Search for durable yet lightweight alloy clincher wheelset, DB

[justuswander24]

Hello everyone,

79kg all terrain rider, bike 8,8kg (Flatbar CX).
Living in a city I have to get out of it first to get to the good stuff thus lighter wheelset = getting faster to the good stuff.

Currently riding the DT Swiss R500 with 350 Hubs and 28 Competition Spokes clocking in at 1800g. They are perfect (stiffness and durability) except for the weight (500g per Rim) so I am looking for a new and lighter wheelset. I am aware that weight savings might be at most 300g for an alloy wheelset (not interested in carbon, hookless and tubeless).

I run almost exclusively 35mm wide tires with butyl tubes.

HUBS:
240 Classic Hubs seem to have the best weight to durabiliy ratio out there

RIMS:
anything from 20 to 22 internal would be fine, height preferably 23mm or higher. Not interested in wider rims (heavier, small benefit, marketing bs). Preferably welded and asym.

current: R500 rims are 22mm internal, 26mm external, 23mm height, 500 grams.

Here is my shortlist

DT Swisss RR421 - 20mm IW,24mm OW, 21mm height, 430g - concerned about their stiffness due to the low height (perhaps 32 spokes would alleviate that)
DT Swiss RR481 - 22mm IW, 26mm OW, 25mm height, 485g - perfect size but only 15g weight savings per rim
Duke World Runner 25 - 22mm IW, 25,7mm OW, 25mm height, 457g - I would have chosen those excpet they only come in 24 and 32 hole version
Funworks Universe 22 - 22mm IW, 25,6mm OW, 24,5mm height, 440g - I do not trust the brand, they only come in 32 hole version, alarmingly light

Stans Notubes Grail MK4 - 20,3mm IW, 24mm OW, 24,5mm height, 440g - seem alright
Easton R90 SL - 19,5mm IW, 24mm OW, 27mm height, 455g - little higher than grail for 15g more
Velocity Quill - 21mm IW, 24,5mm OW, 25,4mm height, 465g - pretty close to what I am looking for
Pacenti Forza AS - 20mm IW, 24mm OW, 25mm height, 465g - similar to grail but heavier
Velocity Aileron - 20mm IW, 25mm OW, 28mm height, 465g - too heavy

SPOKES:
I am not willing to try a 24 spoke wheelset given my weight.
28 Spokes front and rear
CX Sprint or D-Light

To summarize:
Hubs: DT Swiss 240 - 12x100, 12x142, Shimano 11 Speed, 28 Hole J-Bend, DB
Spokes: CX Sprint or D-Light
RIMS: ???

a RR421 Wheelset with D-Light should come in roughly at around 1550g

What do you guys recommend? Thanks!

[EugeneC]

If hubs, spokes and spokecount is fixed, then rim is only variable left. You have already found many good options. And getting lower than 430 grams per rim, is almost impossible, if you still want a decent width.

I would only add Mavic Open Pro UST and Kinlin XR-22 to your list. Seems you have done a good job and figured most of it, if not all of it, out yourself

[justuswander24]

@EugeneC thanks for your suggestions. Quite similar to the Duke Road Runner.
perhaps Erase Road V2 Rear hubs

[nickf]

I built up some of the new Boyd Altamonte alloy rims 20/24 with some Novatec AS511SB FS522SB hubs, and DT Aerolite spokes. 1440g before rim tape. They built up into a very nice set of wheels. They are the best alloy wheels I have ever ridden. Stiff and responsive.

[justuswander24]

The Altamont has a 110kgf limit, a no for me.

for now I think I have narrowed it down to either Easton R90 SL, Pacenti Forza AS or HED Belgium R.

I roughly calculated spoke length for a wheel and based off of that calculated spoke weight

for roughly the same weight (on one wheel) ca. 135g I could use either
24 Race
28 D-light
32 CX Ray

If I were to focus on durability and lateral stiffness which ones should i choose?

[justuswander24]

Final Decision for my ideal wheelset - prob. too expensive

Rim, 28H:
HED Belgium R - 21 Inner, 25 Outer, 24 Height, ca. 460g

Hubs, J-Bend, IS:
Front: Nonplus Components Gen 2 - 83g
Rear: Erase Road V2 - 207g

Spokes:
Front: 28 Sapim D-Light - ca. 135g
Rear: 28 Sapim D-Light/Race mix ca. 147g

Nipples: (preferably Brass for a 40g wheight penalty)
Sapim Polyax 14mm - ca. 20g

Total should come in at around 1500g