Advice on wheelset/build for an audax/light tourery type thing

[Bodhbh]

I'm just pricing up rebuilding an old racing frame I got given. Most of it is fairly straightforward, but I find the variety of wheel options a bit daunting. I'll phone one of the wheelbuilders (Spa, Harry Rowland) and tell them what I want and get a quote, but thought would try here first. Basically I want:

- ideally under 150 quid, could stretch to 200mm.
- good to take up to 35mm tyres (I will probably take advantage of the frame clearance and ride fairly plush slicks)
- back wheel at least sturdy enough to take a rack and couple of small panniers for commute, B&B touring.
- at least not totally at odds with the vintage frame (i.e. silver hubs and rims, not too flashy).
- FWIW I'll be changing the drivetrain to modern 9-speed Tiagra.

I have been looking about and there's options I could plump for but at least thought I'd ask.

 

[musa]

tb14 on novatec hubs or dt swiss

 

[Bodhbh]

tb14 on novatec hubs or dt swiss

Those rims look perfect on all fronts, but I have a hunch a wheel built out of them will come to more than 200 quid. Brixton Cycles do them, guess I'll get in touch.

The rims I've seen either seem to be road with not enough width (23-28mm tyres) or stonking touring rims (28 - 47mm+) with not much middle ground.

 

[musa]

Yeah solid wheels do you know which hubs you want? Ill ask another shop I know other than BC,

 

[Bodhbh]

Hrmm some of the cyclocross rims look interesting like the Velocity A23, also a couple of vintage wheelsets on eBay. Going a bit out the price range although. There's also handbuilt Mavic A319/Tiagra hub wheels going on eBay for about 160 quid.

 

[Milzy]

Harry Rowland is awesome!

 

[PpPete]

Shame Rose don't do their R490 rim in Silver (only black or white)
http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/...-set-28700-c-r-490--shimano-tiagra/aid:339578

I've just bought rim only and built it up on a Hope hub, it's a very similar profile to the DT Swiss RR465, just a fraction wider.
I think 32 mm would be OK on it (I've run 30mm on Open Pro rims)

Rigida Chrina or Exal LX17 on Tiagra from Spa might be an option? http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b0s178p1956
They say 28mm max on the Chrina - but that's erring on the safe side IMO

 

[Bodhbh]

Yeah solid wheels do you know which hubs you want? Ill ask another shop I know other than BC,

Thanks! Not especially. Pretty open to suggestions for that, just want to keep things within budget. I definately want to be able to take the fatter tyres, aethetics and/or weight might go out of the window if the costs don't permit tho.

 

[Bodhbh]

Shame Rose don't do their R490 rim in Silver (only black or white)
http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/...-set-28700-c-r-490--shimano-tiagra/aid:339578

Rigida Chrina or Exal LX17 on Tiagra from Spa might be an option? http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b0s178p1956
They say 28mm max on the Chrina - but that's erring on the safe side IMO

I forgot about Rose as they seem to get recommended a fair bit. Yes, was thinking the Exal LX17 on Tiagra although probably at the heavier end of the scale.

 

[PpPete]

I think you are asking for too many things at once..
You can have wide & light rims but not within your budget (thinking Velocity A23 or H Son Archetype)
You can have wide & low cost rims but heavier (like the LX17)
or light, low cost rims, but they'll be narrower (like the R490)

FWIW - Audax / light tourer, many years since I've run anything wider than 25mm (I'd consider going back to 28mm on the old Dawes Galaxy for loaded touring but not otherwise)

 

[Spoked Wheels]

The Velocity A23 is a good choice and if you are going to have some panniers the the H+ Son Archetype seems like a better choice. I built a set for one of my bikes and I'm very impressed with the quality. They total cost was £186 for the Archetype rims Novatec hubs and Sapim spokes.
The Archetype rims are a bit heavier than the Velocity A23 but they are stronger too. Depending on your weight Velocity A23 can be strong enough for you and the rims are a little cheaper than the Archetype.

 

[mcshroom]

I have an LX17 on the back of my tourer and it's a good solid rim which built up easily on a deore hub (the tourer is 135mm OLN). Also have a Chrina on a Tiagra hub on my road bike. The Chrina is solid and has taken the weight of me bashing it into potholes, but I do find that getting tyres on the rim is rather difficult.

 

[Bodhbh]

I think you are asking for too many things at once..
You can have wide & light rims but not within your budget (thinking Velocity A23 or H Son Archetype)
You can have wide & low cost rims but heavier (like the LX17)
or light, low cost rims, but they'll be narrower (like the R490)

FWIW - Audax / light tourer, many years since I've run anything wider than 25mm (I'd consider going back to 28mm on the old Dawes Galaxy for loaded touring but not otherwise)

Yeah from what i'm starting to gather you sum up the options perfectly and are right about too many questions, but I didn't really know that I asked them. After rummaging around on the web all afternoon and getting a couple of quotes - wide and light is basically niche and therefore you're looking at 45quid+ for a rim.

Regarding why I want wider tyres - well the frame will take 35mm, probably 38 at a push. So it gives me the option of running whatever on that bike. It'll be my only set of non-disc wheels, so there'll be no swapping. I like fatter tyres (26x2 on the tourer, 700x35 on commuter)...maybe I will run some 25 or 28s, but at least want the fallback.

 

[Milzy]

If I was a touring guy I'd get Ambrosio excellence rims & hubs. Bullet proof not too heavy & not very expensive.

 

[Spoked Wheels]

If I was a touring guy I'd get Ambrosio excellence rims & hubs. Bullet proof not too heavy & not very expensive.

I'm told nothing is bullet proof but those Ambrosio rims are certainly durable. I build a set for my winter bike with Ambrosio Evolution and they are about the best value for money at £25 a rim. The excellence is nearly double the price.