Originally Posted by
phughes
I agree that the load weight is excessive, but some people weight 150lbs and tour, while others weight 225lbs and tour. That is a 75lbs difference right there and they both have a load to carry. I weight 165lbs and wouldn't want to ride on 32 spoke wheels. I have carried 75lbs many times, but not on a tour, just locally, and I have 36 spoke wheels. Add the fact he is running disc brakes, and there is no way the wheels would be suitable for touring in my opinion. Shave weight off and they may work okay. I would have a new 36 spoke wheel built though.
True, but body weight is at least sprung a bit if you have some of the weight on your legs instead of on your butt. I ride that way and additionally un-weight a bit over the bumps. At least get body weight onto your flexed legs on the bumps. Given that, I think body weight can be much less damaging to wheels than gear weight.
Don't get me wrong, body weight still matters, but at least you can limit it's impact on rough surfaces and bumps. Gear weight is just there all the time and all of it's shock is on the wheels.