In the early stages of thinking what rim I might get for my next wheelbuild.
Thinking I want to try one the new generation of wider rims.
Amongst the options are H+Son Archetypes and the TB14
I've got a few things I don't like about the Archetype, one is the lack of eyelets - but apparently it doesn't need them. Yet to see how easy it is fishing dropped nipples out of the box-section as I am prone to do on non-eyeletted rims
The other, tart that I am, is that the grey anodised finish that I'd prefer is not available in 36h. and the hubs I'd use are 32F/36R
Anyway one of the alternatives is the TB14.
Eyelets ? Check
Anodises 36 h ? Check
BUT
What I've read is that TB14 is less stiff / has greater vertical compliance than the Archetype and I can see from the rim profile how this might be so if the rim is considered on it's own. It's just physics (innit) that the flatter profile will go more egg-shaped when it hits a bump than the taller profile.
Except that I'm not convinced that the rim stiffness had all that much to do with overall wheel stiffness when we're talking about 32 & 36 spoke wheels.
It's relatively easy to deform an aluminium rim in your hands ... until you brace it with all those spokes (made from high tensile steel) arranged in lots of nice triangular patterns, at which point the whole construct becomes stiffer than a very stiff thing (oooo-er Mrs)
Anyone any input on this?
Or experience of how unstiff a TB14 rim is?
If it's going to soak up energy by being too "compliant" I'll not be wanting them - I've little enough power to spare.