I just purchased a new bike that comes with American Classic 350 sprints. While I'd love to use the wheels, I'm afraid they won't support my 198 lb. body. As a result, I am probably going to sell them and buy a new set.
I was considering hand building a wheelset (looking to spend $350 max). I was considering ultegra hubs (front/rear), then the mavic open pro rims, and then probably DT double butted spokes. I'm open to buying machine built wheels (Easton/Velomax Vista perhaps??), but I'm under the assumption hand built delivers more quality for less money.
I just purchased a new bike that comes with American Classic 350 sprints. While I'd love to use the wheels, I'm afraid they won't support my 198 lb. body. As a result, I am probably going to sell them and buy a new set.
I was considering hand building a wheelset (looking to spend $350 max). I was considering ultegra hubs (front/rear), then the mavic open pro rims, and then probably DT double butted spokes. I'm open to buying machine built wheels (Easton/Velomax Vista perhaps??), but I'm under the assumption hand built delivers more quality for less money.
Any comments would be greatly appreciated.
Why not use the American Classics? If I worried about weight limits on equiptment, I would never ride anything but 36 straight gauge spoked wheels and 28mm tires at my weight (230). I have had no issues with either of my factory wheelsets (Proton's and Ksyrium Elite's). I'm sure at 198 you'll be fine.
But the AC website says that the wheels have a 200 lb. rider weight limit - are they just being overly conservative?
Those limits are typically determined by lawyers rather than engineers. If you're at or around the stated limit, they aren't going to be dangerous to ride. It has less to do with weight than what kind of riding you do. At worst, you might have to true them a bit more often than you would like to. Perhaps if your area has a lot of bad roads, and you really like to beat the hell out of your wheels then you might consider stepping up to the Ultegra/Open Pros.
I just purchased a new bike that comes with American Classic 350 sprints. While I'd love to use the wheels, I'm afraid they won't support my 198 lb. body. As a result, I am probably going to sell them and buy a new set.
I was considering hand building a wheelset (looking to spend $350 max). I was considering ultegra hubs (front/rear), then the mavic open pro rims, and then probably DT double butted spokes. I'm open to buying machine built wheels (Easton/Velomax Vista perhaps??), but I'm under the assumption hand built delivers more quality for less money.
Any comments would be greatly appreciated.
If you have smooth roads and are gentle on hazards like railroad tracks, you should be fine on those wheels. However, even a small rider can beat the hell out of any wheel if he or she is hard enough on it. 198 isn't that big and besides, you are tecnically under the limit right?
