Originally Posted by TecnoBikr

Having built a few thousand wheels in the era before "boutique" wheels, building wheels was like building a frame. They were specific to the rider. As a general guideline, always lighter and fewer spokes in the front (because theres no torque and half the weight), and stronger/heavier in the back. Lower tension and lighter spokes in the front is no problem but rock 'em up in the back for max power transfer. Major dilemma for modern builders is that there isnt half the component selection. Try finding 24 hole hubs or rims, or 36, 40, 48. They used to be prevalent offering a huge variety of options. But since the majority of stores lacks a truly experienced builder, the market has gone to prebuilt. That leaves an interesting niche for those who choose to market themselves as master wheelbuilders.