Wheelset for Genesis Croix De Der - Charity Ride.

whosthedaddy

My 21 year old son has decided to Ride to Bangor and back (2 days - 250+ miles) on the 29th August.
It's a charity thing that he does off his own back every year and this year it's for a little girl called Amber who needs assistance with walking.
Last year I followed him in my car, to Blackpool, but this year will attempt to do the ride with him.
I've purchased a rack and panniers, need to get some mudguards, but the biggest concern I have is that the stock wheels (Alex Rims) are not up to the job.
I'm 90kgs and looking to invest in a decent set of hand built wheels rather than factory ones.
What should I be buying and is it too much to expect that these could be built in time for the ride.

bendertherobot

They're up to the job. They're fine when they don't break. Mine did, but others report no issues. They are also very easy to fix.

It's probably too late for handbuilts, but, if you do, usual choice. H Plus Archetypes with Novatec hubs. Getting the latter is the thing that takes time. If you can source say XT hubs or Hope hubs that should ensure you get them done in time.

arlowood

Drop a PM to Malcolm at "thecycleclinic"

He is a regular forumite and an experienced wheelbuilder. He also has an Ebay outlet that offers a range of wheel build options.

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/The-Cycle-Clinic

Who knows he may have a suitable wheelset ex stock due to a cancelled order or at least he can tell you if a build is possible in your timeframe

rolf_f

Spa cycles might be worth a call as well - they specialise in touring kit - I don't think they normally have too long a turnaround for their handbuilts - worth asking.

47p2

I have Alex Rims on my Genesis Skyline, they covered 2000 miles and over 120,000 feet of climbs last winter and are still perfect, they will be perfect for your charity ride

bmxboy10

Standards wheels should be fine - mine have been trouble free so far.

You could try Ugo ref the build?

You will probably be advised to go Novatec hubs but I don't know how readily available they are? Could go Hope but then the wheels get expensive. I think Shinano now do a CX (Ultegra) hub for disc brakes and you can get these off the shelf at Evans.

Rim wise you could go Architype from Wiggle and have them delivered in a couple of days.

ugo.santalucia

The stock wheels are pretty robust... I did nearly 2 years on them including Paris Roubaix and Tour of Flanders... probably 8,000 miles before the first spoke popped.
In your case they might last a bit less, given your weight... anyway, they are 32 H disc, so if you pop a spoke you just keep riding until you have a chance to get it repaired, no big deal

cycleclinic

The Croix der fer wheels are one of the better stock wheels that Genesis supply on the their bikes because the rims are wide and stiff which compensates for the variable quality of the wheel build it self. I would say use what you have got if you are really worried carry a spare spoke or two and a nipple key, it is so easy to replace a spoke unless it is the DS rear.

If you end up going for new wheels novatec D711/D712 hubs are good, so are the more expensive DT Swiss 350's but the Shimano XT M756 or the lighter M785 are cheap and long lasting so long as you keep them serviced. I have a pair of XT hubs over 20 years old and it does not matter how much crap I ride through they never want to die. XTR are the ultimate and often forgotten about.

As for rims there is the H plus Son archetype or the new Velocity Aileron, but there is nothing wrong with the rims you have I mean they will never wear out will they. So in short if you get spoke breakages get it fixed and then consider getting the wheels rebuilt and if the hubs are past there best by then get them changed at that point. Otherwise just ride them you might as well.