Newbie Racer needs Wheel build advice.
 

Ok, here's the scoop. 50 plus and a bit of a clyde and will be doing about a dozen crits this year. Four kids in college (ouch) keeps my bicycle budget in check.
I'm going to build up a wheelset for racing and keep my original wheels for training. I've decided to go with Shimano hubs and an aluminum rim. 404's and their ilk are out of my price range and like I said, I'm old newbie pushing 200lbs.

Where I need help is spoke count and clinchers or tubular?

32 versus 36. What will the extra for spokes give me? Stiffer wheel? Better ride?

Clinchers or Tubulars. A lot of tubular rims come in a box frame and the clinchers typically are semi - aero. Any reason for this? Any rim suggestions for either?

Thanks

race what you have.

If the above doesn't work, get Psimet to build you a set.

Shimano 105 hubs on Mavic CXP33 or Velocity Deep V rims would be my choice. But a good wheelbuilder (either online, or in a local shop) will know what to do. I would also suggest you ask around. Clubs often have a go to guy for this kind of thing - someone who will build them themselves or knows who builds good wheels.

I think you'll be fine with 32h. If you do want 36h, do it only in the rear, a 36h front is overkill..

With 4 kids in college, I would ride clinchers. Nothing is more frustrating than flatting a tub. Especially when you just glued it on. Your wallet will thank you too.

wut

If these are a racing only set, get some tubular carbons from neuvation or psimet. If these are a training and racing set, get some semi aero clinchers such as handbuilts w/ xr-300 rims, soul 3.0 or 4.0, or american classic 420.

Did someone say 420?

Velocity Deep V rims, Ultegra hubs, 28 2x or 32 3x front, 32 3x rear. Those will be quite sturdy and somewhat aero.

+1- as always a great recommendation. As well as botto's to race what you have.

I like to say that I can lose just as many races on carbon as I can on aluminum.

In general I don't often build with Shimano hubs because of the limited drilling selection and heavy weight. But you admit you are o. A budget and want something that willbe around. At your weight32 is plenty fine. Deep v's continue to impress me. I built a set tonight and was just amazed again at exactly how easy they were to build as well as how stiff they are.

To answer your spoke question the tradeoff on spoke count is weight. Some say aero as well but....more spoke = better durability and higher weight. It's that simple.

Yep. Any time I felt like I wanted to spend $$$ on fancy wheels, I'd look over at the people beating me on their Open Pros with Ultegra hubs.


What's your opinion on the longevity of those Formula or Novatec hubs?

No complaints. I raced on Formulas almost all last year and the year before with no issues. The novatechs made it through Cross season OK. They're made by parent company Joytech so it's not like they're a total unknown.