Wheel buying advice

metmanmark

Hi there.

I have a duawes audax supreme with rim brakes. I use it for commuting to work (with a pannier) along a rather poorly maintained B road and for recreational use on rides along country lanes between 25 and 60 miles. I have an awesome front light so don't need a dynamo hub.

I am still on the original wheels (Alex R450) but the front rim is now badly worn and the rear hub is pretty trashed and the wheel itself is out of alignment. But they have done well given the amount of cycling I do. I run 25mm Marathon Plus tyres and have never had a puncture so I think it is worth the weight penalty.

I am not sure what to buy by means of replacements. I don't want to spend more than £250. I would like wheels that are pretty robust with 32 spokes.

When the wheels on my old hybrid needed replacing I bought Mavic A319 rims on deore hubs. They have been pretty rock solid.Unfortunately both the shops that I sourced these wheels from no longer exist .

I have started to do some research but am getting slightly bamboozled. I don't want carbon. I don't want 20 spokes. I don't want something super-light. I am more interested in comfort, quality and durability but without weighing an absolute tonne!

Thanks in advance.
Mark

MattFalle

Handbuilts to get exactly, totally what uou want maybe?

Do a quick search here for options, Malcolm is meant to be v good.

DeVlaeminck

I'd just get some cheapish factory wheels - they are generally perfectly adequate - lots of people change the stock wheels on their bike without using them.

First.Aspect

Just do an internet search for "M Part Mavic a319" and you'll see these are easy to source, at least for 10 speed hubs.

Defblade

Try SJS or SpaCycles for "normal" parts

metmanmark

Thanks all for comments so far. I am happy to have either wheels made up or standard off the shelf. I was happy with the A319 on my hybrid but I think they are slightly wide for what I want on this bike. I will check out SJS and SpaCycles. Was just after some tips re rims and hubs.
Thanks all!
M

First.Aspect

What the hub, or the rims themselves?

If you are worried about wide rims, it is getting tricky these days to find anything other than that. Mavic themselves tend to be "behind" the times, and you might find some new old stock of something reassuringly narrow.

arlowood

These from Malcolm at Cycleclinic would meet you needs. Slightly over your budget but well worth paying the extra.

https://thecycleclinic.co.uk/collections/road-rim-brake-wheelsets/products/handbuilt-borg22-tubeless-compatible-clincher-wheelset

I have a similar set on Archetype rims built by Malcolm about 4 years ago and I can't fault them.

If you insist on 32 hole rims then he does offer that as an option on another build but obviously you will pay more.

https://thecycleclinic.co.uk/collections/road-rim-brake-wheelsets/products/h-plus-son-archtype-miche-primato-wheelset-black

I'd give him a call to discuss what he can offer.

wotnoshoeseh

You could get these in 32 spoke....

https://thecycleclinic.co.uk/collections/road-rim-brake-wheelsets/products/dt-swiss-r460-rim-brake-700c-wheelset-with-novatec-hubs

Also available with Tiagra hubs for slightly less money.

metmanmark

In the end I went with a local wheel builder (spokesman wheels). Went for the miche hubs and DT Swiss RR511 rims.Very happy with them .

Thanks all for your help.
Mark

de_sisti

Ambrosio Excellence, with Shimano 105 hubs.

daniel_b

metmanmark said:

In the end I went with a local wheel builder (spokesman wheels). Went for the miche hubs and DT Swiss RR511 rims.Very happy with them .

Thanks all for your help.
Mark

I have some wheels from Mark too, although yet to fit them!
Vastly different from your set I suspect, I went for uber lightness, so Tune hubs, and they weigh in at ~1200g for the pair - clincher too.