Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - horror story..

i weigh around 315-330 or so, haven't been weighed in a while, it was 315 last time
anyway
riding my bike today, all of a sudden, it starts wobbling to a frightening extent.
so i had my dad look at the wheel, and i guess i didn't notice while wheeling it in, considering how deep in a dehydrated daze i was due to the fact i ended up biking a lot more than i planned for..
but i had about three spokes dangling completely out of the rim, and i counted about ten that were very, very loose and bent.

i was racing down some very steep hills today. had that wheel given out at around the 30 mph i was traveling..

anyway, it was terrifying. this freaked my dad out pretty good too, so tomorrow we're taking it to the lbs and having him put on "the sturdiest wheels he's got." guess he'll have to order some since my wheels are so large.

just wanted to share, see if anyone has any advice or whatnot, similar stories, etc.

A good hand built and tensioned 36 spoke Velocity Deep V or Velocity Dyad. Either would be a good choice. Use stainless Steel spokes from either DT Swiss or Wheelsmith.

Yep, they both are. The Deep V is a deep section superstrong 700c wheel, and the Dyad is 700c wheel designed for loaded touring.

These are Velocity Deep V's on my Allez Road bike.

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o260/TomStormcrowe/Spring%20Break%202008/SpringBreak_2008035-1-1.jpg

I've had them on for 2 years, and ride some fairly rough roads. I speced these wheels to be able to stand up to riding on cobblestone roads if I wanted to and not have them fail. 3100 miles on them and still absolutely true. The front wheel is a 2 cross spoke weave, and the rear is a 3 cross spoke weave. They were built and tensioned by hand by a master wheelbuilder, using anodized black stainless straight gage spokes from Wheelsmith on Tiagra hubs.

FM, you're riding the flat bar'd cannondale(edit: Klein) road bike, correct? If so, what kind of wheels do you currently have? There's a chance that at the very least the front can be saved. Presuming your issues were with the rear. And/or the hub(s) re-used.

Otherwise, pretty much what Tom said. For your current weight I would forego my normal choice of Mavic Open Pros and lean toward the Velocity Deep V's, Dyads or Mavic CXP33's in 36 spoke, 14 ga., 3 cross pattern. You could go even heavier with the rims without additional cost. But, to get into 40 or more spoke count tandem wheels is probably over-kill.

I have a 40 spoke Velocity Dyad rim with a Hugi hub and DT Swiss spokes. Basically, it is a wheel built for a tandem. Tell your LBS to build you a tandem wheel. I have 4,200 miles on this wheel with no popped spoke(s).
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2406/2114415769_326dbbc5e6.jpg

I told you to ride that bike until a spoke popped...That didn't take long :D

FM, you're riding the flat bar'd cannondale(edit: Klein) road bike, correct? If so, what kind of wheels do you currently have? There's a chance that at the very least the front can be saved. Presuming your issues were with the rear. And/or the hub(s) re-used..

they are mavic cxp 22 rims, and yes, the issue was with the rear wheel.



I told you to ride that bike until a spoke popped...That didn't take long :D

:cry: I WAS SO PISSED!
my godsend of a bike giving out on me after a week and a half :mad:

they are mavic cxp 22 rims, and yes, the issue was with the rear wheel.



:cry: I WAS SO PISSED!
my godsend of a bike giving out on me after a week and a half :mad:

Cry not mighty fortress. It's still a really cool bike. I'll happily pay the shipping if you ever want to send it to me. Now, for wheels:

If you just looking for a good dependable wheel:

The Deep V's and Dyad's already listed are prossibly your best bets. The more spokes the merrier. However, 36 spoke components are probably going to be far more affordable than 40/+. So, if I was you, I would be looking for something like a Shimano Ultegra or 105 hub laced to either of those rims with 3X or even 4X pattern of 14 straignt gauge spokes and brass nipples. Other alternate rims that might also work well are Mavic CXP33's and DT 1.2's. And you don't have to buy wheels as sets. So, just a rear is a very probably option for you, as long as you don't mind that your rims won't be matching.

Another vote for the Deep V. 2,000 miles on mine so far and they've taken everything I can throw at them. Had them built by Peter White and they've stayed true so far.