Aluminum gravel wheelset

[FLYBYU44]

I mentioned in another post that I want to build up a G30U frame this winter. I have the frame inbound currently and next step is wheels. I am a big boy (120kg), so all the cool light weight carbon wheel sets are mostly rated at 120kg, which I will be over with bike weight and a good lunch. Are there any aluminum sets that are rated for more weight that folks could recommend? I spotted a DT Swiss R470 set locally for $300, that may be an option too, but I would prefer brand new with wheels, not someone else's issues.

[jonathanf2]

I mentioned in another post that I want to build up a G30U frame this winter. I have the frame inbound currently and next step is wheels. I am a big boy (120kg), so all the cool light weight carbon wheel sets are mostly rated at 120kg, which I will be over with bike weight and a good lunch. Are there any aluminum sets that are rated for more weight that folks could recommend? I spotted a DT Swiss R470 set locally for $300, that may be an option too, but I would prefer brand new with wheels, not someone else's issues.

Hunt Wheels sell alloy gravel wheelsets. There are some that are sub-1600g, maybe look into those.

https://us.huntbikewheels.com/collections/alloy-gravel-wheels

[hubba]

Hunt wouldn't be my first choice if I was looking for something reliable. DT Swiss GR1600 have a reputation of being bomb proof they have a 130kg max system weight. But at that weight I would also look into 28 spoke options.

If budget is not limiting for example Lightbicycle can build you wheelset with reinforced carbon rims with 28 spokes and you can choose stronger spokes.

[FLYBYU44]

Budget is obviously an issue, I would like as affordable as possible. Not super worried about weight, mostly durability. The bike will be used 100% on dirt trails and gravel roads.

[warthog]

Hunt wouldn't be my first choice if I was looking for something reliable. DT Swiss GR1600 have a reputation of being bomb proof they have a 130kg max system weight. But at that weight I would also look into 28 spoke options.

If budget is not limiting for example Lightbicycle can build you wheelset with reinforced carbon rims with 28 spokes and you can choose stronger spokes.

I have some GR1600 with about 25k km on them. They have been trouble free and tough. Very happy with them 👍

[impmonkey]

Just look locally for a set of new take off stock gravel wheels. Will be heavy but will be durable and should be cheap.

[00Garza]

Spoke count tends to be a bigger factor than rim material wheni it comes to weight limits. Carbon is fine if you can find a higher spoke count.

[kam]

I'd also look at Fun Works / The Wheelbuilders in Germany. They have a custom wheel configurator where you can choose rim, hubs, spokes and nipples individually.

One setup I've been looking at for a dedicated winter wheelset is the Fun Works Amride 30 alloy rim, DT 370 LN hubs, 32/32 DT Competition stainless spokes and brass nipples, built 3-cross.

For winter use, especially if the bike sees road salt/brine, it is strongly recommended to prefer brass nipples over aluminium. The weight penalty is basically irrelevant here, while brass should be much less prone to corrosion and seized nipples. Stainless spokes are also worth having, and standard J-bend spokes / external nipples make future repairs easier.

The Amride 30 is officially rated to 120 kg system weight, which feels quite conservative for a 30 mm internal alloy MTB rim with 32 spokes, but it's still the manufacturer's published limit so I'd treat it as such.

One caveat: the configuration I'm looking at is 650B / 27.5", so that may not be what you want if you specifically need 700C / 29". On the other hand, 650B often gives you noticeably more tyre clearance in the same frame, which can be useful for a winter setup if you want to run wider tyres.

The configurator is here:
https://www.fun-works.com/dt-swiss-370-ln-ratchet-disc-is-custom-wheelset-mtb-27-5-4107