How does this wheel build sound?
 

I'd like to try and build my first set of wheels and have the following goals:
1 - as close to $300 as possible
2 - sub 1500 grams
3 - reliable

So, I'm looking at the following parts:
Ultegra hubs (I've had great experience with them)
Velocity Aerohead rims
DT Swiss Revolution 2.0/1.5 spokes W Alloy Nipp

FWIW I weigh 147lbs and am a spinner, not a masher.

Does this sound good?

Also, one noob question - how do I know which length spokes to order for this build?

Sounds good, but what lacing do you have in mind?

Find a spoke calculator. In fact, find lots of spoke calculators and use the mode of all of the results.

Thanks for the feedback! I was thinking radial up front and 2X in back, but still haven't commited to that part yet. I was also thinking 28 spokes front & rear.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...cityWheels.jpg

Record hubs (front was NOS)
Aerohead rims
DT Revolution spokes, 24h 2x front, 28h 2x rear
Spline Drive alloy nipples
1490g on the scale
~$320 (bought hubs through ebay)

Just be sure to use a tensionmeter with those Revolution spokes.

Oh, and consider crow's foot for the front if it's 24h. Not that it's good for anything, but it looks cool :D

I use radial front, 3x DS and 2x NDS rear for my training wheels and "high" spoke count wheel builds like yours.

Something you may want to consider.

I got a spoke length of 283mm for the front with radial lacing, heads in.

287mm for the drive side 2x and 289mm for the non-drive side 2x.

There's no reason to have the same spoke count front and rear, as either the rear is underbuilt, or the front is overbuilt. Go with a 24h front.

I don't recommend 2.0/1.5/2.0 anywhere but the NDS rear. Those alloy nipples will oxidize and stick to the threads a bit, then when you try to break them free for truing or maybe even for building, you'll end up twisting the spokes around a lot. These thin spokes are great for the NDS because the tension is so much lower.

What do you think about Aerolite spokes? They're about the same weight as Revolutions. I wasn't too thrilled with the Revolutions, so I was thinking of the Aerolites for a race build if I can afford it (competitions if the budget requires).

I think Aerolites are the best spoke money can buy. :)

Yeah, I've built with them recently, and Aerolites are great. No worries on spoke twist because you can just hold the blade near your wrench. I make spoke holders by cutting a single kerf into a piece of hardwood using a hacksaw blade. For some reason, of all the saws in my shop, the hacksaw makes the perfect CX-Ray and Aerolite holder :D

Cool, thanks. Now I know what my next build will be. Too bad it will take a while to save up for it with my wife's prescribed "fun money" budget, but c'est la vie. Just as long as I get them by next racing season.

That budget is a marriage preservative :beer:. I've been working with a $100/month for about 10 years now, even though my income has nearly tripled in that time. We still make major purchases outside that budget, but it's nice being able to count on a monthly line-item.

Glad to see I'm not the only one. I'm sure the budget will stay even after we pay off our wedding/move-in debt, because that's when we'll (hopefully) accrue new child debt! I wonder if the Burley trailer will have to be paid for with the fun money budget or the child budget :D

Child. 100%.

Heh I hope so.

Sorry to derail the thread. Did the OP make a decision?

I've seen guys say this a number of times regarding the same spoke count front to rear and according to Sheldon, may he rest in peace, I would like to quote the following:

If you have the same number of spokes front and rear, either the front wheel is heavier than it needs to be, or the rear wheel is weaker than it should be.

http://sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html

Do Ultegras come in 24 hole? The few places I've looked didn't have them.

Harder to find, but they exist. Ebay is a good source for 24 hole hubs. Not sure how Ritchey compares, but some guy keeps selling 24h red hubs for $15, and I see older (often NOS) Ultegra, Dura Ace, and Record hubs pop up all the time.

Front comes in 24, and so does the rear.

EDIT: UniversalCycles has them backordered. :o