Carbon rims: should i go 28h and DT revolutions?

Thinking of getting a set of Light Bicycles 38mm AM 650b rims. To go on my #soenduro 2015 160mm Canyon Strive. Riding in the peaks so lots of rocks, but I tend to be fairly easy on wheels- few dings here and there but haven’t broken a rim in years. I’m 11 stone wet through.

Had some advice to build with Revolutions to avoid an overly stiff build and spokes damaging the rim, also thinking 28h (I can get a good deal on the hubs) will be enough in an already very stiff rim.

Thoughts?

That Polish site does cheap 28H DT350s.

I’d keep spoke count high personally, esp with light spokes (4 spokes = 24gm IIRC?), tho not used carbon rims

I did on all 6 carbon wheel-builds so far and I’m still alive to type the tale 🙂

28h wouldn’t in itself worry me, but Rev’s would off road in The Peak. I’d have though the stiff rim would actually reduce some of the benefits of the thinner spokes as it will already distribute forces effectively around the wheel. I’ve no evidence to back that up, but if revs were strong enough for The Peak then why would DT ever make Comps?

Id defo go 28h (ive got 32 on mine)

ha perfect timing!

Last wednesday i ordered the 38mm light bikes rims and the dt hubs from the polish site. Went 28 hole on various peoples advice.
Having had roval carbon wheels on a previous bike i cannot wait for these to get built up.

Wish I could have gone 28h, but my hubs are 32h and didnt want to fork out the extra. I have the same rims, they are in UK customs at this very moment!

If I’d seen those Polish 350s before I ordered my last pair of LB rims, I would have definitely gone for it.

As above, I would skip the revolutions personally, and I don’t really buy the “soften the ride” line of thinking that seems to be lurking around carbon wheel builds. I would look at Sapim D-Light or the DT equivalent (can’t recall the name)

I did 32 and I’ll do the same next time. Not because I think 32 is essential day to day, it’s definitely not- my most used wheels are 28h. But more because in a hard use bike, stuff gets broken and more spokes gives you more margins.

But it depends what you want- bleeding edge light, or light without sacrificing strength? I want the latter.

Sapim d-light nearly as light as DT Revs and designed for disc brakes.

I have the 35mm rims with DT Swiss 240 hubs, 28 h straight pull. I went with Competition spokes and they have been fine. I don’t think I would go for lighter spokes especially on the back. You end up with a lot of spoke tension as the rims are so stiff.

ransos – Member

Sapim d-light nearly as light as DT Revs and designed for disc brakes.

There’s nothing about revs that doesn’t work with discs.

That sounds like a 29er specific saddle.

Another option might be the Laser- they’re basically a blank CX-Ray, literally the same spoke but unsquashed. They’re actually weaker as they’ve had less forging but the exact same weight, and seem competitively strong, and much cheaper.

Lasers aren’t weaker, they have less fatigue life. But enough!

I posted a similar thread a while back and the consensus was crack on – 28h would be fine. When I looked at them my EX1501’s are 28H and they’ve been better than any 32h wheel i’ve ever had, get ragged and never needed truing but they are DT comps.

Those who got the cheap 350’s from poland – what kind of grey are they? I dithered and didn’t get round to it but looking again now and some pics are a nice slate grey and some look like Dumbledore’s hair.

cynic-al – Member

Lasers aren’t weaker, they have less fatigue life.

They are weaker, according to sapim. 1200N/mm2 for a Laser compared to 1600N/mm2 for a CX-Ray. (1370 for a dlight).

Also worth a look are aci alpina. Same weight as triple butted supercomps, just a touch more than revs but only about 25p each at cycle basket or sdeals.

28h will be fine, I’ve gone 24h on my road disc lightbicycle build too.

Went with comps myself as I could not look past the price of these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DT-SWISS-COMPETITION-SPOKES-4-95-16-SILVER-CHOICE-SIZES-NO-NIPPLES-/231195382353?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=&hash=item35d4519251

If you’re building with straight pull bladed spokes are a good choice – alot less faff to get even tension (that holds) as they don’t spin & twist in the hole assuming you have a spoke holder.

I went for Roval fatties Sl which are 28 spoke, very stiff & though I know your not looking at Roval I personally would have any issues with 28 spokes, I did a week in the highlands with Torridon loop being the high light & the wheels were perfect.

The increased width really gives the tyre a great profile & though the tyres were a wee bit tight to mount I’ve not had any problems very impressed.

What is this polish site everyone is referring to?

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