Wheels for a heavier rider......

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PK99

Legendary Member
Location
SW19
For that budget, definitely talk to a wheel builder, give them your specific requirements and details and see what they suggest. In fact, talk to a few just in case.

I got mavic open pro on ultegra hubs from Harry rowland 3 years ago..... My weight has dropped but it was 107kg.... 36 spokes.... As true today as when delivered.
 
OP
OP
Maylian

Maylian

Guru
Location
Bristol
Obviously losing weight is a focus, although my muscle mass and build means that even at the peak of marathon training I didn't get much below 16 stone. I do like my R500's as well and don't seem to have too many issues with them, although have phases of buckles sometimes. I just want to get something a bit lighter, reliable etc.

Having done a little look around today, what do people think of American Classic wheels? Seen http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/american-classic-victory-road-wheelset-id76562.html which look decent and claim to take 114kg's and at 1650g
 

jowwy

Can't spell, Can't Punctuate....Sue Me
I have no doubt that one can build very light wheels, like 1200 grs with off the shelf components BUT would they take a 110 kgs rider? I doubt it.

Somehow I don't trust these Chinese rims that claim to take an elephant.

The bottom line is this, if you are 110 kgs then you can safely loose a few pounds and have the same effect or better as I found out myself. I'm 15 stones 1 and all those hills that were such hard work when I was 18 and a half stones, now I enjoy. I'm sure I could not get the same effect if I were riding on 1200 grs wheels.
Yes you can safely loose the weight and i am doing so. But ive ridden my zipps, zondas and chinese rims all season, all run true, no buckles and zero broken spokes. All in all im happy with all 3 wheelsets
 

Stephen brown

Well-Known Member
As above

I'm 17.5stone and had a set of hand built wheels from Harry Rowland, I talked through my requirements and he made his recommendation, which strangely enough was over £100 less than the budget I gave him as he suggested 105 hubs over ultegra due to weight

I have 105 hubs with 36 hole mavic open pro rims, obviously not super light weight jobbies like you are after, I started the conversation with him around weight and he shot me down, explaining 200grams on my wheels was hardly my problem
 
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Spoked Wheels

Legendary Member
Location
Bournemouth
Yes you can safely loose the weight and i am doing so. But ive ridden my zipps, zondas and chinese rims all season, all run true, no buckles and zero broken spokes. All in all im happy with all 3 wheelsets
I know that you cannot get off the shelf Zipp components to build those wheels and whatever you can order from them I'm sure it comes at a premium cost. No idea about the other two you mention.

When you can say that you have done 8000 miles or more at your current weight on any of the sets you mentioned then we can continue this conversation. On the other hand, I'm sure that any good builder can build you wheels that would last you that long if you let them spec the wheels.

As above

I'm 17.5stone and had a set of hand built wheels from Harry Rowland, I talked through my requirements and he made his recommendation, which strangely enough was over £100 less than the budget I gave him as he suggested 105 hubs over ultegra due to weight

I have 105 hubs with 36 hole mavic open pro rims, obviously not super light weight hobbies like you are after, I started the conversation with him around weight and he shot me down, explaining 200grams on my wheels was hardly my problem

If Harry Roland is telling you what components you should have then you listen. I understand he can be perhaps too frank to express his views when it comes to requests of under weighting wheels :laugh: He has a very well deserved reputation. If I have any criticism of him is that he is reactant to build wheels that aren't based on the Mavic Open Pro rims. Lots of people have their own preferences when it comes to rims, I prefer to build on H Plus Son Archetype.

The difference between 105 and Ultegra hubs is a few grams but the cost of 105 is nearly half.

By the way, I understand that Harry Roland will not build wheels on Archetype rims. He doesn't think they have been around long enough to risk his reputation and business. Who can blame him? Not me, when his livelihood depends on it.
 

jowwy

Can't spell, Can't Punctuate....Sue Me
@RRSODL

Tbh i dont think i would do 8000 miles on any set of wheels, as i dont keep them long enough. I also buy what i want irrelevant of weight limits. If they break, they break.......but as yet it hasnt happened and long may it last.

I dont build wheels and when i have wheels built i use dcr, hence the 1900 gramme velocitys. But i wanted something a little more exotic, i had the cash, im within the quoted weight limit, so i bought the zipps. No further conversation is needed.[/QUOTE]
 

Spoked Wheels

Legendary Member
Location
Bournemouth
@RRSODL

Tbh i dont think i would do 8000 miles on any set of wheels, as i dont keep them long enough. I also buy what i want irrelevant of weight limits. If they break, they break.......but as yet it hasnt happened and long may it last.

I dont build wheels and when i have wheels built i use dcr, hence the 1900 gramme velocitys. But i wanted something a little more exotic, i had the cash, im within the quoted weight limit, so i bought the zipps. No further conversation is needed.
[/QUOTE]

Most people I talk to about wheels want wheels that will last long enough to justify the investment. I think you are the only person that I know who says "if they break they break" on £600 or £800 wheels ( I can't remember how much they cost). On that point I feel you are not in the position to recommend the wheels you own, without a comment on your personal expectations on durability, to other people of similar weight cause the chances are that other people would have different expectations on durability.
I'm sure DCR could have accommodated you with lighter wheels if you had mentioned you didn't care how long the wheels lasted.

I think we all know you rate your wheels and that is good. I'm not trying to put you off. At least I learnt your wheels are good for one season plus.
 

Spoked Wheels

Legendary Member
Location
Bournemouth
[QUOTE="jowwy, post: 3178270, member: 16224"
I never recomended them - you did via my name[/QUOTE]

Did I? I thought I said "I suggested the OP to speak to you about your wheels."
 
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