Road Bike Racing - Best Custom Wheel for 32H Powertap

While I was stopped at a red light last week, some guy lost control behind me and slid into my rear wheel. He didn't seem to bend it, and the LBS said it justed needed some truing. However, I noticed a noise that sounds like spokes popping when I climb now. My rear wheel is a Mavic Open Pro 32H Powertap wheel.

Question: If I want to go ahead and get a new wheel built, what is the best race/training (emphasis on the ability to race it) custom wheel that can be built up for less than $400. I already have the hub, so it is just rim/spokes. I am somewhat limited by the fact that my hub needs to remain the 32H powertap.

Bike: Orbea Orca
Components: Dura-Ace
Weight: Light...Carbon bars, step, seat post, etc...
Race: Cat 4

Thanks,
Dave

Well the 32 holes really limits you quite a bit if you want something really fancy, but then again building it on something like a open pro or a DT 1.1 or 1.2 will not make that much of a difference in the races, so are probably best off just going with one of those choices unless you want to sell what you have and start from scratch.

But it sounds like you may just need someone to look at your wheel, the sound you describe may be caused aloose spoke or something else something that can be fixed with very little effort and money.

the Velocity Aerohead was highly recommended by our local master mechanic (Woody @ Cadence in Philadelphia, if you're familiar)....he built my 32 hole powertap with DT spokes and I LOVE it. Much smoother and much stiffer than my previous open pro rim

my .02

The fanciest PT build I've done is a 1x DS and a 3x NDS with CX-Rays (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=381303), and a Niobium 30mm rim. Saris says to lace symmetrically, but this wheel has been use for a while now, under a powerful rider, and has had no problems at all. It's a cool wheel. Read the thread though for details on Saris' opinion. Note near the end where Ligero puts his stamp of approval on the asymmetrical lacing...

If you want to get crazy, get a 24h rim and half-spoke the NDS (only 8 spokes), 1x (but not radial!). This will even the spoke tensions from left to right quite a bit, and should be about as strong as a conventional 28h rear. This is very similar to the Fulcrum rear lacing pattern, which is brilliant. I guess that whatever Saris is afraid of will be even more likely with this setup. The main concern is that all of the torque originates at the left flange, so the NDS needs to be able to tranfer torque without much flex -- which is where it gets iffy to cut 1/2 the spokes over there...

The fanciest PT build I've done is a 1x DS and a 3x NDS with CX-Rays (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=381303), and a Niobium 30mm rim. Saris says to lace symmetrically, but this wheel has been use for a while now, under a powerful rider, and has had no problems at all. It's a cool wheel. Read the thread though for details on Saris' opinion. Note near the end where Ligero puts his stamp of approval on the asymmetrical lacing...

I mimicked that build. It's served me extremely well!:thumb:

Ambrosio Crono Tubular.

The fanciest PT build I've done is a 1x DS and a 3x NDS with CX-Rays (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=381303), and a Niobium 30mm rim. Saris says to lace symmetrically, but this wheel has been use for a while now, under a powerful rider, and has had no problems at all. It's a cool wheel. Read the thread though for details on Saris' opinion. Note near the end where Ligero puts his stamp of approval on the asymmetrical lacing...

If you want to get crazy, get a 24h rim and half-spoke the NDS (only 8 spokes), 1x (but not radial!). This will even the spoke tensions from left to right quite a bit, and should be about as strong as a conventional 28h rear. This is very similar to the Fulcrum rear lacing pattern, which is brilliant. I guess that whatever Saris is afraid of will be even more likely with this setup. The main concern is that all of the torque originates at the left flange, so the NDS needs to be able to tranfer torque without much flex -- which is where it gets iffy to cut 1/2 the spokes over there...

Thanks for the info, that is certainly a cool build. I guess I am too much of a p**** to start messing around with lacing patterns that the company specifically tells you to stay away from on my very expensive hub. Does anyone know of any failures of the flange on a PT SL or 2.4 when laced asymmetrically?

1x DS voids the hubs warrenty doesn't it?
Why wouldn't you just lace is 3x?

1x DS voids the hubs warrenty doesn't it?
Why wouldn't you just lace is 3x?

Some of the top wheelbuilders in the country have been building powertaps like this for a while now. Jeremy at Alchemy is the person who masterminded this lacing pattern and the guy knows his stuff. Troy at Ligero also laces his powertap builds this way. I also lace mine this way. Saris is afraid of the flange exploding, which to my knowledge, I have never heard happen. Here is the theory on why you would want to lace a PT this way.

1x on the cassette side allows you to go elbows out widening the bracing angle. With the PT hub there is enough space as to not have any spoke interference. This also allows you to have a higher tension on the non-cassette side. Most spokes break on the NDS because the tension can't be brought high enough in a properly dished wheel. Overall this combination allows for a much more balanced wheel as well as a super strong wheel laterally vs. a conventional 2x or 3x lacing.

Thanks for the info, that is certainly a cool build. I guess I am too much of a p**** to start messing around with lacing patterns that the company specifically tells you to stay away from on my very expensive hub. Does anyone know of any failures of the flange on a PT SL or 2.4 when laced asymmetrically?

It certainly is a cool build! I personally have never heard of a flange failing on these powertaps. I have built 10-15 powertaps this way and have heard nothing but great reviews. You really don't have to worry at all lacing a powertap hub this way. It is honestly a non-issue in my mind.

Not sure what you are looking for, but you can get 32h rims from Zipp in about any depth you want.

Some of the top wheelbuilders in the country have been building powertaps like this for a while now. Jeremy at Alchemy is the person who masterminded this lacing pattern and the guy knows his stuff. Troy at Ligero also laces his powertap builds this way. I also lace mine this way. Saris is afraid of the flange exploding, which to my knowledge, I have never heard happen. Here is the theory on why you would want to lace a PT this way.

1x on the cassette side allows you to go elbows out widening the bracing angle. With the PT hub there is enough space as to not have any spoke interference. This also allows you to have a higher tension on the non-cassette side. Most spokes break on the NDS because the tension can't be brought high enough in a properly dished wheel. Overall this combination allows for a much more balanced wheel as well as a super strong wheel laterally vs. a conventional 2x or 3x lacing.

Thanks, I know nothing about building wheels and always assumed 3x all around was the strongest.

Thanks, I know nothing about building wheels and always assumed 3x all around was the strongest.

Suprisingly there are variables to think about in regards to doing different lacing patterns. You have to take into account differences in hubs and spoke counts. Builders are doing some pretty creative stuff nowadays.

I had Peter white build me a Velocity aerohead rim on my PT standard - it is bullet proof. But it weighs - a LOT.

I actually just finished another PT SL 2.4 build for another BFer yesterday. Pretty cool: campy freehub body and an Ambrosio Excellence rim. Really classic looking box section with the brass gusset around the valve hole (which is lined all the way through the rim). Double eyelets. A little on the heavy side, but it's such a great mix of contemporary and traditional (like wood furniture with stainless steel or something).

Standard 3x lacing.

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/5807/cimg8289vw3.jpg

I actually just finished another PT SL 2.4 build for another BFer yesterday. Pretty cool: campy freehub body and an Ambrosio Excellence rim. Really classic looking box section with the brass gusset around the valve hole (which is lined all the way through the rim). Double eyelets. A little on the heavy side, but it's such a great mix of contemporary and traditional (like wood furniture with stainless steel or something).

Standard 3x lacing.

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/5807/cimg8289vw3.jpg

The world needs more Ambrosio wheel builds.

The Crono/CX-Ray/Tune's I built are awesome. The Excellence/DT Competition/Record's I train on are awesome. The X-Carbo's I tried out were Hyper-awesome.

Need awesome rims? Get some freaking Ambrosios.

Source for said rims?

Source for said rims?

Ambrosio tubular and clincher alloy rims can be found at All4Cycling (http://www.all4cycling.com/shop/index.php?manufacturers_id=35). Along with the X-Carbo Wheelset on the second page.

Thanx!

Thanx!

You are quite welcome, sir. :D