Commuting again!

itsrob

Good morning,
Ive decided that all the ducks are back in a row and that I can commute to sit behind my laptop (and spend too much time and then money on this forum)
Anyways, 13 along the main road, about 17 off the main road, with all manner of add-ons to up the mileage.

Whilst riding today, its not a bad day but road a little mucky, I was thinking I could soon knacker my wheels - the american classic victory. So shortly, I need to accept thats going to be the case, and I replace next year, or I need something thats cheap and functional
are there any suggestions?

Secondly, I need to get some lights! Many years ago when I commuted I had like a pentorch mounted on the front, seem to remember it didnt break the bank, but lit up country lanes and the like.
So Again, could I have some suggestions on lights for commuting that would suit both unlit country roads, as well as occasional main road?

I remember and think I still have the long tights, the jackets, the overshoes, skull hat and the gloves so hopefully its the lights and wheels that need sorting

(Ive also got an old Giant hung up, kind of works, but needs a good service or update, its done a lot of mileage and isn't a pleasure to ride at all I'm wondering if I should have got the groupsets that were going cheap recently and given it an overhaul for the winter rather than mess up the moda?)

Thanks a lot

dhope

Wheels, Fulcrum 7's
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... ULCWHFR295

rower63

itsrob wrote:

...I was thinking I could soon knacker my wheels ... replace ... are there any suggestions?

ugo.santalucia - he posts quite a bit here, at any level from commuter wheels to pro, you end up with very very good wheels. I have a rear he rebuilt from my own hub - still true 1000 miles later and after lots of abuse! I wanted thick braking surface, not too worried about uber-lightweight, went for his suggestion of Velocity 30mm rim with elliptical SS spokes.
Can't recommend him highly enough.

Koncordski

dhope wrote:

Wheels, Fulcrum 7's
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... ULCWHFR295

Bombproof and affordable. +1

spasypaddy

for commuter wheels id go for some 105 hubs on open pro rims probably 32 spoke.

http://www.merlincycles.com/pair-shiman ... 71996.html

Done.

drlodge

spasypaddy wrote:

for commuter wheels id go for some 105 hubs on open pro rims probably 32 spoke.

http://www.merlincycles.com/pair-shiman ... 71996.html

Done.

Even better have Ugo build you a set of Archetype rims on 105 hubs...

gabriel959

If you are in London speak to ugo, something like spasypaddy has recommended would be great, but only built by a decent builder.

rubertoe

Those merlins are open sports not open pro.

These are the open pro.

http://www.merlincycles.com/shimano-105 ... 59395.html

I have a pair of Open Pros built on XT's they are fricken awesome

gabriel959

I would get them built by a reputable builder though.

rubertoe

gabriel959 wrote:

I would get them built by a reputable builder though.

natch

itsrob

Thanks for the suggestions on wheels. I followed a link through to UGO's blog and read a few posts. When I get through the winter having shed some of this padding I'll treat myself to something totally not suitable to commuting that looks the part.

The Ribble link looks great as there is also 10% off this weekend, fetching them down to about a ton, or about £160 once Ive finished adding loads of other stuff I dont need into my basket

itsrob

Thanks for the suggestions on wheels. I followed a link through to UGO's blog and read a few posts. When I get through the winter having shed some of this padding I'll treat myself to something totally not suitable to commuting that looks the part.

The Ribble link looks great as there is also 10% off this weekend, fetching them down to about a ton, or about £160 once Ive finished adding loads of other stuff I dont need into my basket

cyclingprop

+1 to the customs. And get the builder to chuck in (or price for) some spare spokes. Simples.

I'd go for the archetypes on hope. But then I'm biased.

rubertoe

cyclingprop wrote:

+1 to the customs. And get the builder to chuck in (or price for) some spare spokes. Simples.

I'd go for the archetypes on hope. But then I'm biased.

The thing is with archetypes is that everyone has them....

pblakeney

rubertoe wrote:

cyclingprop wrote:

+1 to the customs. And get the builder to chuck in (or price for) some spare spokes. Simples.

I'd go for the archetypes on hope. But then I'm biased.

The thing is with archetypes is that everyone has them....

...for a reason?

rhodrich

If it's for a commuting bike, I wouldn't bother spending lots of money - they'll only get trashed anyway. I run on Mavic MA40 rims with 105 hubs on a couple of my bikes, with the wheelsets costing me under £50. They run perfectly true and are bomb proof.

Then again, I'm being a bit silly at the moment, as I'm currently commuting on 28 hole FIR Tour Rims on Mavic 500 hubs, with the fronts radially spoked. Beautiful wheels, but completely unsuited to potholes. That said, they've remained true for the last 250 miles or so, and I acquired them via a trade with my brother in law, so they don't really owe me anything. I've got a Mavic 500 hub, MA2 Argent rim wheelset that I can always swap over when the going gets salty.

rubertoe

PBlakeney wrote:

rubertoe wrote:

cyclingprop wrote:

+1 to the customs. And get the builder to chuck in (or price for) some spare spokes. Simples.

I'd go for the archetypes on hope. But then I'm biased.

The thing is with archetypes is that everyone has them....

...for a reason?

because they are easy to build... so wheel builders love them.

They are pretty though expecially on a disc bike where the brake track isnt used.

pblakeney

rubertoe wrote:

because they are easy to build... so wheel builders love them.

Sorry. I shouldn't have put the question mark in my previous post. :P

vermin

What is all this talk of broken spokes and wheels going out of true? 15,000 or so miles of commuting over the last 3 years and not a single issue. People worry too much.

Of course both will happen tonight now.

elbowloh

rubertoe wrote:

Those merlins are open sports not open pro.

These are the open pro.

http://www.merlincycles.com/shimano-105 ... 59395.html

I have a pair of Open Pros built on XT's they are fricken awesome

"That's not a knife....this, is a knife".

rubertoe

elbowloh wrote:

rubertoe wrote:

Those merlins are open sports not open pro.

These are the open pro.

http://www.merlincycles.com/shimano-105 ... 59395.html

I have a pair of Open Pros built on XT's they are fricken awesome

"That's not a knife....this, is a knife".

Kieran_Burns

vermin wrote:

What is all this talk of broken spokes and wheels going out of true? 15,000 or so miles of commuting over the last 3 years and not a single issue. People worry too much.

Of course both will happen tonight now.

Spoke too soon did you?

(igmc)

roger_merriman

vermin wrote:

What is all this talk of broken spokes and wheels going out of true? 15,000 or so miles of commuting over the last 3 years and not a single issue. People worry too much.

Of course both will happen tonight now.

The SS I have waiting for me in the shed, has a habit of breaking spokes, every so often the bike before it, a slightly less racing more utilitarian did once or twice, I tend to ride road and gravel park paths etc.

Present commute bike is a 10year old MTB on original wheels, spent most of its life off-road only now retired from that bar the odd tow path/Wimbledon common dash. The rear wheel did go out of true when I hit a rock at speed about are year ago, but bar that.

It seems to just depend!

rhodrich

Rhodrich wrote:

If it's for a commuting bike, I wouldn't bother spending lots of money - they'll only get trashed anyway. I run on Mavic MA40 rims with 105 hubs on a couple of my bikes, with the wheelsets costing me under £50. They run perfectly true and are bomb proof.

Then again, I'm being a bit silly at the moment, as I'm currently commuting on 28 hole FIR Tour Rims on Mavic 500 hubs, with the fronts radially spoked. Beautiful wheels, but completely unsuited to potholes. That said, they've remained true for the last 250 miles or so, and I acquired them via a trade with my brother in law, so they don't really owe me anything. I've got a Mavic 500 hub, MA2 Argent rim wheelset that I can always swap over when the going gets salty.

I KNEW IT!

2 days after writing the above, and I break a spoke in my rear wheel on my commute in. I forget that writing things like the above incur the wrath of the spoke fairy. Time to move back to more sensible rims, and save these wheels for Sundays and Race Days.