I am going to build a set of wheels, Record hubs and Mavic rims and was wondering what spokes to use, DT or Sapim? Any thoughts, I'm 210, and have ridden Bontrage and Campy Euros' without any problems so I don't think I'm overly hard on wheels.

My shop says DT db spokes in a 32 count and I should be fine so that's what I was planning, but I'm just checking before pulling the trigger.

Thanks.

I usually try to get riders at your weight to move up to 36 hole , but I am conservative that way. I prefer DB spokes with brass nipples. DT or Wheelsmith are great.

DT and Sapim are both very good. What rim are you using and what will you be using the wheel for?

DT, Sappim, and Wheelsmith. You can't go wrong with any of them and they're all pretty much equal.

DT swiss Revolutions 1.8/1.5 very light, i use the heavier guage 2.0/1.5 still very light wheels, no issues, DT aerolight, Sappim race, Wheelsmith DB15, i use these, I weight 200lb, no issues. you can go lighter check the wheelsmith website.

My preference is for Sapim CX-Ray, but DT is good as well :)

There is a guy selling Sapim Race (2.0/1.8) spokes and brass nipples on eBay right now. Buy it Now - 72 spokes for $29 plus $9 shipping. Pretty good deal, and he has a large selection of lengths. I'm building up a set of mountain bike wheels with them right now. I've used Wheelsmith in the past, and the big difference is that the Wheelsmith DB14 spoke is a 2.0/1.7 spoke, slightly thinner in the middle than the DT Competion and Sapim Race. But you probably would prefer the thicker spokes over the Wheelsmith DB14. I think any of the three, DT, Sapim, Wheelsmith, are good spokes. And I think a well built 32 hole, 2.0/1.8 spoke, wheel would be fine.

RRUF said "DT and Sapim are both very good. What rim are you using and what will you be using the wheel for?"

I don't race, I just ride. Just looking for a dependable wheelset that is reasonably light.

As far as the rim is concerned, I am leaning towards the Open Pro, but a voice in my head says to get the Reflex's and try out tubulars. Am I an idiot for wanting to try tubulars?

I was musing over building up a new wheelset over the winter. I have been building my own wheels for over 25 years. I have a beautiful set of Campy Record High Flange 36's laced with DT D/B spokes to Campy Omega V tubulars, what a wheelset, keep 'em on my vitage '82 Bianchi 12sp. I have also built up a ton of MTB wheels as well. When going over what I wanted to do with the owner of my LBS, he said "Look, I'd love to take your money any way you want to spend it, but if you are looking to spend about $1,000 to build a set of wheels, no matter what you do, you won't be able to build a wheel as light, strong, technically superior to a Mavic Ksyrium SL SSC, or the ES" Since I was going to stay tubular, the dreaded Ksyrium tube issues with clinchers would not matter. You know, he was right! I ordered a set of SL's in tubular and they are really fantastic wheels! Yeah, I didn't build them myself (first time in a quarter century, and it really made me uncomfortable) but they are one of the best tubular wheelsets out there for the money.

BTW... DO THE TUBULARS!!!!!!!! if you haven't ridden them before, you are in for a big suprise!!!

you can get pretty light/strong with a set velocity aeroheads, oc for the rear, 32 and sapim cx-rays. Put a thicker guage on the drive side of the rear wheel if you want additional durability.