Unca_Sam

I 'need' to build a wheelset for a FG/SS conversion sometime in the near future. The bicycle's intended use is pavement and light gravel, with occasional light commuting. You know, for fun.
That means I'm shopping around for 27" (bicycle's spec'ed wheel size) or 700c rims. The hubs and spokes would be the same regardless of rim used with 32 or 36 spokes. The end goal is to build an adequately-strong wheelset as light and as cheaply as possible.
I know that double wall is stronger than single wall, and that 'aero' and triangular cross section rims are stronger than box section rims. I also noticed that the high profile rims are slightly heavier than a traditional profile rims (because more material).

Is strength a criteria I should prioritize for my intended use, over weight? Is there a compelling reason beyond the known strength differences and aesthetics that many prebuilt FG/SS wheelsets use "aero" profile rims? Would you consider single-wall rims for any benefits beyond lower cost?

ThermionicScott 

I think looks are the main reason why so many people want deep aero wheels on their SS/FG bikes. They’re imitating developments in the track world from the 1990s.

I’ve used single-wall rims on my FG since I first built it up. They’ve held up fine. I persist with them because they offer a lot of internal width at a low weight (and price.)

caloso

Are you deadset to build them yourself? You could get a prebuilt set like this: https://www.velomine.com/index.php?m...r86qar96o1p712

My kid races SSCX on these. True out of the box and have remained so all season.

Unca_Sam

I am not dead set, so thanks for the suggestion! I'll need to nail down a build cost with a recycled appropriate hub, though it's likely $140-$160, assuming $70 for the hub, $60 for all the spokes (I like double butted), and $40-$60 for the rims I've looked at.

There are also plenty of wheels (TOO MANY WHEELS) at the co-op that I can recycle too. I'm only committed to rebuilding a rear wheel that way. Many of them came from low end bikes and are thus single wall, though there are enough double wall rims in the mix. The co-op does not have many deep section rims though, of any sort. Building could let me use a better than OEM rim though.

Unca_Sam

Thanks for that. I know they're cheap, and supposedly flimsy, but I can't deny that they're likely lighter. Since the goal is "light on the cheap," I wanted to know why not? Your answer helps! We'll see what else comes up.

I have a bike I use for heavier commuting and loaded tours/kid trailer duty that could use a more robust rim, and I'm mostly resigned to spending more money there for 36 spokes and triangular cross-sections for the additional strength.

ThermionicScott 

Some single-wall rims are flimsy, but not all are. The Weinmann concave rim on the back of my FG is pretty bulletproof. I don’t know if I could break it, even if I wanted to!

Unca_Sam

Concave like this one?

Weinmann A129

ThermionicScott 

Yep! Now just imagine it about 27mm wide and in 26" wheel form: https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.as...107&AbsPos=314