Originally Posted by
John E
Unless you are a sponsored racer, stick with traditional 32- or even 36-spoke wheels, which have a better strength-to-weight ratio, better repairabililty, and better durability than paired-spoke and reduced spoke count wheels.
OK, so I made a mistake when I traded my Deore disc/Mavic 223 wheelset for a set of Mavic 819's with Cannondale disc hubs? Dropped my spoke count, did I goof? Well, let's see... In the less-than-one-year on the 223's, I replaced 5 spokes. In the more-than-two-years on the 819's, I have yet to even have to re-true them! And I'm a Clydesdale who commutes on a full-suspension MTB, 4-5000 miles per year, in addition to all the utility riding and trails!
OP, get the Aksiums. Enjoy the feel of a faster wheelset.