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I'm looking to have a crack at building some wheels during lockdown.
looking to build a XC 29er wheels, and a set of Enduro suitable 650b wheels.
Does anyone have any good recommendations for reasonably priced source of carbon rims?
I have just built some xc 29 wheels with DT swiss xr361...i know its not what you asked for, but they seemed much more viable than carbon.
YMMV
They seem like a good alternative to carbon, and they come with nipples and washers - nice
There is also the xr331, its a bit narrower and lighter, but its a bit more gravelbike...its on the top end salsa gravel bikes
I would not recommend carbon rims for a first build. Because they are stiffer than alloy rims they are more sensitive to spoke tension differences.
I've actually managed to get some cheap stans grail rims and novatec hubs, looks like my gravel bike will get a new set of wheels first.
I'd still like to find a source of good quality cheapish carbon rims though..
I've been really pleased with all the light bicycle rims I've built up.
How are you monitoring spoke tension? If you have a musical ear or are using a tension meter, building with carbon shouldn't be too much of a worry. The worry is that a really stiff rim could mask a bad build.
The other plus with light bicycle rims (depending on your point of view) is that they can provide them with a sealed rim bed at no extra cost. It's a real pain getting the nipples in but once done, you need never worry about rim tape again.
Awalla 27 I’ve got a pair of sixth element carbon race 27.5 for sale,
DT Swiss 240s hubs, they are on pinkbike. Turq decals.
Great condition £600
Thanks @onzadog
cool, i'll have a look at the light bicycle rims, interested in how the sealed rims work, do the rims come with nipples and washers pre-installed?
I've got spoke tension sussed, i bought a jig and tensionometerjobberthing a while back to fix a PITA wheel which kept going out of true.
Thanks @slight return, i'm not looking to buying wheels, just rims thanks
do the rims come with nipples and washers pre-installed?
No such luck. My preferred method is a short piece of steel spoke thread, some nylon thread and a magnet.
I also use some of those mini clothes pegs from a craft shop to hold the nipples and load them all in first. Sounds a faff, but it can be quite therapeutic.