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

[Milzy]

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.

I run excellights but the excellence have brass counter weights which I think looks really good.

 

[TheDoctor]

I'd check your clearances - a racing frame that'll take 35mm tyres sounds unusual.
Assuming you've got the clearance, though, my LBS will build Mavic A319 onto Tiagra rims for £153, and they'll take 28mm to 37mm tyres.

 

[Bodhbh]

I'd check your clearances - a racing frame that'll take 35mm tyres sounds unusual.
Assuming you've got the clearance, though, my LBS will build Mavic A319 onto Tiagra rims for £153, and they'll take 28mm to 37mm tyres.

The frame is an old steel one from, I dunno the LBS reckons about mid-70s. I put some 35mm kojaks on it as they're what I has laying about (these tyres have had several threads by themselves for anyone who noticed). They fit pretty comfortably with the back wheel pushed back in the dropouts. I'm looking at the A319s on Tiagra as a budget option - there's some handbuilt on eBay for about that price now. I don't think I have the money to do a 'tasteful rebuild' with 'boutique components' (I don't think I have the taste either!). Although RRSODL has made an extremely generous offer about building the wheel and it's tempting to get something a bit nicer and lighter done.

And cheers everyone for your help! I've got my head around what's out there much faster than I would have done otherwise.

 

[PpPete]

Yes the Ambrosio Excellence are very very good rims, I've used nothing else for Audax for the last two years.
11 000 km and the rim wear on the rear is just now beginning to be noticeable - but only so as I think that it might be time to check the remaining thickness, not so concave that I'm expecting to have to retire it.
However - I'd say 35 mm tyres on them would be "pushing the envelope" and in any case you'll be lucky to find them at much under £50 each, so you'd not get them built up on a half decent hub under £200.

 

[Spoked Wheels]

Yes the Ambrosio Excellence are very very good rims, I've used nothing else for Audax for the last two years.
11 000 km and the rim wear on the rear is just now beginning to be noticeable - but only so as I think that it might be time to check the remaining thickness, not so concave that I'm expecting to have to retire it.
However - I'd say 35 mm tyres on them would be "pushing the envelope" and in any case you'll be lucky to find them at much under £50 each, so you'd not get them built up on a half decent hub under £200.

If the OP doesn't mind a bit of extra weight he could have Shimano 105 hubs, strong, durable and pretty good for touring. They are only £47 from Ribble. The rims and either Novatec or 105 hubs would build for under £200.

 

[Bodhbh]

If the OP doesn't mind a bit of extra weight he could have Shimano 105 hubs, strong, durable and pretty good for touring. They are only £47 from Ribble. The rims and either Novatec or 105 hubs would build for under £200.

I'll know how much the drive train cost me later today. That and I'll have a long hard thing about my finances. I'll probably have an idea where I'm going to jump with this this evening

 

[PpPete]

..... I'll have a long hard thing ....

Been looking at too much bike pron have we ?

 

[Bodhbh]

Been looking at too much bike pron have we ?

Oh dear...