Bob needed a new set of wheels for Ultra Endurance riding. They needed to be light, strong and not too expensive.
These days, the hubs are the most expensive part of most builds, so the XLR8 MD hubs fit the bill nicely. They are made in Taiwan by one of the world's largest hub manufacturers, feature ABEC 5 grade Enduro bearings, an alloy freehub, and readily available parts (not that they are often required).
For rims, the Nextie classic series offer great value. The 45mm version is very aero, yet still rather light. Tubeless ready, toroidal aero shape, quality high Tg resins, and a 2 year warranty - what's not to like?
Keeping both weight and cost down, we used Sapim D-Light spokes on the front and rear non-drive side, and Sapim race on the driveside. We laced the spokes in a 2x pattern for a little extra comfort, and Sapim Polyax brass nipples were used.
