mandovoodoo

Setting up my usual road bike for mid-distance fast light touring. Modern carbon Wilier Thor, pretty stiff overall, was running American Classic 28 spoke 3x rear, 24 radial front, stiff rims. Haven't been very happy with them - lack of compliance.

Put on old 32 3x box section 14g straight front wheel. Much better, bike sticks to road better, smoother ride, no difference in steady state riding. Can tell this is a heavier wheel on acceleration, climbing, and in quick handling. Bombproof wheel pretty much. More than I likely need.

Considering building up something like 105 - ultegra - DA - who cares hubs (ebay or sale), 3x, lighter box section, 23 mm tires (since the silly thing won't take 25 mm!). I'm out of touch with what rims and spokes are running well, looking for suggestions.

170 lbs, 20 lb bike, 20 load, mountain riding.

Suggestions for spokes & rims?

Thanks much!

Rowan

32H Mavic CXP33, 3X on Ultegra hubs with DT spokes seem to be regarded as almost bulletproof for racer training and general road use. It would seem for your weight and load, the final weight would come in well below that of many riders by themselves who also use that set-up.

I would probably opt in your case for Velocity Aerohead 36H 3X on 105 or Ultegra (if you can find 36H) with DT Alpine double-butted spokes.

FWIW I have toured with the Aeroheads, but with a Velocity/Formula rear hub and a SON dynohub on the front. Some of the loads were something the rear wheel (the off-centre version) should never have had to cope with.

Cave

My fixie has Aeroheads, 36h, 14g spokes, not sure about hubs (cheapie cup and cone track hubs, shoulda gone cartridge bearings), copes fine with my 95kg (210lb?) (nb. zero dish rear wheel). Comfortable and good cornering with 25mm Maxxis Re-fuse, didn't like it with 23mm cheapie tyres (harsh). They seem like fast wheels to me, but that's coming from hybrids/tourers not road bikes. My sister also likes the bike and she rides pretty fast.

One of my roadie friends has used Mavic open pro rims for a while, weighs about what I do and finds them reliable, I think his rear is 32 spokes. Can't speak from personal experience though.

eofelis 

My SO (who can build his own wheels) likes Open Pros a lot. He has 4-5 *sets* of OP wheels on DA or Ultegra hubs. I have OPs on my Pacer road bike. He just built up an older Litespeed Classic frame with 10sp DA triple for a friend and recommended OPs with 36h on the rear, for long distance riding and durability.