GTcommuter

Well, this is the last broken spoke I'm putting up with on my old used wheels. Looks like I can get a good deal on a Mavic OP/Ultegra, but only with 32 spokes. So the question is will these work for me (~200lb) and generally light-weight panniers on a daily commute or should I shop around for some 36 spoke wheels? I'd prefer to go with durability, but I'd also prefer to buy the wheels and get back on the road without missing another week.

jo5iah

Previous thread on the subject, though not incredibly informative.

When in doubt, go for more spokes. I'm ~210 and sometimes with 20+ in pannier. I built with 36H OP, IRO hub, laced 4x. All tightened up ~240lbf, and not out of true despite riding on Seattle "streets". Of course, it's not dished, which may help. Front is 32H OP, IRO hub, laced 3x. I went for durability, and it seems to pay off.

Something with a deeper V-section (than OP) should be stronger and able to hold more tension. This may help too.

BeTheChange

A 36 would be ideal. I'm 220lbs and can carry me, my girlfriend, and my books on my back rack. Haven't broken a spoke yet. The only problem is that it is a pain to find 36 hole hubs right now that aren't disc hubs. Seems shimano is switching up a lot of stuff and I couldn't find a 36 hole LX hub, the best I could do is XT disc hubs. The availability of parts may decide this one for you.

If you can only get the 32 hole get some beefy spokes and get them hand built (or do it yourself).

max-a-mill

i think a 32 spoke wheel would be fine.... the problem is if you order it you have no idea if it was built properly.

my advice is if you do go with 32, find someone who handbuilds the wheels. i weigh 220 as well and my mountainbikes all have 32 spoke wheels that i beat the ***** out of without any failures; i can't see commuting being that hard on wheels...

that said i ordered wheels that have blown up under riding much like yours sound like it has. i think i am coming to understand now that it was probably a combination of the fact that they were built poorly and i never trued them properly...

motorhommmer

You have no guarantee that your broken spokes are behind you.I have a pair of Mavic Open Pro's, Ultegra Hubs, 3 spokes broken in last 3 months, I went 1200 miles before last one broke.
All rear drive side. I use 32 spokes and am about 185.
The good side of this is I learned to replace the last one myself.
Have a good luck at your current setup and mileage and unless you feel that you want to treat yourself maybe fix the spoke and move on unless hubs, rims, spokes etc. are worn out.

max-a-mill

i was told if you break spokes consistantly your just gonna keep breaking them forever on that wheel... someting aout the rest of the spokes getting shocked when the one spoke breaks.

i had a hardtime believing it (thought the LBS man was just trying to con me into a new wheel) but after breaking a spoke or two a week on my old road wheel, my spoke problems went away when i just said f-ck it and got a new wheel!

motorhommmer

I know spokes ordered for a rebuild, my first ever try .....

GTcommuter

Yea, I've been told this also. Again by LBS guys with wheels to sell. But on my old wheels that I bought used with an unknown number of miles, I'm starting to think the rims are near untrueable. I've been surfing around for Open Pros or something similar in 36H but can't find anything in that pre-built price range other than some Velocity Gliders. I'd like to track down a pair of Velocity Deep V's, but again I can't find anything prebuilt with 36 spokes. Anyway, maybe I'll have to wait for the next paycheck and pony up for some handbuilt wheels. Thanks for the responses.

phillybill

I'm 215 and use 105's 32 spoke count with OP's and MA3's and have not had any problems. Generally about 20 lbs in the panniers and about 80 miles of commuting a week.