Originally Posted by
Chandne
I'll have a builder do it. The three I contacted have different approaches and spoke-count recommendations so I am trying to get some knowledge here, before I decide.
1) Recommended 24x28 CX Rays or any double-butted
2) Recommended 20x24 CX Ray
3) Recommended 24x28 with a combo of spokes...same with 20x24...different combo of spokes...Laser/Force combo
I'm 185- 190 and have ridden 24 front and 28 rear for a decade with no wheel issues. But I watch where I'm going.
If you're lighter, I think you could get away with 20 / 24, but you're trading the weight of 8 spokes for possible wheel problems.
Any of the top end Sapim or DT bladed or butted spokes are fine. Some people are going to give you some voodoo about why one is better in some metaphysical way. Yeah sure.
A rear wheel with lighter spokes on the NDS supposedly will stay truer, but I've never built any this way and never had a problem. I just build wheels and ride them. I throw them on the stand once a year and go, hmmm, nothing to do and put em back on the bike. I used the Sapim CX Rays most of the time or Race for less sporty wheels like my fixed gear bike.