Cracked Rim? What new wheels?

[harveymt]

My rear wheel has been making noises the last couple of weeks. I did look for broken spokes but there were none. Last night coming home it was very noisy, like two bits of metal rubbing against each other, and sure enough I did then find a broken spoke. I removed it and when I started cycling again the noise was still there. I did a closer inspection at home and think the rim may be cracked around multiple spoke nipples. There are lines but they are tiny so I'm not even sure if they are cracks or something from how the rim was manufactured. They are not round every spoke nipple which has me leaning towards cracks.

I did take photos which again don't show them up all that well. I can't get onto photo sharing site to post a link to here but I'll do it later at home.

I had planned on getting a new set anyway as the rear cone on the drive side has gotten quite pitted.

It's a Triban 3 so I don't want to spend silly money on a wheelset. Sub £100. I've seen a couple, both Shimano, I don't mind servicing the bearings. I had discounted the Mavic Akysiums mainly as I heard they weren't great for larger riders. I'm 100kgs.

Firstly, there is the Shimano R501. This appears to have three variations, standard spoke, bladed spoke and bladed spoke with deeper rim. Any real difference between the three? There also the RS11.

Any pros and cons to these wheels? What would you recommend? Leaning toward the R501 over RS11 due to a greater spoke count.

 

[Spoked Wheels]

There must be better wheels out there for a 100kg rider. You are correct in trying to find wheels with more spokes. In any case, whatever factory wheels you get, my advise would be to get the spokes tension balanced right away. You will have a much better chance to get factory wheels at your budget level to last you longer.

 

[adscrim]

A little more than you wanted to spend but I got some wheels from Rose bikes in Germany about 18 months ago that would suit the larger rider. 36 hole Mavic open pro rims on shimano 105 hubs for around the £150 mark - excellent wheels that have been through two winters now, aswell as being my daily commuting bike and still run true. Worth bearing in mind that you can have the wheels rebuilt when the current rim wears out. They do the same on tiagra hubs for £130 (pls £5 postage).

 

[jack smith]

Shimano r501 They seem bombproof they roll well and are about £70 a pair if you shop round ive had them in the 30mm bladed version.. They arent really bladed they are just round with abit of an edge to them, theres no difference between standard and bladed really, the rs11's roll better but have a very low spoke count even compared to some really high end wheels ive owned those too and they are nice but i was 100 kg then and after a couple of months they didnt feel as stiff or responsive, still true though but i think they lost abit of tension, the deeper rims are supposed to be more aero so abit faster when up to speed but they are a wee bit heavier, just go for the ones you like the look of

 

[Spoked Wheels]

A little more than you wanted to spend but I got some wheels from Rose bikes in Germany about 18 months ago that would suit the larger rider. 36 hole Mavic open pro rims on shimano 105 hubs for around the £150 mark - excellent wheels that have been through two winters now, aswell as being my daily commuting bike and still run true. Worth bearing in mind that you can have the wheels rebuilt when the current rim wears out. They do the same on tiagra hubs for £130 (pls £5 postage).

That is a good piece of advice.

 

[harveymt]

Is there any difference strength wise between the regular and deeper rim R501S?

Stupid questions alert. When you say handbuilt wheels can be re-built, what does that mean? Can I replace a broken spoke on a factory built wheel etc or is this not possible?

 

[DWiggy]

I have the Shimano r501 and they are great for commuting, not that light but still roll reasonably well, very good wheels for the money, had mine for about 8 months now and they are still running perfectly true.

 

[jack smith]

Yes you can re build the factory wheels such as the r501

 

[fossyant]

Is there any difference strength wise between the regular and deeper rim R501S?

Stupid questions alert. When you say handbuilt wheels can be re-built, what does that mean? Can I replace a broken spoke on a factory built wheel etc or is this not possible?

Some of the factory wheels use specific spokes - e.g. Mavic, so getting spares can be a slower process. I run wheels that can be rebuilt by me on my commute bike, but the last two sets I've got 'factory' as they were far cheaper than I could build them for. The shimano wheels are fine.

If you went handbuilt, you could replace the rim if it wore ouit, or it's easier to get a replacement spoke. I'm fairly sure the Shimano wheels you mention don't use fancy spokes (e.g ones with special bladed profiles and specific fit to a specific rim like Mavic) so should be serviceable.

 

[smokeysmoo]

What would you recommend?

I've just received a pair of THESE wheels from Rose.

FYI - 100kg is not heavy IMO, (I wish I was 100kg TBH ), but never the less these wheels may be a touch of overkill for you, but they do offer excellent VFM IMO.

I'm very impressed with them for the money

 

[harveymt]

Think I'll try the Shimano r501s with the deeper rim. My existing wheels have 32 spokes and I've had no issues with them till now. I can try a wheel with less spokes and see how I get on. If I have issues then I'll know for the future that I need a wheel with more spokes, something like what smokeysmoo suggested.

Don't know whether to get silver or black though. Silver looks cool so is probably faster but I don't know if it'll go with the Triban. Everything on it is black and red. What do you think?

 

[John the Monkey]

Some of the factory wheels use specific spokes - e.g. Mavic, so getting spares can be a slower process. I run wheels that can be rebuilt by me on my commute bike, but the last two sets I've got 'factory' as they were far cheaper than I could build them for. The shimano wheels are fine.

Yep - I've known people buy that sort of wheel and rebuild them (cheaper than buying parts alone, in those cases. Mad.)

I'd say, if it's your only set, avoid proprietary spokes. If you can spend a little extra, and you have a good builder locally, seriously consider handbuilts (mine are DRC ST18-II on Tiagra hubs, built with double butted spokes) if only because you can talk through your requirement and get something that suits you and your riding.

 

[User6179]

Having cracked my last 3 back wheels I will be going for a 32 or 36 hole rear next ,

I've just received a pair of THESE wheels from Rose.

FYI - 100kg is not heavy IMO, (I wish I was 100kg TBH ), but never the less these wheels may be a touch of overkill for you, but they do offer excellent VFM IMO.

I'm very impressed with them for the money

Am interested in those wheels , how long till you get a few thousand miles ?

 

[smokeysmoo]

Am interested in those wheels , how long till you get a few thousand miles ?

In all honesty if I ever actually manage that kind of mileage it will take me an age TBH

The wheels are only on my old steel bike which with the best will in the world would never do a great deal of mileage anyway.

As I say I am impressed with them so far. Granted that's only based on an initial inspection and a quick 4 mile shakedown ride after I built the bike up.

The way I see it is the Tiagra hubs should be very reliable, and easy and cheap to service as well, and the rims won't be expensive to replace if and when that time comes, plus the 36 hole construction should keep them straight and true be it under my bulk or indeed that of a season long commuter

 

[User6179]

In all honesty if I ever actually manage that kind of mileage it will take me an age TBH

The wheels are only on my old steel bike which with the best will in the world would never do a great deal of mileage anyway.

As I say I am impressed with them so far. Granted that's only based on an initial inspection and a quick 4 mile shakedown ride after I built the bike up.

The way I see it is the Tiagra hubs should be very reliable, and easy and cheap to service as well, and the rims won't be expensive to replace if and when that time comes, plus the 36 hole construction should keep them straight and true be it under my bulk or indeed that of a season long commuter

Think I might just have a punt on the rear wheel to use over winter then , see how it goes , I am going through back wheels at about the same rate as tyres just now