[Luke1511]

...Sorry for another wheel question, I damaged my custom rear wheel and it will take 2 weeks to ship and repair. I do have the original rear wheel that came with the bike. It's a Shimano WH-R500 wheel. Do you think I'll have any problems if I use it for a couple of weeks? I don't want to wait 2 weeks to ride but I don't want to do anything too risky either.

[The BikeForums Team]

This is an archived thread, you can find the full version of this thread, with images, links and more content here.

Ready to buy? Check out these two online bike stores:
- http://www.nashbar.com (you can find the latest bike nashbar coupons in this thread)
- http://www.performancebike.com (you can find the latest performance bike coupons in this thread)

Cya on the forums,
- The BikeForums Team
- http://www.bikeforums.net

[StephenH]

I tore up a couple of cheap (rear) wheels on my $100 mountain bike. In both cases, I popped spokes and got a bent wheel. Result was that the brakes started rubbing. So personally, I'd pop it on there and go for it. If it "fails", it might mean you walk back home, but it's not like it's going to blow up or something. For safety, I'd be more concerned about using a bad front wheel.

[mrbubl]

nothing ventured, nothing gained. @ 130Kg I have ridden with success on Rolf low count spoke wheels without failure against their best advice. Try it and enjoy.

[v1k1ng1001]

might as well

[Tom Stormcrowe]

Agreed, might as well.......can't dance ;) Besides, if they fail, you can always use the warranty ;)

[TallSteve]

I would use them. BTW everyone, I ordered Velocity Deep Vs for my Cannondale. I ordered the white rims with Ultegra Hubs. My ride is dark blue black so these should look great. Maybe a little gangsta???

[KingTermite]

I'm sure you'll be fine. The wheel I just cracked was the stock wheel and it took me 2 years to crack it (and I'm over 300 pounds).

[dbikingman]

What do hand made wheels cost? Is there a difference in cost front to back, not counting cost of parts?

[Tom Stormcrowe]

36 spoke Velocity Deep V's, 36 spoke 3 cross weave cost $350.00 with Tiagra hubs.

[v1k1ng1001]

I've been waiting forever for Bontrager to cut me a deal on a warranty upgrade. I have been in warranty hell for over a year. :cry:

[BikEthan]

What do hand made wheels cost? Is there a difference in cost front to back, not counting cost of parts?

Depends entirely on the parts. Labor for wheel building is usually around $80 a wheel (shouldn't be any difference front vs. rear). I'd expect to spend around $500 for a decent hand built wheel set. Try to have it done by a well known wheel builder if you can, might cost a bit more but the wheels will last a lot longer if they're built by someone who knows what they're doing. I had a custom set of wheels built up for my single/fixed bike with surly track hubs, Mavic open pro rims, and DT Alpine spokes (they're triple butted 13/15/14 gauge). The spokes are awesome because although they weigh a bit more they put the metal where you need it at the bend in the spoke so they're a lot less likely to break. I've had them for about a year and a half and I've only had to true them a couple times (I weight about 235). Only thing is you've got to make sure that the hub flanges are drilled in such a way that they'll accept the 13g elbow. Plus if the spoke holes in the flanges are too big you'll break regular 14g spokes (saw this happen on a handbuilt wheel set that was put together for a tandem bike). Ok... I'll stop now.

[Mobiker50]

...I do have the original rear wheel that came with the bike. It's a Shimano WH-R500 wheel. Do you think I'll have any problems if I use it for a couple of weeks? .

I've still got stock wheels on both of mine, have ridden about 2,100 with the Matrix on my GF MTB and 650 on the Sequoia with Alex R500. The GF had to put up with me weighing north of 320, the Sequoia only had to pick me up at 270. Nothing broken.