strong wheels for touring - need advice on handbuilt sizing

shaunclaridge

I need some basic advice please - I am clueless when it comes to rims and spokes-its some kind of black art as far as I am concerned.

Im doing lejog next month and im carrying a fair bit of wight on back of bike and on the rider! I have specialised secteur and the rear hub is failing. I want to buy some strong wheels for toring that are going to minimise the chances of hub, spoke, rim failure. I'm looking at these spa cycle hand-built rims in 36 spoke. I am running 25mm shwalbe puncture resistant tyres which I am really happy with and I have been told the lx17 exal rim would be the best choice to go for on these? I am assuming I can just take my rear cassette off and put it onto any rim?

any thoughts would be great - I include spa cycle link and photo of my lejog setup

http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php ... b0s178p376

rolf_f

Just call Spa up and ask - they'll know straight away what you need.

mercia_man

I agree with Rolf. Ask Spa. Those Spa Cycles Shimano 105 hubs with 36 hole Exal LX17 look the sort of thing - with double butted spokes on non drive side and plain or single butted on drive side for extra strength.

I built a pair of LX17 rims onto 36 hole Campag Record hubs on my tourer. They have remained true after thousands of miles of laden trips. I use them with Vittoria Randonneur tyres which are nominally 28mm but measure up more like 26.

shaunclaridge

just a couple of things I should have said.

Hub has failed after almost 4000 miles in it in last 12 months - the last 1500 miles have been with bike fully loaded with touring weight to practice. When I say hub has failed - it is still working its just got a lot of play in it and I dont trust it. Its not a case of me having put my luggage on for the first time and the hub disintegrated - I'm actually really happy with how much abuse the current wheel has taken - no other problems what so ever

Since making this thread I kind of had my questions answered anyway ... just spoke to spa cycles for a bit and spent £206 quid with them based on their recommendations. Shimano 105 hub with exal 17 36 rims and double strength spokes on drive side. Spa were well recommended and extremely helpful and i'm confident that I am giving myself the best chance I can with that set up without changing my bike/luggage set up completely

ugo.santalucia

Is that luggage arrangement a good idea? So high up and wide will it not throw you off balance every time you try to stand on the pedals?

shaunclaridge

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Is that luggage arrangement a good idea? So high up and wide will it not throw you off balance every time you try to stand on the pedals?

had the bike fully loaded with touring kit to practise for the last 1200 miles - seems fine to me - I find it better than panniers personally. I am travelling as light as possible

arthur_scrimshaw

shaunclaridge wrote:

I need some basic advice please - I am clueless when it comes to rims and spokes-its some kind of black art as far as I am concerned.

Im doing lejog next month and im carrying a fair bit of wight on back of bike and on the rider! I have specialised secteur and the rear hub is failing. I want to buy some strong wheels for toring that are going to minimise the chances of hub, spoke, rim failure. I'm looking at these spa cycle hand-built rims in 36 spoke. I am running 25mm shwalbe puncture resistant tyres which I am really happy with and I have been told the lx17 exal rim would be the best choice to go for on these? I am assuming I can just take my rear cassette off and put it onto any rim?

any thoughts would be great - I include spa cycle link and photo of my lejog setup

http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php ... b0s178p376

Sorry to slightly hi jack your post but I'm doing a Jogle at the beginning of June and have a Carradice Super C audax bag which is nowhere near big enough for the trip. I've got the bagman support like yours, what bag is that, it's humungous but it might be what I need, I'm not having anything on my back and don't want panniers really.

shaunclaridge

no probs - thats a camper long flap and I really like it. It looks big fully loaded but it is really very light - you can also extend the closing flap and stuff tent ect under there if you want to be self sufficiant

arthur_scrimshaw

Brilliant, many thanks!