At the risk of flaming - I know that the right of existence (according to ST) for classical wheelsets (32 or 36 spokes) is only as a means for creating a standard against which zipps are measured, but I have a question anyway!
I’m 6-7 and 172 lbs, and therefore I am looking into getting a solid wheel for training and races (excluding time trials), as I prefer stiffness and durability over light weight when there is a risk of bad road surface etc.
So to the question: I plan on getting a 32 spoke front built on Dura-ace hubs and a Mavic open pro rim, but should I get a 32 or 36 spoke rear? I would think 36 spokes must have a higher stiffness to weight ratio?
First, get a Big Mac. Supersize the fries and have Regular coke. Chase it with an apple pie.
Next, 32 spoke wheels will be fine. 172 isn’t that heavy. a 36 spoke wheel may or may not be stiffer, it depends mostly on how they are built. If you want stiff, getting them built with straight gauge 14 g spokes will be more than adequate.
Okay, my take. Agreed, 172 is not that heavy. But if you want stiffness with longevity and a really true wheel, go with 36 spoke, 14/15 db and a Velocity Deep V rim.
I built a pair just like that, only 40 hole, for my tandem and in the 3 years that we rode them they never needed even one nipple tweeked. They were the roundest, truest wheels I have ever seen and they stayed that way. Our all up weight was 340 lbs. The key was that I used a tensiometer and built the wheels with the max tension that they would take and almost exactly equal tension in all spokes (I attribute that to the strength of the rim). I found that point by increasing tension until the wheels tacoed, backed off one half turn and then retightened one quarter of a turn. The tacoing tension turned out to be less than the tensile strength of the spokes, so it was the limiter.
Now that I think about it, you could probably build 32 hole with the Deep V rims, 14/15 spokes and still have a badass wheelset.
Thanks for the replies - will probably go for a 36 hole rear wheel. Only issue with the deep-v or similar would be the weight, I quite like the simplicity and lightness of the open pro!
I am 178 and I am running Ultegra Open Pro 32h rear and 28h front with no problems. They are stiff and bullet proof. I have had Rolf Vector Comps and Velocity Deep V wheels. These seem just as stiff. No problems with pot holes or whatever. Open Pro/Ultegra is hard to beat for a value wheel set. It is plenty durable/strong/
I doubt that there’s a big difference in aero performance between two different 36h rims, but I really like the Velocity Deep V rim. I ride their Spartacus Pro 20h/24h F/R set and am 155lb. It’s pretty lightweight, cheap and durable. Only $272 for the set at: https://www.superspokes.com/wheels/velocityroadwheels.html
I think they also build custom wheels from that rim…somewhere on their goofy webpage. It’s a weee bit hard to interpret but the company does a good job.
Actually, my road bike is not that huge. Used to ride a 64, but I am much happier with my 61 cm now. I don’t use spacers, so it makes for quite a drop!
You are under 200lbs, unless you are incredibly hard on wheels getting 36 spokes is pointless.
36 spoke wheels used to be more common when rims were weaker yrs ago. People who are your weight and ride cyclocross (very hard on rims) still ride 32 spoke wheels now. Plus, you wind up paying extra to have a custom build on a heavier wheel! Get yourself 32h open pros and be done with it.
I am 5’9", 180 lbs, and I ride a 16 spoke rear rim regularly. Yes, I am probably pushing it. I bought a used Powertap and it is built with a 16 spoke Bontrager Aero Lite rim. I’ve done probably 1000 miles on it over the past 2-3 months without a problem.
I realise the cons of a heavier wheel, but my thought was that with 36 rather than 32 spokes the stiffness gains outweigh the weight. Basically - on similar rims and hubs - only spoke count will determine stiffness, while weight will factor in the weight of hub and rim, which are not variable.
So getting 4 extra spokes is a 12,5% raise in spoke count, but perhaps only a 1% raise in weight…
I really doubt you will notice much stiffness gain, but it’s your money. Think of it as durability in training because at 36spokes they wont be a performance wheel. About the only group of cyclist who would race on 36h wheels are track cyclists, and those wheels have to stand up to more torque than you can imagine (from both standing starts and stopping by back pedaling.) Maybe downhillers do as well, but for training and especially racing you aren’t going to be putting your wheels through that kind of torture.
Look, if you said you wanted the heaviest wheelset for training purposes so you would fly when you put your zipps on I would be all over a 36h straight-gauge spoked wheel. But for performance reasons I just can’t see it, especially if you have to pay for a custom build. If you really want stiffness in a racing/training wheel find some old-school wheelbuilder who can tie and solder the spokes together.
I bought a used Powertap and it is built with a 16 spoke Bontrager Aero Lite rim. I’ve done probably 1000 miles on it over the past 2-3 months without a problem.