Yep Another Wheel Question

Jeff in IL said:

I apologize for having to post this but I did a search on Wheel Recommendation and a million pages came up, none with a straight forward relevance...

I am a new rider and have a Specialized Roubaix equipped with an Ultegra 9 speed component group. I weigh 190 lbs and ride 150 - 200 miles per week. Long rides are 50-75 miles, weekday rides are 30 miles.

I like the bike but the front bearings are shot and I have wanted to upgrade wheels. The current wheels are Shimano 540's. I have looked at Shimano Dura Ace but the new ones won't work with the 9-speed group. Mavics are fine, (I guess the SL's or Elites?) but are there others that I should consider? Is the difference in prices weight and hubs?

What other things should I consider in the purchase?

Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thank you.

For the criterion you have given I would suggest Mavic Open Pro. Nashbar has them with Ultegra hubs for the low low price of just 279.99 US.

These are great wheels that will stand up to a beating.

If you're hard on bearings, put your money into the hubs. Phil Wood makes great ones that are serviceable.

I don't know if I am hard on the bearings. On of the "hub caps" is missing. Can't say for how long but I have only owned the bike for about 2 months. I had a long ride in the rain and I'm guessing that combined with the normal riding conditions and an open hub destroyed the bearing.

I'll check out the bearings/hubs that you mention.

Jeff in IL said:

I apologize for having to post this but I did a search on Wheel Recommendation and a million pages came up, none with a straight forward relevance...

I am a new rider and have a Specialized Roubaix equipped with an Ultegra 9 speed component group. I weigh 190 lbs and ride 150 - 200 miles per week. Long rides are 50-75 miles, weekday rides are 30 miles.

I like the bike but the front bearings are shot and I have wanted to upgrade wheels. The current wheels are Shimano 540's. I have looked at Shimano Dura Ace but the new ones won't work with the 9-speed group. Mavics are fine, (I guess the SL's or Elites?) but are there others that I should consider? Is the difference in prices weight and hubs?

What other things should I consider in the purchase?

Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thank you.

Ultegra 6600 series hubs are a good value, well sealed, and easily serviced with standard hub tools & parts.
Well built wheels using 14/15 double butted spokes from DT or Sapim in combination with good quality rims like Velocity Fusion make a good solution for a rider of your weight and riding applications.
Quality build is very important to the durability of the wheels. Continued service does require some hub maintenance to make sure the grease stays fresh and the ball bearings spherical & smooth.
"Shimano hubs exclusively use a cup and cone bearing system in all of its hubs. Cup-and-cone bearings offer greater strength than sealed cartridge bearings due to their ability to displace lateral and vertical loads more effectively for super smooth rotation in real world riding conditions.

Cup-and-cone bearings also allow for easier maintenance, adjustability and serviceability."
Quote from Shimano's web site is more than marketing. Their hubs stand the test of time.
I build wheels and would be glad to quote you a pair if you are nearby, you can pick them up to save shipping/handling/insurance charges. You can also be assured that I will true the wheels if they need it in the first 5 years at no charge, as long as the wheels haven't been bent or a chain dropped into the spokes.
dave at ornee dot net is my email address

Thanks Dave, I'll give you a call.

I just posted a new thread about Ksyrium SL vs. Elite. For a $100 difference, I am wondering if the SL's are worth it upcharge or if they might be too fragile or harsh.

In terms of reliability, a pair of Mavic Open Pros well built up with the best set of hubs you can afford is always the best way to go. So if you can only afford one set of wheels, srap the Kysriums you talk about in the other thread and have someone build you up a set.

If you have more money, then that is another matter altogether...

Powerful Pete said:

In terms of reliability, a pair of Mavic Open Pros well built up with the best set of hubs you can afford is always the best way to go. So if you can only afford one set of wheels, srap the Kysriums you talk about in the other thread and have someone build you up a set.

If you have more money, then that is another matter altogether...

Powerful Pete,
Excuse my ignorance but why have two sets of wheels? Would one be for race and the other training? If I don't race do I need/want two? Just curious...

I'm not closed to the option of having a set built, but I really don't know a ton about this stuff and things like warranty, reputation, others experiences are quite helpful.

Thanks.

Jeff in IL said:

Powerful Pete,
Excuse my ignorance but why have two sets of wheels? Would one be for race and the other training? If I don't race do I need/want two? Just curious...

I'm not closed to the option of having a set built, but I really don't know a ton about this stuff and things like warranty, reputation, others experiences are quite helpful.

Thanks.

I am just a recreational rider, and I have two sets of wheels. I use Mavic Cosmos in the winter, and the expensive set, American Classic CR420's for the rest of the year when the weather is dryer and we don't have the corrosive chemicals on the road.

Also, it is nice to have a back up wheel ready, in case of a flat or other malfunction. I can just switch the wheel, and worry about changing the tire later or fixing the problem later.

You can have two (or more) sets of wheels for a whole variety of reasons. Most 'serious' riders who race have a very nice race-day-only wheelset, along with a set of 'everyday' wheels.

Others, like buckybux have a set of 'really crummy weather/roads' wheels and a set of 'normal' wheels.

A major advantage is that any particular issue/mechanical that you may have with one set will not stop you from riding.

Having said that, I have one set of wheels, Mavic Open Pros with Campagnolo Chorus hubs, and they are fabulous. No worries, trued about once or twice a year (when I hit a bad pothole or something) and they just keep going.

I suggest that you ask around and find who the well known wheelbuilders are in your area. A good shop/wheelbuilder will back up his work should there be problems - the equipment set a number of posters (me included) have proposed - Open Pros, Sapim Spokes, and the best hubs you can afford - will give you an absolutely bulletproof wheelset that will not hold you back vis-a-vis the boutique pre-made sets.

Agree 100% with the recommendations from daveornee and Powerful Pete for a set of standard wheels, built on "real" cup-and-cone bicycle hubs like Ultegra or Chorus. Unlike many of the boutique wheels that use pop-in skateboard bearings, these hubs have real axle seals, are designed for axial loads & adjustable for preload.

A well-built wheelset will give you long service and a great ride for many thousands of miles, as well as be more easily repairable should you break a spoke hitting a pothole or crashing. On last weekend's club ride, a rider here broke a spoke on her SL wheel in a minor crash incident. The rim taco'd enough that she couldn't ride the bike home. Usually with a standard 32 spoke wheel riding home on a broken spoke isn't a big deal. Just remove it or tie it around an adjacent spoke, open up the brake cam, and go.

Besides, you've already had experience with your low-spoke count wonder wheels. Believe you'll be very happy with a well-built standard 32 spoke wheelset.

Colorado Cyclist has good deals on Open Pro's/Ultegra.
I just got a set from a guy who got them from there.
They have not required any truing at all.

You can go 32 back, 28 front if you want to get in the lower count crowd

dhk2 said:

Agree 100% with the recommendations from daveornee and Powerful Pete for a set of standard wheels, built on "real" cup-and-cone bicycle hubs like Ultegra or Chorus. Unlike many of the boutique wheels that use pop-in skateboard bearings, these hubs have real axle seals, are designed for axial loads & adjustable for preload.

A well-built wheelset will give you long service and a great ride for many thousands of miles, as well as be more easily repairable should you break a spoke hitting a pothole or crashing. On last weekend's club ride, a rider here broke a spoke on her SL wheel in a minor crash incident. The rim taco'd enough that she couldn't ride the bike home. Usually with a standard 32 spoke wheel riding home on a broken spoke isn't a big deal. Just remove it or tie it around an adjacent spoke, open up the brake cam, and go.

Besides, you've already had experience with your low-spoke count wonder wheels. Believe you'll be very happy with a well-built standard 32 spoke wheelset.

+1

I've ridden home with 2 of 32 spokes broken.

lennyk said:

Colorado Cyclist has good deals on Open Pro's/Ultegra.
I just got a set from a guy who got them from there.
They have not required any truing at all.

I have three or four sets of wheels from Colorado Cyclist and Excel Sports. I forget which set was built at which company, but I have never broken a spoke with any of them. I am thirty to thirty-five pounds lighter than the OP, though.

I usually use 28 in the front, but at 190 I think I would go 32 on both wheels. I would also get three cross on both wheels; don't let anyone talk you into crazy spoking patterns like radial non-drive side.

I always use alloy nips and have never had a problem, but the most conservative approach is to use brass.

Let me second Bro Deal, get 32 spokes, 3 cross on BOTH wheels. I used my wheels when I was well over 100kgs with no problems at all (yes, I am lighter now :o ).

Was just wondering why you are not replacing the bearings/cups on your existing wheel?