clfjmpr44

6'0, 221 here, and I'm on a 99' Stumpjumper a lot of the time, due to the fact that spokes continually go on my 00' Trek 1000, (Aluminum frame, blue Airliner wheels). Then I blow tubes because i don't propery tape off the Spoke stems after replacement.
Been riding for four years now, logging rides of 30-50 miles, and also like to push hard. Besides the set-up being rather entry level, any ideas on why spoke problems would continue in both the front and rear wheels?
If my problem is the wheel itself, any ideas for a good clydesdale wheel that won't break spokes (dangerous) or the bank (just as dangerous, wife kill me)?
Alex

late

Mavic CXP33 rims are very tough. If they can survive me, they can survive anybody. 32 straight gauge spokes in the back, 28 DT in the front, hubs are your choice (I have DA).

clfjmpr44

Thanks "late," a little slow on the uptake here though, what's the DT or DA stand for? Any idea on the general price?
A

Raiyn

DT = DT Swiss DA= Dura Ace

Portis

Why do just the big guys get a name? If you guys are Clydesdales. I think my kind should be termed Greyhounds. I'm 6'2" and 147 lbs. Def. not a typical rider weight either.

Greyhound

late

Mine were hand built at my LBS and cost me $400. That's a little high for those wheels. I just looked at your post again. These wheels have a fairly stiff ride. Nashbar has some wheels on sale. Cane Creek AeroHeads. I haven't ridden these, but when I was talking to my LBS about wheels that had a nicer ride he suggested Aeroheads. Check these out...
https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?sku=8293

Raiyn

You do have a name. We call your kind "Swizzle Sticks"

catatonic

I just call you twigs. Heck I used to be a twig myself...same height, 160lbs, and a 29" waist. I never want to be that skinny again though...it just didn't look healthy. I'd rather be at the 190 I was when I left high school...at least there I looked good.

clfjmpr44

Thanks "late," I will look into the Nashbar rims. Anything to stop hearing that scary pop sound when a spoke finally gives way.
A

Portis

That's not very nice. I prefer Greyhound, thanks. I am pretty sure a Greyhound can outrun a Clydesdale any day of the week. Ain't nothing sleek about a horse (or human) with Cankles.

clfjmpr44

I looked into those Wheels. Is going less than 32 spokes ok for big riders?
A

late

Hi,
that is what I was told. Some are supposed to be quite rugged.
I haven't tried them, so I don't really know.

mjw16

I'm 6' 2" and about 250 pounds, I guess I qualify as a clydesdale. I did the N.C. Reach the Beach last year with my bro and have done many other single and multi-day charity rides and tours. I've always done them on a converted mountain bike but this year's MS 150 will be on my new Cross Check. I built it with Mavic Open Pros on XT 36 spoke hubs. I've been riding the bike for a little over a week now and they've stayed tight and true-I don't anticipate problems with them. On the other hand, the Mavic 223's on my mountain bike (32 hole with 14 and 15 gauge spokes) seem to loosen up all the time. I'm currently building a replacement set of Rhyno Lites on XT hubs in a 36 hole configuration. They should hold up to my weight and riding style.

hotwheels

[QUOTE]Just curious whether there were other clydesdales out there with similar stories.

I was bending a rim over and over on a hybrid, hen after two hundred dollars I figured out that nobody at the bike store was going to say -you're too heavy! So, when I figured that out I went to my LBS and first thing I said was "I need a bike that can support my weight!" I got a mountain bike and it has been good to me rims are sturdy -total for the bike was US$ 330.00. I've toured the pacific coast with forty extra lbs of gear and the bike is nothing but a blessing to a Clydesdale like myself. It looks like Clydesdale status is not going to be for me soon! I'm real happy about that because I'm tired of being fat!

Joat

I have to confess to being a bit confused. I weigh in at 245 and am 6'2". I ride a LeMond nevada city, and have put over 2000 miles on this summer so far. and probably 1000 miles last fall which is when I purchased the bike. I have never had my rims bend or even needed truing. I ride urban, country and bike trail.
Why / what is bending all these rims? The only thing I can think of is that I am always careful to stand up a bit and distribute my weight on rough patches.
Thoughts on this?

clfjmpr44

Why / what is bending all these rims? The only thing I can think of is that I am always careful to stand up a bit and distribute my weight on rough patches.
Thoughts on this?[/QUOTE]

My problem with snapping spokes (6 feet, 221) on my road bike appears to be a result of my weight, the cheapness of my wheels, and the fact that I push hard while climbing, or sprinting.
My 1999 Specialized Stumpjumper I have had no such problems, maybe due to the fact that MTB have more surface area touching the ground to distribute weight and force?
I dunno, just a thought...

catatonic

I have a bad habit of warping rims..not badly, but every 3 months I have to take my wheels in for re-truing.

But I do put on significant mileage on my two bikes. The new one only has 120 on it so far, but that bike is only a week old

zoogirl

How big do you have to be to be a Clyde Mare? I'm '5"6 and between 160 - 170. Haven't been near a scale lately, but according to my jeans and my friends I've lost some in the last couple months.

I ride purely junk bikes. I don't think I've ever paid more that $50 for a bike (my current one). My old man actually bought me a brand new London Drugs $89 special but it got swiped within two months. Most have run under $20, with the other two current ones checking in at $5 and free. I'm bringing this up because I can't believe the amount of trouble you all are having with new, expensive bikes!

I've been up to 195lbs in the past and I've never, in almost forty years of riding, broken a spoke. The only chain I broke was on a freebie that was mostly rust and totally oil-less. I've popped a few tires, granted, but most have been of the "wake up to a flat" variety.

Now, I have to admit, I'm not a fixer. If it needs more than a new inner tube or a few adjustments, it's off to the scrap pile. Most of the retirements have been due to rust, accident or the effects of letting my teenagers ride 'em. Anyway, you'd think at my weight, on my rolling disaster areas, I'd have a lot more breakage. Go figure.

By the way, I favour guy's bikes but probably half of 'em have been ladies and they're everything from 1 -18 speeds.

carpediem

5'10 - 220

I ride mostly offroad and I have destroyed MANY rims. Mainly from dropoffs, logs, and rocks. I have endured countless pinch flats as well.

I'm really not a parts geek so I don't know that much about gear. I picked up a set of Mavic rims on ebay last year and I'll probably get a good set of hubs and build them up. I'm thinking about building a SS so I'm sort of waiting on that.

In any case, I do a lot of weight lifting and my bodyweight fluctuates quite a bit. Biking is good exercise that is fairly easy on my knees. It's good every day cardio.

john_galt

6'1" 340 pounds, 55 mph, down an extremly steep road in suburban salt lake city. Is it bad when your brakes catch on fire?

karlfitt

Who is John Galt?




And yes fire is bad.




I am personally thinking of getting a new mountain bike because i have trued my wheels so much I can't any more (spoke too tight, stripped nipples) and it is a 7 speed, so the new rims would be 8 or 9 and require new shifters. Start adding it up and a new bike might save me money. But the bike I would build if i fix the frame i have (Cannondale super V) would be sweet. Just no disc brakes.

cerewa

You could buy a used 7-speed mountain bike and put its wheels on your (old) bike, and then you'd have lots of spare parts. Probably cheaper than a new wheel.

BostonKate

If you're competing in a race that has a Clyde/Athena class, it's 150 lbs for women. I'm surprised more women don't sign up for Athena classes - guess it's that cultural thing against telling anyone how much one weighs. I'd rather compete Athena than against the skinnyfasts in the 35-40 age groups, though

(Hi, I'm new here - 250 down from 280, ride a Diamondback Response MTB, just started riding recently with an eventual goal of living 75% carfree in Boston. Please don't bite ... )

catatonic

Shouldn't be hard...I'm 100% carfree, and it does get cumbersome at times, but once I get room for a trailer, and an oldschool roadie to put my rack and panniers on, I shall be set.

Plus once your totally carfree your weight seems to jsut plummet for a while. You also find you put ungodly amounts of mileage on your bike as well. Just going to buy a new pair of jeans can easily put 40 miles on my bike

phillybill

I'm 5' 10" 220 and I have been using a pair of performance Titan's (Deep Rim Bladed spoke) on my Gunnar Crosshairs bike for the past yeat and have not had any problems with Wheel or spoke problems. Of course skinny tires is are another issue, nothing lighter than a 700/28 and solid tread.