Road Cycling - A road wheel as tough as a MTB wheel?

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.



PDA
leconkie
06-08-04, 12:16 AM
Hi guys,
I've recently undressed my decidedly average hybrid bike and it now looks ok without the back shelf, half-moon mudgaurds, lights and kitchen sink. It's got the 70cm, hybrid wheels and tyres on it and tho these should be much stronger than the skinny racing wheels, it's the one part of the bike I'm not completely confident about. The alu 7005 frame is heavy and tough for touring and the components aren't likely to fall apart soon. Even if they do, they're hardly likely to result in serious injury.So, is there a road wheel out there that you can put on and plough thru potholes etc without worrying, the way I've been doing with my MtB?
Chaars

seely
06-08-04, 12:19 AM
Personally I think most quality road wheels are as strong as most MTB wheels of the same level... I know Campy Protons are nearly indestructable (225lbs rider, smacked a curb at 18mph, wheels were PERFECT still). Mavic Open Pros are good too. The advantage of the MTB wheel is the tire size, its a lot bigger and a lot more rubber so it cushions the wheel more than a teeny 23c tire would.
MichaelW
06-08-04, 11:35 AM
You are looking for a touring grade wheel. This means a min of 36 high quality butted spokes, a good-enough rim and hub (but you dont need top of the range), and most importantly, a good wheelbuilder.
On my loaded touring bike, Ive hit potholdes on tricky descents . The wheels are fairly bomb-proof.
Lightweight race wheels are strong but lack the thick braking surface of a durable touring rim, and you are limitted to 28mm tyres.