Old 06-01-15 | 03:07 PM
  #3  
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Dave Mayer
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I am riding on GEL 280s right now. Front wheel only. 28 spoke, although 32 would be better. I am a few stone lighter than you.

Maybe these rims could be used in front wheels, if 32s or 36 spoke versions. If the nipple holes aren't cracked, as these rims were prone to.

Rear wheels - this is a much more demanding application, as 60+% of your weight is on the rear, the rear takes the biggest impacts, and the rim has to deal with uneven spoke tension differentials due to dishing.

Even a lightweight may not be able to use these light rims on the rear. Rims have been getting real porky these days due to:
- Clinchers. But then clincher rims are heavy, fragile and just plain suck. But we're talking superior tubular technology here...
- The increasingly challenging dishing requirements of rear wheels. On 11-speed wheels, drive side spokes are more than double the tension of the non-drive. This makes really light rims infeasible, as you get a wavy pattern on the braking surface once you tighten up the spokes.
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