I'm looking to buy not expensive but really tough 406 wheels for my Downtube Nova. My weight is 210 pounds and I have constantly true the stock wheels. I'm thinking something like BMX ones with 36 spokes.

I appreciate any suggestion.

Sun rims used on my Bike Friday..36 hole double wall...brilliant..

I am also about 200 pounds and my Bike friday Pocket Rocket has 24 spoke wheels, stainless spokes, with Sun MA14 rims in 451 size. I have only retighteed the rims a couple of times in the 24 years I have owned the bike. Roger.

Sun CR18 rims .36 spoke...406 mm...and had my BF since 2003 and never ever touched a spoke at all..Chris

Certainly spoke count, rim stiffness, and tire width/pressure all matter. Two important additional factors are (1) the wheel builder and (2) how you ride.

If you're rough on your wheels, I'd build 36-hole wheels with Sun Rhyno Lite rims and mate them with something like Big Apples. Remember that you don't have to pump them to the max pressure for a fast ride. I'm always a fan of Shimano hubs -- traditional cup and cone bearings that seem to last a long time with regular maintenance -- so I'd go with ordinary Deore hubs with the 135 OLD.

Great suggestions guys. Thanks a lot.
On Ebay I found Bike Friday 451 32H Capreo hubs wheels. What you think about the deal?
Bike Friday Wheels 451s Fr RER 9spd Capreo R Hub Deore Frntcosmic Tires Sun | eBay

that's a good wheelset for a bike friday pocket rocket or mini velo, but not for a downtube nova. those wheels are 451mm. you need 406mm wheels to be compatible with the v-brakes on your bike. unless, that is, you want to spend more money buying v-brake adapters, long reach v-brakes, or calipers, or even possibly a new front fork..

i have a few 406 wheelsets in my "inventory" (ugh). i'll have a look. i may have something you can use.

yep. i still have these.

I have Sun 32 hole CR18 on my Bike Friday . your choice up to 3 cross ..

Asian "Weinmann" AS26FL in 28 hole on my Bike trailer.. [ Older Burly flatbed ]


BTW for really harsh treatment 406 rims are drilled 48 hole too ..

a Group of 3 crows foot pattern is clever .. a combination of a radial and a 2 cross on either side of it per side
so opposed by another group , of 3 ; 8 groups of 6.

What's the size of the hubs? How much do you want for the wheels?
Thanks.

Ohh, that's too complicated for me. I will try to make some research to try to understand the patterns you mentioned. Thank you.

Nice wheelset. Although I suspect that the rear OLD on a Downtube is 135. OP should be able to put 2.5 mm spacers on either end -- I'm assuming that the rear triangle is aluminum -- and still have enough of the axle in the dropout.

To the OP ... it really matters who builds your wheelset. 32 spokes is a lot for a well built 20" wheel. The 32 spoke wheels on my Bike Friday are doing great and only had to be trued once as a consequence of an event waaaaaaay outside the norm.

it's been a long time since i've owned an aluminum bike. i would have thought a couple of millimeters of compression was within tolerances.

but, yes. i agree. quality of build and choice of materials means the difference measured in years for the longevity of a wheelset. this is the second set i've had built by Harris Cyclery.

I'm not entirely sure. My guess is yes since I've heard of aluminum bikes being sized with a 132.5 OLD. (see the specifications tab for the Xootr Swift folder) Although I recall Sheldon saying that a 130 hub in a 126 aluminum OLD was a no-no.

Here it is only 2.5 mm on each side but given that it's cheap and easy, I'd put the spacers in.

Maybe Yan will confirm.

I find it hard to believe that you can't put a 130mm hub in a 135mm OLD frame. The later Xootr Swifts have 135mm and I have had no problems shutting the dropout closed on my road hubs over the years, although I did use a 1mm thick washer as a bit of a spacer, and I suppose that brings it almost to the 132.5mm value. Aluminium has a finite number of stress cycles for any amount of stress, unlike steel which has infinite stress cycles if you keep the stress below a certain level. But for the few times you stress the rear triangle to insert a hub... well that is an infinitesimal amount of the total amount. You won't be cracking the frame in your own life even if you removed and replaced the back wheel every day for the rest of your life.

It is a big PITA though, to wrestle a 135mm hub into a 130mm frame.

Our old Nova's used 130mm rear axle, the newer ones are 135mm. I have lots of wheels from old bikes I can sell at a discount, however I think OP may only be interested in front wheels as the rears are for cassettes ( the Nova uses a freewheel ).

Thanks,
Yan

I had built some heavy duty wheels.
this one was ordered by a HongKong cyclist for his folder. XT M785 HUB, DT 2.0 spokes, 406 double-wall rim with eyelets. tuning with high spoke tension 。

Yan you are the best. I didn't even know a freewheel exist. Thank you.

Screw on Freewheels came first.

7 speed cassettes are dirt cheap.

Skyway tough wheels (tm) are a fiber reinforced Nylon spoked wheel but only 1 speed ..

you can Really thrash them ..

i sent you a PM yesterday. maybe you missed it.

Just found your PM. Thanks.
I can't make any offers because I know very little about bicycles. I bought my first bike four months ago.
Also, the rear hub is shorter and requires a new cassette.

nice job, bro. very nice looking wheels.

sorry, i didn't realize you were a novice rider. point of clarification - ultegra cassette was included with the wheels i was offering plus two new schwalbe marathon tires. good luck with your search for wheels.

you should probably get something like this.



[TABLE]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"]SPECIFICATIONS[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]AXLE DIAMETER[/TD]
[TD]BOLT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]AXLE SPACING[/TD]
[TD]135mm[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]COLOR[/TD]
[TD]SILVER[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]FRONT/REAR/PAIR[/TD]
[TD]REAR[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]HUB BRAND[/TD]
[TD]KT ALY ATB FREEWHL[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]HUB FINISH[/TD]
[TD]SILVER[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]HUB TYPE[/TD]
[TD]KT ALY ATB FREEWHL[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]MODEL[/TD]
[TD]RW2015AF[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]RIM FINISH[/TD]
[TD]SILVER[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]RIM MATERIAL[/TD]
[TD]ALEX Y303[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]SINGLE/DOUBLE WALL[/TD]
[TD]SW[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]SIZE[/TD]
[TD]20''X 1.75[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]SPOKE COUNT[/TD]
[TD]36[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]SPOKE FINISH[/TD]
[TD]SILVER[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]SPOKE TYPE[/TD]
[TD]UCP[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]WHEEL SIZE[/TD]
[TD]20[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

• Alex Y303 30.5mm wide alloy rims w/ 36 holes for strength and durability
• KT-A1HR ATB 135mm OLD
• Wheels laced four cross for superior strength
• Rear alloy hub uses a 6-8 Spd FW