What do DA/OP's weigh?
lostrancosrd said:
i have been told (by guys who want to sell me new wheels) that any of the lower spoke count new wheels would be WAY lighter, especially uphill, than the DA/OP 32 spoke option. does anyone know what the DA/OP 32 spokes wheels actually weigh? the campy eurus are suposed to be 690/860.
Custom wheels are just that - custom. The problem is that since you can get a reasonably light, somewhat sturdy set of wheels already built out of a box, people have gotten lazy. So the majority of regular Shimano/Campy hub on OP wheelsets are pretty unimaginative and end up being heavier than they need to be.
The regular set you are referring to, using DA 7700 hubs, 14/15 DB spokes, brass nips and 32 hole OP's would weigh in at about 1740 grams without the skewers. Not bad, but not as light as super-set out of the box (at least the claimed weight).
Now if you start working with a real custom builder, things get interesting. If I was going to make a set like that, I would use Sapim Laser 14/17 spokes, alloy nipples, and bring the spoke count on the front wheel down to 28, leaving the rear wheel at 32 spokes. Now you are looking at 1590 grams. Swap out the Mavics for some Velocity Aeroheads, or DT R 1.1's and you have it down to about 1570 grams. These would still be ok for everyday use.
Try the IRD Cadence rims, and you're down to 1530 grams, although I'm not sure they are as reliable as the DT's or Velocity's. Using Campy? You're in luck - their rear hubs are significantly lighter - the same pair with the Velocity or DT rims on Record hubs would weigh in at 1510 grams, or 1470 grams with the IRD's!!
Want fewer spokes? Well that means you'll have to go outside Shimano/Campy for the hubs. Put the Velocity's on some American Classic hubs with 24f/28r spokes, and you are looking at 1420 grams. But of course, now you are talking about a "special occasion" wheel and not something for everyday training.
What I am basically saying is that you can have your "normal" wheelset without having it weigh as much as an anchor. It just takes a good builder and not buying the cheapest wheels you can find with the hubs and rims you want.