Wheel problems for heavy rider

The Goose said:

I am a heavy road bike rider (250-260 lbs.). After breaking several
spokes on the stock rear wheel that came on my Lemond Reno, my bike
shop swapped out (for an upcharge) a pair of Bontrager Selects. The
problem is that after about 40 miles, the rear wheel became badly out
of true -- they trued it; but after another 40 miles, it looks like the
wheel is heading in the same direction. Can anyone help with
suggestions? After doing a quick search, it sounds like the Velocity
Deep Vs may be a good fit, but I am unsure.

Any help is appreciated!

think 36 hole and good quality hubs (phil wood ie) from a good builder
(or yourself). Try Peter in Colorado he built a super set for me, not
cheap but qulity build. Stay away from boutique wheels unless you weigh
<70kg.

mrbubl said:

The Goose said:

I am a heavy road bike rider (250-260 lbs.). After breaking several
spokes on the stock rear wheel that came on my Lemond Reno, my bike shop
swapped out (for an upcharge) a pair of Bontrager Selects. The problem
is that after about 40 miles, the rear wheel became badly out of true --
they trued it; but after another 40 miles, it looks like the wheel is
heading in the same direction. Can anyone help with suggestions? After
doing a quick search, it sounds like the Velocity Deep Vs may be a good
fit, but I am unsure.

Any help is appreciated!

think 36 hole and good quality hubs (phil wood ie) from a good builder (or
yourself). Try Peter in Colorado he built a super set for me, not cheap
but qulity build. Stay away from boutique wheels unless you weigh
<70kg

Agreed--I can't believe the shop didn't put you on some well built 36
spoke wheels after your first issue. Not very impressive.

Phil Wood hubs are awesome, but you could easily get away with something
not as zoot--think mid range Shimano--but the important thing is having it
built by a master. If you can afford a Phil hub wheel--do it. 🙂

Thanks for all of the input. I am rather new to the current biking
world... what makes the Phil Wood hubs so great? Do they roll with any
less resistance or are they just more durable? Can someone provide a
link to Peter in Colorado (and any other wheel builders) so I can
continue my search? Thanks again!

The Goose said:

Phil Wood hubs so great? Do they roll with any
less resistance or are they just more durable?

Incredibly durable. Fantastic sealed bearings that are a snap to replace,
vs loose balls. Super quality in general--it's like buying Campagnolo
stuff--you'll be supported for the life of the product. Handsome as well.

😉

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

think 36 hole and good quality hubs (phil wood ie) from a good builder
(or
yourself). Try Peter in Colorado he built a super set for me, not cheap
but qulity build. Stay away from boutique wheels unless you weigh
<70kg

Agreed--I can't believe the shop didn't put you on some well built 36
spoke wheels after your first issue. Not very impressive.

Not very impressive because you assume spokes with lower spoke counts can't
stand up to a heavier rider? This is not always true. We have a *lot* of,
ahem, sturdier riders. And they're not just big; some of them are extremely
strong. A properly-designed low-spoke-count wheel can do very well with a
heavier rider, as evidenced by the wheels many tandems are successfully
running on (Bontragers with 24 rear, 20 front spokes).

What we find to be the determining factor in wheel durability (with heavier
riders) is often tire width. Big guys shouldn't be running 23c tires, yet
many are. Some shouldn't even be riding 25c (although there are frames that
won't allow for wider tires than 25c; I've even heard of some that won't
take bigger than a 23c).

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

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Quoted message said:

mrbubl said:

The Goose said:

I am a heavy road bike rider (250-260 lbs.). After breaking several
spokes on the stock rear wheel that came on my Lemond Reno, my bike shop
swapped out (for an upcharge) a pair of Bontrager Selects. The problem
is that after about 40 miles, the rear wheel became badly out of true --
they trued it; but after another 40 miles, it looks like the wheel is
heading in the same direction. Can anyone help with suggestions? After
doing a quick search, it sounds like the Velocity Deep Vs may be a good
fit, but I am unsure.

Any help is appreciated!

think 36 hole and good quality hubs (phil wood ie) from a good builder
(or
yourself). Try Peter in Colorado he built a super set for me, not cheap
but qulity build. Stay away from boutique wheels unless you weigh
<70kg

Agreed--I can't believe the shop didn't put you on some well built 36
spoke wheels after your first issue. Not very impressive.

Phil Wood hubs are awesome, but you could easily get away with something
not as zoot--think mid range Shimano--but the important thing is having it
built by a master. If you can afford a Phil hub wheel--do it. 🙂

Quoted message said:

I am a heavy road bike rider (250-260 lbs.). After breaking several
spokes on the stock rear wheel that came on my Lemond Reno, my bike
shop swapped out (for an upcharge) a pair of Bontrager Selects. The
problem is that after about 40 miles, the rear wheel became badly out
of true -- they trued it; but after another 40 miles, it looks like the
wheel is heading in the same direction. Can anyone help with
suggestions? After doing a quick search, it sounds like the Velocity
Deep Vs may be a good fit, but I am unsure.

Any help is appreciated!

You shouldn't be having continuing issues with your wheels; something seems
amiss. The stock wheels on the Reno may not have been adequately prepared,
or it's possible that the spokes fit too loosely in the hub. But the
Bontrager Select shouldn't repeatedly be coming out of true. What width tire
are you running?

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

Kevin Hornick said:

Thanks for all of the input. I am rather new to the current biking
world... what makes the Phil Wood hubs so great? Do they roll with
any less resistance or are they just more durable? Can someone
provide a link to Peter in Colorado (and any other wheel builders)
so I can continue my search?

Wood hubs have a certain appeal to the mechanical feelings of some
people but have no performance advantage other than being too heavy,
having "sealed" bearings that eat water in rain and axles that are not
as strong as Shimano. For some the "machined out of the solid"
appearance of the flanges are reassuring although cold forged hubs are
better.

Jobst Brandt

Quoted message said:

Wood hubs have a certain appeal to the mechanical feelings of some
people but have no performance advantage other than being too heavy,
having "sealed" bearings that eat water in rain and axles that are not
as strong as Shimano.

However, it's easy (on the Phil hubs) to get to the outer bearing seals on
the hubs, so you can pry them off and clean/regrease if need be.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

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Quoted message said:

Kevin Hornick said:

Thanks for all of the input. I am rather new to the current biking
world... what makes the Phil Wood hubs so great? Do they roll with
any less resistance or are they just more durable? Can someone
provide a link to Peter in Colorado (and any other wheel builders)
so I can continue my search?

Wood hubs have a certain appeal to the mechanical feelings of some
people but have no performance advantage other than being too heavy,
having "sealed" bearings that eat water in rain and axles that are not
as strong as Shimano. For some the "machined out of the solid"
appearance of the flanges are reassuring although cold forged hubs are
better.

Jobst Brandt

Thanks for all of the feedback! Today, my LBS swapped out my wheels for
a pair of Mavics (32 spoke rear wheel). Hopefully, this will do the
trick. The issue of tires has made me think about my rear tire. It
seems that some of my issues started after I had to switch out my rear
tire. I went with a "normal" (i.e., not super thin) kevlar lined tire
that handles up to 120 psi (ilo the 100 psi in my front tire). Could
the high psi have anything to with this? If so, what are some tire
recommendations?

Thanks for all of the feedback! Today, my LBS swapped out my wheels for
a pair of Mavics (32 spoke rear wheel). Hopefully, this will do the
trick. The issue of tires has made me think about my rear tire. It
seems that some of my issues started after I had to switch out my rear
tire. I went with a "normal" (i.e., not super thin) kevlar lined tire
that handles up to 120 psi (ilo the 100 psi in my front tire). Could
the high psi have anything to with this? If so, what are some tire
recommendations?

Goose--

If you can, switching to a fatter tire will help a lot. If your bike
can handle 700x28, I can recommend the Continental Top Touring 2000 and the
Rivendell Ruffy Tuffy. A fatter tire will give you a better ride, and absorb
shock. I don't know if 32 spokes is going to be any more durable. I run 36
spokes and I only weigh 175 lbs. Good luck.

MIke

I have to agree that the Coni TT2000 is a nice tire. I just switched
this summer from (brand x) 23's and will never go back. Everything
about this tire is great (I don't notice the weight increase). Even the
rolling resistance is much less.

Eric