LBS says wheel is write off. help.

pyrowill

Hi guys,

First post here, I have a Specialized Allez 09 triple. I noticed when I removed the rear wheel the other day that my rear cassette had a lot of play in it. I took it in to the LBS and they said after initially wrongfully diagnosing it (and having me lose some faith) that its the hub inside my wheel thats buggered and its new wheel since Specialized don't have an interchangeable hub. (the wheel is an Alex S500).

So what went from what I thought was a £20 servicing tightening of whatever has turned into a new wheel. Supposedly my rear cassette is in great condition. I really don't know how much I trust them, but I haven't a lot fo choice, I'm not too knowledgeable but can doa few things on a bike, especially with the help of youtube and forums. They suggested i get a Shimano WR500 until they saw they were discontinued and then suggested a wheel that was £120. I'll be honest, I really wasn't expecting to have to pay a lot.

So my options are:
Find a half decent wheel online and give to them to fit the rear cassette on.
Buy it all through them and get them to fit it.
Or buy a wheel myself, get my old one back from them and learn how to fit the cassette myself, doesn't seem too hard.

What would you recommend? Also, any recommendations on a wheel? I'm 220lbs (and going down!) and I ride about 25 miles a day on it. It's quite the commuting workhorse for me, so can't really have anything too delicate.

Thanks for any help, sorry for the essay!

ugo.santalucia

Everything can be fixed, but probably the LBS is right in that it would cost you more than getting a new rear wheel. You can get one for 50 pounds, these days

pyrowill

I'm pretty naive to wheel types. I take it i'd need to find one that would fit my rear cassette? All I can think of is that its 700 wheel, according to the stats on the bike it is like this:

Rims:Alex S500, sleeve joint, CNC sidewalls, 28/32h
Front Hub:Specialized forged alloy, 28h, sealed bearings, QR
Rear Hub:Specialized forged alloy, 32h, double sealed bearings, cassette, QR

But I really wouldn't know what to look for. I reckon I could fit a cassette though. Providing it all just goes together, I take it the rear cassette attaches to the hub so I need a wheel that has a hub that fits my cassette?!?

Monty Dog

All you need is a Shimano compatible rear wheel, the most common type available. To remove and refit your cassette, you'll need a chain whip and cassette lockring tool.

centimani

Why are Specialized still fitting cr@p hubs to their bikes ?. it really surprises me that people havnt wised up to them,
I don't think the LBS is trying to rip you off, these forums are littered with stories of people having their hubs fail on Spesh bikes.
The WH-R500s are good budget wheels, you might stll find them online somewhere.

buckmulligan

Yeah I had some wheels with those Spesh hubs for a while and they're a massive PITA. You can forget trying to get their freehubs off to service them, which is annoying because replacements are very hard to source when they do pack in.

Very poor from Spesh, but I believe they went back to Shimano hubs in 2011 for these entry-level ranges.

Coach H

Monty Dog wrote:

All you need is a Shimano compatible rear wheel, the most common type available. To remove and refit your cassette, you'll need a chain whip and cassette lockring tool.

What you actually need is a Pedro's Vice Whip. Far, far, far, far better.

cycleclinic

A chain whip will do however.

jonnym5

Some companies like to fit cheap hubs that make the freehub body hard to source. By the time you get a hub service @ £20? , freehub body could be £15-25. You would be £45 on a wheel which could have significant rim wear and the races are probably pitted so won't run smooth again.

That's why I happen to shift a fair few R500s, replaced with the R501(WHR501) but they are, well last time I checked, out of stock as are the tiagra/open sport wheels. That leaves you an RS10 at £100 or £120(maybe the RS20?).

I tried a 105 hub road wheel from Raleigh and the thing fell apart on the guys commute, literally every spoke was sagging/loose. I wish M part still did the Dt swiss on 105 hubs

If you want a wheel to last get an open pro built to a 105 hub and you'll be good for ages.

From Madison that is true, end of January for the R500. Ask them to get onto another supplier for a similar wheel.

Pigtail

http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/wheels/road-wheels/factory-road-wheels/shimano-r501-wheels.html These will do you, for just over £70. I have a 2010 allez and the stock wheels weren't very good. I got these, with a deeper rim. http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/w ... -pair.html They're not in stock however.

cycleclinic

Or get some one to buiuld a Dt Swiss RR465 on a 105 hub or use a velocity A23 rim. Plently of tough rims out there. Jyust get a wheel that is servicable. Factory wheels can often be not worth doing or the parts not available especially after a few years.