Originally Posted by
az2008
What kind of problems have you had with the wheels? I've read that finding tubes with the long (double-wall) Schrader valve is a problem. The YouTube guy said he runs Prestas without a grommet/adapter. I'd worry about debris getting inside the tire cavity.
I don't know anything about spoke configuration, but the Trailway/Avenue spoke configuration concerns me. I don't see how you can true a wheel with large spokeless gaps like that.
I'm still thinking about buying the Avenue. If it weren't for the special $40 discount I will get at Walmart (due to my Paver problem), I'd spend $30 more for the Trailway. I like the silver color. But, for an $70 difference, I can't justify it.
I'm not the lightest guy in the world, so I put more stress on the wheels than others may have. I gather the wheels they're using are still the same 24 spoke "Aerowheels" or whatever they call them. I broke a spoke on the rear after less than 200 miles. Had it replaced, wheel trued and retensioned - broke another the next time out. Gave up on those wheels then and there, and since then, I've had to spend about $200 on wheels (one used wheelset from a coop and later a brand new rear wheel).
Anyway, in a word, the wheels were not durable in the least. I know others (here on BF) who have had similar issues. I think it's a very legitimate concern and a real problem.
As for Prestas, I now run Prestas on both my front and rear wheels (neither original to the bike). My new rear wheel is drilled for Presta, and on the front, I just used a
Radio Shack vinyl grommet around the valve stem and the Schrader valve hole. That keeps debris out if you decide to go that way.