Road Cycling - Buying new wheels...

I'm replacing the Alx rims that came stock on my Specialized Allez. I'm a toad at 260lbs, so I need a strong rim, but don't want to sacrifice performance and yes, style.

I've got it narrowed down to a few choices which are all about the same $$$. It think all of them look great, and offer similar performance.

Shimano DuraAce 7701
Velomax Circuit or Tempest
Bontrager Aero Lights

I'm curious as to whether or not there any issues that should cause me to pick one over the other. Also any other comments or suggestions would help me out a great deal.

At 260 I wouldn't recommend any of the listed wheelsets unless you don't mind breaking spokes. I've seen too many pair of 16 spoke Shimano wheels pop spokes on group rides with riders who weigh 40-50 pounds less than you. A low spoke count wheel will also be rendered un-ridable most of the time when this happens.

At your weight I'd recommend a minimum of 32 spoke but 36 would be better yet. You could have DA hubs built on Open Pro rims for a semi reasonable price and have a wheelset that would be durable and easily serviceable.

Just my 2 cents

not only breaking spokes, but flexing them. low spoke count means your wheels will flex alot side to side under load.

Do not buy the above wheels. All you will do is break spokes or worse and have to wait and wait and pay much more for parts.

Just get a nice strong rim like the FiR SC150 or the SC200 (Zenith) or the Ambrosio rims laced to whatever hub you want. 32 hole 3x. That will be cheaper and be much more durable and easier to fix.

Find a master wheelbuilder at a local bike shop. Have your wheels built custom. Open Pro rims, say, with wheelsmith spokes and ultegra hubs. You should get away spending less than $300, and you will have no further trouble with your wheels.

Style means squat when you have to walk home.

RichC

I agree with the people above as far as the Dura Ace wheels go. I don't know enough about the others to comment. The Dura Ace wheels do have a low spoke count, and aren't very strong to begin with. I know a couple of people who aren't over 150 pounds who have broken spokes, complained of flexing, and totally trashed the set in crashes. Don't get 'em.

Hi,
Rich and I agree about most things. But I have doubts about the suitability of
the Open Pros for a guy as heavy as me. I was riding a Open Pro wheel a couple days ago, it's a very nice rim. But I'm not at all sure it would survive all that long. Two thoughts, if you do get Open Pros, get 36 spokes. The other is that there are a lot of nice rims out there, that are just a bit heavier. Ultegra hubs are a good value for the money.

If you do want to go a bit stronger without going to a touring rim, those Mavic CPX33's have the rigid "V" shape and eyelets to help distribute stress. They are a little heavier than an Open Pro, and are available in 36°: http://www.mavic.com/servlet/srt/mavic/road-prod_fiche?produitsid=46&lg=uk

Alternately, there's the T520 touring rim, sort of an Open Pro on steroids: http://www.mavic.com/servlet/srt/mavic/asph-prod_fiche?produitsid=51&lg=uk

I have built up a pair of 36 hole open pros for a twohundred pound Randouner(sic?) Anyway the long distant riders, they got some miles on them with no problems. The base model Shimano min spoke wheelset are tough. One of the guys that works in the shop, 230+ pounds (three broken frames including a Surly instigator that only made it eight months), has a year and a half on them and they have only needed minor true. They are heavy.

If you decide to go with 32 or 36 spoke rims instead (which I hope you do), then you could save yourself about $60 on a set of rims by staying away from Mavic the bike boutique rim company, and instead look into either Torelli Master Series rims or Sun Assault rims. Both come in either 32 or 36 (I recommend) and both are as strong as Mavic and just as much weight as the Open Pro's but they cost only $39 each instead of $69.

I use the Torellis and I now have over 35,000 miles on the rims without any problems and I use DT Revolution spokes on the front and DT Competition on the rear (with your weight though I would not use the Revolutions); I also use brass nipples because they are stronger and longer lasting than Alloy at a cost of only 5 grams of weight on each rim.


http://torelli.com/parts/wheels.html

http://www.sun-ringle.com/ShowRoom/ROAD/Rims/assault.html

I'd check out Joe Young's views on this:

http://youngwheels.com/opinion.html

Summary: get a decent rim, properly laced with right number of spokes (probably 32 or 36 in your case) on a good hub and you'll be good to go.

I would suggest a Ambrosio Excellight rims, Dura Ace hubs and Sapim Laser spokes. The built wheels would be very light and durable!! The weight for the front wheel would be around 750g and the weight of the rear wheel round 950g.

About the Joe Young article, note the the words 'high volume, high pressure'.
There aren't too many of those. The Rivendell Roly Poly is one worth looking at.

http://www.rivendellbicycles.com/general/rolypoly.html

Torelli rims are rebadged Ambrosio, who make excellent rims at a good price.
You may want to consider using more spokes on the rear wheel. A 32 front/36 rear puts strength where you really need it.

Thanks for all the advice. That's exactly the kind of information I was hoping to get.

I really appreciate it.

I am 200lbs.. I use an XTR hub w/ a 36h Rigida Sphinx 700C Rims and DT spokes in a 3cross config.. (I used XTR hubs for my roadbike, It works.. had the rear widened though).

On the other bike, Shimano 105 w/ 36h Columbus Rim and DT spokes and has an aero(radial) configuration..

I never broke a spoke.. Wheels are still true.. Had no trouble.. Roads here have too many potholes.. And I tend not to miss them.. hehehehe...