Well I've finished building my new wheels. Hed Belgium C2 rims laced to Alchemy hubs with Sapim CX-Rays. 28 spokes 2x for the front, 32 3x for the rear.
Weights for the build:
Front rim was 448 g.
Rear rim was 455 g.
Front hub was 62 g.
Rear hub was 222 g.
KCNC Titanium skewers for 40 g for the pair.

Total weights with skewiers and Velox rim tape :
711 g for the front
899 g for the rear.

Using the Park Tool tension meter the front spokes were about 10 +/- 1.0 units, the rear wheel was 13 DS, 9 NDS.

I've put about 200 km on the rims so far and they have stayed true so it seems I've stress-relieved the spokes properly.

Wheels seem to be a fair bit stiffer than my old set..as they should be as they are 18-year old Shimano 600 Ultegra hubs laced to Campagnolo Omega rims.

Thanks to Bikeman for rims and tape and Zen Cyclery for the hubs, spokes and nipples.

Interesting weights you have there on those rims, I thought they were heavier than that

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Apparently my bikes were talking the other day & are undecided whether to upgrade the current rider or get a new one...

one of the schemers...

Yeah I was pleasantly surprised. From what others have suggested on these forums, the heavier weights for the clincher rime (i.e ~470-480 grams) were for the earliest versions. Hed seemed to have been able to trim some weight from the later production runs.

Thanks a lot for the feedback so far. Just a last check for my build: old alpha 340 rims, the version around 355g. 24f 32r. Bhs superlight wide front hub 71g laced 2x and SL211 SuperLight Rear Hub - 206g laced 3x both sides. Sapim lasers all over except rear drive side where there will be sapim race. Alloy nipples. I weigh 67 kg. Everything ok?

And a question: Will there be a noticable increase in lateral rigidity and evening out the spoke tension between drive side and non drive side if I go with the bhs SL218 Rear Hub - 218 grams, which will come in silver in january? Ds spacing center to flange is 17.1 mm in comparison to 16.75 mm for the SL 211.

0.35mm will make some differene to tension balance but not alot. It also depends on NDS flange spacing which you have not stated. you know the earlier 340's which you have where proe to cracking. Keep the tensions as low as you can.

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www.thecycleclinic.co.uk

Opinions please on my plans for a lightweight Al clincher wheelset. It's going to be the day-to-day wheelset for bike #1 to avoid the hassles of running tubs on long training rides on roads covered in hedge trimmings, potholes etc. I'd like something comparable weight to my Zipp (non-FC) 404s that will also handle crits, hillclimbs etc., so I'm looking at <1350g for the wheels.

Rims: ZTR Alpha 340
Hubs: Chris King R45
Spokes: Sapim CX-ray
Nipples: Aluminium
Lacing: 24h radial front (heads out), 28h 2x rear

I weigh 76kg, not putting out Pro power or anything, but I do get annoyed by flex / brake rub on the Zipps, so would like to avoid that if possible.

Should I look at an Alpha 400 on the back for a bit more beef? Brass nipples on the back? Different rim such as Velocity A23?

If only Mavic did a slightly lighter Open Pro in 24/28 drillings!

I've been meaning to build myself a set of wheels on good hubs and Alu tubular rims as a reasonably priced, rebuildable crit wheel set and with some of the offers on in the UK at the moment I'm going to be using DA7900 hubs. What I'm undecided on though are rims and spoke count.

I'm 147lbs but like to run my brake blocks close to the rims and would like to avoid rub. Currently I'm riding 28/28 2 cross Ambrosio Excellight rims with CK R45s which are great until they take a knock when they tend to need a tweak.

Options (and questions/comments)
Velocity Escape (I understand these are stiffer than the crono. Could I get away with 24/28 on these?)
Ambrosio Crono (I know these are flexible, would 28 spokes be enough for a crit wheel?)
Mavic Reflex (I'd like CD but 32 hole only seems excessive).

24 and 28 spoke would be built 2 cross. 32 3 cross. Same lacing both sides in all cases. Spokes will probably be Sapim lasers (race DS rear) or Pillar Bladed all round.

Any thoughts / suggestions?

@GTPjon how about the Velocity Aerohead for 24/28 drillings. I think you might still get some wheel flex at the back. The stan's alpha 340 is not a stiff rim.

Also try the Velocity A23 a bit heavier though.

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www.thecycleclinic.co.uk

@ racingcondor: What about the Kinlin TB25?

Mackers -

I was shying away from the TB-25 as it adds 50g per rim (is the extra stiffness from the V and extra weight worth it?) and I was hoping to get the wheelset close to 1,350g.

I know the easy route to a very light wheelset would be to dump the DA hubs but at my price limit that would mean downgrading to Novatech rather than upgrading to an equally tough alternative.

If the 28 hole Crono will work then I am probably best off with that in reality (quality and readily available in the UK).

hrono's should weigh about 370g each. Novatec A291 and F482 or F582 hub if use use campag drivetrain weight 325g per pair. Spaim Laser spokes with alloy nipple or CX-rays are about 5g total each for the lengths you need. So that combo will weight in about 1350g. With Durace hubs add another 55g to that total.

Novatec hubs are really very good. I use them personally and am happy with them. This is the build I would go for if it were me.

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www.thecycleclinic.co.uk

DT 240 hubs
Brass nipples
Just plain old double butted spokes on the rear.

How about the A291SB-Sl / F482SB-SL. 290gms and $140 + Shipping from BDOP Cycling.

Those hubs should be good as well. Lighter than DT Swiss and cheaper and better DS flange spacing too.

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www.thecycleclinic.co.uk

Those hubs are also 289g (60g front, 229g rear) on my scales... makes it a much better deal

_________________
Apparently my bikes were talking the other day & are undecided whether to upgrade the current rider or get a new one...

one of the schemers...