Wheels

[mauisher]

Hi,
I'm going on a supported cross-USA bike ride on my road bike. I currently have Easton (Velomax) Ascent II wheels with several thousand miles on them and am considering a new wheelset. What would you recommend considering I want light weight and ease of repair (in small town bike shops)??? Thanks in advance for your advice!

[kermit]

I don't know how light you want to go but I just got Easton EA90SLX's for my bike. The price was right(ebay) and they are sturdy but light.

[Mr. Bloom]

How many sets of wheels will you have as backup?

[aicabsolut]

It'd be really easy to find a place that could service Mavic wheels, and they are pretty bombproof. Plus, if anything happens, they have a no-questions-asked replacement policy (which is insurance you buy at the point of purchase--i.e., not on ebay--and it costs 8% of the price of the wheelset). Of course, to get lightweight wheels it'll cost some $$. I mean, Shimano wheels are bombproof, but until you get at least DuraAce hubs, you are looking at some weight.

The Eastons are lightweight and pretty reliable. The SL's have more spokes (24, I think) than the SLX, so that could give you some more security in case one were to break.

For budget wheels that are pretty durable and light, look into some custom builds or some mixed builds at Performance or Excel where you might get a Shimano/OpenPro combo (not superlight but cheap) or go with lighter rims like DT Swiss. You may have a higher spoke count, but light rims will spin up quickly, and they may be lighter than some affordable Mavic options (but probably not as light as Eastons).

Other than this trip, what would you be using them for? Do you want a high performance race type wheel, or is durability and ease of service the most important but that you want to avoid some low end bricks?

[ridebikeme]

If you are looking to ride xc, are you riding self contained or with a tour group? If you are going self contained, then I would look for something with 32 spokes and perhaps a Mavic or Velocity rim. Mavic wheels are very durable, however if you are in a small town, then there's a good chance that a shop might not have any of their spokes.... if they aren't a Mavic dealer then it will be hard to get replacements. I would be more concerned about durability then weight... if you should break a spoke on a light weight wheel, it affects a larger section of the wheel... and you could potentially be looking for a whole new wheel as opposed to a spoke.

AS someone who rides, tours, and is also a mechanic and wheel builder, my opinion is go for something with more spokes. I have been on the road as a mechanic in a small town, and was unable to find the correct spoke length.... If you insist on lightweight wheels, then carry extra spokes with you.

[SadieKate]

It'd be really easy to find a place that could service Mavic wheels . . . Something tells me that Austin, Nevada isn't going to be able to help. It's a bit different here in the wild, wild, west where towns are far apart and not very big. It could be hundreds of miles depending on the route.

It never hurts to have a few extra spokes and nipples for your wheels in your luggage. They don't take up much space.

[Fredwina]

Having to wait for specail spokes from mavic - I would recommend finding somebody to custom build you a set of wheels - you really don't give up anything as far as price, strength, or weight - mine got an ran over by a car and they're still true enough that you could leave the brake Q/r on :)

[mauisher]

Thanks for your replies. To answer your questions above, the ride is fully supported, so I won't be riding with heavy panniers, etc. I cannot take a second set of wheels as back-up, however extra spokes and nipples will be no problem. My current wheels (Easton aka Velomax Ascent II's) have several thousand miles on them and, I hear, are a bit prone to problems, but so far I haven't had any.
From your replies above, it seems like maybe custom wheels...Open Pro or DT Swiss rims with Shimano or Chris King hubs, with moderate spoke counts might be the best.
Also, would you recommend alloy or brass nipples?? Thanks, again :) :)

[Fredwina]

I've had absolutely no luck with Mavic products( I pulled a spoke out of "bulletproof" Kysrium Elite. Twice), but I've had no problems with Velocity (http://www.velocityusa.com/default.asp?contentID=560) rims. but my clothing has a "W" after the size;)
But listen to what your wheelbuilder recommends.

[indysteel]

You could go with the custom build that SadieKate and a number of other TEers have gone with (including me): Velocity Aerohead rims, White Industries H1 hubs, and Sapim double butted spokes. They'll put you back about $650 and will weigh in somewhere between 1400 and 1500 grams. Bring some extra spokes and nipples with you and you should be good to go. Mine needed to be trued once after they were "broken in" a bit. Since then, I've put about 10k miles on them over some rough roads, and they've remained true. They're wonderful wheels and the WI hubs have just the right amount of bling!

[Fredwina]

mine are velocity fusions (32 holes) with Ultegra hubs. The fusion is an areo, rim(deeper than the aerohead, but not as big as the Deep-V) you can also get the aerohead o/c (off center Drilling to make the rear stronger), or have them anodized pink

[SadieKate]

Have you looked at Velocity's rim colors lately? Look all the way down to the bottom. Yowza.

http://www.velocityusa.com/default.asp?contentID=550

BTW, both the Bubbster and I have multiple sets of wheels with Velocity rims for different applications and they've been bomb proof.

[indysteel]

Thanks for the link SK. Yowza is right!!!

That gives me some food for thought as to wheels I wanna order for my Moots (my first meeting with my fitter is November 17th). I'd planned to just get silver rims, but since I'm planning to accent the Moots with red, I wonder how the red rims would look. I'm not one for much flash, so they might be too much.

[SadieKate]

Waall, I'm kinda partial to red wheels.:p

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=14252&highlight=building

Course I have the pink ones on a mtb bike, too, and they're purty also.

[jobob]

The woodgrain ones are pretty trick.

Oooh, more photos here: http://www.velocityusa.com/default.asp?contentID=512

[indysteel]

Waall, I'm kinda partial to red wheels.:p

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=14252&highlight=building

Course I have the pink ones on a mtb bike, too, and they're purty also.

Oooh, I like them! I also found a set of red rims on RBR's "Moots Registry" thread that I liked. I see so few colored rims in person, it's hard to picture what they look like on the bike. I'm going to at least give it some thought. My only reservation is that I was planning to sometimes use my current rear wheel on the Moots when I don't need climbing gears and the rims on my current wheelset are silver.

Decisions, decisions!

[dachshund]

The woodgrain ones are pretty trick.

Oooh, more photos here: http://www.velocityusa.com/default.asp?contentID=512

Wow... those are outrageous! I still like basic silver... the Suits pattern is nice. I think I'm glad there weren't so many choices when I ordered mine. :rolleyes:

If I had to order wheels again I might reconsider the bladed spokes, which I have. The bike gets blown around in a strong cross wind more than I'd like.

[Eden]

I've had absolutely no luck with Mavic products( I pulled a spoke out of "bulletproof" Kysrium Elite. Twice), but I've had no problems with Velocity (http://www.velocityusa.com/default.asp?contentID=560) rims. but my clothing has a "W" after the size;)
But listen to what your wheelbuilder recommends.

I have unfortunately found Velocity rims to not be very hard wearing.... After burning through a rim each winter (excessive wear on the braking surface) I'm not going to purchase any more deep V's... I actually had one disintegrate on me! I was on a trainer at the time so I did not get hurt when it broke, but its not a chance I care to take again.

[DebW]

Personally, to get something you'll be comfortable on riding long miles every day across the country, I'd get handbuilt and something that's not too stiff but sturdy and repairable. Like an OpenPro rim with 32 butted spokes (28 front) and 28-32 mm tires. I'd use standard brass nipples.

[aicabsolut]

Why brass? (Just curious).

I think 14/15g double butted spokes are probably a good durability for the weight.

You can probably build a good, durable wheelset for $500 or less. I don't have much experience with Velocity, Mavic, or DT Swiss rims, but I can say that Shimano hubs are quite durable (and are QUIET). Criss King hubs have that classic CK freewheel sound that some people love.

[SadieKate]

Brass nipples are more durable.

[DebW]

Why brass? (Just curious).


Aluminum are more expensive and potentially more prone to failure, though that is arguable. For a cross-country ride, I'd want a somewhat wide, study tire that softens road shocks substantially. Since the tire won't be super light, why waste the money on super light nipples?

[jobob]

If I had to order wheels again I might reconsider the bladed spokes, which I have. The bike gets blown around in a strong cross wind more than I'd like. Really? I didn't think the bladed spokes you have were wide enough to make a difference. Shows you what I know. :rolleyes:

(I stuck with the round spokes simply to appeal to my retrogrouch aesthetic)

[SadieKate]

I've got bladed Sapim CX-rays but the blading is so small you have to squint to see it.:confused:

I don't notice it at all. Now the blade on my Ritcheys . . . you betcha.

[jobob]

I think that's what Ms. Hund has.

But she's petite so maybe the wind blows her around more. :)

[SadieKate]

Thanks for voicing that. :rolleyes:

Hey, I have lost 7 poundolas since last you saw me.

[jobob]

Eh, we'll take care of that at Thanksgiving. ;)

[Eden]

Really? I didn't think the bladed spokes you have were wide enough to make a difference. Shows you what I know. :rolleyes:

(I stuck with the round spokes simply to appeal to my retrogrouch aesthetic)

I have bladed spokes on my race bike. I don't think they make any difference as far as blowing around in a cross wind goes - and I'm little so I know what its like to be involuntarily moved several feet sideways....

I still would be very careful about choosing them for a cross country trip - they can be hard to obtain and hard to fix. Though I've only broken a spoke once (it was damaged when someone crashed into me in a race, I was assured it would be fine by a wrench..... I've learned to not trust him when he says something won't break - he's a very good mechanic though... - I've never otherwise broken any spokes - even loaded touring) I wouldn't want to take that kind of chance on a trip where I might be in the middle of nowhere.

When I did break that spoke it was at the end of the season and I was unfortunately on a charity ride rather than at a race (there would be spare wheels at a race). When I tried to at least true the wheel a bit to finish the ride I found that the spoke nipples were funky too.... so the only thing I could do, other than to accept a ride back, was to open the brake all of the way --- and I mean all of the way, I had to release all the cable tension from the bolt too, and ride the last 20 miles with no front brake.

I didn't go to the largest shop in the world to get the wheel fixed, so it was no surprise that they didn't have any of these particular spokes (the wheel is a Shimano DA) and it took a week or two to get it back. Since it was the end of the season and I ready to hang up the race bike I didn't mind, but I would have been very disappointed if it had been in the middle of a big tour.

[SadieKate]

We're talking about Sapim CX-ray spokes which are not what most people think of as "bladed" spokes. I've ridden this type of bladed spoke on wheels for 20+ years with no problems. It is the wider one in Mavics, etc., that are funky.

http://www.sapim.be/index.php?st=products&sub=spokes&category=3959&id=3340&detail=aero

[SadieKate]

Eh, we'll take care of that at Thanksgiving. ;)I will force you to go running with me.;)

[dachshund]

It's quite possible that I've just been riding in more windy conditions lately, now that I think about it. Also, I'm on a bike that's several pounds lighter than my Bianchi. MY weight hasn't changed much, so that can't be part of the equation. :p

I'm glad to hear that the Sapims might not be an issue after all. Good, I can check that off my Mystery List. :)

[Eden]

We're talking about Sapim CX-ray spokes which are not what most people think of as "bladed" spokes. I've ridden this type of bladed spoke on wheels for 20+ years with no problems. It is the wider one in Mavics, etc., that are funky.

http://www.sapim.be/index.php?st=products&sub=spokes&category=3959&id=3340&detail=aero

To tell the truth I've never really taken that good a look at the spokes on my race bike.... They aren't as funky wide as something like a Ksyrium, but they are quite different... Shimano wheels have the spoke nipples on the hub rather than at the rim. I think that they can use fewer spokes if its done that way?? Love the wheels, but I definitely wouldn't use something so proprietary where there would be any problems with getting them fixed.

[SadieKate]

The CX-rays don't look bladed at all. You can feel the blade and they're a bit more sparkly than round silver spokes.

You can tell they're bladed when pulling the pump head off the valve.:rolleyes:

No matter what wheel one chooses, I'd think a couple extra spokes and nipples for a cross country ride would just be commonsense.

[Eden]

You can tell they're bladed when pulling the pump head off the valve.:rolleyes:


ah yes - slit knuckles from slipping while removing a tire from the rim..... done that one... ouch :eek:

[jobob]

I will force you to go running with me.;)

Oh good luck with that. :rolleyes:

[SadieKate]

Piece o' cake. I hide the libations and the car keys.:D

[mauisher]

Thanks, everyone for the advice. I live in a place with lots of wind and find that bladed spokes are bad for me in gusty crosswinds, so they're out of the running for me. When peddling in 20 mi plus cross winds I can really feel them push me around. I have better luck with the round spokes on my present Easton rims.

I'll explore all the options you've suggested. Mahalo (thanks in Hawaiian!)

[aicabsolut]

I've got bladed Sapim CX-rays but the blading is so small you have to squint to see it.:confused:

I don't notice it at all. Now the blade on my Ritcheys . . . you betcha.

I have cut myself on some bladed Ritchey spokes trying to mount a difficult tire. They don't mess around.

[indysteel]

Good luck on your tour. Be sure to post a report(s)!

[ridebikeme]

Ahhh Velocity does indeed have some great color choices! I too, have a ti bike that I tend to give some color. For the past three years, I have used orange... so this year I built a set of wheels with the Aerohead rims in orange... definitely gives the bike some pizazz HA!]