Great/Bad day at Whiting

[Steve C]

So this is going to be a mini RR / questions / I need some suggestion thread. I guess I'll go in order.

I wanted to go riding today but all my buds were entirely too lazy or too hung over to even think about riding bikes so i decided to hit up the only place I know how to get from point A to point B, Whiting. So I packed up the scion and hit the trail around 10 am. Borrego was fun and sandy as usual and mustard was hard, as usual. When I made it up to the top, I stated talking to this guy as i usually do and low and behold it's 2wheelee (sp?) He was waiting for his gf at the top of the hill. He informed me that my supension was all screwed up and then he fixed it. That was awesome, thanks a buch!

Then still at the top, I run into the guys from my tuesday ride. How cool is that? I was planning on just taking whiting road out but they had other plans for me. We went down cactus and passed sleepy hollow and onto a trail I have never been on before. It was fast and scary but fun at the same time. I ate it hard a few times which leads me to my next topic

I bent the crap out of my front rim. Like it's bad! I went over to bike co and to the path and this is what they told me.

I could just replace the rim and be done with it. Then i got to looking at all the fancy shinny things at the shop and asked about building new wheels all together. Side note... i am a big guy, just shy of 300lbs. The guys at the path recommended that I get Mavik 721 wheels and hope hubs. Done and installed they are asking about $575. I am okay with this as long as it will support my large self.

Part 3

If you guys/gals don't mind, what are my other options if any? I don't think the path guys would steer me wrong but I'd just like to check.


Thanks everyone

[Chewyeti]

The path builds some bitchin wheels,as does adrenaline and some other shops.

at 300lbs, i would go with something beefy and 36 hole rims. Im 235lbs and i feel i shoulda gone with 36 hole rims for some of the riding i do.

Hope hubs rock, and are available in both 32 and 36 hole varieties.
Im sure the path guys will set you up great!

[Danimal]

I don't think they will steer you wrong.
Path built my wheels, and I'm happy as a clam.
Nice thing is, you tell 'em what you want and they make it happen!

[Steve C]

yeah drew I had a feeling it was that way... the only problem is I don't exactly know what I'm looking for. I'm very new to the bike world

[BrewMaster]

Hope hubs are awesome. I love mine. If you ever want to go tubeless, you may want to consider Stan's Flow rims. Otherwise, there are a host of good, durable rims out there, Mavic included.

I second Chewy's recommendation of running 36 spokes, which would eliminate Stan's Flow rims if you're on a 26" wheeled bike.

[DBD]

Sounds like a decent build and 32 holes is plenty when built correctly. If you want a bit more security you could have them use a straight gauge 13 or 14 g spoke and you could up the bling factor and use Hadley or I9 but there is no need to.

I am tipping the scales right now at 280 (max weight was 328 at one point) and still use the same double butted 14/15 gauge spoke I did when I was 235 although there is a bit more flex then before

[hoovermd]

Well, bikes iz like everything else in life... you need to find someone who has a reputation for doing the "right" thing, not necessarily the "requested" thing.

I'm a bit shy of your 300#... actually 3# over 50% of that so the durability of components isn't really too much of a concern for me.

Important to remember though, that you are really putting your health at the hands of someone probably smarter than you are if you find a reputable shop.

I've paid close to $750 for a front wheel with a dyno hub from a really reputable wheel builder in the Northeast. He won't build anything he isn't totally willing to warranty and his rep is really good so I basically dug deep into the pocket and paid.
Captain Greg & I ride a tandem and we selected 36 hole 4-cross laced Deep-V rims for our ride as reality is that the wheels and front fork are probably the most critical component on your ride safety-wise.

I don't have any opinion one way or the other as far as the particular shop you have chosen, but I'm sure others on this board do.

Heed their advice.

[Magna_Graecia]

That's actually the same exact set up I was thinking about. Hope hubs are cool, but incredibly loud... no need for a hiker alert bell.

$575? That seems a little steep, but with labor costs might be the market price... I guess it's time for me to start saving up.

[BrewMaster]

Originally Posted by Magna_Graecia

$575? That seems a little steep, but with labor costs might be the market price... I guess it's time for me to start saving up.

Sounds like a good price to me, but value is relative.

[Steve C]

Originally Posted by Magna_Graecia

That's actually the same exact set up I was thinking about. Hope hubs are cool, but incredibly loud... no need for a hiker alert bell.

$575? That seems a little steep, but with labor costs might be the market price... I guess it's time for me to start saving up.

that $575 price includes labor and tax... does it still seem steep? oh and they said they were giving me 10% off for buying complete wheel sets.

The guy at the path was also showing me some chris king hubs.. they are a few hundred more all together.

I also heard how loud the hope hubs are and i kind of like it!

[jcka]

Hey Steve, I'm all for the new wheels, and far from it for me to tell you how to spend your hard earned cash, but try getting something that will get the job done with out the big $$. Save your cash for other upgrades. Remember, as long as you continue to ride, that 300 lbs wont be there for long, and unless your considering taking up racing, there just wheels. Good luck with what ever you go with.

[Steve C]

Originally Posted by jcka

Hey Steve, I'm all for the new wheels, and far from it for me to tell you how to spend your hard earned cash, but try getting something that will get the job done with out the big $$. Save your cash for other upgrades. Remember, as long as you continue to ride, that 300 lbs wont be there for long, and unless your considering taking up racing, there just wheels. Good luck with what ever you go with.

so you think i should just replace the rim then?

[jcka]

that's what I would do. Save the cash for a shock/drive train/what ever upgrade. By all means get a wheel that will support you, but I think you can get something for less. The path can set you up with something, they are good folks...

[poy]

575 is expensive but thats how it is i guess.

if its any consolation... i believe the path guarantees their wheel builds... for example, a new wheel will be tightened to the right amount of torque but loosens up after a few rides. this will make your hubs loose again. the last time i asked about a wheel build from the path they said that they will tighten up the spokes again for free...

you are getting primo parts too... (hope hubs mavic rims and im guessing dt swiss spokes) so if you were looking to get slightly cheaper ones you can make ready built ones.

just throwing these out there...

[2wheel_lee]

Hey Steve, it was nice meeting you on the trail. From the looks of you, that 300# must be all muscle, but I'm sure you'll lose some weight as you continue to ride.

Wheels...there are so many choices, but it depends on what you want. Do you want to spend that kind of coin ($575) now, or just want to keep it to a minimum? Of course it would be relatively painless just to put a new rim on there (one that wouldn't require new spokes), and you could be riding again without much of an investment. So long as a good wheel builder installs the new front rim, the wheel will ultimately be stronger than what you had. You may also want to have them retension your rear wheel.

You could also buy a really nice wheelset, like what was quoted, but what would you get out of it? The new wheelset will neither make you a better rider, nor would it make your ride any easier...at this point of your riding career. They may be a greater benefit later on, though. If you'd want them just for the sake of having bling, they're definately higher on the blingage scale than you stock wheels. If you really want bling, definately get the Kings over the Hopes - it's only money, right? And you have a bunch of that burning a hole in your wallet, right?

I'd think having your front wheel rebuilt and having the rear properly tensioned is the best bang for the buck.

BTW, is the wheels still rideable? My gf and I may hit the Fully Loop tomorrow am.

[Diamondback]

575.00 is kinda steep, but for your wt, I'd get a Bombshell FatDaddy or Azonic Outlaw wheelset, theyre like 250 ... I have the older Bombshell FatBoy wheelset (since 2004) and never had to true it & its pretty solid. I paid like 240 for the set.

[Matt13]

Im 6'1" 245 now. I was coming in at 260 a couple months ago.

I ride the Azonic Outlaw wheels. They are a bit heavier (and just a bit) than probably the 575's but who are we kidding at 250 plus, does 34 pound bike really that much of a difference of a 34.5 pound bike?

They are bitchin wheels for us big dudes and about half the price of what the Path is offering you. You can also add a 20mm bolt to them if you like.

I have been abusing these wheels and they are still true.

[Pain Freak]

I don't think 575 is high at all.
I think what they suggested are some pretty bullet proof wheels, but there's lots of options. I personally would rather have the CK's but I'm just a poser.

[BrewMaster]

I forgot about Azonic Outlaws. Those are cheap and bomb proof. That's a good recommendation.

[Chewyeti]

i ran some 'zonic outlaws and they was good stuff. Stairs, tables, etc... they didnt care. 250 is dirt cheap for a slightly weighty, bombproof setup.