Taco-resistant front wheel?

.blitz

Have bent a couple of front wheels just recently one was my fault but the other just scrubbed sideways and folded pretty badly (XM719/20mm XT/db spokes).

I realise that bicycle wheels are not that strong laterally but is there anything that can be done at the build stage or in terms of components that can make them tougher?

danlikesbikes

If your not looking at changing the components then the first thing would be to check your spoke tension to make sure they are done up correctly. Over time, how hard you ride etc will all have an effect on them & only takes a minute or 2 to check them out.

You might want to consider changing some of the components to ones that are better suited to your riding style though have a chat with your LBS first.

nicklouse

yes. have then well built.

sounds like your mavic build was very poor.

.blitz

Not the sort of thing you'd expect then from a fairly innocuous low-side?

nicklouse

Like i said poor build.

YeehaaMcgee

.blitz wrote:

Not the sort of thing you'd expect then from a fairly innocuous low-side?

Could have been the wheel taco-ing that caused the low-side. If it's built poorly enough then it won't take much to destroy a wheel.

.blitz

hello mcgee how's it going?

supersonic

I agree, sounds like a poor build ie grossly undertensioned or unevenlt tensioned, or damaged from a previous encounter.

You can get stiffer rims, and more spokes if you want to go even more bombproof, but build is the main thing.

.blitz

supersonic wrote:

sounds like a poor build ie grossly undertensioned or unevenlt tensioned, or damaged from a previous encounter

It didn't seem that bad it was one of Merlin's finest and I checked the tension fairly regularly.

I just went into a corner, leaned the bike, outside elbow up as you do and it felt like the hub dropped down through the wheel :?

supersonic

I'd try a build with the Mavic EN521 or Stans Flow - 36 spokes if you want the extra stiffness.

benpinnick

supersonic wrote:

I'd try a build with the Mavic EN521 or Stans Flow - 36 spokes if you want the extra stiffness.

36 spokes doesnt really help, as its 36 spokes that aren't aligned as well as 32. The mentioned rims would be good though, double butted wide gauge spokes and brass nipples.

supersonic

It is still a stiffer wheel, easier to true and tesnion and will less likely to become untrue in the event of impact.

YeehaaMcgee

.blitz wrote:

supersonic wrote:

sounds like a poor build ie grossly undertensioned or unevenlt tensioned, or damaged from a previous encounter

It didn't seem that bad it was one of Merlin's finest and I checked the tension fairly regularly.

I just went into a corner, leaned the bike, outside elbow up as you do and it felt like the hub dropped down through the wheel :?

Hmm. A wheel that gives under normal riding sound grossly mis-tensioned to me.
It could be that your regular checking of the tension just wasn't an educated enough. I mean, I could look at a space shuttle and say, "yep, everything seems in order", but the damn thing might still blow up. Because I wasn't certain what I was looking for!

Northwind

To be fair crashes can put really severe loads on a part, I don't think it's fair to just jump to the assumption it was a bad wheel. Even though I agree it's likely!