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

I know, yet another wheel question. Just looking for some guidance.

Currently I have Shimano WH-R550 wheels on my CAAD9 R5 bike. After reading quite a few posts, I had major concerns with the wheels. I admit I was quite naive when it came to bikes. I did ask the salesrep when I bought my bike if the CAAD9 R5 could hold my weight - he assured me it would.

Within the past week, I visited two LBS's (one where I bought the bike) to ask about the wheels and to hopefully set my mind at ease. In both cases they said I should be fine. I am currently 6'5''/240 lbs (after losing 12 lbs in the past 2 weeks). My goal weight is 225-230. I ride 50% on bike trails and 50% open road. Since talking to each LBS, I have been very cautious going over bumps but even on the trail I still hit small ones. Every noise my bike makes stresses me out. To be honest, although I love to ride (quite addicted), I stress out quite a bit as well.

Yesterday while cleaning my bike, I noticed my back wheel is already not true which added fuel to the fire. Part of the wheel is hitting the brake pad during rotation. Don't see the same issue with the front wheel. I only have 123 miles on the bike. I plan on taking it in tomorrow. I understand there is a break-in period but am concerned this will be an on-going battle.

To put my mind at ease, I am thinking about switching out the WH-R550's with another wheelset. I would like to run 36's in the back and 32's in the front. Currently run 23 tires and would like to switch to 25's. I have narrowed my wheel choices down to:

1. Velocity Deep V's - Ultegra/105
2. DT Swiss RR1.1 - Ultegra
3. 700C DT Swiss RR1.2 - Ultegra
4. Mavic CXP33

Any thoughts? Also, not sure this is the correct forum, but what price do you think I can get with my current wheels? Do you think the LBS would be willing to switch them out (I would pay the difference)? Would I be fine running 32's on the back?

I definitely have tons to learn but I have learned quite a bit reading these forums. Wish I would have done more homework up front and I would have avoided these issues :(.

Thanks everyone.

I'm 230-250 and have over 21000 miles on my Deep V's. I built them myself though, which is a factor in durable wheels, the builder.

I would say ditch the wheels but I would get my money's worth first.

One thing you can do it take it back to the shop since it's new, have them reture the wheel AND....pay close attention! HAVE THEM RETENSION THE WHEEL. Truing a new wheel isn't enough, it needs to be retensioned. If they say it doesnt' find another shop.

The wheel will continue to go out of true without proper even tension. If you continue to ride the wheel without tension, it's more likely to break spokes a the hub. Lack of tension allows the spoke to move in the hub hole. Like a wire bent over and over, it eventually breaks.

BTW, I'm your weight and 32 rear 28 front is plenty with a Deep V.

k, I think you are getting too scared right away. Ruining your enjoyment of the ride. :)

It's very likely that your front wheel will be OK but you'll have to replace the rear wheel. I still have the stock front wheel because I'm too cheap to have them make me a matched set.

I'm going to echo the recommendation. They need to tension-and-true the rear wheel. Part of what did my stock rear rim in was that they didn't tension it properly, they just re-trued it. Which then meant that four spokes gave lose and the rim was bent out of shape. Hence, new wheel.