Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - opinion on wheel recommendations?

Hi all

I'm on the market for new wheels for my Giant OCR3 following many broken spokes despite rebuilds of the stock wheels that came with the bike. I've already looked through this forum and it seems like many are using deep vs or mavic open pros and quite a few seem to be riding aksium's without too many probs.

Before coming onto the forum, I rang around a few lbs's and got their opinions for a good wheel to deal with my 97 kg (214 lb). A few said that the Aksium's would be the way to go and are definitely closest to my price range. fulcrum race 7s or 5s were also mentioned but seem a bit pricey.

Another bloke said he'd build me a set of indestructible open pros with double or triple butted spokes. However, at 800-900 aussie dollars, this seems like overkill when I can pick up the aksiums for under 400. $900 is also a bit out of my price range.

Anyway, would be excellent to have anyone's opinion regarding the options above. Reading the forums seems to indicate that the aksiums should be fine though.

Thanks a bunch, Pete

probikekit.com for the Aksiums:

http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?cat=Mavic%20Wheels

they are $175 there... so $400 sounds kind of steep. $600 gets you Ksyriums... a much better wheel than the Open Pros.

Thanks - great price - but they appear to be for campagnolo cassettes - I'm running shimano.

Aksiums also come in shimano spline, pbk is just out of stock right now.. The Fulcrum 7's are not too far out of your price range and would consider them to be a solid wheel choice..

http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=W0004

These Mavic Open pros with ultegra hubs are supposed to be really good, and they are also a great price. In addition they have a 32 spoke count, higher than the aksiums and fulcrums.

http://www.bicyclewheelwarehouse.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=37

These Mavic Open pros with ultegra hubs are supposed to be really good, and they are also a great price. In addition they have a 32 spoke count, higher than the aksiums and fulcrums.

http://www.bicyclewheelwarehouse.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=37

That is a good price for open pro's.. Would stick with straight gauge spokes and brass nipples.. Do you know if these are machine built?

The site says hand built, who knows for sure though.

I weigh in at about 100kg and built up some Kinlin 30mm (also know as IRD Nobium) rims with 32 rear and 24 front. Built like the proverbial brick outhouse.

given that you're in oz...I'd say hand build deep-vs. We all swear by them, they are local.

You should be fine with 32s, 3x. I'm 230, have 28 front and 36 rear.

Love my hand built Deep V's, and they are super strong, but the Deep V's are probably overkill for you. Check out Velocity's Fusion, strong like the Deep V, but much lighter in weight.

I haven't ridden, or even seen, the Aksium's but I do own a set of inexpensive Mavic wheels for my mountain bike. Ever since purchasing them, I've been suspicious of Mavic's low-end wheels. The wheels I have appear to be machine made and they weren't especially true out of the box. Probably worth what I paid for them, but better stuff is available. If you decide to go with the Aksiums, I'd ask your shop to check trueness and spoke tension before you start using them...

Thanks everyone - currently trying to work out how much fusions or deep v's are going to cost in the local stores.

$267.00 for Fusions or Deep V's through Wheelbuilder..

http://www.wheelbuilder.com/store/home.php?cat=424

http://www.neuvationcycling.com/wheels.html

What’s the weight limit on your wheels?

I really don’t have set weight limits. But here are some rough guide lines:

M 28 Aero: The strongest wheels I sell. Good for really big guys even over 250.
M 28: Still very strong wheels but not quite as strong as the Aero wheels. Good to 240.
R series: Probably good to 220 but if you are 220 pounds of muscle and are hard on wheels it might be a stretch.
Carbon wheels: Your taking your chances at any weight. The heavier you are the more likely you will bottom out the tire and crack the rim.

Nice thing about V's, or Velocity is that the rims are available in several colors. I have ti grey on my Lemond. I built them and have about 17,000 miles on these wheels.

Rear 32 3X and front 28 spoke. After the initial breakin and readjust of the tension at about 300 miles, I haven't had to touch them with a spoke wrench. I'm 240 lbs.

Yesterday's mtn climb
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/012509B.jpg

In the past, when I rode alot, the only type of wheels that would seem to hold my 240 lbs were 36 spoke wheels with double butted spokes. I ran Mavic Open Pro rims. I tried the non butted spokes, but I would bend the rims and break spokes. I have had many hand built wheels, but for me Colorado Cyclist was the best. I now have the Ksyriums and they are doing really great.

Thanks for the recommendations everyone - really appreciated. I've settled on getting just my rear wheel replaced since that's the one I've had problems with (and it's cheaper than getting both done!).

Getting a Mavic openpro built up with 105 hubs next week while I'm over east. Will let you know how it goes!

Cheers again, Pete.

I've never had luckwith OP's. Even at 220. They are noisey at the weld bead inside the seam. Plus the lil eyelets pop out. Lots of ticking and crackling from those rims. I had one split at the braking surface:eek:...Couldn't get over 10 months (4000 miles) of of them wihtout a mishap.That's my experience though.

If I were you, I'd go Mavic CXP33. About the same price but a little deeper. Maybe 24 mm while the OP is 19 or 21(?). A few grams more but nice and strong.

Oh, and the 33 comes in black. The OP's are mostly blue. Everytime I see a black rim, it's out of stock. SO do you want blue, blue or blue?:D