Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Does this Bianchi have enough spokes for my 250lbs body?

BIANCHI VIA NIRONE 7 BIKE ALU XENON MIX CELESTE/BLACK 2012

I think it has 26?

http://www.slanecycles.com/bianchi-via-nirone-7-bike-alu-xenon-mix-celesteblack-2012-p-21021.html

My work is doing this Cycle to Work scheme next month, and I want this bike, badly.

241118

Good bike. 26 is a weird number of spokes: they're usually in multiples of 4.

That being said, I think over time, the wheels will eventually fail you. For a couple rides, they'll be fine. But eventually, you'll want a sturdier wheelset. Bigger (stronger) rim or more spokes or both.

By my count, it appears that each has 28 spokes?

The bike looks really nice and as long as the spokes are tensioned properly I wouldn't be too worried, at least in the short term.

Those Via Nirones are very nice looking bikes IMHO (although last year's were nicer).

It actually has 28 spokes front and back. 28 spokes is doable at 250lbs, but you may hear some "tinking" type noises when you take off from starts or stand and hammer up a hill unless the wheels are really well made.

You're probably not going to have the longest service life with those wheels though; but yes, I would ride them without worrying... too much... after the first few miles.

Those Via Nirones are very nice looking bikes IMHO (although last year's were nicer).

They are nice. I wanted to buy one last summer but it had just a bit too much drop to the bars for my then-56 year old back.

Good news - the bike will support you fine, it's the wheels you have to worry about.

If you're ordering it locally, get the shop to PROMISE to retension the spokes when you pick it up and again after say, 200 miles, and you will probably be ok. And then hold them to it. Just know that at some point you'll have to probably shell out for different wheels, it's a fact of life. I don't speak Campy, so I couldn't tell you about the rest of the bike, but it's sharp looking.

Those wheels should work just fine for you. Almost all my wheel-sets are 28 spokes or less and I weigh about the same as you. Take those wheels back to the shop after you have a hundred miles or so on them and have them retensioned properly. They should last you many thousands of miles.

They are nice. I wanted to buy one last summer but it had just a bit too much drop to the bars for my then-56 year old back.

Same situation I was in, although you've got a few years on me.;)

A lot will depend on your riding style and the condition of your roads.
Lots of potholes and you'll probably have problems.

IF you are a "strong" rider, the rear may be problematic.
If you look at your rear wheel, you'll see that when you pedal, you are trying to loosen 1/2 the spokes. This results in the spokes flexing and fatiguing.
I would have at least the rear wheel tensioned before any noticeable amount of riding to try to avert any potential problems. An ounce of prevention.....

My guess it you'll be just fine... I've got a few more lbs than you and a few less spoke than those wheels and I've got no problems. Just keep them tensioned.

Blooming Halfords cannae get the Bianchi for me, went for the Cinelli Experience Veloce instead. 27 spokes, guess I'll jut not go mad up and down kerbs. :)

http://i.imgur.com/KAPct.jpg

I don't want to sound pedantic, but I think I'm about to. The bike doesn't have any number of spokes; the wheels do. It's important to distinguish them because if you like the bike itself, but don't trust the wheels, you can tell the bike shop that, and they'll work with you to get different wheels on the bike.

That said, counting spokes gets you a quick and dirty estimate. The strongest wheels I've ever been on had 20 and 24 spokes. I've wrecked wheels with 32 or 36 spokes. What's more important is that you have strong rims and strong spokes, put together well by a good wheel builder.

Interesting. I'll treat them well, and have them checked after a coupla hundred miles.

I'm currently around 270lb, and I ride a bike with 24 spoke wheels. Laced 2-cross on the rear, Radial on the front.

Youtube taught me how to build & true wheels. I purchased a spoke tension meter, a truing stand, spoke wrenches, and some "Spoke Prep", and made sure they were nice and tight, evenly tensioned, but not too tight.

I haven't had any problems, and I do a fair amount of pretty steep hill climbs & commuting.

I range between 260-280. I have a set of Shimano R500's with 20/24 and haven't had any issues with them. They've been so good that I even bought a set of Reynolds Solitudes with 20/24 based on my experience with the R500s.

Of course, my riding is spread out among four (soon to be five) different bikes. So none of them get tons of miles.

Both of my wheelsets, (D/A and Ultegra) are 16/20 spoke count. No problems with my 220 pound body pushing them.

Bikes like that are mad for wieners. Skinnee boys wid nuthing for the lady freind to wrap her arms aroun.
Get a 29er with a manly model name like "UP Chuck". The babes will know you hav lots of Ju-Ju.

Seroiusly, Think of the Salsa Fargo 2. With 32 spoke whels, and incontinental Race King 29 x 2,2 tires, how could you go wrong? And a THUD BUSTER seat poast! Now that's th way to treet yer hmmroids.

Rock solid. Slash'em, gash'em nd bash'em. No what I meen! Amen, Bro

241118
Fat man trying to reform. slowly. :)
START 330lbs
NOW 262lbs
TARGET 168lbs

I just noticed your signature block. You are really doing well on your goal of loosing 1/2 your weight!
Don't mind my previous answer. I just get a laugh reading trash answers in some threads and was inspired to write my own. It's all in jest.

I have the Bianchi Via Nirone 7 with 23c tires and so far it has held my fat but. i'm stuck at 240lbs right now.

I did have to true the wheels once but that was because of the potholes and bad roads in march and april.

you will be fine if you dont ride the bike like a bmx or a mountain bike.

The stock wheels on my bike came with 28 spokes in the rear and 24 in the front and I had basically no problems (some minor truing and re-tensioning) for the first ~7000km. The rear rim did crack shortly after 7000km which to my understanding is on the short-end of the lifespan of a wheelset. I started riding those wheels at ~255lbs and was as low as ~225lbs over two years of riding. At least you will know that if you take care of the wheels you will get at least 7000km before you may need to replace them.