Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Mavic Open Pros'

So what are y'alls thoughts on the Mavic Open Pros' for us big guys? Looking to pick up a new Roubaix COMP this weekend if all goes right and it comes with these rims. From what I've read and what one LBS tells me these are great rims even for someone my size (6'5", 270#). The LBS that I really would like to buy the bike from isn't giving me the warm and fuzzy I feel I deserve for dropping about $3K on my first road bike and accesories and one of the things they are telling me is that the Open Pros' aren't going to work for me. They want to sell me a set of Velocity rims but had none in stock for me to look at and the Manager couldn't give me any other information other than do an Internet search and look them up. I'm going to test ride this bike tomorrow as well as an '06 Roubaix Expert they have on close out. But if I still don't get that warm and fuzzy then I'm off to another shop. Other than the rims my biggest concern is getting the best fit possible from someone that knows what they are doing and I don't get that feeling or impression from this shop.... Anyway, enough of my rant, what about the rims?

Jason

Jason,

The OP's should be ok - what's the spoke count? They are a pretty bomb-proof rim. the Velocity's are pretty good, too, and depending on the spoke count you should do well with them.

BTW - if I were dropping $3k and not getting the warm and fuzzies, I'd walk on the deal. If they ain't treating you right on the pre-sale, you're in for heartache on the post-sale.



So what are y'alls thoughts on the Mavic Open Pros' for us big guys? Looking to pick up a new Roubaix COMP this weekend if all goes right and it comes with these rims. From what I've read and what one LBS tells me these are great rims even for someone my size (6'5", 270#). The LBS that I really would like to buy the bike from isn't giving me the warm and fuzzy I feel I deserve for dropping about $3K on my first road bike and accesories and one of the things they are telling me is that the Open Pros' aren't going to work for me. They want to sell me a set of Velocity rims but had none in stock for me to look at and the Manager couldn't give me any other information other than do an Internet search and look them up. I'm going to test ride this bike tomorrow as well as an '06 Roubaix Expert they have on close out. But if I still don't get that warm and fuzzy then I'm off to another shop. Other than the rims my biggest concern is getting the best fit possible from someone that knows what they are doing and I don't get that feeling or impression from this shop.... Anyway, enough of my rant, what about the rims?

Jason

After busting spokes on Alex 250s, I just swapped in Mavic Open Pros on an Ultegra Hub and have been pretty happy so far. They seem to hold my body weight without any problems (280 lbs).

28 spoke, I'm running a set of FSA 28 spoke rims on my FX and it's been a great rim, the Velosity is a 32/36 combination but that's all he knew. Thanks for the advice on dealing with them, that's the point I'm at. Let's put it this way, I did my research and knew the guy in the shop that was highly recommended to do the fit, when I told him that was the guy that I wanted to fit me due to high recommendations I was told that they all did bike fits and he could do it. I stressed that I wanted the perfect fit all the way down to measuring my seat bones for the right seat that I didn't want an out of the box bike and didn't mind paying for the fit or the upgrades I thought were needed and just kind of got the shrug off. I might be reading too much into it as I'm a little sensitive to customer service so I'll see how I'm treated when I go up there to do the test ride. If they aren't prepared for me to be there or I still get the shrug off feeling I'm off to another shop. The down side is these guys are less than 2 miles from me and have been a long time small time LBS.

Jason

I go 6'5" and 225, so not as Clydey as some of y'all, but my 32-hole Mavic OPs on Ultegra 6600 hubs have been absolutely bomb-proof for a year, now. I've had to slightly tweak the rear maybe twice after long rides (100+ mi.). I wear out a set of Conti's faster than I need to true wheels. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THEM TENSIONED PROPERLY BY SOMEONE WHO KNOWS WHAT S/HE IS DOING BEFORE YOU RIDE if you buy a set online instead of having them professionally built by someone you can shake hands with. Makes ALL the difference...

I'm 220-235 and had nothing but problems with OP's. Have a bud the same (210 lbs). Nothing lasted over 11 months. They are noisey (ticking) at the nipples.I hate 'em! Had a dude build a Velocity Deep V and it lasted years with NO problems.

I build my own now. 32/3X/14g. Rims are strong! I have over 8,000 on one and 4,000 on the other roadie. After the initial readjustment after 200 miles, haven't had to touch them.

Why buy a set? Find a rim online and have a good shop build it up for you. The Deep V can be found as low as $50 online. I found one on a clearance rack for $25, built it with a DA hub, great wheel.

Rim alone is 520 grams, OP is 420. But what difference does it make at our weight. Duarbilty and stiffness is more imprortant. Done plenty of mtn climbs and they are strong and stiff!

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/DeepV.jpg

BTW, if I were you, I'd go with atleast the mavic CXP33. I have a double century rider (230lbs) that had the CXP33 with 36 spokes. Had problems with true and even broke the hub flange on the 36 hub(Ultegra). I'd go Deep V though!

Update us on the OP's if you decide to go with them!:D

Thanks again guys, I'll let you know what I end up doing.

Just for more details these are the rims

Rims – Mavic Open Pro, welded aluminum double wall rim, machines sidewalls
Hub – Specialized forged alloy, 28 hole, double sealed bearings
Spokes – DT Swiss stainless 14g

I don't think the Open Pros will last as long. I like CXP33 rims, I imagine the shop meant Velocity Deep V rims, another good choice. They may not be giving you warm and fuzzy, but it sounds like they are being straight with you.

28 hole? Like 'Late' said, the shop aint warm and fuzzy, but staight up! 28 holes at 270lbs? :eek:

250lbs and my open pro/ultegra wheeset has been bombproof. They are 36 spoke count however.

Mud

Well picked up the new bike last night, will post pictures n another thread. Decided against the Open Pro while there and they ordered me some Velocity rims. I'm on a loaner set of Mavic Kysrium rims until the Velocity get in.

Thanks for all of the advice.

Jason

Just got back from the shop and settled on Velosity Fusion rims. Seemed to be a happy medium between strength and speed. Velosity claims the Fusion are just as strong as the Deep V without giving up the weight.

Thanks again for all the help and suggestion,
Jason

at your size you should be going at least 32 hole and preferably a 32 front / 36 rear.. I have been using open pro's for over a decade with very few issues.. There are a handful of rims that are all good choice for us big guys..

Mavic Open Pro
Mavic CXP33
DT Swiss RR 1.1 - I like these a lot, a real sleeper..
Velocity Deep V

Any of these wheels would be a good choice.. The CXP33 and Deep V will give you more lateral stiffness, they both are a little heavier but will give you a more solid build in the end..

I am in the process of building my first Mavic open pros, - on ultegra hubs 32r 28f - been fiding for 30 years working in shops off and on during those years, I have found that the life span of wheels is greatly determined by the build quality, assuming component selection isn't way off base. I was always a stomper, really destroyed rear wheels, both expensive and cheep wheel sets. finally started building my own wheels using quality [not el-chepo or exotic components] a spoke tension guage and a park spoke tension chart, have no more problems with wheel true or spoke breakage any more. btw 6'2" hover around 230