Originally Posted by
BigBlueToe
I have XT hubs, Mavic 719 36-spoke rims, and double-butted spokes. I've taken three tours without breaking a spoke, and I'm a pretty big guy. I built mine myself using Sheldon Brown's instructions. I bought some nice tools as part of the process, including a Park truing stand and a tensionmeter. I like having my own tools!
I'm presently building a "touring 29er" for the Great Divide route. I've bought XT hubs. I'm going to go with Mavic 719's again. I'm looking into the triple-butted spokes Stuart mentioned. The rear hub looks like there isn't much offset on the drive side. Is it worse because of the discs? I'm a little nervous.
Yes, with 135 mm dropouts, you'll have still have a dished wheel. Here are two sources of
silver Alpine III's:
http://www.precisiontandems.com/catframepart.htm
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/13-16-14g...of-6-prod1694/
For the GDMBR I chose the wider Sun Rhyno Lites and the White Industries M16 hub because of the consumer replaceable (with an Allen wrench) sealed cartridge bearings. I also have Alpine III's on this wheel.