I am just about to order a new set of wheels...
These will be built on DT Swiss Hugi Disc hubs (I got a great price) and Mavic x717 rims.
The only problem are the spokes and niples. I have two choices:
- get revolutions (not as strong but light, not recommended for disc wheels)
- get competition (heavier but reliable, not that much less expensive)

and niples - alu or brass for disc wheels?

My type of riding is marathons and cross country. I ride 1000-2000 miles offroad on my mtb per year.
I weigh about 158 lbs. Am I weight weenie - yes to some extent - but have limited budget and would not go "all the way" to lighten a bike. Durability of parts is important for me

What would you recommend - lighter (strong enough?) or not as heavy but v. strong spokes
Thanks for your help.

Stick with the Competitions.

Use brass nipples.

The debate between alum. or brass nipps is that brass is stronger and is easier to true. Alum is the weak link and will break vs. pulling a spoke out. However, alum tends to corrode and makes subsequent truing difficult.

I prefer brass.

Oh yeah, 3 cross lacing pattern ONLY with disc wheelsets.

If you're worried about it, then I use the Competitions and brass nipples. The piece of mind way be worth any weight difference (which would be pretty small anyway).

I have a pair of wheels that are 14 years old (rims and hubs) and the current spokes/nipples are probably 5 years old for the front wheel and 8 years old for the rear (long story for the front wheel...). Both are built with DT Revolution spokes and aluminum nipples. I would personally rather the nipple break than the spoke pull out and ruining the rim. I've never had a problem with the Al nipples corroding and making truing difficult. $0.02

Oh, and 3X is definitely a good choice!

Unless it's a 36 hole setup when you can do 4x

wait, i am new, but isnt a disk wheel a disc , or am i missing something you know the time trial/ tri wheels.

No we're talking about Disk Brakes. Check the section we're in.

na they mean disc brakes.

My B!

I'm assuming the reasoning behind not using Revolution spokes is that the disc puts more stress on the spokes and 14/15ga spokes would be more likely to break over time from the extra torque? The wheels I've been eyeballing have 14/15ga spokes, but I only weigh 130 lbs so I would guess that I could probably get away with butted spokes and not really have as much trouble as a larger rider. It doesn't say whether it has aluminum or brass nipples. I never thought of the nipples as that big of a deal. Is this something I should even make an issue about when I order the wheels?

I've also heard that you can get Al nipples to kind of fuse to the rim if it's Al also. I don't know if it's true but I heard it somewhere, probably on the internet therefore it must be true.

20 Spoked rims us a 2 cross?

https://www.cadencecycling.com/products/wheel.asp?id=15

I like Mavic Crossmax XL's

so then, more spokes doesnt nessarily mean more strengh?? if thats true i didnt know that....those mavics are damm nice btw

Yeah, i know... you should see the 2005 Mavic cosmic Carbone SL's ther like... 1200 or something like that... for 2 of them, its absolutley insane

here, check em out

https://www.cbike.com/mavic.htm

brass nipples~!! If somebody says they feel lighter or whatnot with al nipples its all in their head. You save a tiny bit of weight, you probably get 10x that resistance from brass nipples by riding through a puddle. plus AL nipples round out more easily.

Oh, and they have a tendency to snap.

Al nipples plus al eyelets are a no no but not exactly a common issue. Proper wheel building is key to having happy spokes and nips.
Why not use DT Super Comps?

How much stronger are the Comps than the Revolutions? Or are they? My understanding is the butted ends provides strength where breaks typically occur due to stress concentration and fatigue. The thinner middle provides more compliance which allows loads to be distributed across more spokes and reduce transmission of fatique inducing loads to the nipple end and spoke head. I'm 180lbs and recently went w/ Super comps put on some WTB LaserDisc Lite hubs w/Velocity VXC rims. Only 33gms heavier than the Revos and didn't cost me any extra (thx Mike at oddsandendos, great set of wheels).

Dave

Since you have the LaserDisc hubs, how's the engagement on them? I have some cheapie Joytech hubs right now and can't stand the "slack" in the engagement. I understand that the LD's aren't going to be anywhere near the engagement of a Hadley or King, but is it noticeably better than your average shimano hub? Also, are they clicky when costing or not? Mine make noise, my friend's Shimanos don't.

Or you can go for bling factor and get Titanium Nipples.

If only some non-cyclists were to happen upon such a post...

The engagement is definitely quicker than Shimano (only other hubs I've had were XT and Deore). No experience w/ Hadley or King, but I think your understanding is correct. They are pretty quiet, no louder than Shimanos and certainly not like Kings. Thought about spending more, but for the price they were hard to beat. Mike's (oddsandendos) reputation and thus confidence in them was the deciding factor. I understand Larry (mtnhighcyclery) has been building alot of wheels w/them also.

Dave

Well i have not personally tried revolutions but i can say i run competition spokes w/ disc brakes front and rear. They are not that heavy, i have no complaints and plus they are not overpriced.

Thanks a lot for all of your help and advice.
I finally decided and ordered wheels - even better deal than for DTs, here is the spec:
2005 tune king (143gr) and kong (225gr), mavic x717 disc rims, DT Competition spokes, brass niples - should be strong reliable wheels (and light - you can call me whatever you like, but yes, I am a little bit of a weight weenie - trying to stay resonable).

I did also some extra research and here are the findings:
for light riders DT revos and alu niples should also hold, however when one niple dies, the wheel would never be as strong as it was, even after additional truing.
DT Aerolite are extremely good spokes, however 3 times as expensive as revos - for me it was too much
mavics 517 discs had a tendency to break due to vibrations coming from on-road riding and x717 corrected this issue
good tires - Tioga Red Phoenix kevlar (370 grams, 1,80) - I had enough of flats on my contis supersonics (every 50-80km I had a flat in the last two weeks)

Thanks again