Road Wheels - large rider - advice

Anonymous

Hello - Looking to get a new wheel set for the new season. Looking for a 700c set. am quite a large rider - 6 foot 3 and 100Kg - so I am looking for string wheels (over weight)
Use the bike for commuting and sportives
Any advice - I would like to spend under £300 for the set.
thanks

Garry H

Before anyone else says it, give Derek a call:

http://www.wheelsmith.co.uk/

Ambosio Excellight on Ultegra Hubs, comes in at just under £300

PHcp

Any of the frequently recommended wheelbuilders will sort you out, I use Paul Hewitt. I'm a similar size to you and have never had a problem with the three sets of wheels he's built me. I just tell him what the bike is and what I'm using it for and leave it to him, my road bike has Open Pro rims on Veloce hubs, standard 36 3X build. Ridden around 4.,000 miles and still running like new.
http://www.hewittbikefitting.co.uk/inde ... age=wheels

maddog 2

+1 for paul H.

32h Excellights on Ultegra sounds a good bet, as suggested.

TommyEss

I was that weight this time last year - and I had no problems with any of my wheels - Mavic Ksyrium Equipes that came as standard on my Cannondale were fine, nothing special, but didn't break or buckle. Nor did the 32H Alex set that came on my Giant, nor the 32H Planet X/On-One set that came on my Pompino.

From that, I'd say spend £300 if that's your budget and you're happy to (The wheelbuilders mentioned have brilliant reputations), but from my experience you can get a solid enough set for less, should you wish. Just my two-penneth!

There is a credit crunch on, y'know! :P

maddog 2

tommy, the wheels you mention are all budget or mid-budget factory wheels. In my experience they are significantly less impressive to ride than a decent set of handbuilts. I don't want to push this thread into a factory vs handbuilts debate as it's been done to death but Alex factory wheels? c'mon.... I've run a few pairs in my time and they've all been heavy, loose and dead. They're cheap for a reason 8)

TommyEss

S'alright - I know they're cheap - and I never said anything about being nice.

Thing is, when I was 16 stone I opted for cheap and strong, with the idea that if I broke them, they wouldn't cost as much to put right/replace.

Now I'm three stone to the good, things are a little different.

Naturally, a £300 set of wheels, be they handbuilt or factory, will be a significant improvement over a bog standard set of alex wheels from a bottom rung Giant, but just because the OP has £300 to spend, doesn't necessarily mean he should be spending that much.

I'm just playing devil's advocate!

Stellite

I wouldnt go with Askiums, im pretty light (12 stone) and they made a hell of a racket when I was sprinting up hills.

leloby

I would suggest Ambrosio Evolution rims or even Excursion rims over Excellights.

Excellights are a bit lightly made for a 100kg+ rider for 'general purpose' riding.

Evolutions are responsive enough to still be fun for sportives and a lot of lighter riders than yourself use them with great success. The stickers are removeable if you don't like them.

Ultegra 6700 hubs are OK.

32h/36h is optimum.

markos1963

Garry H wrote:

Before anyone else says it, give Derek a call:

http://www.wheelsmith.co.uk/

Ambosio Excellight on Ultegra Hubs, comes in at just under £300

Not yet though I want him to finish building my wheels first.