evan326

I am just about to the point where I'm going to get a set of wheels built. I'm just about decided on White Industries T11 hubs. The rims have me on the fence. From what I've read these two rim have good reviews, I can't decided if I would benefit from the extra depth. I don't live in a hilly area, I also am not very fast so aero isn't a huge concern. Would the 31 give a slightly more aero and stiffness advantage? There is about a 70g difference between the two sets with 20/20 on the XR22 and 16/20 on the XR31.
I'm 6' 155lbs, I don't race just ride hard, and my avg speed is in the high 17s right now.
Any ideas?

rpenmanparker 

Yes, you would get more aero and stiffness from the 31s. Important? Who knows?

Even at your weight I wouldn't build with so few spokes. 20/24 is my minimum. And as to the same number of spokes front and back, that is never a good idea. You will have too many in front or too few in back. That is just how it works.

evan326

Not to disagree, I know any better, but why is that a bad idea for custom built wheels if my ultegra wheels are 16/20?
(Thanks again for that DAG, life saver!)

rpenmanparker 

Just my opinion, but factory wheels often use odd thick spokes, straight pull spokes, specially designed rims, etc. Off the shelf parts like J-bend spokes and lighter rims may not be as durable. The few extra spokes just make sense.

Jiggle

Had the same question myself, same weight as you. Went with XR22/XR22OC 24/28 cxray. They're nice.

DrIsotope

About 5,300 miles on 24/24 Kinlin XR31s, ~1,200 miles tubed and the rest tubeless. Excellent rims.

evan326

Could both of you share your choice of hubs and wheelset weight if you have them?

DrIsotope

My hubs are the Chinese knockoffs of Hope hubs that you get through ProWheelBuilder.com with their "signature" wheel packages. I have zero complaints about them so far. If memory serves, my set came to just under 1700g. I wasn't primarily shopping for weight, I was looking for durability, having already wrecked two rear hoops and popped a few spokes. I ran over a rock so big a few months back it basically snakebit a tubeless tire (a slit in each sidewall) and it didn't even knock the XR31 out of true. They're lightweight relative to how tough they are.

bikebreak

If I was doing clincher at your weight and speed I would go xr31, 16 front 24 back. It is supposed to be a nice stiff rim and front rims really don't need many spokes at your weight.


the xr31 was wind tunnel tested , it is about as aero as the 45mm zipp 303 at low yaw (where you are most of the time at speed)
https://novemberbicycles.com/blogs/b...d-other-alloys


very nice rim

kansukee

I just built a set with Kinlin TB25s in silver (these are the tubular version) since I was looking for an alloy tubular rim for a steel frame I'm building. I like you, used T11 hubs and Sapim spokes. These things build nice and stiff and they're even pretty light for an alloy rim @ ~ 425g. From everything I have read you can't go wrong with Kinlins, especially for the price...I got mine for just over $60 a pair from bikehubstore.