undogooder

Hi, I'm a big biker at 275Lbs. and need a strong rim for my commuter. I have a '87 Trek Elance* https://www.vintage-trek.com/TrekBrochure1987.htm * page 14. I have just been reading about double and single wall rims, looked at a few online and I just need a couple of good suggestions. Looking for road rims. I just want the rim, not pre-built wheels. The original hubs are laced to the original 36 spoke Matrix rims. Maybe I just need a tire bigger than a 700x25c? (looks alittle low while riding at full 90psi) Not trying to brake the bank but I'm gonna stick my neck out and assume just the rim is quite cheaper even if it is a Mavic or DT Swiss ect. Any help appreciated!!

Seve

Velocity seems to be very popular (deep V) have you had a look at those?
https://www.velocityusa.com/default.asp?contentID=583

Paul01

Mavic A-319s are pretty bulletproof.

ChrisO

Velocity Deep Vs are indeed quite strong, but they're stiff too. I didn't realize how much difference a change in wheels could make until I switched from Mavic Aksiums to the Deep Vs/32 hole. No flex at all, even under my ponderous girth, which is good. But also noticably harsher riding, which is not so good.

The DT Swiss R585s and Velocity Fusions are also strong, the Fusions (I've read) are not so stiff.

Saltybeagle

kinlin 300

CliftonGK1

Fusions are 5mm shallower profile than the Vees and as such you might notice a little bit of a difference in the flex when throwing the bike side to side in a sprint or hammering uphill. I ride unbadged Fusions (IRO Cold Fusion) rims on 2 of my singlespeed bikes, both mated to high-flange hubs (which further reduce flex by shortening spoke length). I've not had any issues with wheel flex, round or true whether it's with my roadie commuter/distance bike or my SSCX racing rig that sees more trail action than road.

Mr. Beanz

Rim only....


$57

https://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...eep-V+Rim.aspx



These guys got a variety of colors for $63 in the Deep V (Rim only). Plus Fusion and other models. besure to get "MSW" machined sidewalls.


https://www.prowheelbuilder.com/produ...l?limit=96&p=3

sstorkel

I suspect you'll need new spokes in addition to the rim. And at that point, you may find it cheaper just to buy a new wheel especially if you're not equipped to build wheels yourself.

I'm a big fan of Velocity's off-center rims for rear wheels. I used the Synergy OC for my touring bike and was surprised by how balanced the tension was between the drive and non-drive spokes. I think that can't help but lead to longer wheel life. Unfortunately, the Synergy is probably too wide for your bike. The only other choice is the Aerohead OC, which is one of the lightest rims on the market. Even with 36 spokes, you might feel some flex...

Why only 90psi? I weigh around 180lbs and I put 100psi in my 700x25 tires. Psimet's Tip of the Day is a good starting point for correct air pressure. Just remember: you don't want to go over the maximum pressure that the tire and rim can handle, no matter what the formulas say...

CliftonGK1

If the bike can clear 25mm tires then why would a 23mm rim be too wide? Adjust the brakes and you're good to go with that Synergy rim. I've get a 1988 Trek 400 that had the same stock rims as the Elance 400D and I've had a pair of CR18 rims on it before.

motobecane69

at your weight, spend an extra $20-30 bucks and get the mavic a719. I have it on the back of my commuter with dt comp spokes and a 32 hole setup and it's great and I weight 250 and load 20-30lbs on my rack routinely. only issue is that it's a wider rim (so is the 319) probably the smallest tire you can run on it is a 28 and really you should be running a 32

motobecane69

because a 23mm RIM width is really designed to have at least a 32mm wide tire though most report they run a 28c tire without issues. The frame may not be willing to accept a 28 or a 32 c but on an older bike it's probably not a problem. My current road bike can fit 25mm tires but no larger so I couldn't get away with mounting a 25mm tire on a 24mm wide rim. it's asking for trouble.

To the person who suggested kinlin xr 300 yes it has the same profile as a velocity deep v but it's also 50 grams lighter which means less material and many experienced wheelbuilders don't recommend them for guys that are heavy weight. They would recommend them for riders up to about 230lbs for use as a daily rider. it's probably a good choice as a "race only " wheel for someone at 275lbs

motobecane69

did you really suggest a 425 gram rim for a commuter bike carrying a 275lb rider? seriously? come on now, I know you know better than that. There is no way he should be considering that rim for this application. I do agree that there is no way he should be riding at 90psi at 275. I ride my rear at 125psi on my 25c tires. I got pinch flats on 28c tires at 90psi, nevermind 25c. I don't think he should buy a prebuilt wheel either. YEs he may be able to get one cheaper but will it be any good is the question.

CliftonGK1

A recent trend in road racing is to run 23mm tires on 23mm rims because it apparently mimics the cornering feel of a tubular setup. There's no reason you have to run anything wider than a 25mm just because you've got a 23mm rim. I use CR18 rims (almost 25mm) with 28mm tires and suffer no ill effects. In fact, I find that I can run pressure a little bit lower due to the straighter sidewall angle, while still getting the same cushioning effect and rolling resistance as a higher pressure on a narrower rim.

CliftonGK1

Just curious. What kind of trouble?
Too wide and you risk popping the bead when cornering, but what is the assumed risk when using a like-sized tire/rim combo?

sstorkel

Because the minimum tire recommended by the rim manufacturer is 28mm? I know that skinny racer-types like to buy wide rims and install narrow tires on them, but I'd be nervous about going with a tire smaller than the manufacturer's recommendation...

sstorkel

When I said that the Aerohead OC is "one of the lightest rims on the market" and "Even with 36 spokes, you might feel some flex" I thought it would be obvious that I was not recommending them for a 275lb rider.

Bicycle Wheel Warehouse, in my experience, builds very nice wheels at pretty affordable prices...

sstorkel

If you're too heavy for the XR-300, my guess is that you're probably too heavy for a Deep V, too. A difference of 2oz in rim weight just isn't going to make that much of a difference...

undogooder

I really appreciate all the knowledge, thanks to all! As far as the my tires only holding 90psi, I will be picking up a pair of Conti gp4000's for first EVER road bike!! I am such a noob! https://www.bikepedia.com/QuickBike/B...fy+1&Type=bike and plan on putting the stock Kendas which hold a max of 125psi on my commuter.
I am going to look into the Velocity Deep V's, they seem the best bang for my buck and I am pretty good at avoiding the pot hole infested streets so rigidity may not be to bad? Again thanks for the help and tips!

motobecane69

yes they do, but that isn't a prebuilt wheel is it? lol Thats a handbuilt wheel that you order from them. When i see "prebuilt wheels" i think of something that a bike shop may have in stock that they bought from the QBP catalog that is machine built that they probably didn't bother to tinker with and insure it's a solid wheel.


As for the aerohead, I guess i just don't understand why you even mentioned that rim at all. IT has nothing to do with the question asked. useless info

motobecane69

thats exactly what your doing, you are guessing. 2oz of rim weight can make a huge difference. He's not too heavy for a deep v. Tons of guys on this forum riding on them now with no issues.

motobecane69

pinch flats and greater risk of bottoming out and denting your rims on potholes and road hazards

CliftonGK1

If you inflate to a 15-18psi lower-than-usual pressure as is the suggestion to achieve the cornering feel of a tubular, then maybe. If you keep a standard inflation that you would for a 23mm tire on a 19mm rim then you'll see no increased risk. The tire profile height will be roughly 2mm shorter for the same tire on a 23mm rim vs. a 19mm rim.* Denting the rim may be a higher risk at considerably lower pressures (-15% average per mfg suggestions), but the higher volume and decreased sidewall deflection adds stability to the 23mm system. At the same tire pressure it would take a harder impact to bottom out the tire and cause a pinch flat or rim damage.


* c = 2sqrt(r^2 - t^2) ; where c - chord length (interior rim width), r - radius (tire diameter), and t - center of tire to center of chord (bead seat distance from center of tire): Solve for t, and take the difference between c = 14.5 and c = 19.5 calculations for t. (14.5 and 19.5 being the approximate interior rim widths of 19 and 23mm rims, respectively.)

sstorkel

Remember: not everyone on this forum is 275lbs and using a 24-year old bike as a commuter

Prove it: assuming the weight is evenly distributed around the rim, how many molecules thicker is the one that weighs 2oz more?

If he's not too heavy for a Deep V, then he's not too heavy for a Kinlin XR-300.

motobecane69

I'm not going measure molecule thickness, I'm reciting data from reliable, well respected wheelbuilders who have seen xr-300's fail under clydes in applications where deep v's worked successfully. Thats hard, real world proof, not measured in a science lab guesstimations. He very well may be fine on the xr-300 but there is a lot more documented evidence that deep v's are better so he should spend the extra $15 for the deep v in my opinon.