Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Wheel Problems, Guidance Needed Badly!!!!!

I have had to true the back wheel on my OCR3 three times in 3 months leading up to today. Today it turned "egg-shaped" and I felt it vibrating in the rear. I knew it would happen as it is a very generic DA-22 and I am 315 as of today. I called around and was told a 36 spoke Mavic will be about $200-$250 built. I am unemployed and $100 is my budget on this unforseen(well, kinda) expense. I was offered a new r500 Shimano for $80.00 but it is a 24 spoke wheel. The LBS said "24 spoke will be fine for you, we got bigger guys on this wheel with no problems"

Can I get some ideas for a replacement "sturdy" wheel for $100 or less?-Thanks, James:twitchy:

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1034193_-1_70501_70500_71003

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1034193_-1_70501_70500_71003



Why would he put an mtb wheel on a roadie? Maybe I'm wrong but Ithought the OCR was a road bike. I could be wrong, I was wrong once before!:D

I weigh about 250, and I've had problems every time I've tried to use fewer than 36 spokes, even with wheels hand-built (at staggering expense, I have to say) by an excellent mechanic. I'm an experienced rider (40 years as an adult), and I don't catch air or jump curbs--that's just a lot of weight for a Stupid Lite wheel. I have friends in the 200-220 range who've used 28-spoke wheels, but they don't work for me.
Something like a Velocity Deep V in 36 might work for you if you're careful. You could also buy a 36h "built wheel" (usually machine made) from a dealer's or Web site's stock, then pay somebody to hand-true it. Assembly quality is really important.

I would only be looking at 36 hole rims right now.. CXP33 or Deep V would be a good choice.. If you need to go with a 32 hole rim, I would look at the Velocity Chukker, think of it as the Deep V's beefier brother.. You are limited on the chukker of using 700x25 or 28 as your smallest tire choice, this may not be an issue.. The chukker is available in 32 - 36 and 48 versions.. Make sure to get the machined version, helps with braking..

The fact that the LBS offered you a wheel with 24 spokes say a lot about your LBS, they may not be looking out for you..

Info on chukker: http://www.velocityusa.com/default.asp?contentID=701

http://www.thebikebiz.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=TRK-RM-VEL04

Someone one said that "good" is the enemy of "best".
In this case, it's going to be a choice between "good enough" (barely) and "good" (what's actually going to last for more than a couple weeks).

If you have $100 to spend now, you'll have at least a couple of choices:

1) Fritter it away, $25 at a time, repairing your current wheel
2) Spend it on a cheap (sorry, for us Clydes $100 only buys cheap) wheel that probably will be temporary
3) Eat more beans & rice and mac & cheese (that's a metaphor, not to be taken literally!) and save for a real wheel -- one that can serve you for a long time. It'll might take until spring to fatten the pig (another metaphor = piggy bank), but you'll be glad when it happens.

The DA22 is a common stock rim, but I wouldn't go as far to call it 'generic'. Alex Rims have a mixed reputation because they're stock rims. People assume they're "cheapos", and it's often because the LBS isn't doing any wheel work on off-the-peg bikes. A 32h DA22 should be able to hold up to 315 pounds for longer than a couple weeks between truings if it's built properly.

The spokes need to be appropriately and evenly tensioned, and destressed when the wheel is first built. If not, then when it starts to go out of true and a shop simply starts turning spoke nipples to bring the wheel back to straight and round, you'll end up with further uneven spoke tension. Loose/slack spokes tend to break, and replacing a single spoke without retensioning the entire wheel usually leads to quick future issues with gentlemen of our stature.
If you can find a wheelsmith you trust (not the LBS telling you a 24h rim is OK for you), for just north of $100 you can probably rebuild around your current hub. $0.80/ea for DT Champion 2.0 spokes ($25.00). Alex DA28 rim (similar profile to Mavic CxP33 or Velocity Deep V) is around $40, and the wheelbuild should cost about the same. Another inexpensive but good rim option is the Alex Adventurer. It's wider than a standard racing rim since it's a tourer, so you'd want to check your max tire clearance on the OCR frame, because you should run at least a 25mm tire on that rim. Along the similar lines would be the Sun CR-18. Priced like the DA-28, profile like the Adventurer.

I've had wheel problems with every wheel I've had that has had less than 36 spokes and have not been hand built. The two hand-built 36 spoke wheels have *knock on wood* been amazingly reliable through some pretty tough situations with thousands of miles on them (the LHT has, I'm sure, 10,000 on it at this point). I've had the 700c wheel on my LHT trued once, and it's due for another now - both very very minor truing jobs, I'm just anal about wheels.

Strong, light, cheap. You can only pick two.

http://www.bikeman.com/WE7095.html

Not sure how wide a tire your frame can take but I don't see any reason a 300lb person needs to be riding on a 25mm tire. If you can fit a 32mm tire on there this 24mm wide Velocity rim you'll be well taken care of.

Aksium is prety ttough.

http://www.bikeman.com/WE7095.html

Not sure how wide a tire your frame can take but I don't see any reason a 300lb person needs to be riding on a 25mm tire. If you can fit a 32mm tire on there this 24mm wide Velocity rim you'll be well taken care of.

The problem with this wheel is that the hub is a 135mm spacing and most road bikes will only accept 130mm spaced wheels.. The dyad rim is a solid choice for a rebuild..

Wow, Great replies and some more Questions I have.

#1. Will the Aksium really hold my weight? I have found several in the $100 range.

#2. My other(I have 3) LBS called me and said they will sell me a 32 Hole Mavic cxp22 on a 105 hub for $115 and it will be hand trued before they put it on the bike. Does this sound like a solid replacement as he suggested?

#3. my #3 wheelshop is offering to build me a cxp33 on a 105 wheel hand built 36 spoke for $170-$200. Sound fair?

I will go with the option you guys like best. I trust the senior members here waaaayyyyy more than my LBS, maybe cause you arent profiting from me breaking new wheels, LOL!!! THANKS AGAIN, you all are real lifesavers(maybe literally)

I would go with the 36 spoke wheel at our weight.

#2. My other(I have 3) LBS called me and said they will sell me a 32 Hole Mavic cxp22 on a 105 hub for $115 and it will be hand trued before they put it on the bike. Does this sound like a solid replacement as he suggested?

I just checked and that is a wheel from Bike wheel warehouse $114.95 http://www.bicyclewheelwarehouse.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=49.
I just ordered a set of rims from them but I havent got them set up yet, (out of money for cassette rim tape etc.) but The were a good deal.
I went with the 32 spoke Mavic A319 with the double wall rim and the low cost shimano hub. The set front and rear ran me just at $150.00
Good luck.

I will be watching this thread as well! at 349 (currently) my 32 spoke 26" wheels may have a very short life - I just don't know - everyone but the LBS that sold me the bike have said spokes will start breaking soon.

I have actually emailed 3 different custom wheelsmiths for quotes, and each one has come back stating they do not do that type of builds, only racing - ouch!

So I will wait, watch, and worry...

OP, you may well find an alternative before I can find anything but I'm keeping an eye just South of you. The bummer is that last week I could have gotten a 36 spoke rear for $20 and had the darling daughter drop it off to you somewhere around OKC as she passed though on her way back to school earlier today.

Of course, that would be too much like luck, so we know why that didn't happen, lol.

Thanks TX, I hear ya on that. I have always wanted a postal Trek 1000 and 5 minutes after I bought my OCR3 one popped up in my size on Craigslist for $450.00! I was so bummed but my OCR is a fun bike so not all is lost, lol.

junkfoodjunkie is hooking me up tomorrow with a SUN 32spoke to get me by. I will use it till I can get this figured out. THANKS JAKE!!!!!

In the mean time I might let my LBS build me a wheel. I am thinking 36 Spoke CXP33, 105 Hub, with DT spokes. I hope this will be my last rear wheel till I put the Zipps on when I am 185 LBS, I can Dream right!

Thanks TX, I hear ya on that. I have always wanted a postal Trek 1000 and 5 minutes after I bought my OCR3 one popped up in my size on Craigslist for $450.00! I was so bummed but my OCR is a fun bike so not all is lost, lol.

junkfoodjunkie is hooking me up tomorrow with a SUN 32spoke to get me by. I will use it till I can get this figured out. THANKS JAKE!!!!!

In the mean time I might let my LBS build me a wheel. I am thinking 36 Spoke CXP33, 105 Hub, with DT spokes. I hope this will be my last rear wheel till I put the Zipps on when I am 185 LBS, I can Dream right!

Jake is one of but many in the long network of good folks out there. Glad to hear we have ya fixed up for at least a little while.

Why would he put an mtb wheel on a roadie? Maybe I'm wrong but Ithought the OCR was a road bike. I could be wrong, I was wrong once before!:D
The OCR3 is the least expensive Road bike sold by Giant from 2003-2007(I think) All Sora, with those aux brake handles on the top bar!

http://www.bikepedia.com/QuickBike/BikeSpecs.aspx?Year=2004&Brand=Giant&Model=OCR%203&Type=bike

Thanks TX, I hear ya on that. I have always wanted a postal Trek 1000 and 5 minutes after I bought my OCR3 one popped up in my size on Craigslist for $450.00! I was so bummed but my OCR is a fun bike so not all is lost, lol.

junkfoodjunkie is hooking me up tomorrow with a SUN 32spoke to get me by. I will use it till I can get this figured out. THANKS JAKE!!!!!

In the mean time I might let my LBS build me a wheel. I am thinking 36 Spoke CXP33, 105 Hub, with DT spokes. I hope this will be my last rear wheel till I put the Zipps on when I am 185 LBS, I can Dream right!

+1
Excellent choice -- spoke count and rims are what we 'big' folks can appreciate.

It's not in your original budget, but it's a choice that I believe you'll be happy with. Assuming that your LBS builds good wheels.

Thanks Bret, I hope this will be the end of my wheel worries as $200 was a heck of a stretch! I cant wait to put a million miles on this beast!

Thanks Bret, I hope this will be the end of my wheel worries as $200 was a heck of a stretch! I cant wait to put a million miles on this beast!

Make sure that the LBS uses straight gauge spokes, no need trying to trim a few grams going with lighter spokes.. 14g spokes would be ideal..

In the mean time I might let my LBS build me a wheel. I am thinking 36 Spoke CXP33, 105 Hub, with DT spokes. I hope this will be my last rear wheel till I put the Zipps on when I am 185 LBS, I can Dream right!

I concur that this would be decent choice!


Make sure that the LBS uses straight gauge spokes, no need trying to trim a few grams going with lighter spokes.. 14g spokes would be ideal.

I prefer butted spokes for nearly all my builds. It's not about weight, it's about resiliency! More important is the use of spoke head washers with the aforementioned combo. The spoke holes in 105 hubs (and most other mid-range hubs) are too big! Clydes gotta have washers.

I have been emailing a tech at an email that AI somehow found on the web. The funny part is that he has been very fast to reply to me with ideas and suggestions! The wheel he suggested I have built he stated was built in 2006 and 2007 - and that I should search for it. Not only is it build for 300+ pound Clydes, but it is also built for catching air - shrug - anyhow, did some searching, and unless I read it wrong, this is for a "set" - as in both the front AND the rear???

http://www.cambriabike.com/shopexd.asp?ID=50622

What am I missing here? Thoughts please?

I have been emailing a tech at an email that AI somehow found on the web. The funny part is that he has been very fast to reply to me with ideas and suggestions! The wheel he suggested I have built he stated was built in 2006 and 2007 - and that I should search for it. Not only is it build for 300+ pound Clydes, but it is also built for catching air - shrug - anyhow, did some searching, and unless I read it wrong, this is for a "set" - as in both the front AND the rear???

http://www.cambriabike.com/shopexd.asp?ID=50622

What am I missing here? Thoughts please?

Are you looking for mountain bike wheels?

26" rims, 27.5 width?
Might work on my mountain bike, eh?


I have been emailing a tech at an email that AI somehow found on the web. The funny part is that he has been very fast to reply to me with ideas and suggestions! The wheel he suggested I have built he stated was built in 2006 and 2007 - and that I should search for it. Not only is it build for 300+ pound Clydes, but it is also built for catching air - shrug - anyhow, did some searching, and unless I read it wrong, this is for a "set" - as in both the front AND the rear???

http://www.cambriabike.com/shopexd.asp?ID=50622

What am I missing here? Thoughts please?

Are you looking for mountain bike wheels?

Correct me if I am wrong - but my 26X2.00 Marathon will work fine on the wheel, right? If you actually went to the Rim maker's site, it is for BMX and Clydes - a quick link to my bike's SPECs - why won't it fit? http://www.bikepedia.com/quickbike/BikeSpecs.aspx?Year=2010&Brand=Giant&Model=Suede+DX&Type=bike

Is it a case that a BMX wheel can't go on a regular comfort bike? I told the 'tech' what I had, so he knows the tires and even that I have fenders on it too - fill me in please?

Some info from the email:

<snip>
For the rim I would recommend the Rhyno Lite XL. $49.99 MSRP
> (When ordering make sure it is the XL version as we do make a Rhyno Lite)
>
> And for hubs I have two options due too budget and what not.
> Abbah S.O.S available in 36 hole or 32 Hole.
> (Front Hub $118.00 MSRP)
> (Rear Hub $188.00 MSRP)
>
> ECO Only available in 32 Hole
> (Front $60.00 MSRP)
> (Rear $108.00 MSRP)
>
> I would go with the 36 hole but I thought I'd give you another option.
> We don't have many options as most of our heavy duty Rims are disc
> specific and will not work with rim brakes.
> Wheels are not cheap I hope I didn't scare you with the prices.
<snip>
And then:
<snip>
That did not reflect labor or spokes.
One thing I forgot to mention is the hubs I recommended do have Rotor Mounts on them. We currently are not making any too many hubs without Rotor mounts.
The rims do have brake track for V-Brakes.
We did make this set up as a wheel set in 2006 and 2007 and we called it S.U.V. so you may be able to find some out there at a discount price. If not I can sell the wheel set to your shop with a MSRP of $399.99
I would do some searches first to see if you can find them on closeout (save some money). If you do find some and have a question on them please get back to me. I will gladly answer any question that I am able to.
<snip>

So - is this a good idea for us Clydes, or not? Upon searching, I am seeing them for around $260 or so, but, if by going the full price, color choice becomes an option (Like no color)

Correct me if I am wrong - but my 26X2.00 Marathon will work fine on the wheel, right? If you actually went to the Rim maker's site, it is for BMX and Clydes - a quick link to my bike's SPECs - why won't it fit?

Is it a case that a BMX wheel can't go on a regular comfort bike?



I don't know if it would fit or not. I'm just getting confused as posters keep throwing in MTB wheel questions and rec's in a roadie bike wheel thread!:eek:

I'm thinking road bike when other suggest the OP go for an mtb wheel! You confused me as your post did not state bike type, so I was still thinking roadies.

you should be able to go as low as 26x1.75" with the Rhyno XL rim.. I would also look at the Mavic XM719, this was a replacement for the F519 rim which I have used and abused for years with no issues at all.. They can be bought in 36 hole for a great wheel.. They are slightly wider than stock mtb rims but not as wide as the rhyno xl..

I am still thinking 'Roadie" too, just that some of the needs for a Clyde Roadie, and a MTB are somewhat the same, are they not? And on what I have read, the only factor li,it on the above wheel is you'd best use a tire at least 1.75 wide (mine are 2.00).

I did not start this thread, but it concerns me due to the fact I have stock 32 hole wheels, so I fear losing them soon. I have written down the "Mavic XM719" as well. Remember, Rhyno comes in a "lite" and a "Lite XL" - the difference is the "Lite XL" is the 1.75 width, and is slightly heavier than the "Lite" at 1.50 wide.

I am still thinking 'Roadie" too, just that some of the needs for a Clyde Roadie, and a MTB are somewhat the same, are they not? And on what I have read, the only factor li,it on the above wheel is you'd best use a tire at least 1.75 wide (mine are 2.00).

I did not start this thread, but it concerns me due to the fact I have stock 32 hole wheels, so I fear losing them soon. I have written down the "Mavic XM719" as well. Remember, Rhyno comes in a "lite" and a "Lite XL" - the difference is the "Lite XL" is the 1.75 width, and is slightly heavier than the "Lite" at 1.50 wide.



The confusion comes in when the OP asked a Q about roadie wheels. In post #2, another poster rec'd MTB wheels. I can't figure tha one out!???????

Then in your post, again you bring up MTB wheels. I'm thinking you were rec'ing the wheel to the OP as you NEVER state that you are asking aboout MTB wheels FOR YOUR MTB. Seemed to me you were suggesting the OP look into the wheels the tech rec'd.

I'm sorry but even if you feel MTB and roadie clyde wheels share siliar needs, your post had nothing to do with roadie. It was a Q about MTB wheels, hence the confusion.;)

Am very lost now - am sorry if I messed up anything here. I do not have a MTB, I was only ever talking "Roadie" as what the OP is going through I fear will happen to me next. This 'tech' I emailed knows the BIKE I have and suggested these wheels as they are heavy duty - I have zero knowledge about whether 'Roadie" and "MTB" can mix - so if a 'tech' said it, I *assumed* it was correct?

Sorry...

I have zero knowledge about whether 'Roadie" and "MTB" can mix - so if a 'tech' said it, I *assumed* it was correct?

Sorry...

There are a few ways a road bike could use a MTB wheelset, and vice versa; but they're not the norm:

1) 29er MTB could use a roadie wheelset if the rear hub spacing was 132.5 - 135mm on the road wheels.
2) Disc brake road bike could use disc MTB wheelset if the rear spacing of the frame is wide enough, and the tires will clear the frame.
3) An either/or frame like the Surly Karate Monkey, which can handle 26" wheels, 700c narrow road rims, and 29er (700c wide) rims.

My Bike is a 2010 Giant Suede DX. 26" wheels, current tire is Marathon 26X2.00. This is what the 'tech' just sent me as I explained the confusion I created...


Those are intended for MTB but can be used on a bike that uses 26" wheels. The only thing I would consider that I didn't think about till you sent the link was the spacing of the rear hub. MTB hubs are 135mm from end to end and "road" hubs a usually 130mm from end to end. We can check this by dropping the rear wheel out of the bike and measuring the width of the frame from drop out to drop out. I do believe the Suede is 135mm.

Anyhow, I was only trying to learn, and help, as I fear I will soon have the same issues myself (unless I am to be lucky?)

Anyhow, I was only trying to learn, and help, as I fear I will soon have the same issues myself (unless I am to be lucky?)

I will take this opportunity to doublehijack this thread to discuss the issue of wheel durability:

32 spoke wheels are OK for clydes... if you are buying a set of new wheels it only makes sense to get 36 spoke (or more if you have the budget) wheels, but if 32 spoke wheels will be fine IF...

The tension is set correctly when the wheels are new, and, the tension is checked and re-set by an expert after the wheels have gone through a 'break-in' period (~a couple hundred miles).

Any decent quality rim (except for maybe the most super lightweight) and decent quality spokes will last fine as long as the spoke tension is correct.

Also, some clydes have had good luck with the low-spoke count wheels like Aksiums and the Shimano 550s and the like... this is most likely because the manufacturers know that spoke breakage will be a problem if the tension is too low, and so build the wheels properly the first time - nobody wants to drop between $250 and $1000 on a set of wheels and have broken spokes a month later.
However, most of the wheels that come stock on mass manufactured bikes are assembled quickly to keep costs down, not carefully to maximise durability - it has almost nothing to do with the quality of the rims (Alex are fine) or a 'bad batch of spokes' - just assembly quality.

If the wheels on a bike are properly tensioned and stress-relieved before leaving the shop, 95% will not have a problem with durability, and the other 5% (probably people over ~180lbs who ride a lot) would be taken care of by retensioning after a few hundred miles of riding.

Peter C - have you had the tension on your wheels checked since you got the bike? If not, the time is now!

To the OP - Don't worry about the model of rim you get for your Giant - Alex DA22 or whatever are perfectly good - just make sure that the wheels are tensioned properly and that the tension is checked after a few hundred miles. You will be fine. If I were you I would have jumped on the Mavic rim/105 hub the LBS offered you, then keep an eye on the tension.

YMMV.

I agree that 32 hole is fine for most, but there is big difference when we are talking about someone in 220 lb range and then someone else in the 300+ weight class.. Riding style is also something you have to take into consideration, when I rode a lot more I was more of grinder but now I spin a lot more, is easier on the legs and knees..

Not all clydes are made alike.. If I were in the higher weight category, I would only consider a deep dish rim if I had 32 hole as my only option, something like a Deep V or DT Swiss RR1.2..

I think it is beat into our heads that we need super lightweight but there is usually a compromise of durability with doing that.. I just had a rear wheel built up on Campy Hub w/ Aerohead 36 hole rim / w 14g straight gauge spokes that came in at 950 grams.. Not super lightweight but fairly decent.. I could of shaved a little weight going with 28 hole rims but that would compromise the durability of the wheel.. The thinking in a lot of shops is that if you get 1-2 years of service on a wheel that is pretty good.. This is the mindset of a lot of shops.. I have wheels that I use that are going on 15+ years of service, this of course is not the norm but you should be able to get 10k-15k miles out a good set of custom built wheels..

OKay, I got the Alex DA-22/Shimano hub back from my LBS. The wheel builder had to take all the spokes to zero tension and start over. I am very happy with it. I am upset that the same LBS inflated prices on the "Custom" wheel I wanted(cxp33/105 Hub/DT Swiss Spokes) from $170 ish to $298.00 out the door! I will use this till I can buy a nice set. I am done with my LBS guys in this area. I am tired of the prices being so high in this economy!

why the 128.00 upcharge.. Even at list price for the parts and labor you should be at: $220 - 230.00 max...

Since I switched all my bikes to Campy I have been selling many of my extra shimano wheelsets and solo wheels.. I still have a handful of 36 hole wheels available..

OK, PETERC, I see where we go wrong.

When I say roadie, I speak of racer type bikes with 700c wheels (tall narrow wheels). WHen I hear 26 inch wheels, I think mountain bike wheels since that is what mountain bikes use (other exceptions like 29 ers). But for manyh years, 26 inch wheels were very common on mountain bikes.

Now you mention roadie because you don't ride your cruiser bike in the dirt. After looking at your pecs, your biek does use 26 inch wheels similar to those on a 26 inch wheel mountain bike. SO if the tch says itshould work it should, hopefully!:D

SO 26 inch wheels on your cruiser and the 26 inch rims of a mountain bike SHOULD be interchangeable.

700c rims of a race bike ar not interchangeable wiht a 26 inch wheel cause it is taller and the brake pads will not ine up with the brake surface of the rim when installed. The 700 rim might not even fit into the front fork (I've never tried).

26 inch mtb wheel should go with your 26 inch wheels of your bike.....BUT not with a racer type bike with 700c wheels.


Picture below....A 700c wheel from my roadie (racer type bike) and a 26 inch wheel from a mountain bike. Notice the diference in height, 26 inche wheel is much shorter (smaller in diameter). Not interchangeable. But if a bike like yours says 26 inch wheels, it should be fine with another 26 inch wheel.

Bean,

I seem to recall that Cannondale made a the Bad Boy Ultra that could use 700c or 26" wheels, the forks had the clearance for the 700c and 26" and it used disk brakes so the brake pads lining up would not be a problem. This is a very specific case but I may be wrong.

Last Question(for this moment!:cry:)

Will these solve my problem? I like the price if they will do the trick. With the Promo Code "TWENTY" I can get them for $143.00 and my LBS will check tension and true for $20.00....What do you think folks, do I shell out the ducketts?

http://www.nashbar.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10053_10052_261864_-1

I agree with the person who posted about the Aksiums. I'm about 265 with clothes and have packed about 40 pounds in a backpack for a few long rides and have had no problem with these.

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes//Product_10052_10551_1082987_-1___

with today's discount brings it to a shade over $160.

Sir Loin, I'd prolly put 150 miles on them before dishing the money out for a retension and true.....unless you noticed immediate signs. Looks like an overall good deal for the price and reviews.

Sir Loin, I'd prolly put 150 miles on them before dishing the money out for a retension and true.....unless you noticed immediate signs. Looks like an overall good deal for the price and reviews.

So the Aksiums or the Vuelta's? If the Aksiums will work I would rather use them...I guess I will see what the panel has to say...

I would choose the Vueltas, 30mm deep dish rim - 36 spokes versus medium depth Aksium with 20 spokes.. No contest at all, get the Vueltas..

Like socalrider dude says, no contest! Vuelta 30 mm deep.

If ya ever read about rims, one thing that is mentioned is the deep rim (30 mm) versus a shallow rim gives strength so that a rim can be built with fewer spokes. It makes sense! So a rim with more spokes and deep profile should be that much stronger if built correctly.

I use Deep V's, heavy 30 mm rim and so many riders have told me that they are too heavy. Too heavy for what? I'm a clyde! I want my whee s to last! :D

sir-loin.. I will call my LBS today and have my mechanic go over that wheel so I can pick it up tomorrow..

Thanx a million! Cant wait.

I'm not as big, now that I'm down to 190, but a 36 hole Alex Adventurer was the answer to my rim/spoke problems. It's been rock solid, and has stayed true for over a year, now. It is 18mm wide (interior), so theoretically, any tire 27mm wide (or thereabouts) or bigger, would be fine on there.

I'd check with PSIMET for a price, and more advice. He's a regular on here, and his rims get rave reviews. My rims are going to him, this winter, for a tension check. (Don't need trueing, they are still true.) If you can't find his addy, get back to me, and I can give it to you.