hstdist

I am planning to start touring this year, nothing fancy, big ride will be 800 km round trip. I want to replace the stock wheels on my new cannondale topstone 3 . I want velocity wheels as I have them on my hybrid bike and they have been trouble free.
I am lost as far as hubs and spoke types .
id like 36/36 spoke set up even 36/40. This will handle my weight plus cargo. I think a 37mm tire is what I will use.Also, I would like to purchase a rear cog so the OEM wheels can be simply switched over if I want, so a suggestion would be welcome
Thanks in advance
the specs on the set that came stock is

WHEELS

• Front Hub
  Formula alloy, 12x100mm
• Rear Hub
  Formula alloy, 12x142mm
• Rims
  RD 2.0, 28h
• Spokes
  Stainless Steel, 14g
• Tire Size
  37
• Tires
  WTB Riddler Comp, 700 x 37c
• Wheel Size
  700c

DRIVETRAIN

• Bottom Bracket
  Cartridge, square taper
• Chain
  KMC Z9, 9-speed
• Crank
  FSA Tempo Adventure, 46/30
• Front Derailleur
  Shimano Sora GS
• Rear Cogs
  Sunrace, 11-34, 9-speed
• Rear Derailleur
  Shimano Sora GS
• Shifters
  Shimano Sora, 9-speed

travbikeman

Shimano 105's have the ability to go up to 36 spoke and with the thu axle that your bike has and is not too expensive. There are several other hubs that are more expensive.

Pro Wheelbuilder is a great resource on matching hubs and wheels. Example:

https://www.prowheelbuilder.com/shim...-rear-hub.html

If you have a higher budget for wheels, these hubs are very nice and are supposed to be amongst the best in the industry:

https://www.prowheelbuilder.com/whit...-disc-hub.html

I had ProWheelbuilder build several sets of wheels for me. One was using the Velocity Aileron rims with the Shimano Deore hubs that sent to them. The rear hub is 36 spoke, but quick release and the wheelset was for my hybrid.

Russ Roth

For my gravel/touring/adventure bike I built up Velocity Dyads with XT hubs, 32/32 with regular double butted spokes in the front and Wheelsmith HD spokes in the rear which are single butted 2.2/2.0 spokes.

My wife's cross bike came with those exact wheels, I took apart the wheels to repurpose the rims for a cheap but sturdy track bike wheelset. Weight wise the rims were each .5lbs heavier than the velocity Ailerons that were replacing them. The Formula hubs were absurdly heavy compared to the White Industry Hubs that replaced them, for her bike I went 2.0/1.7/2.0 butted spokes which overall shaved close to 2lbs from the bike.

If you want lighter and faster, get a pair of ultegras and build it up with Ailerons and butted spokes. If you want not quite as light but still lighter, faster, sturdier and potentially a little more comfortable over longer rides, get Dyads with XT hubs (test if your fork will accept a 15mm thru axle first) butted spokes front and single butted rear with heavier duty spokes. The dyad is the less rigid of the two and will make for a more comfortable overall build for touring over rougher terrain but has the downside of not being tubeless compatible if that matters to you.

chaadster

I wouldn’t be too hung up on Velocity— lots of places make great wheels— and would seriously consider running a 650b carbon fiber rim for loaded touring. Having disc braked wheels is a game-changer for touring wheels. Carbon fiber is much stronger and damage resistant than aluminum (even when significantly lighter), and the smaller 650b wheel diameter will boost wheel lateral stiffness, especially if you go with a deep section carbon fiber rim. Of course, 650b will also let you run wider rubber, which will help reduce rolling resistance and increase traction, comfort and stability across a wider range of surface conditions than a narrower 700c.

tallbikeman

I believe all your wheel build ideas are solid. Good hubs, 36 spokes, and Velocity rims. I use Velo Orange high flange 36 hole 11 speed rear cassette hubsets. 2mm stainless steel straight guage spokes at 3 cross build. I'm real partial to their Chukkar rims and I use up to 40mm tires on these rims. Bullet proof for years and years at my weight of 270 lbs. I feel my builds err on the side of overbuilt but for touring as you want to do these slightly heavier more durable wheels would be just the ticket. Good luck with your wheel set build.

pennpaul

If I get serious about touring, I will be thinking about getting a Dyno hub in the front to charge electronics and lights.

Grudey1

I bought my wheels from Prowheelbuilder in June of 2020 and love them. Still straight and true today, even when riding at my heaviest at 290 lbs.