I'm 195lbs. Everything I have read says I need 36h and beefy spokes for that mass. But, everything I have read refers to road wheels. What about dishless, track wheels? Would a 32 hole, light spoked wheel be just as strong as the beefy cousin need for gears?

I'm about 180, and I generally carry about 10-15lbs of weight while commuting. I'm using a San Jose, whose stock wheelset is only 28h. I do between 100-120 miles a week, over fairly uneven roads (lots of bumps, grates, root-ridges, etc.), and I've had few problems with my wheels. I've trued them twice in 4 months, the first time a few weeks after delivery, which seems normal. The second, I'd hit a curb really hard (actually flatting the rear tire) and the wheel had a nice wobble in it, but it was easily trued out and the wheel is nice and true again. The stock SJ rims are OEM Alex hoops, with a pretty deep profile (though not as deep as Deep-Vs).

Based on my experience, I'd say that a 32h wheel, if laced to a beefier rim, would be ample for you...assuming that you won't beat the crap out of it, or load it up too much. Just don't cheap out on rims/spokes/hubs.

You'll be fine on 32's, I would only go up if you planned to really load a rack down or something. 36's would be better the same way a $20 chain is better than a $15 chain, slightly better in theory but the chances of ever noticing are slim.

Unless you really ride for speed, a slightly larger tire (28 instead of a 25 or 25 instead of a 23) would give you more bang for your buck.

FWIW, I'm 210 and my road bike has a grand total of 44 spokes. I don't true my wheels any more often than I do the ones on my 36h fixed gear.

Just an educated guess but probably a symmetrical wheel with 32 would be as strong as road 36, provided they were built the same quality.

As stated before, you'll have no problems riding 32... You must consider your rim choice for strength as well... I'm 5'11" / 165lbs riding 36 rear / 32 front for no reason other than I like the look. For the record, my buddy is 215lbs and has been riding 28 r/f with radial lacing up front for the past 2 years no problem... Good luck.

32. Thats what I ride and im 230 lbs. broke my very first spoke on that bike after two years.

I'm 205 pounds and I ride on wheels ranging from 28-36 spokes (road and track wheels). Make sure the spokes are tensioned properly and you shouldn't have any problems.