I am rebuilding an old Raleigh road bike into a touring bike.

This old Raliegh needs a new wheelset, and I found an excellent deal on a set of wheels.

But I am considering using these new wheels on my road bike and transferring the older wheels to my Raleigh bike.

The reason? The new wheels are way tricked out and cool lookin'. So I want them on my best ride.

My question is which of these wheel sets would you consider to be the best?

The new wheels are:
Mavic CXP21 rims (28 hole) with Koda(?) hubs. This is what the LBS guy said they were called and made by Cannondale. The hubs are black and are a sealed system (unserviceable), with black spokes and black rims. Radial patten on the front wheel, and radial pattern on the non-drive side on the rear. Cross 3 pattern on the drive side.


The older wheels are (1 year old):
Sun Venus rims with Ultegra hubs. Front has bladed spokes with a 28 hole rim (cross 1). Rear is 32 hole cross 3.

Which is better?

Thanks in advance.

Digger

Don't get the Coda's. Cannondale/Coda had numerous problems with their rear wheel laced like you mentioned with the radially laced side popping spokes. They were machine built, and in my opinion over tensioned. These were constantly breaking spokes. They also had a few problems with their Orange anodized wheelsets. Bearings getting very rough very quickly. Freehub bodies stripping out.

I'd stick with the Ultegra hubs! Very reliable!

L8R

Yeah, CXP21/CODA no prize.

Hmm, just started to do some reviews on the Coda hubs and not many people like them.

What I have, to be more specific, are the Coda Expert hubs (black not orange).

I can't imagine my LBS selling these to me if they KNEW they are junk.

Digger

I just called another LBS (a differant LBS than were I bought the wheels) and they say they have had nothing but GOOD reports on the Coda Expert hubs. After 4 years of selling the Coda name they have had no problems.

I do notice that the front hub is quite stiff. When mopunted on the front fork and giving the wheel a good yank to start the thing spinning, it will rotate about 4-5 times and stop. My Ultegra hubs will spin all day!!

I beleive you guys, but could it be older Coda or MTB hubs or something?

Digger

That is a big problem. Hubs should spin smoothly. If it isn't spinning smoothly, it is crap.
I would just get Ultegra hubs or something else. Coda doesn't have the best reputation.

Didn't they give you the BS about being 'sealed and unservicable'? Almost all hubs are sealed,and it likely references cartridge bearings,which in aren't generally servicable,but are replaceable.

Probably a too tight hub adjustment or full of stiff new grease.

Not only are CODA bearings cr@p, but you'd be a fool to tour with radial-spoking. It transfers too d@mn much shock to the rider.

Not only are CODA bearings cr@p, but you'd be a fool to tour with radial-spoking. It transfers too d@mn much shock to the rider.


I said I was going to switch the wheels from my road bike to my, soon to be, touring bike. I understand that radial spokes are not....meant for touring, which is why I was going to switch them.

The wheels I have on my road bike now are 28 front, 32 rear cross 3, Ultegra hubs Sun Venus rims.

What I DON'T know is the quality of the Coda hubs, I have no experience with them. So here I am asking you fine folk.

I'll talk to my LBS again, plus call a few more. But like I said, one LBS here stated they never have a problem with them.

I'll let you guys know if you're interested.

Digger

I think you are blinded by the trick look.Consider that you can get ultegra/open pros from colorado cyclist or excel for about $200.

I think you are blinded by the trick look.Consider that you can get ultegra/open pros from colorado cyclist or excel for about $200.

Thanks but that is $200 american. I live in Canada and that would be about $500 by the time you add on exchange rate, shipping, taxes.

Yes, I am blinded by the trick look! That's 95% of cycling isn't it?

Digger

p.s. no responses please! I'm just kidding.

32/28 is not a reliable touring combo. Standard practice is to use 36/32 for unladen 36/36 with heavy luggage. The old UK standard of 40/32 was even stronger

Ok here is what I found out by calling 3 bike shops here in town:

One said they have never had a problem with Coda Expert hubs

Another said that HIS experience with cartridge type bearings or hubs is that you CAN replace the bearing quite easily. Just get a 5 or 6 digit number off the hub and you can pick up a replacement in town. He recommended a swiss or german bearing. He didn't say they were junk, but he didn't say they weren't either. The gist I got from this guy is that he hasn't heard any problems with them. But he did hear an inside joke about Coda. Coda stands for Cannondale Only Does the Anodizing. So I guess he was trying to say that if you have to replace the bearing it can be done without problem, but I shouldn't have a problem anyway.

I called to others, they had no experience and recommended that I call the 2 listed above.

I have an email into Sheldon Brown, too see what he says. Ah, hell, I think I am gonna take em back. I get nothing but bad things so better safe than sorry.

They have a wheelset there at the LBS with a generic Shimano hub and a double walled mavic rim. 36 spoke cross 3 front and rear. The hubs on those felt free and are better servicable too.

Thanks for your help

Digger

Digger, the shop where I work has had numerous problems with those wheels. Not so much the hubs, but the spokes popping. We have had several wheels where the spokes popped, and the hubs were "rough". We just had them (Cannondale) warranty the entire wheel.

Coda stuff isn't BAD per se, it's just there are Better Quality hubs available that I would recommend over the Coda as an aftermarket accessory.

If it were my bike, and I were in your situation, I'd get a quality hub (American Classic, Chris King, Shimano Ultegra, ...etc.) hand built to some CPX or Similar Rims using either DT or Wheelsmith spokes. Sure, It might cost an extra $50-100, but they'll outlast the CODA wheels 3x over.

L8R

Well this is what Sheldon Brown had to say:

I would strongly advise against buying cheapo off-brand hubs like these, they can turn into a nightmare if you ever need spare parts.

So I exchanged them for a set of Tawain Shimano hubs with Matrix Aurora rims, 36 spoke cross 3. Cost me $140 Can. and are good enough for this bike. I can service the hubs myself, they roll freely (unlike the Kodas), and the rims have a machined sidewall for better breaking and wear indicators.

I am not doing any cross Canada touring with this bike it is for winter/bad weather riding and a little bit of lightweight touring.

Thanks for your help.
Digger