Budget touring wheelset for heavy rider

[Crankarm]

As with a lot of stuff, you get what you pay for.
It's worth a visit to Condor in Holborn, if only to drool at bike porn.

I did look at their hand built wheels, made like items of jewellery, and I'm sure if I was the sort of cyclist that rode a lightweight bike on smooth roads, that could justify that sort of quality then I'd buy them, but I'm a jobbing cyclist that rides on real roads and therefore went with the hand-built wheels from Spa. They have now been on the bike for 35,000 miles with no dings and no broken spokes.

Condor hand built wheels were good when Monty built them but he has long retired. Don't know what they are like now. I have a few sets he built back in the mid 90s. Still going strong and true although I now ride on disc brake rims with Rohloff hub built by Bicycle Ambulance in Cambridge. Very strong and still true the day they were built 3-4 years ago.

 

[Crankarm]

I'm a similar weight and went for Spa wheels. 36 spoke, 3-cross, Deore LX hubs and the equivalent to the current Exal LX17 rims.

I used them for everything from full touring to audaxing and wore the rims out without damaging a spoke or losing true. I would definitely recommend them

You should up grade to disc brakes. No more worn out wheel rims.

 

[Crankarm]

You'd just argue against any post I make, all I know is the wheels he has built for me have all been trouble free and I've been a customer for 40+yrs.

A 36 spoked wheel with x3 lacing pattern is fine for heavy duty riding/touring providing of course the wheel is built properly as any wheel. You don't need x4 lacing. Ridiculous. Your 'wheel builder' has been telling you crap for years.

 

[raleighnut]

A 36 spoked wheel with x3 lacing pattern is fine for heavy duty riding/touring providing of course the wheel is built properly as any wheel. You don't need x4 lacing. Ridiculous. Your 'wheel builder' has been telling you crap for years.

I dunno, he doesn't charge any more to lace 4x, still a tenner.

 

[Crankarm]

I dunno, he doesn't charge any more to lace 4x, still a tenner.

But the point is 4x lacing is totally unnecessary for the reasons already given. x3 lacing is more than adequate especially with a 36 spoke wheel.

 

[raleighnut]

But the point is 4x lacing is totally unnecessary for the reasons already given. x3 lacing is more than adequate especially with a 36 spoke wheel.

You can only ride one bike at once but that doesn't stop me owning 11 and a trike.

 

[Big T]

Surprised by that.

Did you raise the issue with Spa?

Although not technical, I do to be honest have the idea that Sputnik rims will be beefier than those Mavics.

The problem with buying wheels mail order is that you can't just nip back to the shop to get them sorted. So No, I didn't raise the issue with Spa - their reputation for brusque customer service put me off somewhat. Easier and less faff to just buy a new wheel from SJS. Quite happy with my new SJS wheel, which has done sterling service for the last 3 years with no problems.