PartyBIble

Building a custom bike from a local frame builder. Need a bit of advice on a wheelset. Budget is $1500, I live in Houston, known for its eclectic road surface. Its not uncommon to ride butter smooth black top, chip-n-seal, and pot hole riddled streets all on the same ride.

What wheelset would you recommend for a 215lbs rider in the mean streets of Houston?

p.s. running discs and SRAM red on a steel bike.


-JB

datlas 

Tons of good options including handbuilts.

I would put HED Ardennes on the list.

WhyFi

The previously mentioned HEDs are a good option as are other wheelsets with rims that are on the wide side. Wider rims get more volume out of the same tire vs a skinnier rim, which allows you to run slightly lower pressures, which can make a noticable difference in comfort for a big guy that would normally have to run high pressure to avoid pinch flats.

Are the subject of wide tires, what kind of tire clearance is your builder going to give you? At this point, I want to be able to clear 28-30mm tires with any future bikes.

PartyBIble

Planning on 28s.

Bob Ross

With just that information, the answer should be: Get a custom wheelset from a local wheelbuilder.

Of course, make sure they have a stellar reputation. (You're in Texas? Call Joe Young right now!) But presuming they're an experienced professional wheelbuilder with a stellar reputation (did I mention Joe Young) just tell him what sort of bike it is, what sort of riding you do, what you weigh, and what your expectations for a wheelset are...and let them spec and build.

Seattle Forrest

I'd probably have wheels built from Chinese carbon rims at whatever your chosen depth is. Get the rims from a reputable dealer, lots of people have been doing that for years; disc brakes eliminate the main safety concern. I don't know that they would be better than, say, the Ardennes recommended above, but they wouldn't be worse, and the carbon would be "blingy."

PartyBIble

Looking at the Ardennes Plus SL spec, approved for light XC use, beastly wheels.


Any suggestions for dealers?


Filling out his for right now.

Seattle Forrest

I think Yoleo and Far Sports are two that have a lot of positive customer reviews. I haven't used them personally, hopefully somebody else will come along and say more. See this thread for an eample.

mstateglfr 

Middle aged fat guy.
Flat riding.
Not smooth riding.

Cut your budget in half and have a nice 28/32h wheelset built with butted spokes on any number of rims that are about 28mm deep and 23mm wide.

WhyFi

Cool. If you do a little looking, some carbon wheelsets, like Reynolds Assaults, should come in well under budget, too.

turkey9186

Belgium or Pacenti rims laced to DT Swiss hubs.

thehammerdog

Anything in that range = very very good just pick one tubby

ZippyThePinhead

Rich Sawiris at WheelBuilder.com. A stand-up guy, really knows his stuff.

RonH

I got a pair of custom wheels from PSIMet.com 2 years ago. Still love them. You can email them all your requirements and they'll recommend options they think you'll be happy with.
He's also a Bike Forums member.

Homebrew01

Yup. $1500 for a pair of wheels is just silly.

jfranci3

DT swiss makes a great set of somewhat heavy ER1600 DB wheels 32mm deep and are rated by DT for a 260lbs of bike and rider to take 6" drops. I've been using them for a year (R32 name then) and they're great. Can be found for $400/set. They come with adapters for everything, so you can usually make $100 back selling the unneeded adapters. At 1800g, they're a bit heavy, at 32mm deep V shape, they're only a bit aero, but they are they are high quality and the best deal you're going to find until you're over $900 and get the AL33 rim or cheap carbon wheels.



If you want to go higher end, I'd look HED for a heavier guy build (250rider limit on the 24/24 db wheels). These are about as aero ag you're going to get for everyday wheels, CHEAP, and quality. These are 50% off right new -https://www.backcountry.com/hed-jet-4-plus-black-disc-brake-wheelset-clincher?CMP_SKU=HED002P&MER=0406&skid=HED002P-BK-S12X10012X142TA&mr:trackingCode=E5D5CCF3-21CA-E711-8102-005056944E17&mr:referralID=NA&mr:device=c&mr:adType=plaonline&CMP_ID=PLA_GOc001&utm_source=Google&ut m_medium=PLA&k_clickid=325a178c-772e-449e-9ba9-2a5556c1bf1d&rmatt=tsid:1042790|cid:213415837|agid:13362825397|tidla-368054870839|crid:92885919277|nw:g|rnd:15417505546741920595|dvc:c|adp:1o1|mt:|loc:9021470&gclid=EAIa IQobChMIxM6VhMur2gIViIuzCh2dBA7bEAQYASABEgJvwvD_BwE

Most disc wheelsets are already strong enough for a bigger dude.

Jazzguitar

I picked up a set of Ardennes + LT for less than half of your budget. Fantastic set of wheels, I usually build my own but it ended up being cheaper to just buy them already built.

Sy Reene

https://https://www.huntbikewheels.com/collections/road-disc-wheels/products/hunt-30carbon-gravel-disc-road-wheelset-1469g-30deep-27wide-999

ridingfool

I can vouch for the Ardennes I have the stallion edition and am a little heavier at 230 pounds. They ride really good and after 10.000 thousand miles still as true as day one not one complaint here

wfp

I'm a little bit lighter at 190lbs. I've been running a H+ Son Archetype rear with DT Swiss 350 hub for a few years now that's been great. I just bought a new wheelset using Archetype on front (DT Swiss 350) and rear with a Powertap G3. The wheelset came in at about $800.

I had considered the HED Belgium Plus rim for these. It seems very similar to the Archetype, but a lot more expensive. The only advantage I saw for the HED rim was that it supports tubeless and the Archetype does not. I don't have any plans going tubeless so I stuck with the rim I had experience with.

Wileyrat

Another Hed Ardennes voter here.

I bought a pair of LT's a couple of years ago, and they have been absolutely trouble free in over 5k miles. I put some 25mm Conti GP4k SII's on them,which measure out to 27 or 28, and the combination has been great.

During that time, I've spent about half of it over the 225lb recommended weight limit.

Silvercivic27

Call HED directly and order stallion build. They will make them for you and ship them to your door and probably give you a nice wheelbag at a discount too if you ask nicely.

Mindcrime

ROL wheels. They have many options in your price range. I too am a big dude (245 lbs) and am also in Houston where I ride 5k per year. My ROLs have never even pinged. They make sets specifically for bigger dudes that don't sacrifice much weight. Plus, Sean, the main guy at the company is super personable.

topflightpro

Given your weight and concerns about road quality, I'd go with a custom build with a higher spoke count.

I'm thinking something like DT240, White Ind. or even CK R45 hubs with 24-28 spokes in the front and 28-32 in the back laced to a Hed Belgium or Kinlin rim. I'd skip Pacenti - due to poor experiences in the past.

They will look nice and hold up. They won't be the lightest or most aero or most pro looking, but they will be solid.

Rons

I weigh 200 and have a set of Boyd Altamonts. They are a great wheel set at half the cost of your budget. You could splurge and go with their ceramic altamonts or switch to White Industries hubs on these wheels. By the way I have 28/32. Boyds are great and service is wonderful.