Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Wheelset....opinions requested

Thoughts....Shimano Ultegra Mavic Open Pro 36 Hole Black Wheelset....$269 (item#250979453247)EBAY

I'm more interested in any good or bad expierence with the Mavic Open Pros. I like the the Shimano hubs. I had a good expierence with 105s.

Also any expierence with Velo Mine on Ebay? good or bad?

Im 230s and looking for a sub $300, sub 2000g, 36 spoke wheelset. I currently have 24 rear/20 front.....and just a matter of time till spokes pop.

I have read most posts in here on wheelsets and don't remember seeing any on the Mavics Open Pros.

Thanks

Thoughts....Shimano Ultegra Mavic Open Pro 36 Hole Black Wheelset....$269 (item#250979453247)

I'm more interested in any good or bad expierence with the Mavic Open Pros.


They're among the lightest conventional rims that hold up well at rider weights around 160 pounds. The preceding slightly lighter Reflex clincher didn't last me long in a rear wheel at 145 pounds and although I got over a decade out of the matching front at 145-175 pounds I bent it within months of trying it past 200 pounds. The rear Open Pro I was running and replacement front survived my shrinking from 215 to 180 pounds but I wouldn't really bet on it.

I chose an Open Pro in front as a replacement because it carries 60% of the load seen in back, I build my own-wheels, re-used my spokes, didn't need to completely relace the wheel to do that, and would only be out $65 if I was wrong on it being good enough. With any of those variables different (rear wheel, paying to have wheels built, needed new spokes so I'd to relace anyways) I wouldn't have done that.

To quote wheel builder Peter White



Let's be very clear about something. Rims for racing bikes, such as the Mavic Open Pro and Velocity Aerohead, are made for people who use bicycles in races. That's why they're called racing bikes; because people actually race with them! To be a competitive road racer, you will not want to weigh much more than about 160 lbs. Even at that weight, you'll find yourself at a significant disadvantage in many road races, at least those with any hills. Since the manufacturers of racing rims are aware of this fact, they don't bother making these rims strong enough for 230 lb cyclists, regardless of whether those 230 lb cyclists have the curious notion that it would be a good idea to ride a bike with "racing rims" and 23mm tires.Try a heavier rim (more metal to bend) with a deeper profile (stiffer and harder to bend past its elastic limit) where the Velocity Deep V is many people's choice.



Also any expierence with Velo Mine on Ebay? good or bad?
Good customer service.

They're among the lightest conventional rims that hold up well at rider weights around 160 pounds. The preceding slightly lighter Reflex clincher didn't last me long in a rear wheel at 145 pounds and although I got over a decade out of the matching front at 145-175 pounds I bent it within months of trying it past 200 pounds. The rear Open Pro I was running and replacement front survived my shrinking from 215 to 180 pounds but I wouldn't really bet on it.

To quote wheel builder Peter White



Try a heavier rim (more metal to bend) with a deeper profile (stiffer and harder to bend past its elastic limit) where the Velocity Deep V is many people's choice.



Good customer service.

+1....I will never use an Open Pro again. At 230, I totally thrashed them. Handbuilt, different builders, not one of 3 lasted over 2000 miles. :mad:

My buddy at 210 thrashed his also, handbuilt also a different builder. Plus mine were noisy, tick tick tick as is a rider that rides with us now. Riding with him was so annoying, like he was playing with maracas. It annoyed me so I gave him my back up set of rims.:D

I had a pair when I was 210 and it seemed like they were constantly out of true. Never broke a spoke or anything radical but my rear brakes were adjusted pretty wide... :)

Sounds like I'm not the only one, and those were supposed to be great rims for training. Mine were either 32 or 36 spoke, I forget.

I figured this would be the response......I was hoping to hear different....wishful thinking.

I know Peter White would tell me to go on diet and get lost!!

thanks

I must have gotten lucky. I've got a pair of Open Pros, 36 rear, 32 front. I got them at 270 lbs, now 230 and I've never had a problem in a year+

FWIW

Open pros have had some significant quality issues the last few years.. They are consistently cracking at the eyelets. My LBS does not even like using them anaymore because they had so many come back with this problem. Look at Velocity or DT Swiss Rims..

how about the CXP33s?

I'm another of the more positive stories. Just about to retire an alomst 10 year old 36h OP. Probably has close to 20k miles on it. It's a CD and the sidewalls are sufficiently worn that I'm not unhappy about replacing it. It held up well at weights from 255lbs-290+ and back down to 260, as long as I was riding recreationally. A combination of my increased training and a ride that saw it ridden through salt water resulted in its approaching demise.

One thing to keep in mind is that they don't like real high tension. Over tension them and they start to assume the shape of a potato chip and become extemely challenging to keep true. Keep tension on the low side (90kgf) and even and they'll last pretty well.

If you're looking for a single do it all (train, event) rim they're not a bad choice. If you're going to have more than one set of wheels in quiver, I would suggest a more durable training wheel and a lighter eventing wheel.

I'll be replacing the back rim on my OP's with like and am about to build up a set of either 105 or ultegra hubs with deep V's for training.

the open pros from 10 years ago are fine, it is the newer models from the last few years that have all the problems. I have a set of open 4cd's and sup's that are close to 20 years old, that still ride perfect.

The CXP33 and Velocity Deep V are both good choices, will also give you a stronger build..

how about the CXP33s?

I use on on the front of one of my roadies. I'd rather go Deep V on the rear. Plus Deep V's are much more inexpensive. Get the hoops online of $60, CXP33's are $80 everywhere.

When I 'm on a budget, I replace the front first till I get enough for the front that I want. Just a thought.

I'm 240 # and ride the rough roads of northern Vermont.

After the failure of some standard wheels, and much research, I had Peter White build some wheels for me. He recommended Velocity Deep V rims 32f/36r. Said they would be strong enough. I mated them to Ultegra Hubs but to save money 105 or Tiagra hubs would be fine.

Peter guarantees his spokes for life and has been doing this for a long time. His site is quite informative and has an interesting point of view.

Good luck

The roads in northern VT are like the roads here in northern NY and Peter White has a reputation of great wheels (and grumbling). Your wheels would work for me. What did they cost?

I would love to get a custom build, but broken washing machines, timing belts, co-pays, hot water heaters, etc............keep getting in the way!

I must have gotten lucky. I've got a pair of Open Pros, 36 rear, 32 front. I got them at 270 lbs, now 230 and I've never had a problem in a year+

FWIW

Me too - I've been up and down between 225 and 255, have had no trouble with a set of OpenPro 32h front and back for the last 6 years (they were already 6 years old when I got the bike, but virtually unused). I don't have a ton of miles on the wheels, but there should be at least 3000.


the open pros from 10 years ago are fine, it is the newer models from the last few years that have all the problems. I have a set of open 4cd's and sup's that are close to 20 years old, that still ride perfect.

Just saw this - might explain my results.

Also any expierence with Velo Mine on Ebay? good or bad?


Velo Mine is awesome! Bought my red group and zipp 404s from them.. Awesome pricing and great service. Better to call them and save them the ebay commissions on the sale and get your stuff a bit faster.

I like speedgoat for buying rims.

deep v - http://www.speedgoat.com/Catalog.aspx/Browse?Cat=C156&Prod=19445

fusion - http://www.speedgoat.com/Catalog.aspx/Browse?Cat=C156&Prod=19436

I figured this would be the response......I was hoping to hear different....wishful thinking.

I know Peter White would tell me to go on diet and get lost!!

thanks

Nah he'd build you a set of wheels that would work well for you. For a long time.

And really isn't that what you're after? Nuthin' personal (I'm a fat bastid myself) but what's a few ounces at our weight?

I'm in the camp of hand built wheels, just put some money away and get one at a time if you have to.
I have velocity chukkers on both of my bikes, one is 700 and one is 26. On the 700 wheelset I went with DMR Revolver hubs, and I have XT hubs on the 26. So far so good with the revolver hubs and of course the XT hubs are bombproof, they have prob close to 12k on them.

I had a terrible experience with some off the shelf Mavic wheels a few years ago...now they are on my wife's rarely used bike.

I'm not a fan of the Open Pro for a few reasons; the durability as listed above, and I find that they're just downright noisy. I don't know what it is about them, but I used an Open Pro rim as an emergency replacement before a 300k a couple years ago and it was the loudest 17 hours I've ever spent on a bike. They seem to amplify every bit of road chatter, but that's just my opinion.

My favourites overall have been the DT RR1.1 (now re-badged as the RR465). Slightly heavier than the Open Pro, similar dimensions (actually, identical dimensions to the Alex DA16) but with stronger eyelets then the Mavic and a wear indicator on the brake track so you know when you're nearing the end of life on one. The drawback is that they are costly.

Now, if you're willing to go with a 32h rim I've recently become a huge fan of the IRO Cold Fusion rim. From what I can tell it's an unbadged Velocity Fusion. No eyelets, no wear indicator; it's a pretty basic rim. Round, flat, anodized and machined, with a sleeved/pinned joint. I've got a pair of them on both my commuter and my CX racer, done up as singlespeeds on IRO hubs.

If you're willing to take the hit on weight, my indestructables are a pair of Sun CR18 mirror polished 32h rims laced up with DT Champion straight 2.0 spokes. They're tanks, especially built up on a heavy SON28 generator front and high flange singlespeed rear, but I could straight drop off a picnic table with those wheels and crack the pavement before I popped a spoke. :-)

If you eventually find that money isn't a holdup, the HED Belgium is a pretty sweet rim. They're about $95/ea, so definitely on the high side of pricing; but they're lighter than an Open Pro and have a 23mm wide profile so they'll take a wide tire like a 32 or 35mm with minimal sidewall deformation.

..... Look at Velocity or DT Swiss Rims..

+1

I really like my DT equipped rims, especially when my cargo loads make my bike tip the scales at 150 lbs at times.

I'll also vouch for velomine. They built up a custom set for me about a year ago. I have nothing but good things to say about them!

The roads in northern VT are like the roads here in northern NY and Peter White has a reputation of great wheels (and grumbling). Your wheels would work for me. What did they cost?

I would love to get a custom build, but broken washing machines, timing belts, co-pays, hot water heaters, etc............keep getting in the way!

They were about $575 with shipping. If you wanted to save some money Tiagra hubs are well reviews, though they weigh a bit more.

I should add that I visited Peter in his shop in NH and he was great. We spent some time going over the alternatives and he explained things willingly.

Good luck

I may pay him a visit this summer. We'll be in Southern Maine in August. That is enough time to save some $$ as well. If I go with a custom , I'll go with the extra $$ for the better hubs.

Thanks for all replies