khatfull

Since there was much interest in these rims I thought I'd do up a thread...

I decided I didn't want to afford Sapim CX-RAYs as was suggested by some. I spent a lot on the Opus and while CX-RAYs may work for a wheelset that has 32-36 spokes total lacing up two 32 spoke wheels with the things is killer. At $3 each that's nearly $200 JUST for spokes.

So, I decided to go C&V cheap (that was for OFG) and ordered double butted spokes from childhood_dreams on eBay. They turn out to be Sapim Race spokes. I used brass nipples and Sapim small curved nipple washers from an eBay seller.

The hubs are a set of Ultegra 6500 hubs that I got through the combination of two separate buys on eBay. I got a 28H 6500 front and 32H 6500 rear in one auction and a 32H 6500 front and 32H 6600 rear in another. I combined them, sold off the excess to leave myself the 32H 6500 hubset.

So, here's where the weights break down as well as I can do it.

Front Rim: 284g
Rear Rim: 284g
Front Hub: 192g
Rear Hub: 355g
Front Spokes/Nips/Washers: 213g
Rear Spokes/Nips/Washers: 209g

Total for 32H wheelset: 1537g

I don't find that too bad at all for a 32H wheelset! What could it have been with CX-RAYs? Let's see:

64 x 260mm Sapim Race spokes are 360g
64 x 260mm Sapim CX-RAY spokes are 278g

So the CX-RAYs are 22.8% lighter...let's use my spoke/nipple/washer total at 422g -10% just for fun to approximate the spokes. That's 380g. 22.8% of that is 86g.

Perhaps, had I spent $200 in spokes, I could have made it an approximately 1450g wheelset? Not worth it in my book. These wheels are SUPREMELY light right where they need to be, in the rim.

Ok, what'd they cost? (all include tax/shipping/fees)

Rims: $15.94
Spokes: $38.92
Nipple Washers: $11.65
Hubs: $50.76 (net after two buys and a sell...)

TOTAL: $117.27

I think I'll keep them.

Pics...the front has my spare Yellow Jersey tubular on it (unglued) just to see what they look like.

Now to find tires!

DRietz

Darnit.

Beautiful wheelset! Seriously, they look great.

ColonelJLloyd 

Nice! Skinwall tubbies would look good with the white frame.

khatfull

Haha, I wondered if you'd chime in

Oh yeah, these will be skin/tanwall....I just have to decide which ones. Perhaps vintage from eBay?

DRietz

I honestly wouldn't go vintage on the tires. What are these wheels for? When I build up tubulars, they'll be getting ridden very rarely. Criteriums and time trials mostly. So I'd opt for some very expensive rubber...

And yeah, I'm pretty jealous.

Just in case anybody is hoarding them, I am definitely looking for a set of Turbos.

khatfull

This is the only 32H set I've seen...most are 28H or less...I hope you can find some! These wheels will get ridden some. I don't know, there's so many tire choices. One thing, I'm not affording silk

Road Fan

Keith, great wheels! check out the various Challenge tubulars on Ebay - some nice recent product out there for good prices.

I don't think there's much risk inherent in like-new vintage tubulars. If they hold air, the sidewalls look intact, and the tread is stuck on well and not ready to disintegrate, they are ready for the road. There's no magic in them, just structure, rubber, good thread, and adhesives.

I would not be afraid to ride them around town, watching out for the glass patches.

DRietz

I'd love some in less than 28H...if only I could find them.

I'd say, Bianchigirll recommends Vittoria Rallies - I'm sure they'd do fine and they're quite cheap.

Road Fan

I used to recommend Rallyes, and I do have some 23's that are doing quite well. But BG sent me some of her 23's that seem to have instantly self-destructed, and I would not recommend them any more - those tires broke in very odd ways. I've had great results with Gommitalia Champions (cheap like Rallyes). I bought a few Gommitalia Expressos but haven't used them yet (about $60 each). Lotek loves them. I also like the Yellow Jersey Servizio Corse, 3 or $50. Very reliable, but the Champions feel better.

khatfull

I saw the Champions and have the YJ in black on another bike. I'm thinking about trying the Champions just to try another tire.

The rear only got laced up about two and a half hours ago and I mentioned I have to get tires. That would tend to suggest to someone paying attention that I haven't yet ridden them yet? And would a 10% hill be good enough?

cudak888 

Did that seller have any additional washers? The only vendor on eBay at present wants $7.50 to ship 100 of them; ridiculous.

-Kurt

rat fink

I agree, but I second Dan's comment; no need for vintage tires. Get Vittoria Corsa Evo CX. Those wheels are awesome.

gomango

First of all, I rarely build wheels anymore.

I've got a mechanic that is a magician. He laces them for $40 a wheel and they are perfect each and every time.

So, I tip my hat to you Keith for giving this a go.

Your wheels do look good.

As for Joe's comment, I couldn't agree more.

My wife raced last summer on the Vittoria's and loved them.

We bought three sets off a local racer from Burnsville at $30 per tire.

Pre-stretched. In fact he threw in two very nice Mavic Reflex rims he was using for stretching.

We did a "WTB" on the local CL and had them the same day.

Road Fan

I agree there's no NEED for vintage, but there's no need to avoid good vintage tires, either.

I haven't tried the Evos, but yes, a lot of people like them.

Road Fan

Ok, you would not want black sidewalls. The only Expressos I've seen are all-black.

Michael Angelo 

Great looking wheel set.The whole build has been wonderful to watch. Can't wait to see it completed.

khatfull

Here you go Kurt...

https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=270712656916

sced

I love the wheels, the deal, and the attitude.

I'll be interested to find out how well the rims hold up over time. When I was much younger and about 155lbs I had a 36h wheelset with 268g Super Champion Medaille d'or rims that didn't last long at all.

Last year I bought a 32h tubular wheelset on Ebay with 303g GEL 280s, Record hubs, and cool radially spoked, early stainless aero spokes for $175. The seller had bagged them since new and they were flawless looking, but needed a repack. I got them for my wife's Bianchi though because I doubt that they'd last long under my today's 200lbs.

FWIW, I'm currently running cheap Conti Giros from PBK and like them a bit better than the Ralleys and YJ tires that I've used in the past. I think that the Ralleys and YJs are actually the same tire with different badging and tread patterns....both made in Thailand - how many different tubular factories are there in Thailand?

lotek 

There are skin wall Espresso's out there, you just gotta look for em, and when you find em
let me know! and just for the record they're based on Clement Criterium so most of the criterium
lookalikes will ride similarly.
You know, I used to be a vintage tubular advocate, but unless we're talking Criterium Seta silks,
or Paris Roubaix, I'm just not too sure anymore.
I just mounted (yesterday) a nice D'Allesandro tubular not the inexpensive ones.
Pumped up nicely when I stretched them, but 20 minutes after gluing them the rear tire started to lose air.
The valve/tube junction appears to have just let go. . .
Buy modern tires, there are classic looks available and I'm pretty sure that will save you headaches down the road.

btw, very nice wheels, and I agree not worth $200 for 86 grams.

Marty