mikeybikes

I just picked up a pair of wheels at Veloswap for a pretty good deal. They're a bit older.

Mavic Open S.U.P. SBP, which are pretty narrow, Shimano 600 tricolor hubs, and only 28 spokes.

I fear that 28 spokes is too few. I weigh about 240 right now.

Thoughts?

GravelMN

I'm not familiar with those components, but it's not the number of spokes as much as it is the quality of build. I'm pretty close to your weight and would ride 28-spoke wheels if properly built and adequately and evenly tensioned.

FBinNY 

Ok for a smooth rider of your weight, on smooth roads. But pushing the envelope if roads are bad or you have an aggressive riding style, ie. hard sharp maneuvers, rocking the bike when sprinting or climbing, bunny hops, etc.

The above also depends on the quality of the build, so that's another variable.

If you like them use them for rides they're suited for. Or consider swapping them for something better suited to how and where you ride.

jaxgtr

You should be fine. I rode some Mavic Reflex with 600 hubs when I was well over 300. In fact, I just finally retired them as the brake surface was pretty shot. Just check the spoke holes for cracks since they are used.

indyfabz

They are not a good deal if they don't work for you.

Drew Eckhardt 

28 spokes are fine although your weight will cause shallow box section rims to bend where you'd be OK with much less weight, a deeper rim, and/or a heavier rim.

I bent my 400g Mavic Reflex clincher front with over 10 years of trouble free use within months of riding it at 200-215 pounds plus luggage.

chaadster

That's some pretty aged stuff; 600 tricolor is what, late '80s? I remember when buying my Lotus in '88, that I really wanted to make the upgrade to that 600, but couldn't swing it. It was so modern looking!

So wear-tear is a big unknown, here.

mikeybikes

Thank you for your amazingly insightful post.

mikeybikes

The hubs are pretty old, late 80s, early 90s. The rest of the bike will have mostly tricolor components as well. There is little wear to the rims, so I'm hoping they'll be fine.

Like I said, the deal was a pretty good deal, and they match the rest of the bike. It's not exactly a vintage resto though, so if they happen to be problematic, I have no qualms getting wheels that are better suited for me.

bobotech

I had a Mavic Open Pro 28 spoke wheel on an Ultegra hub (smooth as glass). It was one of the older Open Pros. I got it used at my old bike co-op about 2 years ago. I am a bit bigger than you at 380 pounds. I rebuilt the wheel when I got it with some used spokes. It was donated to us with a couple of broken spokes. I have been riding on it on and off the last couple of years. It did become my main rear wheel during this past summer when I was riding my Specialized Sequoia. I loved that wheel however I did have to retire it at the end of summer. The rim around the eyelets started to crack so I junked the rim. I ride light, I don't bunny hop, hit potholes, avoid as many obstacles as possible, only ride on pavement, etc. For all I know, the rim had over 10,000 miles on it when I got it. It never collapsed or failed other than the spoke holes started cracking. After i junked the rim, I put the spokes and hub aside and was looking for a replacement rim when my buddy gave me one of those offset Richley 28 hole rims that I rebuilt the hub on. The ERD of both rims was nearly identical.

Overall I was satisfied with the way the rim lasted under my huge weight with an unknown history and broken spokes when I first got it.

jsigone

what bike do you plan on installing them on? 7spd hubs might be 126mm rear spacing.

I don't think 28/28 will be a problem, but do check the spoke tension.

bikemig 

Spoke tension can be an issue on old wheels. Also try running a little fatter tire (say a 700 x 28c) as that will help.

mikeybikes

A mid-to-late 80s Miele road frame. Rear spacing is 126mm. The hub on the rear wheel I have is 130mm OLD (the hub is an 8spd Uniglide/Hyperglide). It's actually real easy to get the hub into the dropouts without cold setting. Spoke tension is pretty even, and the wheels are true.

I'm planning on trying 700x25s. The rim's inside with is 13mm (the label on the rim says 622-13). Based on the charts I've seen, 700x25 is the conservative maximum width for the rim. Could probably do 28s, but I don't think a 28 will clear the frame.

chriskmurray

It is not what I would consider the ideal wheel for you but as long as the build is good they should still hold up for quite a while assuming you ride with a little finesse through rough stuff.

I weigh just over 200 lbs and used 28 hole wheels on my cargo bike and they stayed true until I wore through the brake track and that bike saw total weight of around 400lbs at times. A good build goes a long way.

jaxgtr

If you want, i have the 600 hubs in 32 spoke that I planned on posting for sale. PM me if your interested. The are very smooth and i just serviced them.