mint-sauce

and i have a few questions before i go ahead. Bit of back ground on me and bike. Have entry level obrea road bike for about 4 years ago costing about €600 at the time, have not had to do much since with it, apart from getting it serviced, replacing the tyres, tubes, and brakes, basically keeping it clean and road worthy. But now looking to upgrade the wheels that came with it as i understand its one of the more effective upgrades you can do.

Most of my cycling revolves around doing one or two charity events each year of distances up to around 100-110km and training for them, would not describe my self as a racer at all, more of a very keen and ocasionally competive leisure/recreational cyclist. This year i already have signed up to two events, a 60km and an 80km, and depending on how the legs hold up a 110km later in the year.

These are the wheels i'm looking at (€200) and basically have 3 questions, google has not been kind in finding all the answers,

one- is it worth while speeding this much for what my bike is worth and the age of it.

two- the hub is described as being compatable with 8,9 and 10 speed cassettes, mine is a 7speed, so i understand i need to buy a spacer, was looking at a few sites which say i need to buy a 4.5mm one, although on browsing for one i can only see 3mm, not sure if this is an issue.

Finally three- load bearing, have seen a few sites where it recommends maximum cyclist weight for number of spooks, said wheels have 20, now i'm off average weight, about 70kgs, but going on holiday in couple of months and taking bike with me, doing one of the charity events there, and during journey am going have to cycle about 15 to 30km in total between connections and final destinations, carrying my luggage on my back, probably an extra 15 to 20 kg in total and am concerned all that extra weight might be too much on them.

Apolagies if long winded, but any advise would be greatly apreciated.

KevinF

Upgrading your wheels is an effective way to lighten your wallet.

There are some instances where upgrading your wheels will lead to real-world benefits. New wheels can provide real benefits in some racing applications, but you don't race. Your average speed isn't going to increase by any noticeable amount.

If you're constantly breaking spokes, then a wheel change would make sense.

Different wheels will change the "road feel" of your bike; using different tires and / or air pressure will do the same thing, and will be a whole lot cheaper.

Basically, don't buy too much into the marketing hype of new wheels.

Panthers007

If you have to ask, you can't afford it. That said: One good thing about getting a decent set of wheels is that they are transferable. If you're attached to your current bike, then go ahead IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT. I personally suggest that you buck the trend of "lesser (spokes) is better" and look at getting some real and strong wheels. Such as 32-spoke 3-cross laced wheels. These will last. Unless you are a serious racer, you don't need to be on wheels that are weak - but look "cool, dude."

I'd also suggest you learn more about wheels, such as how to true them and how to build them. It's really a lot of fun! Here's a good place to start:

https://sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html

stapfam

I am not a fan of OM Machine built wheels. Better wheels will be the best improvement you can put on a bike-and they will transfer over to a new bike.

But that price for Aksiums seems a bit expensive to me. Good wheels though but I think you could do better than these and at a lower price. I personally would find a wheel builder and see what they can come up with on the 105/Ultegra hub--Open Pro rims and 32/36 spokes laced x2. It will be a far better wheel at a cheaper price and they will be "Hand Built".

Hand built wheels need not be that expensive- And perhaps others can recommend a builder.

With a name of "Mint Sauce"- I reckon you may be based in the UK

But DaveHind at

https://davehinde.veriovps.co.uk/Merc...d8415609800a2c

Can do the Aksiums at £149 and a set of handbuilt 105 hubs on open pro rims with 32 spokes for around the same price. So look around-And I can recommend His hand built wheels.



Edit

The Aksiums are a stronger wheel than you may think. I know riders of 100kgs using them and are a popular wheel on Cyclocross bikes where the stress is higher than normal. Downside from a handbuilt though is that they are radially spoked- which makes them very stiff- and low spoke wheels are a bu**er to true up if you ever have to.

Robert Foster

I don't think you will notice any upgrade more on a bike that wheels. The stock wheels and spokes on my Jamis were ok but at close to 260 I started breaking them from flex as I started learning to climb hills. I was anything but smooth. After about the third spoke it became clear that my rear wheel was about to grenade so my LBS suggested new stiffer wheels with a better hub. I bought a set of Shimano RS wheels and straight pull hubs with Aero spokes and I noticed right off the bat a big improvement. The wheels were a lot stiffer and even with fewer spokes seemed to stay true better. I can only say that I did break one spoke after getting the new wheels but I blame that on hitting a pot hole just as I was standing to make a sprint. Still the wheel didn’t warp as much as the 32/34 spoke stock wheel and I didn’t have to disconnect the rear brake to make it to the bike shop to have it fixed. I have since bought another backup Shimano rear wheel and hub and aero spokes. Fewer spokes may be harder to true but a stiffer wheel doesn’t need truing as often in my experience. Now maybe if I could learn to be patient enough to true my own wheels I could speak with mort authority on the merits of more spokes. Before I got the Shimano wheels I was thinking of having a tandem wheel made for my bike. But I am now under 220 and not having as many wheel problems as I used to.

mint-sauce

haha, was wondering how soon it would be noticed, living in ireland, but was once an avid reader of mountain biking UK, who would have thought, a mountain biking sheep

as for the wheels, still shopping around, checked out the website, quite a bit cheeper compared to the other UK prices i had seen

although might need to get a set sooner than i thought, hit a huge pothole this evening, was a sunken manhole cover about 3 inches deep, was on top of it before i seen it, no obvious damage but a close inspection is needed

ouch

n00bL35

Ribble has good prices. This is a Mavic Open Pro rim w/Ultegra hub for 158.

iforgotmename

I went to my lbs and ordered a custom built rear this week. I told the mechanic to use what he thought was best and I am confident in his knowledge. The wheel is for my commuter and I made the terrible mistake of putting Mavic Crossrides on. My rear will be about $200 US but it will stay true and the lbs is great with customer service. I will get a front when I save up for it....credit cards are evil It should be ready today so I will have a lighter wallet but a less wobbly commute on monday