gus6464

Here is what I am thinking of:

Stans Alpha 340 rims
Bitex Hubs
Sapim Laser spokes

Cost is around $350 for a 1300 gram wheelset. Are Williams 19 or Soul 2.0's worth the extra $150?

gus6464

No one has any experience with 340 rims?

MrTuner1970

I don't have any direct experience with them. The specs look great, and the price is decent.

I do remember a VeloNews review of the Alpha Pro wheelset (that's the lightest version). They said the wheels tended to flex more than they liked. Naturally, this will vary with rider weight, power, and spoke count.

ilike3bikes

I have two sets of Williams wheels, System 30s and System 50s (no longer available new). I think the Williams wheels are worth every penny you pay for them. On my Cervelo RS I have a set of DT Swiss 1250 wheels. The main difference is the weight, the DT Swiss set is much lighter. The Williams hubs compare very nicely to the famous DT 190s. You can go wrong with the Williams 19s. I have considered buying a set for my Reynolds 853 single speed.

valleycyclist

You didn't mention how much you weigh and what spoke count you are using on the build.

The Alpha 340 rims are stiff for their weight, but here are some things to be careful of:

1. Sapim Laser spokes are light and flimsy. To add stiffness to the wheel I would use Sapim Race on the rear drive side.
2. Bitex hubs do not have the best flange geometry. You should consider White Industries or Dura-Ace hubs if you can afford them.

Even with Bitex hubs I do not think you will get better with the other choices you mentioned. If you want more stiffness with a little extra weight then go with Kinlin XR-270 or XR-300 rims.

gus6464

My plan is 24 hole in radial config for the front and 28 hole with 2x on both sides for the back. Weight is 178 but I normally sit around 167 for the riding season. My original plan was to go with the XR-270 but then I found out about the Stans and figured I could save 250g or so. My goal is to have a solid all around wheel in the 1300-1500g range that is better than my current POS Alex wheels. I would like some Soul 2.0's but if I can get a good wheel that compares for less than the $500 that they cost it would be great. I have thought about compromising and getting the 3.0 for $380.

garciawork

I had a set of the Stan's wheels, with Stan's hubs. Never weighed them, but if the website is correct, 1430 with tape and valve stem ain't bad. Rode them for a few weeks, few hundred miles, no issues, until a car took me out and destroyed my bike. I doubt another wheelset would have survived. That said, I already have another set on its way for when I get a new bike!