Picked up some stupid cheap Novatec 24h hubs off eBay with the intention of using them to practice wheel building.
Can anyone recommend some cheap 24h rims for ideally Gravel/light XC?
budget conscious as don’t really need them, just fancy a play at building (hubs cost me a tenner).
could I use 36h and miss every third out? Or is that just plain stupid?
thanks and may the flaming commence 😀
24 holes wouldn't be where I'd start with a beginner wheel build as you spoke tension needs to be a bit more critical, but in terms of rims you'd probably want something a bit deeper / stiffer to compensate for a lack of spokes, and only 2 cross so something like a Kinlin XR31T. Avoid the temptation to go for spokes like DT Revolutions - they're too flexible and will struggle to get the level of tension needed, so stick to a regular double-butted.
Thanks Dove. Assuming single butted spokes aren’t worth the savings in cash?
You're brave building 24h for a first attempt! I am worried about going from 32h to 28h for my 8th wheel!
If it's purely a learning exercise I'd personally go for the cheapest spokes.
I wouldn't do the 36-1/3 thing if you actually want to ride the wheel. Aside from aesthetic concerns I have read 24h-specific rims are stronger to reduce flex.
Butted spokes are the best - they have more 'elasticity' than plain gauge. I'd also stick with brass nipples unless you like to rebuild wheels regularly
Have a look at Chainreactions Prime rims, and also DT Swiss R460DB. These should both be wide enough for road/cx.
Thanks all. Went crazy and bought a pair of the Prime CRC rims for a bargain £28. Next up is spoke length? Hmmm?!