I need good Touring Rims

[katimacat]

Hi,
I am building a touring bike and I need some help. It's going to be loaded touring: everything I need, I will not be doing credit card touring. I weigh 130 lbs. I am starting out in the rocky mountains so climbing and descending is to be considered. Currently all I want to figure out is what rims? I have narrowed down to Mavic rims, but I realize that it is very mainstream and maybe there is better stuff that mainstream people don't know about. here is the list of rims i have gathered and some information:

Mavic Ma40: "tremendous longevity- box shape with flat 10.1 mm brake pad contact; has a double wall and two piece eyelet. Hard Anodized.

Mavic 231: "world's favorite"

Mavic Ma2 or Mavic Ma3: 470g: 20mm: light weight touring rim

Mavic D521

Mavic X618: 36 hole: 450-480g: strongest mavic rim: double eyelets

Mavic X517 ATB Rim: lightweight

Mavic X519

Mavic T519: recommended for heavy loaded touring

Mavic X721: 530g; stainless steel eyelets

Campagnolo Mirox Hard Anno Rims: 410g

Mavic A719 Asphalt Road Rim: 36H, 40H efficient braking

Mavic X221 MTB: 440g: good durable rim, inexpensive

Mavic D521: heavy duty rim; ideal for loaded touring, but 590g. D521 CD ceramic- terrific braking

Mavic 520 touring rim
Mavic 26 rim 40 spoke
Mavic T217 48 holes

So that's it... I can't figure out how to narrow it down, because I don't know enough about rims. Is there some that should be totally cancelled off the list? On some sites I found these only 700c rims were available and I need 26 inch, but probably Mavic makes 26 inch, there just don't have them on order? My bike frame is a 50cm Surly Long Haul Trucker, steel frame. Nice angles, couldn't really find anything better. I want at least 28 mm rim width I think.

I really hope someone out there knows something! The bike mechanics are all in their "SUV/mountain bike's are the best" era around here and there knowledge is limted.

thanks,

Catherine

 

[tkehler]

Hi there -- depends on two things, apart from your budget. One, how heavy are you? and two, how heavy will you and your gear be?

I had a chance to get MA3's on my touring/commuting bike, but since I'm 6'1"-ish and 195 lbs, I decided to get 36 hole Mavic 520s, the venerable touring rim. They are a bit heavier but the MA3's have had some minor quality problems. But if you only weigh 130 - 145 lbs or something like that, they should be fine. Probably getting handbuilt wheels and having 36 spokes are more important factors than anything else.

I can run 700-28 wheels for fast commuting or 700-32 wheels for touring. I'm happy with them. But I'm a tourer and not on major trekking expeditions....

 

[MidBunchLurker]

Hi,
I am building a touring bike and I need some help. It's going to be loaded touring: everything I need, I will not be doing credit card touring. I weigh 130 lbs. I am starting out in the rocky mountains so climbing and descending is to be considered. Currently all I want to figure out is what rims? I have narrowed down to Mavic rims, but I realize that it is very mainstream and maybe there is better stuff that mainstream people don't know about. here is the list of rims i have gathered and some information:

Mavic Ma40: "tremendous longevity- box shape with flat 10.1 mm brake pad contact; has a double wall and two piece eyelet. Hard Anodized.

Mavic 231: "world's favorite"

Mavic Ma2 or Mavic Ma3: 470g: 20mm: light weight touring rim

Mavic D521

Mavic X618: 36 hole: 450-480g: strongest mavic rim: double eyelets

Mavic X517 ATB Rim: lightweight

Mavic X519

Mavic T519: recommended for heavy loaded touring

Mavic X721: 530g; stainless steel eyelets

Campagnolo Mirox Hard Anno Rims: 410g

Mavic A719 Asphalt Road Rim: 36H, 40H efficient braking

Mavic X221 MTB: 440g: good durable rim, inexpensive

Mavic D521: heavy duty rim; ideal for loaded touring, but 590g. D521 CD ceramic- terrific braking

Mavic 520 touring rim
Mavic 26 rim 40 spoke
Mavic T217 48 holes

So that's it... I can't figure out how to narrow it down, because I don't know enough about rims. Is there some that should be totally cancelled off the list? On some sites I found these only 700c rims were available and I need 26 inch, but probably Mavic makes 26 inch, there just don't have them on order? My bike frame is a 50cm Surly Long Haul Trucker, steel frame. Nice angles, couldn't really find anything better. I want at least 28 mm rim width I think.

I really hope someone out there knows something! The bike mechanics are all in their "SUV/mountain bike's are the best" era around here and there knowledge is limted.

thanks,

Catherine

I've toured pretty successfully with Mavic X517s (now replaced by the X717), and I used its predecessor the M231 for many years before. So I can recommend the X717, especially at your weight. Get them built with 32 straight gauge spokes. The X717s are the lightest in Mavic's 26" range, so if you're a little concerned about durability, then rather go with the XM719s. They're a little heavier but a lot sturdier. I use my X717s for MTB racing as well, so I like the light weight. I guess if I had wheels just for touring I'd use the XM719s.

Have a look at www.mavic.com for the full range - the cross-mountain rims are the sturdier 26" rims.

For tyres I've been running Continental Avenue 1.3s (which I think have been replaced with a new model now), and Vredestein S-Licks 1.3s. Contis have a very good reputation and I haven't punctured mine in 1800km of fully loaded touring, including some really grotty roads in Italy.

 

[EmmCeeBee]

Gees, great topic!! I'm in the same quandary, and I'm working off essentially the same list. But when it comes to actual purchase I'll probably go with the lowest price from that list.

The reason is that I've got about 5000 miles on a pair of good-quality Arraya rims, 26" 32hole. I've never got around to replacing them 'cause they've never failed me. Only two broken spokes while loaded touring, and braking is excellent. I'd feel a lot more confident with 36hole, but like I said -- they've never failed me. I also tour on Specialized Fatboys, a 1.25" slick tire at 95-100psi. Wouldn't use anything else; low resistance and tenacious grip (you don't need knobbies except in mud/sand). On a 2000 mile tour (4000 miles combined), my wife and I both using Fatboys, we had two flats. With 1.25" tires, I need to limit myself to rims about 22mm width.

I'm 160 lbs, carry about 80 lbs of gear (also have been known to carry an occasional 20 lb watermelon into a campground....). I don't do expeditions, and I don't punish the rims, but of course even highways have their road hazards. I'd trust my Arrayas on any road tour.

My point is this: with your weight and your touring style, you don't need the heaviest-duty expedition-weight rims. I might be old-school (spent a lot of time in the early '90s learning about reliable components), but many innovations don't benefit tourers -- who might be 50 miles from the nearest town when something fails. Anodized and ceramic rims fall into this category.

There's a book out by Jobst Brandt that explains the science about rims and spokes and wheelbuilding; some of it seems counter-intuitive (such as double-butted spokes, which are thinner in the center, make stronger wheels than straight-guage), but in my mind, time and experienece have proven him right. You can read up on some of this wisdom at: http://www.faqs.org/faqs/bicycles-faq/part3/preamble.html

You want silver rims, not anodized or ceramic. Welded or pinned seams don't matter, but on a good-quality rim you won't be able to feel the seam (or see a ripple). Double-butted spokes, not straight-guage. Stainless steel eyelets add to strength at the spoke holes, and keep spoke nipples from galling (bonding to the rim) -- install nipples with lubricant. 36 hole will make it bullet-proof for your weight. No harm in going to 40 or 48, but it's overkill, and it'll be harder to find replacement hub/rim on the road if you ever need to.

For me, this all boils down to the MX221 or X517. I'm gonna ride out my current wheels for the rest of the summer, and build new ones in the fall. You might decide you need a wider rim, but I don't see that you'd need a tougher one.

-- Mark

 

[daveornee]

Hi,
I am building a touring bike and I need some help. It's going to be loaded touring: everything I need, I will not be doing credit card touring. I weigh 130 lbs. I am starting out in the rocky mountains so climbing and descending is to be considered. Currently all I want to figure out is what rims? I have narrowed down to Mavic rims, but I realize that it is very mainstream and maybe there is better stuff that mainstream people don't know about. here is the list of rims i have gathered and some information:

Mavic Ma40: "tremendous longevity- box shape with flat 10.1 mm brake pad contact; has a double wall and two piece eyelet. Hard Anodized.

Mavic 231: "world's favorite"

Mavic Ma2 or Mavic Ma3: 470g: 20mm: light weight touring rim

Mavic D521

Mavic X618: 36 hole: 450-480g: strongest mavic rim: double eyelets

Mavic X517 ATB Rim: lightweight

Mavic X519

Mavic T519: recommended for heavy loaded touring

Mavic X721: 530g; stainless steel eyelets

Campagnolo Mirox Hard Anno Rims: 410g

Mavic A719 Asphalt Road Rim: 36H, 40H efficient braking

Mavic X221 MTB: 440g: good durable rim, inexpensive

Mavic D521: heavy duty rim; ideal for loaded touring, but 590g. D521 CD ceramic- terrific braking

Mavic 520 touring rim
Mavic 26 rim 40 spoke
Mavic T217 48 holes

So that's it... I can't figure out how to narrow it down, because I don't know enough about rims. Is there some that should be totally cancelled off the list? On some sites I found these only 700c rims were available and I need 26 inch, but probably Mavic makes 26 inch, there just don't have them on order? My bike frame is a 50cm Surly Long Haul Trucker, steel frame. Nice angles, couldn't really find anything better. I want at least 28 mm rim width I think.

I really hope someone out there knows something! The bike mechanics are all in their "SUV/mountain bike's are the best" era around here and there knowledge is limted.

thanks,

Catherine

You made a real mix of rims in your "choices".
Some are 700C only, and not available in you desired 26"
Some are no longer made, but may be available.
Current choices from Mavic are XC717 or XM719 for the type of things you want/need. XC717 replaced the X517 and the XM719 replaced the F519.
XC717 is ~19 mm outside width, while the XM719 is ~24.5 mm. Both would handle touring tires for you.
Are you near Boulder, CO?
There is a shop there that builds custom wheels... and of course there is Excelsports that does mail order... and I think even a Performance Bicycle shop. Peter Chisholm is the cutom wheel builder that I was thinking of.
His contact information follows:
Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

I strongly suggest DT Double Butted 14/15 spokes built 3 cross with DT plated brass nipples. Shimano LX and XT hubs are very well built for touring applications... as they are designed with mountain bicycling in mind/
The durability of the wheels and getting the right wheels for you application go hand-in-hand. Peter and people like him can help a lot.
I build wheels too, but I am far from the Rockies... near Chicago.. although I ride there when visiting our daughter and her family.
A quality tire like Specialized Fat Boy in 1.25" size is great for on road touring.
Schwalbe Marathon Slick is also a very reliable and efficient tire... but not as readily available here in the USA.

Let us know what you think about your Surly Long Haul Trucker after you have toured on it for a while. It looks like a very nice bicycle for touring.