Help! Need a rear wheel that can take 130kg

[BlackThunder]

I started commuting three months ago in order to lose weight. So far I've come down from about 145kg to 127kg, but not without several problems with my rear wheel. My height is 5ft 7in.

I ride just over 10 miles a day, 5 days a week, on average quality roads in the UK. I have a Giant City Escape 3 (from that shop). The shop told me that it should be adequate for my needs. Since I bought the bike I have had broken 2 axles, so the shop advised me that a cassette-type hub would be stronger and help to prevent the problem. After replacing the hub in December I have not had a broken axle (yet!), but I have noticed that the wheel was not running true, so I they replaced the wheel free of charge today. On my way home tonight I noticed that the wheel has started to wobble again, possibly even worse than it was before. I am a careful rider (since the axle breakages, I've been extremely vigilant for potholes and bumps, and I have never jumped any kerbs), but obviously one or more of the components is not suitable for my weight. The other option is that the workmanship was poor, but I don't believe that as I know three other people who haven't had any problems with repairs at this shop.

Could anyone advise me about the type of wheel/hub (or other components) that I should be investing in to support my weight? I really need to buy something that is going to last me until I get down to a 'normal' weight, because I really can't afford to keep replacing parts every month. I'd be really grateful for any help because I'm starting to feel like it's not worth the effort!

Thanks,
Adam

 

[Nick Stone]

Sure it's not the parts, I'm on larger scale just under 18 and getting lighter, slowly, and not broke bits on wheels yet. Buckled yes, but that's also road use as well and I run some RS30's and 500's and a couple of sets of Mavics now and no problems with them.

On a personal note, keep at it, it is worth it

Nick

 

[Tim Hall]

They're right about a cassette hub being stronger axle-wise, due to the position of the bearings.

Given that a tandem wheel supports a greater weight (1) (at least ours did) than you, materials and/or workmanship could well be suspect. Was it a machine built wheel? These are notorious for poor (too low) spoke tension. If the wheel has just gone out of true, which your description suggests it has, it should be a fairly simple process for a competent LBS to fix it. Get them to check the tension in the spokes while they're at it.

Looking at the bike spec, I see it has 32 hole wheels. It might be worth getting 36 hole ones if the truing up mentioned above doesn't work.

(1) I bet it's not as easy a sum as that, but two well nourished riders will be around 160kg, which is a bit more than your 127kg.

PS, good going on the weight loss.

 

[geekinaseat]

Seriously well done on the weight loss!

I've carried a similar weight on my Giant TCX, I weight 90kg and I often carry loaded panniers up to 25kg (on 110psi 700x25 tyres) and I'm really not very careful on the terrible roads around me so to me it doesn't sound like it's the specification of the wheels that are the issue, possible take it to a different lbs that does wheel building for a true up to eliminate workmanship as a possibility?

If you do want to look at alternatives I'd look at the touring forum and see what advice you can find, people on there travel long distances over really rough stuff with loaded up bikes.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Huge well done on your weight loss so far, keep going, it's definitely worth it. If you haven't seen it already our very own @gb155 completed a 'bit' of a weight loss journey himself a while ago, check it out HERE

FWIW I'm 6' 5" and I'm currently down to 114kg after spending far too long around the 127 mark myself.

I'd say it's down to poor materials/workmanship as Tim mentions above as I've never had such issues with any wheel/bike combination, and God knows I've had a few. Even when I was at 127ish I used to ride Mavic Ksyrium SL wheels and never had a problem.

If you don't want to get a wheel built I can highly recommend THESE. I've used them on and off for a few years and they are bombproof IME, just make sure they're compatible with your 32mm tyres and rear cassette if you want one.

 

[Pale Rider]

The OP is best part of 20 stone, so no racing snake.

But a reasonable quality hybrid ought to take that weight, so I'm unimpressed with Giant.

Something like the City Escape is just the type of bike a podgy new to cycling person might buy, so ought to be designed with a weight carrying safety margin.

Buying two new wheels seems a bit extreme, but is probably the only nailed on solution.

 

[buggi]

don't give up! You'll soon be skinny.

 

[Trembler49]

I'm unfortunately 110kg (at least) and have had no problems, but I mostly use 26" wheels which are much stronger.