wvridgerider

I do have some wheels with lower count but always have had better luck with handbuilt 36 spoke wheels

OiS

I guess this must explain my scenario? I seem to be the only one to reply that I am riding 16 spoke wheels without too much problem, even though I started riding on those wheels at over 280lbs (nearly 130kg), and am still only down to just under 260lbs (117.6kg) now.

(So now that I have said that, I'll probably break a spoke on tomorrow's ride and the wheel will be unrideable! >.< )

Homeyba

I think you missed my post. I have a set of Shimano DA wheels that I've had since 1999 and easily have well over 20,000 miles on them. I don't use them too much anymore but the rear wheel broke it's first spoke late last year. I'd say that's a pretty durable wheel.

Homeyba

That's just Peter White. He's always grumpy. A great wheel builder but grumpy. his grumpiness didn't stop him from building a Zipp 404 laced to a Schmidt dyno hub for doing brevets...

jimblairo

Post what are your favorite type of wheels.

American Classic Hurricane 32 spoke with Hutchison Intensive 25 width tubeless.

Velocity A 23 32 spoke with Conti gp4000 25 width.

socalrider

I'm sure Peter's grumpiness comes from years of big riders wanting 1300 grams wheelsets built up while expecting them to last forever. Personally I have tried many different kinds of wheels..

Some of my favorites:

Mavic Open 4 CD SUP (prior rim to the open pro)
DT Swiss RR 1.1 and 1.2
Velocity Deep V and Aerohead rims

Just for the weight argument, I had a 36 hole aerohead built up with Campy Centaur rear hub and it came in at 950 grams while using straight gauge spokes and steel nipples. So strong and 36 spokes does not always equate to heavy.

My fast / Light wheelset is Campy Eurus - 21 spoke wheelset, sub 1600 gram (use these for fast training rides or centuries)

Wheels I have had bad luck with of late are the new Mavic Open pro, they either have serious problems or integrated obsolescence. This point has been relayed to me by several bike shop managers who have seen there fair share of the newer mavic rims coming back cracked or with cracking eyelets.

DX-MAN

Since I split the rear hub on my Mavic 819/Cannondale hub wheelset last September, I've been borrowing the Shimano Deore Disc/Sun Rhyno Lite wheels from my sister's bike (she told me, "you bought 'em, you can use 'em.").

Next month, I'll be getting the Azonic Outlaws I've been eyeballing for about three years now....

Wogster

Considering that those wheels are 32 spoke wheels, it's not unreasonable that they can be fairly bomb proof. They may be lighter weight rims, but they are still 32 spoke wheels, and they can be built bomb proof. A 20 spoke rear wheel on a 185g racing rim, with a matching 16 spoke front wheel, you probably can't build it strong enough to handle the weight and stay true. The problem with really heavy loads and really low spoke counts is that at some point the range of tensions that are permissible become so narrow that you need more then that to true the wheel! Personally I prefer the look of a 36 spoke wheel, and the lowest I would go is a 32 spoke. Not because I wouldn't ride anything lighter, I just don't see that the weigh reduction in the wheel is worth bothering about, and some of those low count wheels now have really fat spokes, if you reduce the spoke count to half, and make each spoke twice the size, how much weight have you really reduced the wheel by?

Homeyba

I'm sure you're right. He's been the go to guy for long distance riders/racers since I was in diapers (seems that way anyway ). He built my first set of brevet wheels way back when. I also know that he will build light racing wheels (as I mentioned in my previous post ) for big guys like me without grumping at us when the application is right.

For me the question is never "how many spokes does it have?" but rather, is it the right wheel for the application.

Rob P.

I ride on a set of Vuelta XRP's. Factory handbuilt with 28 bladed spokes & deep V rim. The hub is by Joytech and has a hardened steel axle and sealed bearings. I'm 235# and ride these wheels everywhere.

slowleak

I've not ridden regularly in years, but back when I did I stuck to custom built 36 spoke Weinmann Concaves or Araya W/O box rims. The lightest I've ever been was 255, and these days I'm closer to 300. My concern back in the day wasn't wheels, it was cranks. Having had several cranks fail under me back in the day, I'm more than a bit leery about putting my full weight or strength into a set of cranks. Never once did a wheel fail under me. I've sheered the threaded portion off of rear hubs, snapped crank arms, bent crank arms, broke BB axles, and bent handle bars but my wheels always stayed together. I did always have custom built wheels with mostly all DT stainless spokes on any good quality hub.

obmike

Velocity Deep V 36 spoke in the back
Velocity Deep V 32 spoke in the front

I was 260 when I started riding and I bought these for peace of mind.

EKW in DC

Velocity Dyad 36 on the rear (Deore LX hub). Made by Handspun, bought through aebike. It's gone 3500 miles or so with only one broken spoke -- and that was caused by something getting caught in the spokes, BTW.

Hope to buy matching 36 hole Dyad for the front at some point. For now, I've got a 36 hole 700c Hoopster wheel (presumably originally off a Giant hybrid) on the front that I picked up used at a co-op.

Weight has veraged around 280 during this time.

clydeosaur

I've had awesome luck w/hand built Mavic CXP 22's & 33's on 32 spoke hubs. Currently running the 22's on 105 hubs. 2000 miles on current wheels with no truing issues whatsoever & no flexing. People complain they are heavy, but I can't say I'm overly concerned.

bassjones

I'm having a set of 36 spoke Velocity Dyads built up. Just trying to decide on the hubs... Wheelbuilder wants something with a longer flange to shorten the spoke length. Problem is my budget doesn't allow for Phil Woods or Chris King hubs... May do the Velocity disc hubs, but disc hubs on a road racing bike????

Jumpinj98

I am 225 and very hard on wheels, especially the rear. I currently am riding Mavic Ksyrium Elite front and Equippe rear on my 1st Cross/now Road bike, went with the equippe in the rear because they are a little stronger. On my Road bike I just sold I was on Bontrager Race Lite wheels and surprisingly never had a issue, but was incredibly careful on them and would not recommend them. Now on my race cross bike I trashed the Alex wheelset I had and bought a set of vuelta road lite pro wheels for 150/pair and while a little heavy (1950 grams), they are awesome.

gitarzan

I just got a set of these... https://www.bicyclewheels.com/merchan...tegory_Code=HY

I've not ridden them yet but they look like they're quite sturdy enough to haul my 250lb carcass around. I'm impressed so far.

socalrider

I would look at american classic hubs, they are large flange and build up very nicely and priced much cheaper than Phil Wood or Chris King..

https://amclassic.com/en/products/hubs/road205.php

If you have the cash for your 1st options, go with the Phil Wood.. I have a set of open 4 cd's, going on 20 years with Phil Wood hubs, never even had to have them serviced and they still spin like the day they were new..

bassjones

amclassic only goes up to 32 hole... look sweet though. Problem is I weight 350 and my wheelbuilder definitely wants to go with 36 spokes...

cyccommute 

The very high flange American Classic hub would have advantages over a lower flanged hub. The spokes would be significantly shortened and thus stronger. If you use a rim like Velocity Deep V, you'll have even shorter spokes. Add a spoke like DT Alpine and the wheel would be very very strong, even with 32 spokes.

gbg

I don't know what all this about you need super precision "HAND BUILT" wheels to handle 200+ LBS stuff is about.

Right now I am at 275 (started a low carb diet so hopefully 230ish by summer) and I am riding with about 20+ pounds of winter clothes/boots
on a 30lb bike in -5C to -30C+ conditions on 32 spoke wheels.

These 32 spoke wheels (old school ritchey vantage rims $32 on ebay, XT hubs M-750's $50 ebay) were built by "ME" in about 2003.
No truing stand, no dish tool, no spoke tension tool. I don't even know if I started the spokes in the right hole.
I just laced them up and trued them on my upside down bike.

They are on my winter bike and have done thousands of miles in terrible winter conditions on wash board icy roads ( I run studs).
I haven't had to touch them since a few adjustments in the first year.

I think 32 spoke wheels can easily handle under 300lbs no problem. You start getting 300-500 lb riders now maybe 36+ spokes are needed.

I also have (not built by me)
MTB bikes
32 spoke XT hubs with velocity deep V's (never touched them)
32 spoke DT swiss 240s hubs with DT swiss 4.1 rims (never touched them)
32 spoke XTR hubs with Mavic 823 rims (broke 1 rear spoke and replaced it)

Road bike
32 spoke DA hubs with Mavic open pro rims (never touched them)

16 front 24 rear Bontrager race x lite road wheels, I haven't used them much I want to loose some lbs
first, but I have ridden them about 500 miles on the crappy roads up here and they seem to be doing well,
but I did take it really easy on them when I road (stood up over the cracks, or tried to miss them).


PS.
I bought a powertap disc rear hub on a Stan Olympic rim for one of my MTB's and started popping nipples (the head of the nipple popped off)
every other ride. After about 6 occurrences I bought a bunch of DT swiss nipples and replaced all of them on the wheel (see note above about
method and tools used). After 40+ rides no problems what so ever.
I also got a deal on a 15mm qr FOXF120 RLC so I picked up a new XTR M978 QR15 hub on ebay for $47 and a Stans olympic rim and built
it up as well. No problems either.

redvespablur

I have at 6'4'' 245 and two bikes (cross check and Marinoni Sportivo):

36 hole Mavic Open Pros laced to Campy Centaur Hubs - very comfy wheels

32 Hole Ambrosio somethings laced to Campy Veloce Hubs - never out of true

and Campy Zonda G3 spoking on rear - stiff fast but not very comfy as result

SortaGrey

Yadda Yadda Yadda... this group should form a choir. Everyone knows the 32 is king.... not by miles... many miles... many many miles.

My only encounter with a high and dry rider out in the booondocks was a 32'er... tire so tight against the side it'd barely turn. I didn't carry a cell at the time.. the rider's wouldn't connect. This an area I hadn't riden much.. farm land.. beautiful early spring day.. the aroma of the freshly spread barn leavings so strong your eyes nearly watered. I'd rate that cloud an easy 9.5.. having cleaned hog barns for my grandfather as a teenager... that rates the 10+. What a great time to have a busted 32....... on a well stocked machine so it appeared. I remember hearing some lament about starting to carry EXTRA spokes.... this rider large framed, lean and muscular. Wayyy more power than I ever put into a crankset... I doubt two bills for stonage. Pretty much shot the morning in the southern end of things.....

Just having a little fun here... no need for the possy. I fully intend to try a 32 someday.... when H freezes tight.

I set my 48 HOLE lacing into the stand yesterday... then I went and got the scale. Whooosh... much lighter than the 36 HOLE I'm currently riding. My prelim math showed those 12 extra spokes at a WHOLE 3 ounces.... 3 ounces 'extra weight' barely the sweat dumped in the first couple miles. In the end the bike is loosing weight adding MORE spokes. Gosh.. even with those heavy 14G spokes.... 'butted' in my world a wildlife term.

Common sense dictates a good margin for error.. given heavy loads. Booondock roads... mostly of the urban type today.. are behind by billions per funding.. that coin handed to the high incomes types via 'tax breaks.. aka post election payoffs' generating TRILLIONS in debt.

More spokes means getting home someday.

zjrog

That was thinking 20 years ago when I destroyed 2 32 spoke rear wheels. And when I got a MTB I was breaking spokes ALL the time. I went with a 36 hole wheel, high flange hubs, 16G spokes and a 4 cross pattern. Never broke a spoke again on that MTB. I went to a 4 cross 36 hole for my roadie at the time and never ever broke a spoke again. While I don't have the power I had 20 years ago, I have a significant amount more weight...

Homeyba

You missed bolding the right word. One whole encounter makes your whole point, yep. Without knowing anything about that wheel other than the number of spokes you made that conclusion? Kind of scary. It could have just as easily been a 48spoke wheel as 16spoke wheel. You got the "Yadda Yadda Yadda" part right.

There is plenty of evidence out there that a properly built wheel with the the proper combination of hubs/rims/spokes built by a competent wheel builder will last for ten's of thousands of miles. 48spoke wheels are a crutch for poor wheel builders.