Wheel set?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Wheel set?
I'm a fat guy with an old Specialized Allez Elite Triple that was 1k$ 15 years ago.
I only ride 30 to 50 miles a week if that.
I need a new inexpensive wheel set.
What should I get?
Thanks
I only ride 30 to 50 miles a week if that.
I need a new inexpensive wheel set.
What should I get?
Thanks
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 3,672
Bikes: Puch Marco Polo, Saint Tropez, Masi Gran Criterium
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1158 Post(s)
Liked 439 Times
in
312 Posts
Can you tell us what failed with your current wheelset?
As a "fat guy" are you putting your wheels through any exceptional issues? Are you a masher? Are you commuting or sport riding on smooth roads? Are you wanting something that will make you fast and be strong for you as you transition to a not so fat guy? Just curious.
36 rear, 32 front spokes with some strong rims custom laced by your town's best wheelbuilder would be my recommendation. Not sure how cheap this option would be though.
For hub choice - if your rear spacing is 130mm are you OK with sticking with 8/9/10 speed hubs or did you want to update your 15 year old Specialized for an 11 speed rear cassette? If so, you would need to update your rear shifter to an 11 speed model.
As a "fat guy" are you putting your wheels through any exceptional issues? Are you a masher? Are you commuting or sport riding on smooth roads? Are you wanting something that will make you fast and be strong for you as you transition to a not so fat guy? Just curious.
36 rear, 32 front spokes with some strong rims custom laced by your town's best wheelbuilder would be my recommendation. Not sure how cheap this option would be though.
For hub choice - if your rear spacing is 130mm are you OK with sticking with 8/9/10 speed hubs or did you want to update your 15 year old Specialized for an 11 speed rear cassette? If so, you would need to update your rear shifter to an 11 speed model.
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
225 lbs for the last 18 years. No sign of loosing weight.
no updates on bike
Dirt and paved roads.
old wheel set has straight pull spokes that the shop was breaking when they tried to true.
Spokes are loose and make lots of noise.
a little creepy when going 45 down hill.
Looking for something simple that I may be able to order of rhe web.
no updates on bike
Dirt and paved roads.
old wheel set has straight pull spokes that the shop was breaking when they tried to true.
Spokes are loose and make lots of noise.
a little creepy when going 45 down hill.
Looking for something simple that I may be able to order of rhe web.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 3,672
Bikes: Puch Marco Polo, Saint Tropez, Masi Gran Criterium
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1158 Post(s)
Liked 439 Times
in
312 Posts
225 lbs for the last 18 years. No sign of loosing weight.
no updates on bike
Dirt and paved roads.
old wheel set has straight pull spokes that the shop was breaking when they tried to true.
Spokes are loose and make lots of noise.
a little creepy when going 45 down hill.
Looking for something simple that I may be able to order of rhe web.
no updates on bike
Dirt and paved roads.
old wheel set has straight pull spokes that the shop was breaking when they tried to true.
Spokes are loose and make lots of noise.
a little creepy when going 45 down hill.
Looking for something simple that I may be able to order of rhe web.
#6
Senior Member
I've sold several OEM wheelsets on craigslist just to get them out of my garage, and they usually sell for very little, like $50 with brand new tires/tubes, which is a huge win for the buyer.
An OEM wheelset might be ideal for you, they're usually a little porky, but that's because they need to hold up to the heavier and more abusive riders.
Also, I noticed you are running 23mm tires.. If you pop a 25mm tire on there and drop the pressure 10-15psi, it'll ride like a totally different bike. 28mm is even better if it'll fit, but that's unlikely on a 15 year old bike.
Edit to say: 225lbs isn't that heavy, most wheelsets (outside of superlight racing wheelsets) should handle your weight.
An OEM wheelset might be ideal for you, they're usually a little porky, but that's because they need to hold up to the heavier and more abusive riders.
Also, I noticed you are running 23mm tires.. If you pop a 25mm tire on there and drop the pressure 10-15psi, it'll ride like a totally different bike. 28mm is even better if it'll fit, but that's unlikely on a 15 year old bike.
Edit to say: 225lbs isn't that heavy, most wheelsets (outside of superlight racing wheelsets) should handle your weight.
#8
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,457
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3637 Post(s)
Liked 5,314 Times
in
2,700 Posts
^^^ Sold out
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
https://binghamton.craigslist.org/bo...159614996.html
would these be a good choice?
would these be a good choice?
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 3,672
Bikes: Puch Marco Polo, Saint Tropez, Masi Gran Criterium
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1158 Post(s)
Liked 439 Times
in
312 Posts
https://binghamton.craigslist.org/bo...159614996.html
would these be a good choice?
would these be a good choice?
Let us know what you choose.
#11
NYC
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,720
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1169 Post(s)
Liked 107 Times
in
62 Posts
You could also replace the spokes and possibly rims and rebuild the wheels/hubs you have and get another 15 years out of them.
However, if your shop is breaking spokes trying to true the wheel, that likely means they don't have a competent wheel builder.
Why? Because the spokes are likely over tensioned from previous truing efforts, and they need to be all loosened and retensioned and trued to reset everything to proper tension.
Keyword: likely. As in "odds are, but maybe not"
However, if your shop is breaking spokes trying to true the wheel, that likely means they don't have a competent wheel builder.
Why? Because the spokes are likely over tensioned from previous truing efforts, and they need to be all loosened and retensioned and trued to reset everything to proper tension.
Keyword: likely. As in "odds are, but maybe not"
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
Posts: 2,870
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1455 Post(s)
Liked 1,477 Times
in
867 Posts
I wouldn't bother trying to rebuild your current wheels. You can shop prebuilt wheelsets online, Mavic and Shimano both have lots of options but if you really want something cheap, durable and strong I'd suggest finding a shop that builds wheels and just have them build you up something.
If you don't care about aero and weight, I'd suggest Mavic Open Pro rims w/ 105 hubs and DT Swiss champion spokes, either 32 or 36 per wheel.
This would be a bombproof wheelset that will last you another 15 years, with easily maintained/replaceable parts that any shop will be familiar with, and will cost you around $350-$400. Most shops would be happy to quote this (or something similar) over the phone or email.
If you don't care about aero and weight, I'd suggest Mavic Open Pro rims w/ 105 hubs and DT Swiss champion spokes, either 32 or 36 per wheel.
This would be a bombproof wheelset that will last you another 15 years, with easily maintained/replaceable parts that any shop will be familiar with, and will cost you around $350-$400. Most shops would be happy to quote this (or something similar) over the phone or email.
#14
Heft On Wheels
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 3,124
Bikes: Specialized,Cannondale,Argon 18
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 887 Post(s)
Liked 560 Times
in
346 Posts
H+ Sons are very good. I have them with ultegra hubs on one bike, very solid. I also have some Corsa HD they too are really solid for the price.
Both sets are 36 spokes and I have had zero issues with either. I was as high as 336 on them now down to 254. I am not getting rid of either set super happy with them.
Both sets are 36 spokes and I have had zero issues with either. I was as high as 336 on them now down to 254. I am not getting rid of either set super happy with them.
#15
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 17,656
Bikes: Litespeed Ultimate, Ultegra; Canyon Endurace, 105; Battaglin MAX, Chorus; Bianchi 928 Veloce; Ritchey Road Logic, Dura Ace; Cannondale R500 RX100; Schwinn Circuit, Sante; Lotus Supreme, Dura Ace
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10244 Post(s)
Liked 11,596 Times
in
5,943 Posts
At 225, you don't need 36 spokes. I have a 28/32 wheelset that has lasted thousands of miles, and needed truing ONCE, and that was just a slight wobble, not even enough to rub the brakes. BUT, you need a really good wheel builder who knows how to properly tension, destress, whatever. Properly done, there's no need to re-true after 50-100 miles, as you often have to do with machine-built wheels.
__________________
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
#16
Senior Member
225 lbs isn't that bad... I was above 230 at one point (now in the 185-190 range), and I rode my Bianchi with Mavic Ksyrium Equipes for years. Still do, in fact - the Bianchi just lives at my sister's these days. Those Ksyrium Equipes are 20/24 spoke, and have never been trued. That said, I'm pretty low mileage (700-1k miles/year, urban weekend warrior), so your mileage may vary (literally). I imagine if budget is a concern, any of the pre-built factory wheels ought to work just fine, from Shimano 500s and Ritchey Zetas to Mavic Aksiums. In fact, your LBS can probably source these as well. Why not support the local shop? You never know, they might surprise you and come in pretty close in cost to online dealers.
For what it's worth, my current bike has a pair of Vision Team 30 wheels, which probably aren't too different from what you saw on CL (though mine are disc). They definitely feel heavier than my old Mavics, probably due to the higher spoke count and deeper rim, but otherwise have worked fine for the past 1k or so miles. I don't think my riding volume or my current weight justify me upgrading to a pair of carbon hoops until these break, and they haven't yet...
For what it's worth, my current bike has a pair of Vision Team 30 wheels, which probably aren't too different from what you saw on CL (though mine are disc). They definitely feel heavier than my old Mavics, probably due to the higher spoke count and deeper rim, but otherwise have worked fine for the past 1k or so miles. I don't think my riding volume or my current weight justify me upgrading to a pair of carbon hoops until these break, and they haven't yet...