Help a fat lad out.....

h22221

Hi

I have a merida scultura 500 and have buckled the rear wheel slightly, I think going over a cattle grid....

I am wanting to 'beef' up my rear wheel to take my weight, I'm 19 stone/121kg and make sure it won't buckle going over potholes etc (which i obviously try to avoid)....I am cycling to lose weight but for now I need a stronger rear wheel (and maybe front?)

Looking for the cheapest way to get a 32 or 36 spoke with 12mm thru axles and discs or even a 28 spoke if I can get away with that?

I called a shop and they said to go for a 29er wheel with 28c tyres, but there's so much choice and i don't have that much money after buying my bike so looking for the cheapest way to get a stronger wheel(or wheels) on the bike...

Thanks

cougie

How buckled ? You can fix an out of true wheel in a couple of minutes.

bondurant

Calling a wheelbuilder might be your best / easiest bet once people have chimed in. Where are you based?

h22221

Thanks, I'm near Winchester..... I have read I can tighten/loosen spokes to 'true' the bent wheel....although I imagine it will just happen again....

I assume wheel builders will be quite dear though?

Thanks

ugo.santalucia

h22221 wrote:

or even a 28 spoke if I can get away with that?

No, you can't

navrig2

h22221 wrote:

Thanks, I'm near Winchester..... I have read I can tighten/loosen spokes to 'true' the bent wheel....although I imagine it will just happen again....

I assume wheel builders will be quite dear though?

Thanks

Wheel builders won't be significantly dearer than off the shelf especially as you are looking for a sturdy training wheel. Phone one and have a chat. They will be familiar with heavier customers looking for durability and will have their suggested and preferred options.

You don't have to visit as most will post.

I used (Big) Al at https://www.wheelcraft.net/ He was very helpful and talked me away from sexy lighweight stuff when I didn't really need it. Price was comparable to off the shelf Mavics for example.

Heard good things about these guys too but haven't used them: http://www.wheelsmith.co.uk/


PS - Don't touch your spokes if you have never messed with them before. It's a black art and will drive you nuts as you chase tension around the wheel........... :shock:

Midlands Grimpeur

I would agree with others that handbuilt is the best option to get something that suits your needs. Wheelsmith was mentioned and having had wheels built by Derek (the owner) the quality is excellent. Malcolm, who posts on here regularly and runs The Cycle Clinic is also a specialist wheelbuilder and does excellent work also.

keef66

You could phone Spa Cycles. They specialise in touring stuff so they should be able to build you a bomb proof rear disc wheel.

Not sure about the thru axle bit; all their pics look like QRs, but I'd assume they could source an appropriate hub...

h22221

Thanks all, got home and checked again... Not as bad as I remember.... Turns out it's a loose spoke! Must have rattled free or something!

h22221

If anyone is interested...I trued both wheels last night, front was only 1mm out but nigh on perfect now and rear....took ages but is spot on!

keef66

Trueing wheels can be curiously satisfying; good effort on the DIY!

Just keep an eye on the spoke tensions. If they keep going out of true it might suggest the wheel wasn't particularly well built in the first place. It might be worth paying a wheel builder to retension the whole thing.

h22221

Thanks, yea I'll see how they got on on my next few rides and if they go again I'll get them re-built I think

timothyw

Assuming your wheels are the ones that came with the bike they are almost certainly machine built to an inadequate tension (for a rider of your, or coincidentally my weight).

Assuming they haven't been ridden for very long, a competent wheelbuilder should be able to considerably extend their lifespan by bringing them up to proper tension, although it can be hard to find wheelbuilders willing to do so.

I've had excellent results recently with a set of thru axle Superstar components wheels (32 spoke front and rears with their arc rebadged kinlin rims) - I do build my own wheels usually but these were cheaper to buy than the cost of the components, and I haven't had to touch the build - and 1500 miles later they haven't needed touching, which with me on them is impressive.

I've also had good results with Rose own brand wheelsets although they haven't branched out to thru-axle wheelsets yet so far as I can tell.