Wheelset 101 anyone?

Being a Clydesdale myself, 6'3", 240lbs, and having been known as the Spokenator, snapping 11 spokes in one month, I have conducted a fair bit of research on wheelsets.

36 14 or 15 gauge spokes. Period. Put them on a solid wheel, like the Mavic CXP 33 or MA 3's. Have a competent wheelwright build them. If you can't find one locally, call Colorado Cyclist and tell them what you want.

As to truing a wheel, it takes some practice. There are plenty of sites, sheldonbrown.com being one of them, probably the park tool site as well, and several books about routine maintenance that have sections on truing.

You don't need a truing stand, as you can to it with the wheel on the bike. A bike stand is best, but you can do it with the bike upside down. You will need marker and a spoke wrench and lots and lots of paitience. The first time I replaced a spoke, it took me about four hours to get the wheel wobble free. The second time (later the same day, as a matter of fact) it took a little less. By the 11th spoke, I was replacing the spoke, truing the wheel, and back on the road in less than an hour.

If you want to spend some bucks, you can opt for the Mavic Ksyrium SL's, which Mavic said would support a rider 6'8" 280 lbs.

I asked Uncle Al of Uncle Al's rants and roadbikerider.com, and he told me "At your weight, a 36 spoke rim in the rear, 32 front, would be my choice, Mavic MA3's, or something of equal width and spoke count, double butted spokes, eyelets, etc... hand built by someone who knows what they're doing... "

Thanks. I infer from that the more spokes the less problems you have, and the heavier riders need more spokes. Thank you for your input.

How hard would it be for me to buy a wheelset online (already built) and put them on my bike?