX 521 rims at the moment so I took home the EX 325 and mounted up the 2.0 XR. Due to the width of the rim it has a flatter profile than the same tire mounted on the narrower XC 717 rim. I'm not sure if that will be an issue in use or not. If it will be a problem I can return it and wait for some EX 521s to arrive as they have a narrower width than the EX 325. The advantage to the EX 325 is it looks stronger albeit heavier.

Any ideas?

Front wheel:
36 hole Shimano XT Disc hub
Sun Ryno Light XL 36h rims
Schwalbe Big Apple 26 x 2.0 or Marathon Plus 26 x 2.0

Rear wheel:
Nuvinci CVP Disc Hub
Sun Ryno Light XL 36h rims
Schwalbe Big Apple 26 x 2.0 or Marathon Plus 26 x 2.0

My frame came in yesterday, but I haven't finished gathering all the parts yet. :(

Has anyone here tried both big apples and marathon plus tires? I have both, one set will be on my Big Dummy the other will end up on my Wife's cruiser.

Has anyone here tried both big apples and marathon plus tires? I have both, one set will be on my Big Dummy the other will end up on my Wife's cruiser.
have both, yes. both are great in very different ways. the marathon plus is a very heavy, very long-wearing, extremely flat resistant tire. the big apple offers a very sweet ride and decent toughness, but not anywhere near as tough as the marathon plus.

put the marathon on the bike you least want to deal with flats on, and the big apple on the fun bike. hopefully that works out. it probably doesn't.

My final wheelset build for my Big Dummy will use Mavic EN321's.

Shimano DH-3D71 disc dyno hub. 32 hole
Shimano Alfine 8 speed disc hub. 36 hole
Sun Rhyno Lite rims.
Big Apple 2.35.

Shimano DH-3D71 disc dyno hub. 32 hole
Shimano Alfine 8 speed disc hub. 36 hole
Sun Rhyno Lite rims.
Big Apple 2.35.

Oooooh, an Alfine! Was that hard to score, John? And did you get the black one?

Oooooh, an Alfine! Was that hard to score, John? And did you get the black one?

Harris Cyclery has them in silver