|   HELP!!! WHEELS!!! | mrgorth
Apr 25, 2003 7:30 PM | | OK. Here's my deal. I'm 6'1" and 215. I need to replace my wheels because the '95 Mavic 217s I ride are about to cave in. The front hub needs to go but the back seems decent (XT Parallax). I want to get something dependable but if I can reduce rotational weight...cool. I'm confused as to what to get. I ride only XC. No racing. No free-riding. I generally ride once a week for under 10 miles and I have a dual suspension (Rocky Mountain Element Team Only). I was at a Performance shop today that had Mavic 519s laced to XTs via 32 straight guage spokes. They claimed they are hand built and only $160 for both. Not bad but the spokes are a step down, no? Also, at Supergo I saw Sun-Ringle RPM Lites for $219. These are also handbuilt, no skewers, and double butted spokes. Now, they make the Ringle hubs sound like a poor man's Chris King. True? My main concern with these guys is if 28 and 24 spoke wheels will last and not flex on me.
I'd appreciate your help and feel free to suggest stuff I haven't thought of. $300 is my limit but I'd like to be closer to $200.
THANKS!!!! |
| I might have something for you | jcd
Apr 25, 2003 8:01 PM | | My brother left me some 99 XT wheels with 517 rims. Almost new, he never rode the bike they were on. DT Swiss spokes I believe. Built by Excel Sports in Boulder.
I can get them to you for far less than your budget.
If interest, e-mail me jcdod@mail.saabnet.com |
| You are right to be concerned. Someone your weight should be... | chris2fur
Apr 25, 2003 11:44 PM | | on 32-spoke wheels with a 3-cross lacing. The weight saving part should be because of quality hubs, appropriately butted spokes, tire and tube choices, etc.. For wheels that are strong AND light, you probably would have to go closer to $400. If that's not possible, better to have a little more weight than to have weak wheels. Disclaimer: I'm not a wheel expert, but had some built by Mike Garcia at www.oddsandendos.com. He would be capable of giving you some specific possibilities. Maybe posting in the wheels and wheel building section would help. Good luck. |
| I'm about the same size | JmZ
Apr 26, 2003 8:08 PM | | And it sounds like you are not rough on wheels.
It sounds very close to a set of wheels I was going to build (until I changed my mind and went to a disc hub build... but that doesn't matter...)
I was going to build a Hope Rear hub (Mmm Ti hub...sorry. :) with a Son of Bubba from Sun on the front. Decently light hubs, and plenty durable too. The Hope was pricey, the Sun - not so.
Spokes - pick your favorite brand of double butted spokes. For me - Wheelsmith. Add in some alloy nipples for light weight.
Rims. A 517 would fit your needs pretty good, but don't overlook what Sun offers. A SUB IV or a UFO (if they are close to advertised spec) should also be light weight. I'd also think about some Bonti Mustangs. A bit heavier, but a good rim nonetheless.
All 32H and 3X.
Should be able to get something close to that for close to the upper end of the budget. I'd check Mike Garcia at www.oddsandendos, Colorado Cyclist (look at the 517 and XTR wheels), and Speedgoat.
If you are light on wheels you should have few problems with a similar setup. I'm about the same size and I am riding Wheelsmith XL's (DT Revolution equilavents) on a Nukeproof front hub with a Bonti Mustang front rim, and Ti spokes all round on another Nukeproof Valiant/Mustang wheel set.
Just a few thoughts,
JmZ |
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