I know there are a few of you out there who ride 650 wheels. I just damaged my rear wheel and am wondering if I should use this as an opportunity to upgrade. What to you ride and like? What's worth the money and what's not?
650 wheels
Thu, 11/09/2006 - 11:14am
Thu, 11/09/2006 - 11:49am
#1
650c wheels
"Here's a nice one: http://bicyclesource.us/itemdetails.cfm?ID=1499. Now all you need is a rear wheel and you're set. ;-)
Alternatively, Velocity Nuvians. They use Aerohead front rims and Aerohead O/C rear rims, which build into light and sturdy wheels. And the price is reasonable."
Thu, 11/09/2006 - 12:07pm
#2
Spring for the hubs
I got Phil Woods (low-flange 32-hole), they spin like silk. And I hear they are almost eternal.
If you have your wheels built, you can go wild with the color! Trackstar built mine with gold Velocity Aerohead rims. (They can do rear cassettes too. Not expensive, supports LBS.) www.trackstarnyc.com
My Terry road bike has Velocity hubs of some sort and aerohead rims. They're fine, and I would trust Mordecai's judgment. But the Phils are superb.
Thu, 11/09/2006 - 12:36pm
#3
upgrading rear wheel...
Be cautious. Without trying, I always end up putting several dings in my rear rim every season - mavic open pro with ultegra hub and 32 spokes. This has happened to me for the last ten years. It has come to the point where I purchased wheelbuilding tools and replace my rear rims every year. Each rim costs less than $100 and then I build a perfectly true wheel. I believe a LBS can replace a rim for about $40 in labor.
I'd recommend a nice strong wheel - good rim, well built wheel. My choice is a mavic open pro with at least 28 and possibly 32 spokes. But, if your current set-up is 28 or 32 spokes it should be fine.
I wouldn't recommend a very expensive rear wheel unless you plan on racing or riding over 24 MPH. That is the speed at which you will begin to realize aerodynamic gains.
Thu, 11/09/2006 - 12:58pm
#4
Wheelbuilder.com
"I buy many of my wheel parts from Wheelbuilder.com. If you look in the ""store"" and ""wheelset"" section of the web site, you'll find some nice stock 650C wheelsets. Or, you can order a custom set.
I have three sets of 650C wheels: one uses Mavic Open Pro rims and DT Swiss hubs, another uses Velocity Deep-V rims and Paul single-speed hubs, and the last is built from Velocity Aerohead rims and XTR hubs (the bike has a wide rear axle). All three sets of rims and hubs are very nice. All the wheels are built with 32 spokes and are laced 3-cross. Light, but very strong.
"
Thu, 11/09/2006 - 2:48pm
#5
How's the hub?
If it's still in good shape and you want to rebuild it into a new wheel you take it to, um, Rosenthal.
Ok seriously, remove the cassette, slacken all the spokes, cut the hub out and bring it or send it to your favorite wheelbuilder. Lately I used Joe Young (www.youngwheels.com), recommended by none other than Sheldon Brown. He did a nice job.
Thu, 11/09/2006 - 4:13pm
#6
thank you
I appreciate the feedback. Seems like I need to take Richard's class next time around! Or get a job other than professing to college students so I can afford Mordecai's suggestion. The hub is fine, by the way, it's just a really dented rim. Unfortunately, I don't have a back up so I've got to figure something out soon.
Thu, 11/09/2006 - 5:13pm
#7
"Let's schedule a wheelbuilding class-clinic. ""Um,"" Evan?"
"I miss the point of Evan's ""um."" My personality? My politics? My contempt for rap music?
In the past several years, I've waited until the weather has been too bitter to ride to schedule a wheelbuilding class. (Actually, for me that's pretty much anytime the temperature dips below, oh, say 45º, but you're all from much hardier stock than weenie-wussy me.) They've usually been in January or February.
However, if there is a group ready to form now, let's go--then I'll do a second class in late winter if there is interest then.
This invitation comes with my usual guarantee: Arrive here (East 60s) with rim, spokes, and hub and you will leave with your own perfectly built, perfectly tensioned, perfectly true wheel.
"
Thu, 11/09/2006 - 6:38pm
#8
Um, er, ahem ...
... cough, cough.
Visual noise, punctuation for the ears; a warning that something less than 100% seriousness is to follow, like volunteering you to repair someone else's wheel. (What? Didn't I tell you?)
