Need wheels

aspock

Hi all,

Building up a cheap road bike that is currently without wheels. I was looking at these

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=25888

Anybody got any thoughts on whether they are worth it or whather there is a better value option.

Cheers,

Aidan

Cranks

Radial front is fragile, if you are after long lasting wheels I have just bought some handmade ones from here for £150. Tell the guy your budget and he will give you options.

balthazar

Cranks wrote:

Radial front is fragile

Radial spoke lacing is not recommended for hubs that are designed for tangential lacing only, like normal 'groupset' hubs. The radial load can cause hub flanges to collapse. Presumably, however, the hubs on these pre-assembled wheels are designed specifically to tolerate the novel loads that radial lacing causes. There's no other sense in which radial lacing is fragile.

Apart from that I agree with you, and would recommend traditional wheels to anybody, as well.

bobpzero

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12644681&highlight=
tho i use a pair of mavic kysrium sl 2007 wheels. but a custom build from the right guy would be worth a good look in.

Cranks

balthazar wrote:

Cranks wrote:

Radial front is fragile

Radial spoke lacing is not recommended for hubs that are designed for tangential lacing only, like normal 'groupset' hubs. The radial load can cause hub flanges to collapse. Presumably, however, the hubs on these pre-assembled wheels are designed specifically to tolerate the novel loads that radial lacing causes. There's no other sense in which radial lacing is fragile.

Apart from that I agree with you, and would recommend traditional wheels to anybody, as well.

Radial lacing is not great if you are riding on poor roads, or if you are carrying weight, this is because the spokes do not cross each other (cross overs are strength points).

balthazar

Cranks wrote:

cross overs are strength points

Thats a new one. "Strength points"?!

aspock

Thanks for the answers guys. The reason i was looking at those is because the set is only £89 not £150.

So what you are saying is that because there are no crossovers on the spokes they will be weaker? Is that much? Im not likely to be breaking any records!!

To give a bit of background the rest of the bike carrera vanquish 07 carbon fork was bought for £40 from halfords minus seatpost, pedals, wheels and mech hanger. I had a saddle so the seatpost pedals and mech hanger stand me £30 more.

The wheels, tyres and cassette will obviously be the major cost. I figured i could do that for about £150.

So for a beginner first bike are we saying They are dangerous or not going to last?

Cheers,

Aidan (cheepskate)

balthazar

aspock wrote:

So for a beginner first bike are we saying They are dangerous or not going to last?(cheepskate)

I'm not. I don't know anything about these wheels, but I doubt they're unsafe or particularly terrible. That's pretty cheap but you could get some handbuilt wheels with known good components for not much more:

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

These type of wheels are of proven design, and can be serviced easily by any bike shop. I don't know whether that's the case with the ones you're looking at. I can't vouch for Ribble's build quality, however– it's just an example.

redddraggon

Radial fronts are fine, they even get ridden in P-R these days.

gkerr4

redddraggon wrote:

Radial fronts are fine, they even get ridden in P-R these days.

agreed - radial fronts are fine - got a few pairs of radially laced wheels and never had a problem with them.

chriskempton

+1 I've never broken a radial spoke, but quite a few crossed ones.

desweller

The RS10s are perfectly OK wheels. A mate of mine has them on his PX and had no problems. I have R500s (lower grade version), have done ~3000 miles on them and they have not even required retruing.

EDIT: Mind you, there are a couple of pretty grim reviews on the CRC page! Still good value at £90 I reckon. Might get a pair myself (for some future project...).

verloren

Colleague of mine uses them on his Focus for commuting - they work fine, no breakages, and I'm not sure he even knows how to true them so they've held up well. Clearly there are better wheels out there, but if cheap is your priority these are surprisingly good.

aspock

Cheers for all the answers, I will pop into chain reaction on monday, then see if we can nail the whole lot together.

The only things i'm not sure on is fitting the cassette and the mech hanger. got a shimano one from edinburgh cycles on the way so it will be a bit "suck it and see" on the fit. Halfords were a bit vague on whether they had any.

Aidan

giant_man

Dont' worry about 'radial spoking' all I know is the RS20s are better than the RS10s .....

Don't bother with Halfords ffs. You don't need those monkeys in your life......

aspock

Generally i wouldn't entertain the place but the bike remains were too good value to pass up on. I'm sure the frame isnt the best and there will be much lighter and stronger but I should be up and running for a couple of hundred. This keeps the Mrs on board and gives me the benefit of the build up experience.

On the subject of Halfords the guy in the Newry store was excellent and to be recommended. He both new his stuff but more importantly went the extra mile with the phone calls etc, especially as there was nothing in it for him, sales wise. My experience and others would indicate this always the case.

I was in Craigavon store looking for a radiator top hose as the one on the Westfield exploded recently. I asked if they had any at the parts counter to be told "no we don't stock them" What are those behind your head I asked.

They would be the radiator hoses!!!

Let you know how i get along.

Aidan