Which wheels for 100kg rider (Ribble bike builder)

1964johnr

Decided to buy a ribble Gran fondo with 105 groupset. will be going for a compact 50-34 with a 172.5 crank arm and a 11-28 casette. This seems to be the best they do for someone who needs those easy gears. My problem is which wheels to go for. I brake rear wheel spokes on my current Giant SCR 2 at the rate of one every five rides and although my weight may not be the only issue, I want to make sure that I choose strong wheels which will not brake spokes at regular intervals. i have gleaned that a 32 or 36 spoke wheel will probably be better than wheels with a low spoke count, but not sure which wheels on the Ribble bike builder will be appropriate. Anyone got any ideas?

napoleond

Just get the cheapest option for now then look at getting some 32 or 36 spoke wheels built up from somewhere else.

wishitwasallflat

Other option is get the ones from RIBBLE with the best resale value, sell them the day you get them without ever using them and use a set of 36 hole handbuilts (order them now so they are ready to go when your Ribble arrives!).

PS your the first person I've heard of whose had a more frequent spoke breakage rate than I had before I got36h handbuilts.

PPS never broke a spoke on the handbuilts in near 5k miles

rafletcher

Spoke breakage is down to flex at the elbow, which in turn is down to insufficient tension = badly built wheel. I broke spokes on a wheel I got from Ribble, so as wishit says get some hand built ones. Wheelcraft maybe? I'd suggest open pros on 105 hubs, 36/36 with butted spokes.

cycleclinic

If you are fine one a 36 spoke rear and have a 36 spoke front the the front is way over built. a 32 spoke front and 36 spoke rear will be more than sufficent. 105 hubs miche hubs anything with big bearings really on a decent rim there are so many to choose from.

xrecymech

I am about 105kg and have tried ksyrium elites and equipe and have broke spokes, only half decent factory wheels I have had are Cosmic Elites, and they have been absolutely faultless, probably done near to 3k miles on them and they have never needed to be touched and are still true as the day I bought them. Now moving back to hand built wheels, starting with some ultegra hubs on Ambrosio excellence rims 32/32, only done 5-600 miles on them but they ride smooth as you like and they only needed a small tweek after first ride so, if you can get cosmic elites, you'll be fine, otherwise I'd say some decent handbuilts with 32 on rear - at least you will still be able to ride home if you pop a spoke

taff..

I'm the same weight as you and have been using Fulcrum racing 7's for about 2k miles with no problems, on my commuting bike I've got a pair of the cheapest wheels that my LBS sells and again I have never broken a spoke, although one freehub did give up the ghost at about 3k miles and after I had crashed on ice.

cycleclinic

If the OP get cosmic elite's he might be not he will be fine. What low spoke count wheel works for one 100kg rider does not translate to working for another. As with all thing the heavier the rider the faster spoke fatigue becomes a problem, it may not happen after 2000 miles but may after 6000, it is impossible to say as it all depends how that rider rides i.e how smooth they are.

brownbosh

flog the cheapies and invest in some hand builds end of!!

xrecymech

Splitting hairs on the cosmics me thinks, what you have said can be said of any load-bearing component, they might break, they might not, whether handbuilt or otherwise, I have put cosmics through some punishment, flanders sportive 3 times and many potholes, bad roads etc, without a broken spoke or any truing - they are very strong wheels; I am giving my opinion based on wheels I have used personally and I am within reasonable range of the OP's weight, so my opinions/comments are based on real world experience not assumptions