Can anybody recommend a wheel builder? I have 2 years on my 29er mtn bike and my rear wheel is toast. I really don't ride trails just on the road and bike paths. I started out at 306 lbs and am down to 265 and ride about 150 miles per week. My spokes will no longer hold their tension for a 30 mile ride. I had a LBS re-lace the wheel with new spokes about 300 miles ago.



Thanks

Did you take the wheel back to the shop and have them "RETENSION" the wheel?

Many times the wheel will lose tension after a break in period (200-300 miles) and needs to be readjusted. If the shop only trued the wheel, then they are not all that competent.

Truing a wheel only straightens the wheel. Tension keeps it from going out of true.

At your weight, you shouldn't have any problem with a decent MTB wheel.

Spin Lite is excellent.

Sugar wheel works. Pro wheel builder dot com. Wheel builder dot com. Boyd. Take your pick, I think they all do great work

You don't mention how much you want to spend but if you want really bombproof wheels, I can recommend Rich Lesnik of Handsonwheels.com. He's built over 6000 wheels and warranties his wheels to stay true for the lifetime of the rim. His prices were commensurate with LBS prices (I paid $420 for a really heavy duty wheelset). His focus is no-nonsense wheels for hard use. He doesn't do "light" or racing wheels.

I recommend my local shop. I'm 250 #'s and he's built me several wheelsets. All are doing great.

Head over to Colorado Cyclist and see what they can do for you. I can't remember where they are, but I do know it's in your state somewhere.

At your weight, you're ready for a road bike - don't be riding that clunky 29er on a road, ride a road bike on the road! (if you want, that is, no harm either way. )

If you're riding on roads, it's hard to believe that an even adequately built 29er wheel would be giving you trouble. See if the https://www.bikeforums.net/forumdispl...ountain-Plains forum has some good localized advice for you too.

Thanks for all the advice. I just ordered a spoke tension meter and will deal with it myself. How hard can it be?

Way late to the party, But FWIW there's always Mike at Lacemine29.com in Western Colorado. He's the go to guy for 29er wheels.

Have had 3 sets of custom wheels (Chris King) built by Speedgoat.com. I am very happy with the result. I also like JensonUSA.com. They redid my Sun Ringle wheels (spokes kept popping) and I now really like them!

Great Northern Bicycle in Fargo, ND.

Agree with your thoughts on tension but keep in mind he said that he has ridden these wheels 150 miles a week for 2 years and is just now having problems. it's probably time for a new set of wheels. with that said, building your own wheels is not hard and can save a lot of money. I recommend roger musson at www.wheelbuilder.uk for his ebook and then lace your own up. you will save a ton of money and can build some really good wheels with the specific parts you want

If your wheels need to be tuned up after 300 miles then they were not built right or the wheel is insufficient for the rider... I don't expect to see any of the wheels I have built come back until they are worn out and I'm still waiting.