[Closed] What rims for 29er self build?

I've got WTB KOMs on both my 29ers, I really like them and they've held up really well for me. Fantastic to set up tubeless and still hold air despite quite a few dings, prefer them to the Arches I had before. Used to have light bicycle carbon rims and wouldn't go carbon again.

I like pacenti dl31

It was helped by on-one giving them away (nearly)

I built some last year with Mavic rims - XM824. Seem pretty solid, have eyelets and are easy to set up tubeless.

Seconded WTB KOM, I’ve the I29 rim on my rigid bike, does what’s asked of it, blasting round trail centres.

Interesting ideas for the list, thanks.

Just doing some initial research and the Stans Arch/Flow and DT XM481 are on the list too.

As long as I don't buy something so cheap they're made of cheese, can you really go wrong?

I recently built for a mate a set of hope hubs on Spank Oozy 350 rims which built into a very nice wheelset. Similar width & weight to Mk3 flows which I usually build.

I went with Arch Mk3 for my 120mm 29er trail bike. Actually got them built up onto Hope hubs by CRC and can’t really complain. Setup tubeless easily and still running true a year later. As you say though, There are lots of good options out there.

I'm currently planning a wheel set build for my 120mm HT 29er.

Torn between DT 240 hubs or Onyx.

Rim wise, I'm currently leaning towards the Recon Pro range from Light Bicycle.

I've been really pleased with the ones on my 659b full bounce bike. As a little plus point, they'll also make the rim with a sealed rim bed. Takes a bit longer to lace up but you need never worry about rim tape again.

I'd have the xm481 top of my list.

There are plenty of acceptable options out there now at around 30mm internal width now though.

If you are keen to go Carbon, I like the look of some of the EIE Carbon rims. Otherwise sticking to alloy I have been happy with my Spank 345, but there are some great options around now, at around 500g, DT Swiss XM481, Spank 350, Chromag Phase 30 (nice thick beads, probably what I would try next).

I stayed away from Stans due to stories of cracked rims, also heard bad things about the Pacenti rims.

I stayed away from Stans due to stories of cracked rims,

They probably sell a lot more than most companies so you will hear about cracked rims. Doesn't mean they crack more than anyone else.

It also depends on the ride, what they are doing, tyre pressures, which rim they chose etc.

I wouldn't be put off from using stans rims again.

I stayed away from Stans due to stories of cracked rims, also heard bad things about the Pacenti rims.

To be fair there are horror stories concerning just about every lightweight rim manufacturer, WTB seem to crop up a lot too for example.

Magic are still heavier and narrower than most of the competition. They also don't seem to crack. So it's a case of pay ypur money and take your choice!

If I was building them myself it doesn't bother me, rims are still relatively cheap so even if one did break it's only £50.

If I was paying someone to build them I'd probably go with something tougher as its £25 + spokes + rim + waiting.

I'd be tempted to go to light bicycle for carbon rims if I had the money. Performance wise it looks like a no brainier, it's just ~£200 more expensive for a pair.

The thing that put me off using stans rims was that they spec a lower thension limit than some other brands which can make it tricky to get suitible tension on the non drive side with some hubs.

Having said that, Onyx hubs spec a limit of 120kgf so if I choose Onyx hubs, it will pretty much have to be an asymmetrical rim to balance things out.

I'm dong this right now and have gone for DT 502's Considered WTb Asm's and I have spank 345 on my current bike which are nice to build with and strong but a pain to tape for tubeless due to the internal shape and a pain to get tyres on to.