Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - 400lbs rider looking for Wheels

I broke two spokes on my rear wheel and LBS said it won't be trued without a hop in it. Not sure exactly what that means but i think i means i have to buy a new wheel. Any advice would help. I have done some research and most people say to go with 32 spokes or more and double walled alluminium rims. I would like to get a complete wheel if i can and not have one built. I currently have a Giant Yukon Mountain bike with 26 x 1.5 rims with 8 speed cassette. I have the cassette rims not the hub with thread. Please help! And i am not looking for a light racing wheel just a good wheel for my weight.

I broke two spokes on my rear wheel and LBS said it won't be trued without a hop in it. Not sure exactly what that means but i think i means i have to buy a new wheel. Any advice would help. I have done some research and most people say to go with 32 spokes or more and double walled alluminium rims. I would like to get a complete wheel if i can and not have one built. I currently have a Giant Yukon Mountain bike with 26 x 1.5 rims with 8 speed cassette. I have the cassette rims not the hub with thread. Please help! And i am not looking for a light racing wheel just a good wheel for my weight.

A hop means that it's not quite round, it depends on how much of a hop, it it's not very much then don't worry about it, my rear wheel has a hop in it, and it's been that way for a couple of years now.

Can i run a 40 spoke tandem rear wheel on my mountain bike?

Can i run a 40 spoke tandem rear wheel on my mountain bike?

If it has a 135mm hub. Some tandems run a wider hub with a drum brake threaded on the left side.

Look at a Velocity Rim and have it build with the existing hubs you own. Honestly at your weight, a custom built wheel is really the way to go. You can probably have it built for less than $150 since you already have the hub.

http://www.velocityusa.com/default.asp?contentID=595

re: the tandem wheel
Good idea, but make sure it's 26-inch, the diameter of MTB wheels. Most road bikes (a la the tandem), run 700c wheels, slightly bigger diameter than 26".

General recommendation
For your weight, I'd get at least a 36-spoke, maybe even 40 (I dunno if they make 40 MTB rims) on the rear wheel. The front can probably handle a 32-spoke.

And yes, a hand-built would be the best idea (read: strongest).

Have the shop check QBP for a 40 or 48 spoke hub and rim and have them build a wheel. There are 135mm OLD hubs with 40 or 48 spokes. If they won't do that, find a new shop.

Velocity Deep-V with 38 or 40 DT Swiss spokes.

To the OP - how many spoke holes are there on your current hub?

Like DieselDan said, your best option is to get a new hub with 40, or 40+ holes and take it from there.

FWIW I weigh 265# and I wouldn't use less than 36 spokes on my 700C bike. 400# is way too much for 32 spokes, even with 26 inches.

Only problem with going for 40+ spokes may be rim availability. I'm guessing your choices may be more restricted, but it would still be worthwhile.

A cheap alternative might be to keep an eye out on Craigs List for a used 8 speed mtb with a 36 spoke wheel. You may well be able to buy the whole bike for a lot less than getting a wheel built. Transfer the 36 spoke wheel to your bike and Ebay the usable components from the donor bike, or just put the repaired 32 spoke wheel in it and sell it complete.

Thanks for the advice guys. I took it to another shop and now waiting to see if it can be replaced and trued. The wheel has 36 spokes so i want to replace the spokes. The LBS said to run a wider tire to that might help relieve some of the stress on the wheels. I was running 26 x 1.25 street runners, they were quick but i might have to step up to a 2" wide tire. This sounds like good advice does anyone else agree or disagree? And i have been looking for a 40h hub they are hard to find, found a 135mm tandem 40h hub pretty expensice though i think 350 to 400. If this wheel doesn't work after the replaced spokes then i will be looking into a tandem hub or other with 40h hub and rim.

It seems like i would be better off getting a touring road bike. They seem to have a larger selection of higher spoked wheels and what not. Any input on going to a touring bike would be helpful too.

Yes, well that's what I ride - Trek 520. I like it for a whole buch of reasons, but the additional strength over a mtb isn't one of them.

Think is, all things being equal, a 36 spoke 26" mtb wheel is going to be stronger than a 36 spoke 700C wheel.

The bigger tyre will certainly help. I would suggest you try that first.

Thanks abacus i am going to be saving money and looking into a trek 520, jamis aurora, or surley long haul trucker. I think the mtb might be good for limestone and dirt but i am really liking the road and paved paths. Touring might be the best bet for my new riding adventures.