Depends what you're trying to optimize the wheelset for...

I have the first generation of Cane Creek Volos Track wheels, and they have 28 spokes in back and 24 in front, with the front wheel laced radially.

I don't know how to describe the Volos lacing.

Check out the picture at this link:

http://www.canecreek.com/volos-track...er-wheels.html

Cane Creek doesn't describe the rims on these wheels as Velocity Aeroheads, but a local wheel-builder identifies them as such.

These rims have taken some hard hits in the dark, and they handle 145psi tires with no issues.

And speaking of Velocity products, I use the Velocity spoke plugs instead of rim tape, and I'll never use rim tape again.

i too use veloplugs, but i cant say its the most earth shattering change.

road/street
not racing.

I had to remove some rim tape, once, and I found the glue residue extremely difficult to remove.

Bike shops can put a wheel in wheel-building fixture and soak the rim in some sort of solvent, but I did it at home by hand.

Not fun.

In contrast, when I change my tires, now, with Velocity plugs, the rim looks so clean and those little red-orange plugs look so purty!

^ Veloplugs are also lighter than cloth rim tape!!!

my yellow ones did look pretty neat, and im saving absolutely tons of weight because i have total 36 plugs.

goo-gone sprayed on a rag has worked fine for me.

Cheap? Alex da28. Not particularly light though. Builds really well, ultra strong. Messenger use proven.

Apparently they're lighter than deep v's though, and cheaper. Interesting.

You can get Weinmann DP18 rims in colours, and I've seen various Vuelta (Rodi) rims on ebay in colours too. I'm not sure I would recommend either of those though. If you like red, you might be able to find FIR SRG30 rims knocking around still. I like those a lot.