Need Wheelset Build Advice for Heavy Rider

crankycrank

Building some 700c road training wheels for a friend who weighs 260 lbs. I want light as possible but durability is the main priority and under £400 range. Been considering using the Mavic A719 or DT Swiss TK 540 32 hole rims with DT Competition spokes-3 cross lacing and Ultegra 6700 or 6800 hubs. He likes to use 28mm tyres. Right now he's using the 6700 hubs with 32 hole DT 465 rims and has already had a rear rim fail due to cracking at the eyelets after only 3k miles and these being the strongest wheels he's owned he just wants something that will last much longer.

-Is there any difference in durability/quality between the Mavic A719 & DT Swiss TK 540 rims.
-Would 36 spokes in the rear be necessary or is 32 OK.
-Open to any suggestions including different rims, spokes and lacing patterns, just need something that won't break.

Thanks

marpick

Paging ugo & Malcolm

rrsodl

crankycrank wrote:

Building some 700c road training wheels for a friend who weighs 260 lbs. I want light as possible but durability is the main priority and under £400 range. Been considering using the Mavic A719 or DT Swiss TK 540 32 hole rims with DT Competition spokes-3 cross lacing and Ultegra 6700 or 6800 hubs. He likes to use 28mm tyres. Right now he's using the 6700 hubs with 32 hole DT 465 rims and has already had a rear rim fail due to cracking at the eyelets after only 3k miles and these being the strongest wheels he's owned he just wants something that will last much longer.

-Is there any difference in durability/quality between the Mavic A719 & DT Swiss TK 540 rims.
-Would 36 spokes in the rear be necessary or is 32 OK.
-Open to any suggestions including different rims, spokes and lacing patterns, just need something that won't break.

Thanks

260 lbs rider + "durability is the main priority" I wouldn't think 32 spokes would be enough for "durability" on a rear wheel.

H Plus Son is also a very firm rim and makes for a pretty durable rear wheel with 36 DT Swiss Competition / Sapim Race spokes. 3 X and Ultegra hubs would be fine and on budget.

ugo.santalucia

Cracking of the eyelets is not the rider's fault, but the builder's fault. He set an excessive tension for that rim. The Mavic 719 could be a good choice... I would pair it with DT Swiss Alpine 3 spokes at the rear, provided they fit a 6700 hub hole... Another rim I would recommend is Velocity Chukker, with that one and Alpine 3 or DT Champion spokes 32 should suffice even for the heaviest rider.
Build quality is key here, if the guy is not up to the job, best to leave it to a PRO

crankycrank

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Cracking of the eyelets is not the rider's fault, but the builder's fault. He set an excessive tension for that rim.

Yeah, the spokes did seem a little on the tight side to me but I thought the builder knew what he was doing. Anyways I won't be using the same builder again.
Thanks