clydesdale needs wheels

I'm a 220 pound rider whos new to the sport. I currently have the 05 Specialized Allez with Alx330 wheels. I've heard a heavier rider should have more spokes. My wheels have 20/24. I've already broken a spoke and now its worrying me i'll break more.

Anyway any recomendations on a good set of wheels to buy or build. I'm a DIY kinda guy, so building them would be interesting and worth it if it saves me $$$.

While a pair of "standard" 32x3 wheels should be adequate, a pair of 36x3 wheels will be more durable.

You don't have to use the same spoke count on the front & rear, but hubs are usually sold in pairs.

A tensiometer (~$60 for the one which PARK TOOL makes, more for others) will ensure a well built wheel regardless of the type of spokes you choose; but, a tensiometer isn't necessary ... the object is to have the spokes as equally tensioned as possible -- the spokes on the rear wheel will be different on the driveside than the non-driveside ... lacing the non-driveside x2 is moderately tedious but will bring allow the non-driveside tension to be closer to that of the driveside -- the "plucked" spokes should have a tone between D (above middle C) and E.

BTW/FWIW. A religion has evolved around the use of double-butted spokes ... I am not one of its acolytes.

I use Dan Halem's Spoke Length Calculator for determining the spoke length.

I have recommended AMBROSIO rims in the past, but they are not widely available. If you have a Colnago dealer near you, then you can order a pair of Colnago rims which are made by Ambrosio (at least, they used to be).

There are actually very few truly BAD rims ... but, some are easier to build a pair of wheels with than others for various reasons.

Shimano Ultegra hubs are generally considered the "best" value because they are Dura Ace quality (same bearings & cups/cones) at only a slight cost premium over 105 hubs.

Assuming shimano components. Ultegra hubset, 36 hole front and rear, Mavic CXP-33, Velocity Deep V or Fusion, DT 1.2., 14/15 double butted spokes, brass nipples, laced 3 cross thruout.

I'm not at all convinced that my low spoke, mid-aero Campy Eurus' are at all faster than my two sets of handbuits.

Clydes need burly wheel sets. I ride a Kona Jake as a "road bike". We have endless miles of dirt farm roads here in paradise, Teton Valley, Idaho.

I tweaked the stock rear wheel and had Mike @ Big Wheels build me up a set of Rhyno Lites on DT Swiss Onyx hubs. I can hammer on these on all the dirt roads I want and have no worries. I'm 240 and even if I dropped to 3% bodyfat I would still be above 200.

Get some burly wheels from Zinn's or somewhere and don't worry about their weight, "just grow stronger".

That Adrien guy at Roues Artisanales told me that a 28-spoke Deep V would come in at about 30w on this test he put togther. As you can see, one Eurus is only 2w less draggy than that; and that's at 50km/h





Drag at 50 kph

Great wheel test 2008 - Part 1 - Aerodynamics - Roues Artisanales - Bike tech magasine - handbuilt wheels boutique

.....................................................drag (w).......rim depth (mm)......spokes

Zipp 808 2007.....................................16.7............82...................18
Xentis MK 1 TT 2007............................17.1............58....................4
Citec 6000 Cx 2007.............................19.2............49..................12
Ritchey WCS Carbon 2005...................19.3............58..................16
HED 3 2006..........................................19.7............54...................3
Zipp 404 2007......................................19.9............58..................18
Sonic Super 50mm 2007.......................20.4............50.................20
Vuelta Carbon Pro WR 2006.................20.8............58..................12
Corima Aero 2007.................................21.0............45..................18
Easton Tempest II 2005.......................21.6............58..................18
CKT Splendor 2005...............................21.7............45..................16
Mavic Cosmic Carbone SL ....................21.9............52..................16
Lightweight Standard G3 2007.............22.2............53...................16
Shimano WH7801 Carbon 50 2006.......22.9............50..................16
Mavic Cosmic Carbone Ultimate ...........22.9............40..................20
Campagnolo Bora 2005........................23.0............50....................18
Rose Aerospoke 2006...........................23.0............53.....................4
Corima Turbospoke 2006......................23.1............38.....................3
Shimano WH7850 C50 2007.................23.2............50...................16
Bontrager Race light Carbon 2005........23.4............43...................16
Lew Racing Pro VT-1 2007....................23.4............46...................16
Shimano WH7850 C24 2007.................23.5............28...................16
Corima Tune 20 Aerolite 2007...............23.7............45....................20
Fulcrum Racing Speed 2006..................23.7............50....................18
Specialized Royal Rapid Star 2007.........23.8............32....................20
Gipiemme Carbon 5.5 2005...................24.1............55...................20
Tune Olympic Gold 2005........................24.1............45....................16
Shimano WH7801 Carbon 2006.............24.4............29...................16
FRM FL-R 23 SD 2006.............................24.6............37...................20
Lightweight Standard G3 2007..............24.6............53...................20
Lightweight Obermayer G1 2005...........24.8............53..................20
American Classic 420 2007....................24.9............34...................18
Ritchey Pro 2007...................................24.9............27...................20
Xentis Mark 1 2005 ..............................25.0............42.....................4
Speedcomposites Sinus 2007...............25.2............26.....................24
Citec 3000s Aero 2005..........................25.5............30...................12
Shimano R550 2007..............................25.9............24...................20
Shimano R560 2006..............................26.1............24....................16
Shimano R561 2007..............................26.2............24....................16
Campagnolo Scirocco 2007....................27.3............24....................20
Lightweight Ventoux 2006.....................27.3............28.....................20
Fulcrum Racing 5 Evolution 2007............27.6............24....................20
Campagnolo Eurus 2006........................27.8............24..................16
Tune Skyline KOM 2006..........................28.1............24.....................20
Mavic Aksium 2008.................................28.3............22....................20
Xtreme Light Wheels 2007.....................28.6............31.....................24
FSA RD-600 2006...................................28.7............30....................18
Easton Vista SL 2007.............................30.0............30.....................20
Mavic Aksium Race 2006.........................30.0............21.....................20
Mavic Ksyrium Equipe 2007.....................30.0............23.....................20
Citec 3000s Aero 16-spoke.....................30.6............24.....................16
Mavic Aksium Race 2007.........................31.1............21...................20
Ambrosio X-Carbo 2005..........................31.5............46...................28
Campagnolo Vento 2007.........................31.5............24...................24
A-Class ALX 440 SL 2007.........................31.9............23...................20
Campagnolo Hyperon 2006......................32.1............19...................22
Fulcrum Racing 7 2007..............................32.8............24...................20
Mavic Ksyrium ES 2006.............................33.2............21...................18
Mavic R-SYS 2007.....................................35.0............22.................16

The next time you talk to Adrien, could you ask him if he also has data on 32 & 36 spoke wheels which have "normal" profile rims ... I think a comparison of the data from the high-zoot wheels with plain-Jane wheels could provide both a meaningful & interesting baseline which would reveal how significant the other data is, or isn't.

Actually, that's exactly why I did ask him about the Deep V, because a 36-spoke box rim is often used as the standard wheel for comparison on these types of tests, but I don't know anyone who rides those any more, so I reckon they're no longer 'standard'. I figure something like a 28 or 32-hole Deep V or CXP33 is a more 'regular' rim these days. Ya know...the tests typically say something like, "one Zipp 404 creates 20w less drag than a 36-hole box-shaped rim", but no one rides 36h box rims any more, so it doesn't mean as much to Jack Average on his CXP33s