Wheels for ordinary getting harder to find?
 

I have rim brakes and I use cinchers and have no need at all to go tubeless. Seems in looking for wheelsets with this combination is getting less available. My concern with tubeless rims is that I don't need them and would like replacing a spoke if need be to be easy. If the rim does not have traditional spoke holes it gets tedious to put spokes in. Most of the offerings now seem to focus on disc brake wheelsets and tubeless. I know rim brakes are not completely disappearing but getting new wheels may not be anything other than trying to keep the bike running. I can't imagine much effort is being put into this type of design. I don't want to spend a fortune I just run aluminum wheels and try and keep the price under $400. I like H and Son Archetype rims and Shimano Hubs. Now talk about plain...........but they roll smooth and I like Shimano silent hubs in the rear.

I have not been shopping lately, but I am not surprised that more and more factory-made wheelsets are going to be tubeless compatible with the understanding that you can still run them with clinchers and tubes.

If that's a deal-breaker you can always get clincher rims and have a local wheelbuilder build them to your specifications.

You can run any ol' clincher tire on any clincher rim. Tubeless is only a possibility if both tube & rim are tubeless capable. Even then, you can run tubes...it's just that the option of tubeless is there.

Not all tubeless capable rims have a smooth "no holes" center channel. Some do, for sure, but many(most?) don't. That's what the tubeless rim tape is for. To cover the spoke holes. 2 layers for high pressure, 1 layer for low pressure. It's good stuff & I run it in all my wheels tubeless or not because it's thinner than Velox or similar cloth rim tape. Getting tires of any variety on/off is easier with out the added thickness of cloth rim tape.

There are plenty of non-disc specific rims available. Disc specific rims only say so because of the absence of brake track. It's a safe bet that unless it specifies "disc only" or similar rim brakes are just fine. You can lace up any rim to a disc brake hub, but not any hub to a "disc brake" only rim.

Velocity wheels tend to be my favorite. There is a chart on their site with recommended width of tires & whether or not disc only &/or tubeless is a capability. Super easy. Almost all except 3 or 4 can be rim braked and all can be tubed.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...f302261b_o.jpgTire Chart(1) by Richard Mozzarella, on Flickr

I can build my own wheels but generally that is way more cash than to buy one. I have in the past because I like to do it but money wise it is not usually very good. At least I can do that if they all stop making the stuff available

The velocity A23 would be good and they have OC rim for rear that is a great thing. The only issue is I just love the roll of these H and Son Archetypes. I build a set of velocity wheels about 8-9 years ago the Yellow Jersey set me all up with the materials and I built them. You have an experience with H and Sons?

Check these wheels out from Hunt Wheels.

These are pretty nice.

Sorry, I have no experience with Sons rims. I can't imagine they would be terrible and stick around the market very long. I've seen people in the local cycling group with them & they seem to roll along just fine.

Maybe someone here can make suggestions regarding an aluminum rim for your particular purpose.

FWIW: I've been wanting to try Stan's Alpha 340's &/or Velocity Quill's for road use for quite a while now. I'm heavy at around 195 pounds, so definitely not less than 28 double-butted spokes. I'm sure someone lighter would do quite well with a lighter build. I have most of the wheels Velocity offers for one purpose or another. Needless to say I am satisfied with them. I have no doubt Sons are probably just as well.

I'm interested to see what others suggest.

Hunt and silent hubs do not go together, though. :lol:

Who said anything about silent hubs? Who likes silent hubs?

The OP.

So lace a set of Son Archetype rims to Shimano hubs using your favorite spokes and buy spare rims.

These folks built my last wheel set
sugarwheelworks.com

Oh I missed that liner. Well I still think the Hunt Wheels are far greater than Velocity's and even Hplus Son's. I have Hplus Son Archytypes and they are pretty great. They stay in true. I've been hit twice while riding them. Good rims. I would say they are a good investment.

I like my Hunt wheels too, but the freehub sound is a real headturner and there's already been clear battle lines drawn between those who like that and those who want silence, and never the twain shall meet.

FWIW, the hub on my hunt's front wheel is pretty quiet.

I know, right? I never see them in any shops.


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d3cc844303.jpg

^^^ I thought those had solid tires.

Pretty sure they are tubeless.

Velo Mine will have plenty. Tough site to shop, but good store.

Ordinary? ORDINARY?

Classic? Lightweight?

I paid well under $400 for each of my Campy Zonda wheelsets. Fulcrum racing 3 are about the same, but usually cost a little more. Freehubs can be shimano, Campy or xdr. Both are great values. Zonda weight is only 1550 grams and no rim tape needed. There are also cheaper models in each brand.

You have a setup you like- Archetype rims with Shimano hubs. Perfect- just use that combo moving forward.
I have an Archetype rim with 105 hubs wheelset, and another set that is Archetype rims with Bitex hubs. I like the look of the Archetype rim and it works just fine for me, so whats not to love?

As mentioned already, velomine has Archetype rims with Shimano hubs, though i doubt any are in stock right now.
Or build them yourself.
Or use prowheelbuilder.com to customize them.


At prowheelbuilder, you can get 32h Archetype black rims laced to Shimano 105 r7000 hubs, Sapim Laser double butted spokes, and Sapim brass nipples for $365(after 5% discount) plus shipping, so right at $400 shipped to you.
Handbuilt well, 1810-1850g weight, and right at your price range.

We have two resident wheel builders here who do excellent work and service. I'm a Boyd customer, CF & AL but I'm sure Pismet is just as good as well as the personal top notch service. I also can recommend A23's and Altamont rims as strong and durable.

If you want "classic" wheels look to the major manufacturers, Shimano, Mavic, Bontrager, etc. There's not really much of an aftermarket for what are essentially stock wheels.
https://www.rei.com/product/163796/s...rs100-wheelset $135 new.