Bicycle Mechanics - Nashbar Touring frameset build - what wheelset?

So, I couldn't talk myself out of building out a Tourer/Commuter base on Nashbar touring frameset :) (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=6000130&subcategory=60001176&brand=&sku=11723&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20Frames%2FBikes)

I'm trying to gather some information and wrap my head around what am I going to actually build.
As much as I like the idea of building the wheels myself, I'm completely unsure that my skills are up for that - the bike itself is enough challenge for me as is.

So, I'm looking for inexpensive yet suitable for a tourer wheelset and that, so far, has been just confusing.
First of all, as far as I understand, I need a 700c wheels, right? What do I loose/win if I go with 26 inch wheels. I know that rim brakes might be a problem (would they?), and that brings me to another question - should I consider disk brakes at all for such a machine ?
Now, if I go with 700c, do I need a road wheelset or a "29er" (from strength prospective)...

As you see, I'm in complete information mess and I would really appreciate some insight on this.

Thanks a lot !
-MB

Yes the brakes will be an issue if you go 26 inch. Don't do it. There's no fix (or at least nothing easy or cheap) for that sort of mod.

29'er and 700c rims are the same size diameter wise. The 29'er rims tend to be wider since they are intended for use with fatter tires. A lot of 700c rims are intended for racing or near racing sized tires. Check the rim width spec to figure out what you want.

For a touring setup you probably want to use a 28mm or wider tire. For that size the 29'er rims that are intended for the speedier 29'er riding will be the right width for the 28 to 34mm tires quite easily.

If you look up "cyclocross" or "touring" under wheelsets on most stores and on ebay you'll get back a lot of good options. I recently got a set of modern LX centerloc disc ready hubs laced to touring style rims that were labeled as touring/29er by the ebay seller. Lacing was 14ga straight guage spokes. So nothing fancy but nice and solid quality stuff. Price was $160. I'm sure you can get a similar deal from most online stores.

Although I've built up around 10 sets of my own wheels over the years I find that I can't buy the parts for what I can buy premade wheels for. I'd love to use butted spokes but again teh price is going up on those as well. And the other big issue with machine built wheels at this price point is the spoke tension. For the price they are a heck of a deal and if I need to watch them for signs of settling in and re-tension them then that's OK. Although I'm sure most sets will be just fine for a long time.

My new wheels are going onto a new bike as well. But I went a touch more posh with a Soma Double Cross frameset.

Would something like this work:
http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2022&zenid=de7782d9247645d81a5384c27e047f82

Should I be concerned that it's a 32 spoke wheels, and not 36 ? (I'm slightly over 200lb currently)

There have been quite a few people over on the Touring forum who have built up that Nashbar touring frame. A search or post over there would likely pull up useful threads and suggestions. From the Nashbar website, it looks like the rear dropout spacing on your frame is 132.5mm, and Nashbar claims that you can use either 130mm or 135mm axles in the rear.

I don't have any bikes with disc brakes, and thus I am no expert on disc brakes, but I am under the impression that in order to use disc brakes you need disc tabs on the rear seat stays and disc tabs on the fork. Your frame and fork do not have disc tabs. It has posts for cantilever rim brakes, which are the standard brakes found on touring bikes. So I believe you should plan on using cantilever rim brakes. You can choose either Shimano V brake cantilever style brakes, also known as linear pull, or center pull cantilever style brakes.

If you plan to take the bike on actual loaded tours at some point in the future, and you ask on the Touring forum whether or not at 200 lb body weight, you should go for 36 spokes or 32 spokes, everyone over there will recommend going for the 36 spokes so you can be confident that your wheels will hold up on tour. Here is a decent looking, inexpensive tourer type 700c wheelset, with Deore mountain bike hubs and 36 spokes, marked down to $80.00 at Bicycle Wheel warehouse. The ad says they will take up to 700*35c tire size. Good luck!

http://www.bicyclewheelwarehouse.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=39

If you have your mind set on disc brakes, you can purchase disc brake adapters to bolt on your frame. Do a search on E bay under disc brake adapters. If it were me, however, I wouldn't get that fancy and put disc brakes on an inexpensive Nashbar touring frame. Many tourers specifically prefer cantilevers for ease of maintenance and repair on the road, and cantilever style works very well when adjusted properly with good pads. Kool Stop makes excellent pads that will fit them.

I weigh 214lbs (last I checked), and ride around 100 miles per week. All my current bikes have 32 spoke rims.

My personal favorite all-rounded rim is a Velocity Deep V. Got them on my tourer/commuter and my road bike. I've carried 50lbs of gear for days, rode on dirt/gravel roads and descended mountain passes going 40mph+.

Bottom line is, a good wheel build covers all your concerns. Throwing more spokes or rim mass doesn't make up for a poor build. Be sensible, don't get some 20 bladed spoke setup - but you don't have to be scared into getting a 40 hole, downhill/dirt jump wheel either.

So, I couldn't talk myself out of building out a Tourer/Commuter base on Nashbar touring frameset :) (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=6000130&subcategory=60001176&brand=&sku=11723&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20Frames%2FBikes)

I'm trying to gather some information and wrap my head around what am I going to actually build.
As much as I like the idea of building the wheels myself, I'm completely unsure that my skills are up for that - the bike itself is enough challenge for me as is.

So, I'm looking for inexpensive yet suitable for a tourer wheelset and that, so far, has been just confusing.
First of all, as far as I understand, I need a 700c wheels, right? What do I loose/win if I go with 26 inch wheels. I know that rim brakes might be a problem (would they?), and that brings me to another question - should I consider disk brakes at all for such a machine ?
Now, if I go with 700c, do I need a road wheelset or a "29er" (from strength prospective)...

As you see, I'm in complete information mess and I would really appreciate some insight on this.

Thanks a lot !
-MB

I'm building up the same frame (it's in the mail) and I weight about the same.

I think the 700c or 26" question has been answered.

If you're really going to use this bike for 'loaded' touring, you should go with at least 36 hole rims. And if you end up just using it as a commuter, you're not losing anything. This was a good suggestion if you're on a budget: http://www.bicyclewheelwarehouse.com...d&productId=39. Just have them double checked locally.

As stated, the touring forum is a great resource but the 'Nashbar Touring Frameset' threads didn't help me much.

How quickly are you planning on completing this project? Can you update progress in the touring forum?