Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Wheel Issue

Ok, it finally happened. The rear wheel on my commuter is toast, and I am reasonably certain the front isn't far behind.

So, I need to pick up a new 700c clincher wheelset. Whatever they end up being, they will be ridden every weekday for about 12 miles, rain or shine. I am under 220 now for weight, so I shouldn't be quite as hard on the new set as I was in the earlier months on the set that just poofed on me.

Anyway, recommendations? I don't want to spend a huge bundle on wheels. The old saying of 'cheap, light, strong, pick 2' would be cheap/strong. I am not too worried about weight (I don't want cast iron, but you know what I mean).

Weinmann DP18's or Velocity deep V's or Dyads.

The Velocity option isn't the cheapest, but it will be utterly reliable.

Jumping in before it's said too many times:

Ultegra's laced to Velocity Deep V's, 36, 3x, your choice of double butted or straight gauge.

Jumping in before it's said too many times:

Ultegra's laced to Velocity Deep V's, 36, 3x, your choice of double butted or straight gauge.

I'd avoid the Deep Vs like the plague.

Most people don't look too far into the Velocity catalog, but the Deep V is only 19mm wide. Thats fine for a fast training bike, but its much too narrow for a commuter, and a ride everyday 'rain or shine bike'. That sound to me like he needs to be running 700cx28 or 700cx32 Conti Top Contact tires.

Deep V is 19mm wide and 30mm deep.
Dyad is 24mm wide and 22mm deep.

Look to the Velocity Chukker, think of it as a the ******* love child of a Deep V and a Dyad.

Wider than the Deep V at 24mm (same width as Dyad) but deeper than even the Deep V at 32mm.

My commuter is running 23mm right now. I might be able to get 25mm on it, but no bigger. The frame is a Trek 1200 from 1999.

I don't need wider tires, I just need reliable wheels.

To append to my original inquiry, anyone who has something they particularly like, please also mention where you purchased them.

I've been ridng DeepV's for years now, 250- 230 lbs. Got 32 3X on my roadie. Over 19000 miles and no issues. The 36 would be overkill for your 220 lbs.

I bet the mavic CXP33 would be a nice wheel for you. I know a cople of guys that picked up a set on Colorado Cyclist for about $250 (Ultegra) during sales.

Heck, build your own. I'd do one at a time. There's no law you must have a set. I built these wheels cheap. Depending on your current hubs, you may want to use them if you've got 32 hole, save money. I'm runing a 25 tire on my Lemond. Don't think I could use a wider tire even if I wanted due to the frame clearance. Deep V narow profile has never been a problem in my case.

Rear:
Deep V clearance rack ($25). Dura Ace hub ($99) spokes ($20)
Front:
Mavic XP33 ($70) Ultegra hub ($20) spokes ($20)


I bought a $30 true stand at Performance and $12 dish tool, $2 spoke wrench. I also built the wheels on my Lemond. 19000 miles and one small minor true after 17000 miles.

The MavicCXP33 up front is a smoother ride than the Deep V.




http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3547/3548795145_cba80345ea_o.jpg

I'd avoid the Deep Vs like the plague.

Most people don't look too far into the Velocity catalog, but the Deep V is only 19mm wide. Thats fine for a fast training bike, but its much too narrow for a commuter, and a ride everyday 'rain or shine bike'. That sound to me like he needs to be running 700cx28 or 700cx32 Conti Top Contact tires.

If your frame will clear it, 28mm tires are no problem on the Deep V, CxP22/33, Open Pro, DT RR1.1/1.2, or any number of other 19 - 19.5mm rims used by members of this forum.
My everyday 'rain or shine bike' runs 28mm Gatorskins on 32h DT RR1.1 rims.

The only reason to avoid the Vees is if you're trying to build a light wheel. Those things are bricks!

Mr Beanz,

I dont want to thread crap/hijack but how easy was it to true/ build your own wheels. I want to do it myself but unsure how to.

For the price you quoted If its easy enough that might be a great option for Dlester

Mr Beanz,

I dont want to thread crap/hijack but how easy was it to true/ build your own wheels. I want to do it myself but unsure how to.

For the price you quoted If its easy enough that might be a great option for Dlester

It's this easy (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html) to assemble a wheel. Learning to properly tension, true and stress it are a matter of playing around with it; but it's not that difficult. Start with a front wheel, since the spokes are all the same and it's easier to build since you're using even tension all around.

If the final steps of truing and tensioning are daunting, get the materials and assemble it. Then bring it to your trusty local wheelsmith and have them do the final work on it. It will cost less than having them fully assemble the wheel, and you'll gain the skill of learning how to lace a wheel.

what's your budget?

Mr Beanz,

I dont want to thread crap/hijack but how easy was it to true/ build your own wheels. I want to do it myself but unsure how to.

For the price you quoted If its easy enough that might be a great option for Dlester

I used the site Clifton posted. Plus starting with a new rim is fairly easy if you thread the spokes into the nipples evenly. The rear whel is not that tough either since the shorter spokes on the drive side pretty much place sets the tension difference itself.

I used a $30 Performance POS special, $12 dish tool and a $2 spoke wrench. Borrowed a buddy's tensionmeter to check the wheel after I was done. I had used the sound/feel spoke plucking method to start. Turns out I was right in the tension range when put on the meter.:D

I'm 6'3, 210 lbs so I'm very close to your weight. A pair of Velocity Deep Vs with a 32 spoke setup will do you good. At your size, a 36 spoke setup can be an overkill. I've been told that the current Mavic Open Pros are suppose to be a lot better than their predecessors in terms of durability and they are lighter (and less costly) than the Velocity Deep Vs of similar build. BWW and Performance both sell their 32 spoked OP wheelsets for under $300 with Ultegra hubs. I personally ride Velocity Deep Vs with 28 fornt/32 rear wheel setup and I have ridden them 7,000 miles without even needing the wheels trued.

It seems like everyone on the planet builds Mavic wheels, but Velocity isn't as popular it seems.

I have found, at www.prowheelbuilder.com (http://www.prowheelbuilder.com), for about $370 delivered (UPS Ground) I can get a set of Velocity Deep V rims laced to Ultegra hubs.

For about $275, www.bicyclewheelwarehouse.com (http://www.bicyclewheelwarehouse.com) can build a set of Mavic Open Pro rims, laced to Ultegra hubs, delivered.

Locally there is a bike shop that has a set of Mavic MA3 rims laced to 105 hubs. That would be about $195 after sales taxes and such. I have done some web searching on that rim and it doesn't get very good reviews. It has also been discontinued, which makes me think Mavic gave up on it as well.

Another local shop will recycle my RSX hubs (which appear fine, they are just old), and re-lace them to Mavic rims of some type they haven't specified for $70 each, so the set after taxes and all that would be around $155 or so.

Other mainstream sites, like ColoradoCyclist, appear to have much higher prices unless you catch them on a sale or something.

Then there is always the Beanz method. I could just get some stuff and do it myself. It would cost about the same for this set as having someone else make them, but then I would have the stuff for all future issues. It would drive the wife a little nuts, but that is what marriage is all about. She came back from the store earlier today and made a point to mention she had passed a group of cyclists on the way home in their matching gay outfits. I am going to have to get some flashy kit to wear one of these days just to push her over the edge!

Anyone have anything else to add?

I take forever to make decisions like this. If I had suspected they were going to go out I would have been pondering it for a while, but now I am just glad I have extra bikes. The only disadvantage to riding my Lemond to work is that it doesn't have any kind of rack and I have to wear a backpack, which can really make your back sweaty in 90+ degree days. But, my average speed is up almost 3mph.

it nis just to bad you can't get MA-40 anymore that would be the best rim for this and would ride well too

I'd avoid the Deep Vs like the plague.

Most people don't look too far into the Velocity catalog, but the Deep V is only 19mm wide. Thats fine for a fast training bike, but its much too narrow for a commuter, and a ride everyday 'rain or shine bike'. That sound to me like he needs to be running 700cx28 or 700cx32 Conti Top Contact tires.

Deep V is 19mm wide and 30mm deep.
Dyad is 24mm wide and 22mm deep.

Look to the Velocity Chukker, think of it as a the ******* love child of a Deep V and a Dyad.

Wider than the Deep V at 24mm (same width as Dyad) but deeper than even the Deep V at 32mm.

The Deep V is very robust rim and I use them on my cross bike and use 700x32 tires with no issues.. So 700x28 tires would be easy..

The Deep V is very robust rim and I use them on my cross bike and use 700x32 tires with no issues.. So 700x28 tires would be easy..

Its not the strength of the rim, its the width. Sure Deep-V rims are strong, they are also very very narrow.

A 32mm wide tire on a 19mm wide rim? Seriously?

Its not the strength of the rim, its the width. Sure Deep-V rims are strong, they are also very very narrow.

A 32mm wide tire on a 19mm wide rim? Seriously?

yes seriously.. They are the ritchey crossmax tires..