craiginho

hoping to get a decent wheelset for my cannondale t500 at a decent price.
anybody got recommendations?
need a 135mm rear hub and rims that will fit 700 tires.
kind of an odd config. that performance and nashbar don't seem to have.

slider

Get yourself a hand built wheelset from a local bike shop. No machine built wheel will hold up to touring for long so you'll be taking it to a local shop for trueing anyway (which will cost $15 -$20). Ask around and find someone that multiple people recommend. Take his/her advice. My touring wheels are Shimano XT hubs laced to Mavic touring rims with 14 gauge straight spokes and brass nipples. They aint light but they are stiff as all get out and will hold up to any abuse I give them.

-s

MichaelW

Check out
https://www.peterwhitecycles.com/wheels.asp

sbeatonNJ

I have my rear wheel built up with 4x lacing, Im a big guy and that thing is a tank now. I also use Ritchey Zero Hub in the rear so there is virtually no dish to the wheel. I plan to get the Mavic touring rims eventually to go with my ritchey hubs but I strongly reccomend them and definitely use a handbuilt wheel by a good mechanic.

slider

Shimano XT hubs, Mavic A719 (T520) silver rims, 14-16 Wheelsmith spokes, 36 spokes - $ 337.88

That's a good deal for those wheels with his guarantee. I wonder why he recommends double butted spokes (and 14/16 no less) for a loaded touring wheelset.

-s

Patch29

I bought this set of wheels from him in September, 900 miles later I am very satisfied with them, would buy them again (or a step up if I had the money) and would recommend them to anyone looking for an excellent wheelset.

GiantDave

I have the exact same components as slider described except I purchased all the components from nashbar and had my bike shop lace them up with dt 14/16 spokes. Very stong and Im BIG!
They survived hundreds of pothole roads and gravel/dirt roads in NC and GA. And thats pulling a bob trailer with 50 pounds o'gear.

steveknight

I think volocity makes hubs that are 135mm they make them for recumbents. the rims are really strong and the price is right. about 150 per wheel. the deep v can handle a 350 pound guy turing.

Yuri Springer

I've noticed NASHBAR selling nice prebuilt touring wheelsets lately. I've got Mavic A719's on my LHT and they are great: solid 36 spoke rims that can handle a hefty load. I laced them to XT mtn hubs which are 135 mm. check out nashbar if you are interested in these rims or wheels built with them. I saw one pair for around $140 and another pair, with different hubs, for around $260. good luck

oknups

I understand that the butted spokes flex in the middle when loaded, and therefore do not stress the bend at the hub. There is a really good book " The art of wheel building," that explains that theory. It is a great read even if you never build a wheel. Forgot who wrote it and my copy is out on loan. Got it from my LBS the day after I finished my first wheel sets. about $20.00 and worth it.

drcrash

I have a set of 36h Sun CR18 rims with XT hubs and DT 14g spokes on one bike and 36h Alex Adventurer rims with LX hubs and DT 14g spokes on another. I use 700x35 (sometimes larger) tires to smooth out the road. They are both plenty strong, have been problem free, and are more affordable than the Mavic A719-based wheelset(s) described above. Whatever you choose, have fun with them.

Iffacus

I use 36spoke Mavic MA3's on my touring bike laced onto LX hubs, no problems for the past 3 years.

slider

I've heard that theory and it makes sense. When carrying a load, though, I prefer as stiff a wheel as possible which is why I prefer straight gauge spokes. I use a converted cross bike which has some flex in the rear triangle, though, so anywhere else I can eliminate flex, I do.

-s

marctour

I have a Cannondale T2000 that was 3 years old and had to replace my wheelset. After checking around with the local shops, etc., I opted to buy from Peter White in New Hampshire. This, even though I live in Idaho!! He built me a set of wheels using Mavic T520 rims, Shimano XT hubs, 36 hole, with Wheelsmith spokes. I used them on a nice 860 mile ride down the Pacific Coast and they performed flawlessly. I ran into tourers with non-touring rims, bikes, etc, and they had no end of problems. Unless there is a real expert wheel builder in a local shop, I would try Peter White. Building wheels -- anybody can build one, but only experts can build them right.

Tom_OHara

I went into my LBS the other day and scored on a great rear wheel. A Sun CR18 40h rim, cross 4 spokes, with a Phil FW hub for $85.00. It is previously owned (but barely used), it is in perfect condition, there isn't even any visible wear on the machine marks on the braking surface. Now that just leaves the front wheel to find. BTW, Phil hubs are silky smooth.
Tom