Touring - need new rims for 520

hello
i am going to need new rims for my trek 520. i bent the side wall on the stock rims. ive heard that the mavic t520 are good for touring. are these heavier than the stock? i do mostly commuting, and plan to do tours in the future. are there other comparable rims to the t520? thanks

hello
i am going to need new rims for my trek 520. i bent the side wall on the stock rims. ive heard that the mavic t520 are good for touring. are these heavier than the stock? i do mostly commuting, and plan to do tours in the future. are there other comparable rims to the t520? thanks

The Mavic 520s have been (I think) replaced by a very similar rim with another number (719?). But you'd be getting almost the same thing. In fact your LBS might have 520s in stock still.

The increasingly popular (and slightly lighter) MA3 has been complained about. I recall that the Trek 520 comes with stock rims that are almost the same weight as the Mavic 520 rims, but you can probably confirm that on the Net. I like the Mavic 520s. They are tough and reliable for commuting and touring. I have a light touring bike and by rights should have lighter rims, but I wanted something robust (and with 36 spokes back and front) so I wouldn't ever worry. I read about other solid rims at review sites but they didn't seem better or even as easy to order. There's a reason why these rims are venerable. good luck!

I have an '03 Trek 520, and it came with Bontrager Fairlane rims. 565 grams.

I thought they were OK, but the other day I notice cracks around the eyelets on the rear wheel. I'd read of other people having this problem with these rims, but I thought it was just some people who abused their bikes. Now I know better.

The bike only has about 2500 miles, and I've only used it for loaded riding (about 30lbs extra weight) for maybe 500 miles at most. I ride cautiously, let the bike shop do wheel truing, and I'm not that heavy (185 lbs).

So I'd recommend getting something else beside the Fairlane rims. I see Trek is putting Bontrager Mustang rims on the new 520s. Those are actually 100 grams lighter and have fewer spokes, according to the bontrager website.

Hi,
I think the choice of rim should reflect your thinking about what they should do. I wanted a relatively light, but still tough, rim. So I got Mavic CXP33. They are really, really tough, but fairly expensive. But..they weigh only 470 grams.If I was going to get another pair, I'd go with double tapered spokes on both, 36 for the rear and 32 for the front. Another 'lite' choice at 480 grams is the Sun CR18. There are several choices over 500 grams, I'll let others discuss them. One thing that may affect your decision is that my rims aren't really happy with a tire wider than 28c. Not a problem for me, I think 28c is just right. But if you carry a heavy load, it's a bit on the small side.

I have the Mavic A719s (http://www.mavic.com/servlet/srt/mavic/asph-prod_fiche?product.id=64&lg=uk), 36 spokes front and rear. Conti Top Touring 2000 32mm. Great wheels.

I have the Mavic A719s (http://www.mavic.com/servlet/srt/mavic/asph-prod_fiche?product.id=64&lg=uk), 36 spokes front and rear. Conti Top Touring 2000 32mm. Great wheels.


Sounds good. That's the updated version of the venerable 520s I mentioned in my post. I'm running the Schwable Marathons, 32 mm. Very good, very tough and reliable. I found that the Conti Top Touring were a bit faster but very prone to faster sidewall wear and tear.

I should go to 28 mm, just for a bit less friction/resistance, but I like the Marathons.

I posted a couple days ago about my rear rim developing cracks. My LBS contacted Trek about it and they will send another rim to replace it.

The original rim is a Bontrager Fairlane. 36 spokes and 560 grams. The replacement is the Bontrager Maverick. Also 36 spokes but only 490 grams.

I'm glad they will replace it under warrantee. I do hope it is more durable.

I found that the Conti Top Touring were a bit faster but very prone to faster sidewall wear and tear. .

Did the wear and tear show up as cracked sidewalls? I had the Top Touring tires, and while I wished they were lighter, I appreciated their toughness. Except for the sidewalls. After about 1000 miles they developed noticeable cracks, and after 2000 I thought they would fail. I kept the bike indoors when not in use, and have not had the same problem with the 26x1.75" Conti TT tires I have on my commuter bike.


I replaced the Conti's (on my 520) with Vittoria Randonneur 700x35s. I think they are even heavier, but so far after about 500 miles their have been no punctures. I recently bought a folding version of the tire to use as a backup while on tour. I think the folding version is about 430 grams versus 590 for the wire bead.

Did the wear and tear show up as cracked sidewalls? I had the Top Touring tires, and while I wished they were lighter, I appreciated their toughness. Except for the sidewalls. After about 1000 miles they developed noticeable cracks, and after 2000 I thought they would fail. I kept the bike indoors when not in use, and have not had the same problem with the 26x1.75" Conti TT tires I have on my commuter bike.


I replaced the Conti's (on my 520) with Vittoria Randonneur 700x35s. I think they are even heavier, but so far after about 500 miles their have been no punctures. I recently bought a folding version of the tire to use as a backup while on tour. I think the folding version is about 430 grams versus 590 for the wire bead.

Yep, cracked. I kept the bike indoors too, as I always do. Great tire, very fast, but I won't buy 'em again. Like I said, the Marathons are great -- strong, seemingly puncture-proof but not overly light. Similar to the Vittoria tire you mention. Aren't the 35s overkill? I think the 32s are plenty wide!

Aren't the 35s overkill? I think the 32s are plenty wide!

The LBS didn't have 32s in stock. The 35 is only 40 grams heavier (in the wire bead version) and has the same maximum psi as the 32s.

The Randonneur Pro (folding version of Randonneur) only comes in 700x35. And it is 160 grams lighter than the same size in wire bead.

All numbers are from the vittoria website.

i had the same experiance with eh fairlane rims but it was at about 4,000 miles. I notices these small cracks on the rear rim The lbs called the manfaturere and they replaced mine with the clydsdale and i have had great luck so far now and have about 4,000 miles on this new rim. Although i had 4,000 miles it was still under warenty for 1 year from purchase. I think there are many fione rims for touring loaded and for now my choice is the clydesdale good luck with your new rims
catfish


I have an '03 Trek 520, and it came with Bontrager Fairlane rims. 565 grams.

I thought they were OK, but the other day I notice cracks around the eyelets on the rear wheel. I'd read of other people having this problem with these rims, but I thought it was just some people who abused their bikes. Now I know better.

The bike only has about 2500 miles, and I've only used it for loaded riding (about 30lbs extra weight) for maybe 500 miles at most. I ride cautiously, let the bike shop do wheel truing, and I'm not that heavy (185 lbs).

So I'd recommend getting something else beside the Fairlane rims. I see Trek is putting Bontrager Mustang rims on the new 520s. Those are actually 100 grams lighter and have fewer spokes, according to the bontrager website.