I am putting together my first personally built bike and have everything ordered except rims and crankset. I'm sort of at a loss on what to do. The bike is mainly going to see the road (23-25mm road tire), so it is mainly being built as a flat bar on cyclocross frame/fork. I'm using a Nexus 8 out back and single gear sprocket set. However, there will be a few times it will see some trails (32-38mm cyclocross tire). Looking to buy a complete front rim with bolt on hub and the I'll lace up a rear on the Nexus. It'll be a fun learning opportunity to screw up and end up at the LBS. I've already dropped a pretty couple of pennies on parts, so I don't want to spend a ton on the rims. On the same token, I don't want to buy something that is going to need to be replaced in a year either.

700c X ?
Who makes decent front bolt on rims?
What type of rim will be best suited to my uses?
How many spokes do I need? (Currently thinking 28 front/36 rear per Sheldon Brown's article)

Already planning on SS spokes and brass nipples. Still need to plug everything into a spoke length calculator for the rear.


Jeremy