So, after much back and forth I settled into all but one component of my new wheel build. RIMS: CSIXX XCM 29er, 28h. Why: Wide but not too wide (26mm ID). Reasonable weight (430gr) for the width and thick and strong 3.5mm side walls. Knowing where they are from they will be well designed. And the maker is living nearby should something go wrong. With 30x30mm a stiff yet balanced cross-section. 3mm spokebed asymmetry for evening out spoke stress ratio. HUBS: AM Classic 28h. Why: Lightest hubs for a reasonable price (225gr + 130gr). Reliable, I put 7000km on a previous pair without a hitch. Strong free hub mechanics that are also easy to service. Off the shelf bearings, easy to service as well. Before it is commented on I am not bothered by the engagement. My second choice DT240 would have been the same without the expensive ratchet upgrade. At first I was a bit put off by what seemed to be a waste of hub flange width by the rather large gap between the NDS flange and the rotor lugs. The total flange to flange width that defines the ultimate wheel stiffness is 50mm. But looking at it more carefully I found that the loss of width is only between 2mm and 4mm compared to major other brands. Hope Pro4 has 52mm. DT has 53.9mm (3.8% less or 7.2% less). But the center-to-right and center-to-left offset is more balanced than with the other brands so the spoke tension is more equal. Adding the 3mm spokebed asymmetry of the rim the spoke tension ratio of the front wheel will be 93% and for the rear wheel 105% (greater spoke angle on the drive side, surprise!). That is pretty good and should ease the wheel build. And for both wheels the spokes are the same length for the DS and NDS. SPOKES: That is the remaining question. I already made the call to go for 28 instead of 32 spokes because of the stiff rim needing less support. Now the choice is between standard DB1.8/2.0 or bladed spokes rolled from DB1.5/2.0. I know the answer of every conservative wheelbuilder will be DB1.8/2.0 (after frowning dis-approvingly at the 28h). However CSIXX is building their own wheelsets with 28x DB1.5/2.0 spokes. 1.8/2.0 available on request. The wheelsets are not marketed around their weight. So in some way CSIXX must feel confident that this 28xDB1.5/2.0 is delivering a wheel build up to their standard. Contrary to that, as mentioned above, many wheelsbuilders strongly recommend against anything other 32x 1.8/2.0. Reliability issues are mentioned first, overall strength and stiffness second. Yesterday however I had the pleasure to 'touch' a 28x CXRay (effectively 1.5/2.0) ENVE/CKing wheel on a Scalpel. That wheel was stiffer than my already fantastic 32x 1.8/2.0 AC Wide lighting. So I would happily settle for that. So my spoke choices are right now: Standard DB1.8/2.0 or the Alpina DB1.5 offered by Rapide (similar to CXRay but cheaper). Obviously Brass nipples. Purpose of wheel: Cape Town style trail riding, mainly Tygerberg/Jonkers/TM. Local XCM races. Upcoming EPIC (so yes, reliability is important). I am 78kg. Bike is a full-sus RM Element. So I am interested not just in the standard recommendation to go for the bigger spoke for reliability, but some insight into the mechanical reasons behind and the actual real-life issues that might come up with the light bladed spoke in context with the stiff rims and the balanced spoke tension of the rim/hub setup. Does somebody has a DB1.5/2.0 MTB wheel and is happy/unhappy with it? Fire away
