Originally Posted by
Buck_O
Wow, another thread about overbuilding wheels as a result of poor bicycle maintenance, and wheel servicing.
When will the madness end?
Originally Posted by
matthewk459
^^^ This
Originally Posted by
nymtber
I have slowly creeped up from 200 to 235 over the past 10 years, and have been riding 32h wheels the whole time, except when I had the Allez that had a 28h radial laced front wheel. Even with the radial laced wheel, once they were properly tensioned, and trued, I never had an issue with them again. Including mountain biking, hopping curbs, hitting small jumps (2' of air or so) etc. Even when I was younger (180-200lbs) and had a rigid bike with cheap wheels on it, I could hop curbs, hit jumps, beat the bike up pretty good.
Anyone that has mechanical ability should just get a truing stand, I have a $40 stand, and a Park tensiometer and some decent nipple wrenches. Tension and true your wheels when they are new, de-stress them and re-true. I do not believe, for one second, that anyone under 300lbs needs a huge profile V rim, IF the wheel is properly built in the first place. Get a good quality rim, build it right with DB spokes, and go with 32h 3x (36h if you really want) and use bigger tires. My Allez had 23c tires at 120psi, wheels stayed true of course I was only 225 then...
The only failure here with regard to wheel maintenance and servicing, is the bicycle industries inability to deliver competent mechanics at LBS's. I was very happy with my wheels for years. But, since moving to Auckland have been through half the shops in the city looking for a tech that can understand whats important to keeping a solid wheel under a clyde.
On the overbuilding note: What's wrong with overbuidling "TRAINING WHEELS"? These are no nonesense, ride the crap out of without concern wheels, that should consider themselves lucky if they get their bearings cleaned and adjusted more than once a year.
Fella's I'm 6'5", have lost 35 lbs to get down to 255, don't see myself getting much below 250 and ride reasonably strong. If you see 32 or 36 spoke wheels as "overkill" so be it. 14/15DB spokes are pretty standard fair for even light riders. The only thing that might be considered overkill would be the use of 13/14 SB on the drive sides. But, what the heck, I'll give 'em a go and see how they work.