Wheels

[indysteel]

Waall, I'm kinda partial to red wheels.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...light=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.

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 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.

(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.

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.

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.

(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=pro...40&detail=aero

[SadieKate]

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

I will force you to go running with me.