If a bike is to be used for extensive touring, rim replacement while on a tour is a big consideration. I sent a guy out for an extensive tour on a 32/40 setup. He destroyed a rear rim and spent days finding a replacement. As far as he was concerned it ruined the tour. It is a theory/practice kind of issue. At one point when I was touring the Gaspe Peninsula the nearest 36 hole rim was probably 100 miles away, maybe the nearest 40 hole was in Montreal or Boston. On this issue, consider that a replacement may be locally exotic. 36 14 guage spokes and a stout rim is a lot of wheel.
Joe
At 10:22 AM 7/19/01 -0400, Chris Beyer wrote:
>Please don't delete; this isn't the same horse we've beaten previously.
>
>I know Tony Oliver recommends 32/40 spoking, 3x, for touring
>appications. I also know this recommendation applies to 27" or 700c
>wheels.
>
>Any helpful hints from experienced wheelbuilders on the list regarding #
>of spokes necessary when building smaller wheels (559 or 650B)? I
>assume 32 would be sufficient using 14/15 db spokes; is 28 pushing it?
>Not for a mountain bike.....
>
>Thanks,
>
>Chris Beyer
>Bloomfield, NJ