Wheel Building

Ok, we're getting somewhere with the wheel building. Pretty much everybody is out of the Mavic A719 rims even some of the private custom wheel builders. I have found some online from various outlets but not knowing enough about the specs myself I am not confident ordering them online.

Anyway, the bike shop has ordered me the following: DTSwiss TK 540 Rims 36 spokes - these are supposedly comparable to the Mavic A719 and they are specifically touring wheels, and I have read some of the reviews which seem good. So I'll go for it and see what transpires. I am going to do both wheels so that at least I have peace of mind that both are new. The hubs are going to be Shimano SLX HB M665 and the rear hub is 135mm - I originally had a 130mm hub on the rear which works but is apparently not as ideal as the 135mm. The 130mm hub is more for road racing apparently, while the 135mm is for mountain biking and touring. This is all a big learning curve for me, and is all very interesting. I have never taken any bike mechanic courses or product learning - I tend to just do the riding!!! We are going to use DT Double Butted spokes with brass nipples! Fingers crossed that all will be good....cycling through the Atacama Desert or the jungles of Bolivia! Mind you by the time I get here I may have had to replace the rims again anyway!

The wheels should be ready by the weekend, so it will be on the road again.

I am a little concerned about cycling through Northern Mexico. Apparently it is a bit of a war zone with the drug cartels. When my Nephew Devon mentioned to me the dangers of Mexico before I even started, I told him I was committed to the trip 'come what may'. Well I am not so sure. I have been researching taking a bus from the border at Brownsville through to Southern Mexico, perhaps Veracruz, and then take up the cycle trip from there. I think discretion is the better part of valour in this case, but it certainly would have been nice to be able to say I did the whole trip 'self propelled' as it were. We will see.

Otherwise, Austin is still great but very hot!! It will be a case of getting up very early in the morning to get the miles in before the heat of the day as I move further and further South - mind you, an air conditioned bus through Mexico doesn't sound too bad.