Peter was not impressed with the feel and the weight of the wheels that came on his Specialized Roubaix Disc. He specifically needed a stronger rim (for the potholed and unsurfaced roads he rides) and wanted a wider rim, for better grip, traction and a more comfy ride.
We worked with Peter to identify the key attributes so we could build a wheelset that was not only unique, but uniquely suited to him. This usually occurs via email or on the phone, and can take some discussion to get the spec right.
From there we offered him several options (and upgrade paths for each option), so he could choose what suited his needs, aesthetics and budget.
We agreed that the White Industries CLD hubset was the perfect choice. They are typical of White Industries hubs – strong, light, beautiful and not expensive. The Centrelock disc mounting option suited Peter’s current wheelset, and makes the wheel swap easy.
Stan’s Grail rims were selected for the very easy “tubeless-ability”, reasonable weight, and good pricing. Whilst not the lightest rim on the market, we feel the Stan’s guys have worked out that a bit of extra beef makes for a stiffer ride, and longer rim life. Being a disc rimset, it’s feasible that Peter could still be riding these wheels in 10 years time!
28 front and 32 rear spokes were a wise choice, to ensure excellent lateral stiffness, and minimise spoke fatigue. Disc brake wheels transmit torsional drive and braking loads through the spokes – unlike rim brake wheels which do not transmit braking related torsional loads.
Of course, Sapim Race double butted spokes and brass nipples completed the package, with tidy cross lacing (to assist managing those torsional loads).