"The Goose" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:
[email protected]...
>I am a heavy road bike rider (250-260 lbs.). After breaking several
> spokes on the stock rear wheel that came on my Lemond Reno, my bike
> shop swapped out (for an upcharge) a pair of Bontrager Selects. The
> problem is that after about 40 miles, the rear wheel became badly out
> of true -- they trued it; but after another 40 miles, it looks like the
> wheel is heading in the same direction. Can anyone help with
> suggestions? After doing a quick search, it sounds like the Velocity
> Deep Vs may be a good fit, but I am unsure.
>
> Any help is appreciated!
>
Well I would have had wheels rebuilt using DT or Wheelsmith spokes with 36
spokes per wheel.
If you have 32 spoke wheels and it doesn't have DT or Wheelsmith spokes
it'll probably need them soon.
The Asian spokes are OK, but they just don't handle the higher weights or
loads too well.
High quality spokes are a must. But maybe if you keep replacing the spokes
that break the only ones left will be all the good spokes.
If you are building up the entire wheel new then a Shimano 105 hub would be
more than adequate. A good rim like a Mavic would be OK.
You should also try to run 700cX25 as the smallest width and at least
700cX28's if possible.
If the wheel doesn't have at least 32 spokes or 36 spokes, don't bother with
it.
But when I weighed that much I was riding a comfort bike with 26" wheels 36
spokes per, it would creak and groan and the rear wheel even at max
inflation pressure looked like it was going to pop. But that bike hung in
there. I do say they built them pretty good.
Later when I started riding my touring bike the 700c rear wheel would pop
spokes regularly. When the wheel was rebuilt with all DT spokes (and spoke
washers just in case the hub holes were too large), it never popped any
spokes again. That bike runs 700cX32's for the tires.
My road bike a Schwinn Fastback has 700cX25's on it and the 36spoke wheels
have just worked flawlessly from the start. But my LBS did go over the bike
carefully before I took it and also did a great checkover during the tuneup
later. The wheels are still just about as true the day I picked it up from
the LBS. I rode it in our local MS150 and had no problems whatsover.