bikemig 

Time for new wheels for my cross bike. I don't race anymore but I do ride off road on the bike. I want something that is not ridiculously expensive, sturdy, and repairable (by me). I wanted some advice on my choices:

(1) velocity sport wheel set, aerohead rims and velocity sport hubs ($299); or
(2) handspun sport series 3 with shimano 105 hubs and velocity a23 rims (price varies but runs $325 a pair from Amazon and less on a sale).

I'm planning on running 32c tires on this but both should be fine for this. If there are other pre-built wheels that I should consider, let me know. I have one pair of handspun wheels and they are well built. I imagine that the velocity built wheels are also well built.

Edit: if I could change the title of this thread, it would read something along the lines of the following: "Sturdy wheels that don't cost a bomb."

Bill Kapaun

Sun Rims CR-18's?

Barrettscv 

I have the Handspun Velocity A23 with Shimano 105 hubs with 32 spokes. I weight 220 lb and use these on my Cyclocross bike for gravel trails and pavement. I have about 1500 miles on them. They have been excellent. The arrived true and have stayed true. The roll fast and are strong. I did have the front wheel re-tensioned after 1200 miles since the spoke felt a little low on tension compared to other wheels, including the rear. I also had a set of Velocity A23 with Shimano 105 hubs from a local wheelbuilder on my Double Cross. The quaility of the Handspun brand wheelset and the locally built set was the same, IMO.




I also use the HED Ardennes wheels on my roadbike. These are a step-up in quality and price and would be a good match to a Cyclocross bike due to the 23mm rim width.

berner

I ended up with a slight bend on the rim, from an unknown cause, of a Velocity A23 rim. Probably hit a pot hole on the road. I bought a new A23 rim which is the new dual tubeless or tube rim. I do not like the new rim on account that the rim tape has to be very carefully centered or it interferes with the tire bead seating and becomes a large annoyance. I ended up buying stretchy plastic rim tape that I was able to narrow with scissors for an accurate fit. Otherwise the rim is fine. If I need new rims, I'll go with with Hed Ardennes in the future.

JanMM

Quite satisfied with Velocity wheels on two bikes - one 406 and three 559 wheels, all with Aeroheat rims. They have stayed true - the hubs have required no service.

Blue Belly

Hubs~rims~spokes. Build your own, they don't have to be new. Build them up with good used parts, save some dough.

Doug64

You can get custom set of wheels built at Universal Cycles in Portland, OR for about the same price as production built wheels.
https://www.universalcycles.com/wheelkit.php

I've had 3 sets built by them, and am extremely satisfied. My latest are for my cross bike: Velocity Dyad 36 spoke rims, 105 hubs, with Wheelsmith DB spokes for $306.

John E

For reliability and best strength-to-moment of inertia ratio, you definitely want to stay with 32 or 36 spokes per wheel, in a cross-laced pattern.

bikemig 

Thanks for the tip. I like the idea of being able to select my own rims, spoke count (I'll probably go 36 in the rear and 32 up front), etc.

bikemig 

I'm considering this as well. But the big companies get a bigger break than I can on the price of rims and hubs so it may be cheaper to get a pre-built wheel.

bikemig 

Velocity on its website points out that you have to be very careful with the type of rim tape you use with a velocity A23; that's more than a little annoying, . I really like the A23s and everything I've read about them but this may be enough for me to cross them off my list. Thanks for the info.

seely

If you run our (or any 21mm) "tubeless" rim tape, there is no need to trim, and no bead interference. Running the tape, most tires practically put themselves on the A23.

bikemig 

Cool; this is great advice. Thank you.

Edit: if you know of any tires that "practically put themselves on," let me know because I'm buying them!

seely

Haha -- my experience has been with Panaracers, Continental and a few others here and there primarily, but of course, YMMV. I'm actually running 80 psi with one layer of tape, no problem, but we really recommend two for higher pressures. The key is to pull the tape tight as you're wrapping it. It then stretches and sinks down into the trough in the middle of the rim a bit, and keeps it out of the bead.

tsl

Go with the A23s.

My first set of handbuilts were based on Aerohead-Aerohead O/C hoops. I liked them a lot. Nice balance between weight, cost, and strength. They wear 25mm Conti 4-Seasons.

My second set were built on Velocity's now-discontinued VXC (700C version) rims with Velocity's road disc hub in back, Shimano DH-S501 dynamo hub in front, DT Competitions laced 3-cross with brass nipples all the way around. Those are my bulletproof commuting wheels on the Portland, my four-seasons all-conditions commuter. Absolutely flawless in their intended role. The were also my first wide rims, which I found I really liked, with both the 28mm Conti 4-Seasons in the three-seasons, and the 38mm Nokian studded snow tires. So...

My third set was a Velocity-built A23 PRO build, 20/24 Sapim CX-Ray spokes, Velocity's road race hubs on both ends. Those are on my Litespeed, and shod with 25mm Conti 4000S. I'm nothing less than delighted with them. Three years now and I can find no fault with them. Even on the cobbles that form part of my commute.

I'm retiring that first set of Aerohead-Aerohead O/C wheels. Not because they're worn out--not nearly. But I really like the wider rims on the other bikes. So I've been looking for an excuse. Last month I upgraded the dynamo lights on the Portland, so I thought I'd put the old lights on the Ribble. Thus, I needed a new front wheel with a dynamo hub. Might as well get a pair, right?

Handspun built a front wheel to my spec--32-hole A23, Shimano DH-S501 dynamo hub (just in case I ever have to use it on the disc-brake-equipped Portland), DT Revolutions laced 3-cross, with brass nipples. Handspun doesn't build with Velocity hubs, so I had the LBS across the street build the rear. I pick it up tomorrow--32-hole A23, Velocity road hub for Shimano 8/9/10-speed, DT Revolutions on the NDS, DT Competitions on the DS, 3-cross both sides, and brass nipples.

Just switching the front from an Aerohead to an A23--moving the same tire and tube over--made a distinct difference in the ride and handling of the bike.