road bike wheelset help

edgemar · 05-01-2010, 07:54 PM

I've got a steel specialized allez and my spokes keep breaking every couple rides. I think they are toast. A bike mechanic said the are unable to re-spoke the type of wheel i have.

Can anyone recommend a good wheelset for $350ish max.

thx!

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

You should be able to get a low-end set of Eastons for that. Hell, I have a spare pair if you want 'em. PM me for details maybe we can work something out.

Jim Bremner · 05-01-2010, 10:53 PM

Edgemar,

What shop told you that?

I do not know the age of your bike but if you have a screw on freewheel or a old 7spd rear wheel. you will have trouble finding the proper rear wheel.

Eric Coffey · 05-01-2010, 11:02 PM

I'd search for a set of used Roval or DT Swiss wheels.

dd74 · 05-01-2010, 11:03 PM

Why can't they re-spoke your wheel? IIRC only carbon wheels can't be re-spoked.

$350 might get you a pair of custom-built wheels.

Schrup · Schrup's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

You should be able to get a low-end set of Eastons for that.

I need a set very soon myself. I should probable get these.

Easton EA90 SLX Special Edition Wheelset - Performance Exclusive - Bike Wheels

I'll probable end up finding a local shop with some Mavic Opens on Ultegra hanging around. They're not the lightest, but the price is right.

Shimano Ultegra Wheelset w/ Mavic Open Pro Rims at Price Point

edgemar · 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dd74

Why can't they re-spoke your wheel? IIRC only carbon wheels can't be re-spoked.

$350 might get you a pair of custom-built wheels.

He said something to the effect that the wheels that came with the bike had a low spoke count so he couldn't properly true the wheel if he were to redo all the spokes. He said he'd be able to replace the one broken one. That's not useful though b/c I'd just break another on the the next ride. I guess I'll get a second opinion at another shop.

Those Price Point mavics look good!

Eric Coffey · 05-02-2010, 12:03 AM

Shimano Wheels Chris King Zipp
Vuelta 700c fixed wheels
Nuke Proof Hubs Mavic Rims 700c Wheelset

dd74 · 05-02-2010, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edgemar

He said something to the effect that the wheels that came with the bike had a low spoke count so he couldn't properly true the wheel if he were to redo all the spokes. He said he'd be able to replace the one broken one. That's not useful though b/c I'd just break another on the the next ride. I guess I'll get a second opinion at another shop.

Hmmm. That sounds like a strange explanation. Low spoke count means lightweight race wheels to me. But lightweight wheels on a steel Allez is sort of a strange mixture.

Quote:

Originally Posted by edgemar

Those Price Point mavics look good!

Mavic makes very good wheels. I still ride a pair of Heliums that are almost 11 years old. Never had a problem with a Mavic wheel.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

I guess the first question is...how much do you weigh?

I broke a spoke yesterday mid ride, Tour de Taco. Fortunately, we were 1/2 block from an alternate taco location and then 2 blocks to one of the best bike shops in Houston.

I was scolded for my low spoke count wheels...

sammyg2 · 05-02-2010, 09:51 AM

LOL, I helped build a set of wheels once for Eric Heiden (the former Olympic speed skater).
He was a moose and could taco a normal rear wheel without getting off the seat.

We ended up building him a rear wheel with 72 spokes (no that's not a typo) with 2mm SS double butted spokes, a 4 cross pattern, and a campy wide flange touring hub.

He complained that it was a bit spongy and flexed, but he never broke it

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

One reason I have Mavic MA-2s with 36 spokes on my bike (and I only weigh 185 on a bad day). I never liked the trend to low spoke aero wheels.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

I have a set of old Dura-ace hubs, 32 spoke with Mavic rims. I swapped those in this morning before today's taco run. Ran fine...

lm6y · 05-02-2010, 12:33 PM

Sounds like you need to see a wheelsmith. I used to work for a guy named Mark Robinson that could build you a set of wheels that you WOULDN'T break. He built me a set of 5 cross asymetrical Mavics with Phil Wood hubs for my MTB that I absolutely hammered on, and they never went out of true, let alone bent. I ended up selling them at cost to a tourist who just kept breaking spokes left and right. He sent us a postcard from California saying he never broke another spoke when his tour was over.

As an aside, If you ever toured cross country, and stopped in Carbondale Illinois, at the Bike Surgeon from '87 - '90 , we've probably met, and I probably worked on your bike. We did all repair work on tourist's bikes for free labor, and parts at cost. You just had to sign our wall, and send us a postcard. Mark would even put you up for a few days in his old supermarket that was converted into an apartment. Man those were good times! Met some truly neat people back then.

dd74 · 05-02-2010, 01:35 PM

Also, the more spokes you have, the more comfortable the ride. I've felt a larger difference in plushness between 36 and 28-spoke wheels, than any advantage/disadvantage in weight.

I'd like to try carbon wheels one day, simply because I'm shocked at how comfortable modern carbon frames are.

Zeke · 05-02-2010, 02:00 PM

It's been over 40 years since I laced up a wheel and they were motorcycle wheels at that. But, sounds like torque is an issue here. I don't know how it's done today, but we never used any type of special torque wrench on the nipples. Yet we laced wheels for the dirt track and road race as well as plenty for the street. People just kept bending them but the spokes didn't break or work loose that I remember.

I wonder if Mark Robinson has made a science out of this. In theory, and in theory only, I suspect all nuts would have the same torque value once the rim is true. I sure don't know myself. All I know is we tuned them by sound once true was established.

That was our torque wrench.

I think being a top tier bicycle mechanic would be a great job.

dd74 · 05-02-2010, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milt

I think being a top tier bicycle mechanic would be a great job.

+1 in a big way!

lm6y · 05-02-2010, 06:40 PM

Milt, there were no torque wrenches involved, he did it all by "feel". I built the 32 hole Zeus / Mavic Open 4 Cd wheels on my Cannondale way back when. Under his supervision of course. He was a master craftsman, that's for sure.

We used to fix completely taco'ed wheels all the time. As long as there were no creases it was actually easy. You put them in the truing stand, and apply force in the opposite direction of the bend, and they would "pop" back into place. Since none of the spokes were loosened or tightened, that was the "natural" shape to be in, and all you did was relieve the stress that held it in the taco shape. Usually you only had to adjust 3 or 4 spokes to get back in perfect true.

Some of the stories I could tell from working in a bike shop in a college town!

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Can't go wrong with Chris King wheels. When I used to build my own wheels, I put a crimp in the nipples. Kept them from backing off and getting loose. They made it harder to true up but I had to do it so rarely....

look 171 · 05-03-2010, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikez

Can't go wrong with Chris King wheels. When I used to build my own wheels, I put a crimp in the nipples. Kept them from backing off and getting loose. They made it harder to true up but I had to do it so rarely....

Crimp? that's nuts.