Forum

Gents,

Right I have a major issues with my wheels, just over a year ago I purchased a specialized camber that came with some stunning colour coded DT swIss wheels with bright green nipples. Having had one or two issues with them specialized replaced them with a new set of Specialized Traversee Al wheels with the off set spoke set up.

Now in less than 5 months I've broken a front spoke twice first at the nipple and agaIn today but at the hub end this time. are there any known Issues wIth eIther these partIcular wheels, the spoke set up or could it be an issue with my riding style? As both times the spokes have snapped under breaking/tension.

Now Im no small fella and am 6"1 & weIgh In at 243lbs I'm only riding XC trails over Thorndon, Langdon hills etc but am at a loss as to what the cause of the wheels failing.

Any suggestions on what wheels I should be looking at getting from specialized if they replace them again(which I'm expecting)?

Thanks,



Dan

Sounds like you just need something a little toughter, perhaps an AM wheels (Stans Flows on whatever hub - Hope Pro Evo 2/Superstar Switch), but spokes can break on any wheels so perhaps tensions were out? How often do you get the wheels checked for true and spoke tension?

The wheel wasn't even three months old so hadn't checked the tension, as I doubt specialized will give me cash can any one recommend a specialized wheel set that's going to take a more of a pounding?

Hey
I'm in the same boat as u I too am no small fella and also break my wheels at a whim! The last time wasn't even XC it was just on a ride to work on the road! So any advice on wheels would really help me also.

Been told to look at halo SAS 48 spoke but can't seem to track these down anyone know wot to get and where to get them?

Thanks

The main issue with those wheels is that they are 24 spoke front and 28 rears. They are a pretty light wheelset. Even if they were tensioned perfectly (which they won't be if they are machine built) they would struggle at your weight. They also have alloy nipples which are inherently weaker than brass ones. By comparison, I run 24spoke wheels but I only weight 145lbs! You really need a well built set of 32 spoke wheels, 3x, with brass nipples. I’m not sure that there is a ‘spesh wheelset that meets that spec (in fact, I’m not sure they are even bringing 26” wheels to the uk this year, just 29er) but if they will replace them insist on the above spec.

If you have to replace yourself Hope Pro2 on Stans Flow seems to a benchmark for light’ish but thrashable wheels (or the Superstar equivalent if cash is tight.)

Oh and moneymark, if you need 48spoke wheels I wouldn’t want to bump in to you on a dark night!

Anyone that has an Ison distro should be able to get them for you. They do them on 36 and 48 hole and they are bomb proof.

http://www.ison-distribution.com/english/product.php?part=WHHAP6K6

http://www.ison-distribution.com/english/finddealer.php

Possibly overkill, depends what you weigh and how you ride.

Ha ha thanks I wouldn't either as I'm a ugly git!

Thanks for the help have 2 nice new halo sas 36 hole wheels on the way then will be out on a run to test them out

Right specialized repaired the wheel and on returning the wheel they slipped in an advice note saying the wheels were only suitable for riders weighing in under 250lb, being on the limit they've agreed to provide a debit at cycle surgery for £270 , is this going to restrict my choice of wheels and what can I buy for that sort of money, to carry my weight riding mainly XC trails?

Well, you can say what you like about specialized, but they really do have one of the best warranty services in the business!

Cycle Surgery are a Hope stockist. I'd see if they can do you a set of Hope Hoops for around that money - Pro 2 Evo with either Stans Flow or Mavic 521 Rims. You might get away with the Stans Crest or Mavic XC717s if you are not spanking them but if your riding progresses to something more aggressive you'll need new wheels again! You might have to put your hand in your pocket for an extra 50 quid but it will be money well spent.

I can't knock specialized at all top service and rapid response, my only criticism is that I was supplied the wheels in the first place. Wears the difference between the Stan flow and magic 521 rims? If my riding was to progress what would be the more sustainable harder wearing option? Appreciate all the advice

Thanks

Dan

The 717 and 521 are virtually identical the 717 is just a newer model and slightly lighter, i opted for the 521 as they were cheaper LOL Zero issues and i am jumping my bike as much as possible !

The main difference is weight. The Stans will give you a sub 2kg wheelset. The Mavic will be just over 2kg

In more detail:

Stans Flow - Light, wide - 22.5mm internal , can go tubeless easily if you fancy that in the future. However not eyeleted (reinforced around the nipple) so *potentially* not as tough long term.

Mavic 521 - heavier, not so wide (21mm internal, the clues in the name with Mavic rims the first digit is the Alloy Quality (higher = better) the second 2 are the internal width in mm) Proven toughness, eyeleted so should be good for years. Not so easy to go tubeless.

Mavic 717s by the way are very narrow by modern standards so only tyres upto 2.1, 2.3 at a push and no where near as tough as the 521.

Nice post ^^

FWIW i run high rollers 2.3 tubed on my 521's with no issues what so ever.

Glad to see u are getting some good customer servive much better than what i have recived from Evans

but on a brighter note i now have some nice 26" Halo SAS 36 spoke rims sitting on my bike and from wot i hear they are wots is used by alot off pro D/H riders and at £250 total im quite impressed in the price

thanks for the links PHINW great advice and now this weekend i get to go test them out at bedgebury this weekend