Due to my recent weight loss, (281 to 215 lbs and falling), I’m able to treat myself to a new bike. I’ve decided on a leftover 07 Rocky Mountain Solo CXR (http://www.bikes.com/bikes/2007/cx/solo-cxr.aspx). The primary use of the bike is going to be commuting 55 km (round trip) on a mostly paved MUP. I’ll also be using this bike for the occasional sprint and Olympic distance triathlon as well as a general purpose road bike.
The only concern I have is with the Shimano WH-R550 wheels. These are a bladed 16F/20R wheelset. Most of the reviews I’ve read have been mixed and I’m a little leery of the low spoke count wheels. (For reference, I’m currently riding on handbuilt 32H Rhyno lite rims, 14 g, LX hubs on my rigid mountain bike for 1000’s of miles.) I have the option of replacing the wheels with something of similar price. Weight is a small consideration, durabilty is a larger consideration.
I was thinking of Deep V’s, Fusion's, or Mavic CXP 33’s with 28F/32R 3 cross, 14/15 g, 105 hubs, or……..? Any other suggestions / comments?
Thanks in advance.
CC
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I was thinking of Deep V’s, Fusion's, or Mavic CXP 33’s with 28F/32R 3 cross, 14/15 g, 105 hubs, or……..? Any other suggestions / comments?
You won't go wrong with any on your list, and the Fusion's are quite nice. 105 hubs are very good, and you won't go wrong there, either.
Here's what I have experience with, FWIW:
Velocity Aeroheads and DTSwiss R1.1's are good solid rims that are pretty light and just about bombproof. I've 1,000's of miles on mine with no issues at all, and I weigh 230. Both of mine are custom builds, and laced to Campy 32h hubs - Centaur and Chorus, respectively. The Centaur hubs are very good, and the Chorus are spectacular but no longer available except on the secondary market.
I also have a custom set from Mike Garcia - 24/28 hole DTSwiss hubs laced to his Niobium 30 semi-deep V rims. No issues at all after 6,000 miles.
I also have experience with Campy Athena and Veloce hubs, as well as Shimano Dura Ace hubs. They are very nice as well.
Mr. Beanz
Deep V in the rear, CXP33 upfront! FWIW 105 hubs are excellent hubs. I have them on my Lemond (what's left of it:D).
jaxgtr
The price difference between the 105's and the Ultegra's is minor, I think it was $7.00 when I had my wheels built, so I went with them and the Velocity Deep V's.
Daveyboy
The only concern I have is with the Shimano WH-R550 wheels. These are a bladed 16F/20R wheelset. Most of the reviews I’ve read have been mixed and I’m a little leery of the low spoke count wheels.
CC
My Specialized came new with the Shimano WH R560 - not sure that they're very different from the WH R550. My 560's also had 16F/20R bladed spokes. Suprisingly they held up pretty well to my weight (which ranged from 245 to 220 lbs.) The rear wheel does not stay perfectly true, and has a little hop in it, but it's not enough to rub on the brake pads. I've managed to get about 3,000 miles out of them before I broke a spoke last summer (which bent to rim beyond repair.)
I'm replacing them with a pair of hand built DT Swiss RR 1.1's - 32 spoke front and rear, 14/15 gauge, 3 cross, brass nipples. Can't wait until they arrive. :D The Velocity Deep V's and CXP33's have a pretty strong following from the Clydes on this forum, if you're inclined to replace them out of the gate.
However, at 215 you shouldn't have a problem with the WH R550's at least for a while.
jaxgtr
I had the WH R550's on my CAAD9 when I bought it, but they stayed on the bike until I got home then with went straight to my Specialized which I sold. I could hear them strain when I did my test ride, so I knew they were not for me. I sold the Specialized to a sub 200 dude that they will work good for him, but in my opinion, they just seemed cheap. They were really light but to me the felt like one good accidental pothole and it was taco city.
jonathanb715
I'm a borderline clyde (bounce around between 185 and 205) - I bought a bike last year that had the Shimano wheels. Like others, I couldn't get them to stay true. Nothing dangerous or anything - just annoying. I was trying to train for the Death Ride, so lots of climbing and descending, sometimes on some not-so-great roads. After a month of truing them up every week, I got fed up and bought a pair of Neuvation M28 Aero2's. Similarly low spoke count, but I've now put around 7,000 miles on these without having to true them up or do anything to them. They weigh about the same as the Shimanos, so they are no lightweight wheels, but they are strong and well built. There was a spate of hub problems with an older version (the original Aeros), but that seems to have been fixed. They are on sale (permanently, it seems) for $269/pair at www.neuvationcycling.com
JB
BarracksSi
I still have the WH-550's on my CAAD8 (Shimano's site mentions that the 560 update has lighter rims) and also weigh about 215 lbs. They pinged for a while, and I've only got a few hundred miles on them, but the pinging spokes have settled in, and they seem to be holding up pretty well.
I'm still nervous about them, though. There are a couple clyde-friendly wheelsets at my LBS, including a set of Easton Orion II's. Those Neuvation M28 Aero2's are really interesting, though, especially for the price.
Calgary Clyde
Well, after emailing the shop, this is what the quoted me for the swap from the WH-R550's to a set of handbuilt Deep V's, 28F/32R, 14/15g, with ultegra hubs:
Wheel credit $360
Rims $160
Hubs $250
Spokes Incl nipples $90
Labour $130
Total = $630 :eek:
That leaves an extra charge of $270. I know that I can lower the cost by buying my own hubs etc, but I still think that's excessive. I've priced out similiar wheels from Colorado Cyclist, for example, for less than $300/pair. Additionally, another shop in town will build a set of the identical wheels for $465.
So my current options are as follows:
see what other factory built wheels are in the same price range (Neuvation M28 Aero 2's?)
ride the r550's until they give out
see if the shop will sell the bike sans wheels and get handbuilts somewhere else
be like Mr. Beanz and learn to build my own wheels
I still need to give this more thought. Fortunately, it's still WAY too cold to ride (-30 C w/o the wc).
Anyone have any suggestions?
mikeyp.1
I would not spend that much-you can find lots of wheelset for 300 or so that will work I'm about your weight & I think too heavy for 16/20s but 20 radial and 24 2cross rear will work fine if your not careless.My velocity sparticus wheels are 10 years old and have been through hell while my Ritchie pros are holding up well also.
jaxgtr
Wow, run like the wind bullseye... to another builder. That is 300 more than what I paid in November. Check these guys out if you can't find someone local that can't do it for less than $400.00 http://www.prowheelbuilder.com/customaero.php?cat=aero&step=start
(http://www.prowheelbuilder.com/customaero.php?cat=aero&step=start) .
You might also send an email to Scott at http://www.openroadbicycles.com/locations.html They are the folks that built mine and I highly recommend them.