Voilà a PowerTap G3 wheelset I built with Pacenti SL23 rims and Sapim CX-Ray spokes. The front hub is the understated Alchemy ELF. PowerTap hub prices have dropped lately, making the acclaimed power system accessible to a lot more folks. This is a nice build that doesn’t break the bank.
I ship wheels within Canada. In fact most wheels I build are shipped. Here’s a photo story about packing wheels so you can know what to expect. Wheels get a bad rap in the shipping department but actually wheels are pretty tough. If you think about forces a wheel experiences under your bike, shipping ought to be minor. Sometimes quality problems are blamed on shipping but I think that’s bogus — I’ve fixed enough discount e-commerce wheels that got “hurt” in shipping to know.
This was a job to replace mis-matched and damaged spokes with Sapim CX-Rays and red alloy nipples. Rebuilding rims is more challenging than building with new but it’s nice to get the most out of our gear. Like Bad Religion sings, “it’s never really what you own but what you threw away.”
These Stan’s Crest 29er rims push the envelope on weight. If you imagine a comparable XC wheelset using the same DT Swiss 240S hubs and CX-Ray spokes with ENVE carbon rims, that combination would actually weigh 5 grams more. ENVE rims are stronger and stiffer but in another league pricewise.
This recent build is one I can get behind. It’s based on Shimano XT disc hubs and burly H Plus Son Archetype rims. The front hub is the new Shimano XT dynamo. It produces enough juice to power bright lights or charge your USB electronics (cycle computer, GPS, smartphone, etc). I loathe batteries so this resonates with me. Great for commuting, brevet riding and cycle touring.
