Handbuilt wheels, choices choices...

[outlash]

I've decided that I fancy a pair of handbuilt wheels. I'm not short or light (6' 3" and around 13.5 stone) and a brief chat with someone I know recommended Mavic open pro rims, Sounds good to me . Question is which hubs and how many spokes? As I mentioned, I'm not exacatly dainty, and a bit of an oaf so potholes and the like do come to me somewhat so for the sake of a few grams over longevity I'm thinking 36 spoke over 32 and at least Shimano 105 hubs. They appear to be around the £200 mark. I could stretch to Ultegra hubs but I'm open to ideas ...


Tony.

 

[jim55]

i have 36 h open pros on 105 hubs with stainless steel spokes ,roll really well and i commute on them every day(almost),very good ,still true after an age and highly recommended

 

[simon.r]

I'm the same height / weight as you (give or take) and have been known to hit the odd pot-hole, but I've never had a problem with 32 spoke wheels.

Last time I had a wheel hand built (open-pro rim), the LBS tried to persuade me that I 'needed' a 36 spoke, but I stuck with the 32 and it's been fine for '000s of miles.

Shimano hubs don't use cartridge bearings, which can be a good or bad thing depending on your point of view.

 

[ACS]

Like your good self my days of being a cycling lightweight are long gone and given my later life dimensions I found my self requiring a set of wheels that could withstand the demands of long forgotten roads and too many beers.

In the end I got in touch with Spa Cycles and I'm very pleased with their advice and end product - http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b0s178p0 - 105 on Chrina 32 and 36 for Audax riding.

Big Al at http://www.wheelcraft.net has a world class reputation amongst those in the know here is Scotland almost to the point of reverence.
Hope this helps

 

[Garz]

For a heavy rider I would go with high spoke count unless your after an upgrade making the bike lighter. My wheels could be used for light touring as an all round machine so depends on what you use the bike for. Where are you getting them built?

 

[PaulSecteur]

13.5 stones is heavy??? Behave yourself!!!

 

[jim55]

another vote for big al

 

[VamP]

13.5 stones is heavy??? Behave yourself!!!

I'm 12.5 and am definitely at the heavy end of the spectrum and avoid lightweight wheelbuilds.

 

[Rob3rt]

VamP, you would be fine on lightweight builds at 12.5 st. I've ridden low spoke count wheels for the duration of the time I have been cycling, in that time I have been as heavy at 14st and as light as 11st 12lbs, currently bang on 12 st. Only ever popped 2 spokes and that was when I was <13 stone and with some wheels that had been through absolute hell for 2.5 years.

A few times my club mates have asked me "how many did you miss?" after we have hit a minefield of potholes and I have whacked through them all. Wheels have always been fine!

 

[jifdave]

I recently bought open pro on 105's, 36 spoke, from harry rowland but im a monster, 6'8 20st...

they roll beautifully and feel a million dollars... paid £240 and worth every penny.....

 

[Spoked Wheels]

I've decided that I fancy a pair of handbuilt wheels. I'm not short or light (6' 3" and around 13.5 stone) and a brief chat with someone I know recommended Mavic open pro rims, Sounds good to me . Question is which hubs and how many spokes? As I mentioned, I'm not exacatly dainty, and a bit of an oaf so potholes and the like do come to me somewhat so for the sake of a few grams over longevity I'm thinking 36 spoke over 32 and at least Shimano 105 hubs. They appear to be around the £200 mark. I could stretch to Ultegra hubs but I'm open to ideas ...


Tony.

I built myself a set on Ambrosio Evolution F32 and R32 - Shimano 105 hubs. Very strong wheels that work well for me and I'm 3 stones heavier than you. Having said that, I try to avoid pathholes if I can .They are in my work horse bike, a bike that I use anywhere and I'm not particularly careful with my riding so I needed some strong wheels. I found a good deal on the hubs so they cost me under £130 all in, £117 + £10 delivery charge to be more precise

Mavic Open Pro rims are very good too and a few grams lighter than the Ambrosio I used. I would be tempted to say F32 and R36 cause you might be a very aggressive rider but I'm confident you could get away with a F32 - R32. DT Competition Double Butted Spokes.

 

[jowwy]

I recently bought open pro on 105's, 36 spoke, from harry rowland but im a monster, 6'8 20st...

they roll beautifully and feel a million dollars... paid £240 and worth every penny.....

£180 if you went with dave hinde - i had a few quotes from harry rowland and he was expensive to say the least

 

[jowwy]

I'm 12.5 and am definitely at the heavy end of the spectrum and avoid lightweight wheelbuilds.

heavy?? heavy ??? you must be kidding - i'm 16st12lbs and all last year i rode on shimano r501's f20 r24 and had no problems whatsover

 

[Spoked Wheels]

I recently bought open pro on 105's, 36 spoke, from harry rowland but im a monster, 6'8 20st...

they roll beautifully and feel a million dollars... paid £240 and worth every penny.....

Do you know what kind of spokes you have on your wheels?

 

[MacB]

Another Big Al/Wheelcraft user here and no problems, just leave the spoke selection to him - oh and 13.5stone, oh I'd feel so slim then!!!