Alex DA22

The price is right... 36 spokes... Durable enough till I lose a TON of weight?

I returned to riding 4 years ago weighing 270 and finally had to settle on 700x28 as I just kept destroying spokes and rims.

I use Mavic A-719 rims, DT 14/15 SS spokes and DT Hugi hubs. I put close to 5,000 miles on them last year with no problems and only trued then twice. Bomb proof!

I have DA16 training wheelset and they are stong but they tend to go out of true easily... no bad but sightly...

A good set of 36 spoke wheels should do the trick... just remember you get what you pay for...

If you do blow them up, just take comfort in the fact that those wheels only cost $75 new.

If not those, I heard the Mavics have soem good lower end wheels that are very stout. Like the CPX22's with heavy gauge spokes. they are heavier, about 1-kilo, but pretty tough from what I hear.
You could try the A-class, I have heard they are decent. If they don't work out, at least they aren't a real big investment, and there are options out there.

Here's one. I hear these are pretty tough wheels too.

https://www.nashbar.com/profile_morei...u=12511&brand=

Have you thought of maybe trying a slightly heavier set of cyclo-cross wheels with 700x28's instead? Then you could just upgrade to the lighter wheels with 700x23's later. Just an option.

They look like a good set of wheels and the price certainly is right.

I'm in that weight range, and straight gauge spokes are the rule.

Straight Gauge for a heavier rider? I was under the impression that double-butted spokes were stronger than straight-gauge in all applications due to the increased elasticity of the spokes, and the resulting ability of the spokes to distribute torsional loads more uniformly. Am i wrong here?


-T

I agree with they only cost 75.00 but the lower alex rims don't have a good rep..

The mavic a719's would be the most durable but you cannot run real narrow tires on them.. They are basically a 700c version of a mtb rim.. Very solid.

I feel the Mavic CXP33's are just as solid in 36 hole.. They will cost you more but you can have them for years.. They have tremendous lateral stiffness and can take a beating..

Found this link about spoke design - pertains to unicycle wheels, but the principles are the same. https://www.unicycling.org/unicycling...mail/4032.html

Can't believe I am the first to post this, get some 36 spoke count Mavic Open Pros. Bombproof and pretty inexpensive at about $100 a wheel with Ultegra rear hub.
A

Straight guage can bear more weight per spoke (it's stiffer) , but you are really better off for durability sake going with more butted spokes. I'll take a 36 spoke rear wheel with butted spokes over a 32 straight guage spoke rear wheel anyday.

I'm quoting a 30 year vetern wheelsmith that has built a set of bomb proof wheels for me and many others.

Just received my new performance catalog today and they are selling the Mavic a719 w/ 105 hubs for 109.99 a pair which is quite a great deal.. It is on page E14, I do not see the deal online so you may have to call it in..

In that case, I'm totally interested in getting an explanation about straight gauge vs. butted spokes in the context of wheelbuilding for heavier riders... I've just started building wheels myself, and am about to build a few sets for some friends that are heavier riders. Could you (pretty please) ask your wheelsmith why straight gauge is better in this application than butted? It may save some of my friends a case of the "wheels that go KaBoom!" in the near future if he (she?) is correct!

In search of perfect spokedom,
-T

You need to think of the wheel as whole.

If you had to choose between rim for stiffness or spokes for stiffness, Jobst brandt would say take the stiff rim and use butted spokes.



Best combo: Stiff rim with flexible (butted) spokes
worst combo: flexible rim with stiff spokes.

In addition you can also increase the spoke count.

You might want to read this: https://www.bikeforums.net/trash/74615-issues-alex-da22.html

There's an interesting photo of an exploded wheel.

Heh - yeah, saw that... scary. I actually printed out and showed that photo to one of the mechs over at Urbane Cyclist in Toronto before I bought my rear wheel - they use the DA22 on a lot of wheels, and have never seen one fail like that - and have had nearly none come back due to defects. I'd hazard a guess that while the fit and finish on the DA22 isn't top of the line, they still build up into a strong reliable wheel when built properly.

That said, my next rims are probably Open Pros.

Anyone care to speculate on the ride differences between a rigid semi-aero rim like the DA22 and something like the Open Pro? Rotational weight differences aside (Open Pros are lighter I imagine) would there be any real perceptible differences in the ride quality? Vibration transmission? Flex?

I ride a lugged steel racing frame on 25c Vittorias, so it's already a fairly smooth ride, but wondering if a set of Pros would tweak the plush up a notch?

The DA22s feel very stiff, and I imagine they might be a bit harsher on an aluminum frame, running 23c tires.

Maybe I'm ********, but as long as the wheels aren't those superlight weight paired spoke type wheels, then any "properly" built wheel will support your weight fine so long as your not attracted to lots of pot holes and speedbumbs or whatever else.

I'm 6'4'' 275 (down from 318 - yup i'm a fatty) and I ride the Alex EXA's that came on my Specialized Allez Elite - they even have somewhat bladed spokes. I haven't had any trouble, but your milage may vary.