Would i break these wheels?

whydoesitalwaysrainonme

After having the spokes on my wheels break on me four times in under a year, (much to my annoyance)
I was looking for some training wheels and i came across these
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLqrymode.a4p?f%5FProductID=4300&f%5FFullProductVersion=1&f%5FSupersetQRY=C286&f%5FSortOrderID=1&f%5Fbct=c003154c003137c003535
Although they are very very cheap, they look strong to me. Does anybody know it these will be/are strong?
cheers Jamie

maddog 2

there is no way to know from that advert. They could be strong and tough, they could be rubbish.

They are screw on freewheel anyway - is that what you want?

whydoesitalwaysrainonme

it says they are QR on the site.

cougie

What spokes/wheels have you got now ? How heavy are you ?

You can get badly made wheels and they'll break anyway.

Find a decent bike shop and ask their advice.

whydoesitalwaysrainonme

The wheels i have now are Bontrager SSR (stock wheels), and i am ten stone.

SBezza

whydoesitalwaysrainonme wrote:

The wheels i have now are Bontrager SSR (stock wheels), and i am ten stone.

I have got these wheels and weigh more than you, and I have never had a broken spoke in a year of having the bike. Maybe it is a case that after the first broken spoke, it was trued and tensioned right, and hence other spokes have broken.

The SSR wheels are not the best in the world, that is for sure, but they should be more than durable enough.

whydoesitalwaysrainonme

That's what i hoped when i bought them, i thought that because they weighed so much (which doesn't bother me) that they would be tough.But they're far from it.

cougie

At ten stone you shouldnt be breaking so many spokes. Any half decent wheels should be fine for you unless you are very very clumsy ?

I'm a good few stone heavier than you and havent bust a spoke for years.

andyp

whydoesitalwaysrainonme wrote:

it says they are QR on the site.

All that means is that they use a quick release to secure the wheel.

Maddog's point was that they are for a screw on block, a system which hasn't been used by the likes of Shimano and Campagnolo for the best part of 20 years. If you are running a modern groupset from either of these two manufacturers then these wheels are useless to you.

felix500

I had a set of SSRs on my Trek 1200 when I bought it and had nothing but problems with them. Continually snapping spokes in both wheels, even had them completely re-spoked at Trek's expense but still had problems. Swapped them for a set of Mavic Open Pro's - not the lightest wheels around but incredibly tough. I've since put about 3000 miles on them and they're still as true as the day I bought them despite hitting some massive potholes over the last year or so. Just bought a set of Halo Aerorage for my single speed which also seem pretty good.

whydoesitalwaysrainonme

Felix500, please can you give me a link to where to buy these mavic open pro rims, they seem to be quite good from what i've heard.

andyp

www.google.co.uk

eh

Mavic Open Pro's - not the lightest wheels

Depends what you build them on, Open Pros can be built up to be pretty damn light if you chuck a decent amount of cash at them.

People don't seem to understand wheels. Assuming they are built well then they are amazingly strong in the vertical plane, but will alwys be weak in the horizontal plane. Hence, if you are going to hit a pot hole etc. hit it square on and your wheel should be fine (the tyre may puncture but thats a different story).

jonmack

whydoesitalwaysrainonme wrote:

Felix500, please can you give me a link to where to buy these mavic open pro rims, they seem to be quite good from what i've heard.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=17147

Might be worth looking around on CRC for decent rims, could keep your hubs and learn to build your own wheels in the process. It's challenging but enjoyable

Like others have said I don't see how you're breaking spokes easily at 10 stone, I'm just under 10 and I'm always referred to as "light" so sounds like your wheel builds are the problem rather than your weight.

whydoesitalwaysrainonme

Cheers for the idea of building my own wheels, but i dont have the money or time to build my own wheels unfortunately, i'm only 15. Although i would like to learn in the future.
Does anybody know where to buy wheels built up on open pro rims, which have 32 or preferably more spokes?.

pingpong

Try Ribble

maddog 2

pretty much all decent roadie shops will build wheels with OP rims. They won't all be built the same though...

If you want a good, solid pair of wheels then consider:

OP rims in 32 or probably 28h, given your weight
DT or Sapim double butted spokes
Brass nipples
and a hub of choice, such a 105 or Ultegra if you run Shimano.

There are other options, such as DT Revolution spokes for a lighter wheel, and prolock nipples etc. But a well built handbuilt will last you a long time, and won't break spokes, if built well.

If you can't stretch to that and fancy some factory wheels then have a look at some like Mavic Aksiums, and the Xero wheels (see Parkers online).

Places to check online for prices are Ribble, Parkers, Merlin.

As for good builders, see Paul Hewitt, Harry Rowland, Pete Matthews, Wheelsmith, amongst others. Others will be cheaper but their reputations are patchy.

jonmack

whydoesitalwaysrainonme wrote:

Cheers for the idea of building my own wheels, but i dont have the money or time to build my own wheels unfortunately, i'm only 15. Although i would like to learn in the future.
Does anybody know where to buy wheels built up on open pro rims, which have 32 or preferably more spokes?.

Takes about 1-2 hours per wheel for me, and I've only built 6 wheels so far, the more you do the fast you get, but it will save you money in the long run.

From my experience if you take rims and hubs to a bike shop and they'll charge you probably £15-20 for spokes and another £15-20 labour per wheel, if not more. Same with pre built wheels, most wheels you're paying a premium for having them build the wheels for you.

Just out of interest, you're 15, why don't you have the time to build them? Sit down infront of the tv in the evening and lace them up, simple. Also, it will probably work out cheaper for you to buy rims/hubs/spokes separately then build up your own than to get them done at a shop, but each to their own.

Didn't say if you're Campag or Shimano but here's a set of OP's on Mirage hubs, £160

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/productde ... 0000000000

felix500

I got mine hand-built from Ribble on Ultegra hubs incl new tyres, inners, cassette and chain. All up about £200 but it was about 18 months ago.

whydoesitalwaysrainonme

I could sit in front of the TV and do it, but i wouldnt know where to start :shock:
that and the factthat i dont have any toolsfor building wheels.

PeteinSQ

I weigh 12 stone and have only ever broken two spokes in 5 years on fairly normal wheels.

I think you have been extremely unlucky with your current set of wheels.

I can tell you don't want to spend too much money which since you're 15 isn't particularly surprising. Handbuilt wheels will most likely work out to be relatively expensive for you when cheaper factory built wheels would in all likelihood be fine for you. Ribble cycles do hand built wheels like this one on 105 hubs with open pro rims http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/productde ... 5000000000

I reckon though that you would be fine with a pair of Mavic Aksiums, Fulcrum Racing 7s or the cheaper Shimano or Campag wheels.

I see that the Aksiums are suddenly £179 on Wiggle so I would go for the Fulcrums or if you have campag on your bike maybe go for the Khamsins.

jonmack

Khamsins are going for about £100 + post on ebay, which is pretty good.

whydoesitalwaysrainonme

I have decided to got for the Mavic open pros on ultegra hubs, also i will go for the anodised (cd) ones,