Wheel load bearing and buying a new bike

alwaystoohot

Following on from my broken spokes post, I'm thinking of getting either Cannondale SuperSix, CAAD10 or similar. The Super6 has Mavic Aksium wheels and spokes, a factory package but how do I know if they are strong enough to support my lithe 6'7" 107kgs frame? The last thing I want is splash out big bucks then find the wheelset aren't up to it and spokes start breaking? Is the Aksium a a good weight bearer or do I need to upgrade from the off (prefer not simply to control cost). Have some wheels been designed towards greater load bearing etc.. when putting the power down?

All advice gratefully accepted.
Richard

Keith1983

I don't think when putting the power down is the issue, after all just because you are a big guy doesn't mean you generate more power than other smaller guys on here, also the power you generate would travel through the transmission and create a torsional stress on the spokes, which whilst it could break them I doubt this is the cause. I guess the real thing you need to check out is the strength of the rim and the spokes combined. I would hazard a guess that most spokes are broken due to shock loading which would occur when going over a pot hole or something similar. I don't know if you can get figures for rim/spoke strength as they can all depend on many variables such as tyre choice, tyre pressure, and the direction of the force being applied and the manner in which is is applied. I'd suggest seeking some advice from your LBS, but you will probably have to sacrifice some weight to get stronger wheels at a reasonable budget.