upgrading wheels?

[simo105]

Sorry to bring up old thread and late reply! @Yellow Saddle the wheels seem to make a flexing noise when i apply pressure e.g going up hill and accelerating. They dont make a noise if im just going along at a normal pace. Ive also had a couple of spokes come loose on them now. Tightened them up and they seem ok.
I did contact a few wheel builders and went to my lbs and ive narrowed it down to two. Just wondering if anyone has any experience with them,
Dave at dcr wheels suggested these:
Velocity Fusion rims (nice and light but also good and tough)
NovaTec A141/F162 hubs - tough, 1 piece axle, sealed cartridge bearings anti bite guard on the cassette body.
Sapim D-light spokes in silver.
Lbs suggested these.
American classic victory 30.
Both around the same price!
Anybody got any experience of these wheels?
Cheers

 

[Yellow Saddle]

I still don't know what the noises are. Wheels don't make a noise when they flex. There is something else at work here.
Further, Synchros seems to make many different wheels, so I can't see the ones you have on its website.
But like I said, you are at the heavy side of the game and your wheels need all the help they can get. The American Classic solution is definitely NOT for your you. Others here seem to vouch for DRC but see if they understand what stress relieving is all about. Ask them if they stress-relieve their wheels and to describe how they do it. Not de-stress, or stress, but stress-relieve.

Then, the Sapim D-light spokes have a 1.65mm shank. Ask them to build it with Sapim Race instead, that has a 1.8mm shank and is better suited for your application.

Of the two options, the DRC solution will get you places. That is, if your current wheels are indeed unsuitable. How many spokes in there?

 

[SteCenturion]

Hi @simo105

While I don't have personal experience of hand built wheels, I do a vast amount of reading cycling publications.

One of the rims that gets mentioned seemingly more than any other is H Plus Sons, many cyclists swearing by them & often seen on high end machines too.

Superstar Components have quite a large range of own brand builds usually employing Novatec hubs who build hubs for many cycle brands.
Superstar also have a Custom build option for their wheels & have been scoring well in cycle press group tests.

Hope this opens up your options.

 

[vickster]

I'm getting rims built with Mavic Open pro rims (I don't like the look of the H Son but they do seem a good option), and Novatech hubs, 32 DT Swiss spokes on the front, 36 rear, to handle my 90-odd kg and up to 10kg of rack and luggage.

I also got info from DCR but decided to go elsewhere. I'm told the wheels should be a not dissimilar weight to the Fulcrum 5s being replaces (~1.7kg)

 

[Yellow Saddle]

At that type of body weight, choosing light wheels is not an option if you are after durability. Also, choosing fewer spokes for the front than the back is not sensible, since when you brake, all the weight shifts to the front. Don't even for a minute consider weighing the wheels, it is a totally irrelevant parameter for wheels at that end of the spectrum.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Hi @simo105

While I don't have personal experience of hand built wheels, I do a vast amount of reading cycling publications.

One of the rims that gets mentioned seemingly more than any other is H Plus Sons, many cyclists swearing by them & often seen on high end machines too.

Superstar Components have quite a large range of own brand builds usually employing Novatec hubs who build hubs for many cycle brands.
Superstar also have a Custom build option for their wheels & have been scoring well in cycle press group tests.

Hope this opens up your options.

HI SteCnturion. I want to suggest that you stop reading cycling magazines for technical education. With the exception of perhaps the German Tour magazine, I can't think of any who have competent, engineering-savvy staff on their books. Reading thee so-called reviews in those magazines is like reading science fiction written by romance writers who work for Mills and Boon.
If you want to read something really accessible that will help you immensely in judging components for their real worth, get yourself a copy of Structures and Why Things don't fall down by GE Gordon.

 

[vickster]

I've never had an issue with a front wheel

 

[Yellow Saddle]

I am supposed to be on ignore, so I assume you are peeping again. I never said you had an issue with a front wheel. However, I understand the reasons why front wheels need to be as strong and durable as back wheels and it has to do with safety. But, be my guest, you seem to know better.

 

[vickster]

Woman's prerogative

 

[ayceejay]

I am about the same weight, I have 5 pairs of wheels American Classic Victory. Mavic Ellipse. Vision Arenberg, Willams CX and Merlin Carbotech. I can't use the Carbotech because of flexing but I've had no probs with the others and the Ellipse only have 20 spokes front and rear.

 

[jowwy]

Woman's prerogative

Its ok vic - im 20+ kgs heavier than you, run 28/28 wheels, disc brakes for over 12 months now and have never run out of true or broke a spoke......

Also if you look at most off the shelf wheels, they have fewer front spokes, even zipp, enve, fwd, mavic, reynolds etc etc

 

[vickster]

The fulcrums too

 

[simo105]

Cheers for the advise going to look into it more then @ayceejay what did you think to the american classics?

 

[ayceejay]

Cheers for the advise going to look into it more then @ayceejay what did you think to the american classics?

I think they are very good and take a wide tyre if you need it. The price puts them among some strong opposition but I can't fault them.

 

[SteCenturion]

Cheers for the advise going to look into it more then @ayceejay what did you think to the american classics?

I run American Classic Aero 3 420's as my summer wheels on one bike & haven't had any issues yet @simo105

They probably don't get the use or abuse some people put on their wheels but I find them a nice, quick & lightweight wheel set.