Light Weight, Long Distance, Durable Road Wheels - Recommendations?

"Steve Sr." wrote in message
...

I am looking for a set of road wheels for long distance group riding
not racing. I weigh 160 pounds which might make the choice easier.

I want the hubs to be of high quality with no maintenance sealed
cartridge bearings.

An inconsistency. I have not found a high quality hub that uses cartridge
bearings. I have many of these in my garage in pieces. They failed due to
water intrusion (the little rubber seal in a cartridge is totally inadequate
for water), bearing failure due to excessive retainer preload, side impacts
that ovalized the hub shell, and bearings rusted solid in their retainers.
Then you have to hit 5 bike shops to try to find a replacement
standard-issue 6001 cartridge. Giving up after this, I found mine at a
bearing supply house - for $11 each.

Cartridge bearings are not designed to take side loads. Skewers put a fair
amount of preload on the bearings. It is basically a design that wasn't
meant to be.

Shimano is the best bang for the buck. You want Tiagra to Ultegra. If you
want a hub that is virtually impervious to the elements, spread your rear
stays 5mm and put in an LX-XT rear hub.

Based on the distance requirement we're probably
talking conventional round spokes and aluminum rims. BTW, these will
be for a Shimano 10-speed drive train.

Why? 10-speed drivetrains are so new that you pay an excessive premium for
cassettes and chains. Wait a couple years until Campy and Shimano escalate
to 11-speed. Then buy the 10-speed stuff on closeout.


Based on these requirements I am probably looking at having someone
build these wheels from the recommended parts. however, if you can
recommend some good wheels that match the requirements that are
pre-built I will consider these also.

So which components / wheels would you recommend?


Ultegra hubs. 32 double-butted stainless spokes. Built 3 cross. Sun
aluminum (obviously) rims with double eyelets. No anodizing, no machined
braking surface, no welded joint.

Dave Mayer wrote:

Shimano is the best bang for the buck. You want Tiagra to Ultegra.
If you
want a hub that is virtually impervious to the elements, spread your
rear
stays 5mm and put in an LX-XT rear hub.


Ultegra hubs. 32 double-butted stainless spokes. Built 3 cross.
Sun
aluminum (obviously) rims with double eyelets. No anodizing, no
machined
braking surface, no welded joint.

These comments match my experience exactly.

Steve Sr. wrote:
After digging through the last year and a half of news group posts
regarding wheels I still haven't found a consensus for a good durable
wheel set. It appears that there is a bias against "boutique" wheels
for this purpose but then there have also been a lot of complaints
with the conventionals like Mavic not being as good as they used to be
and causing reliability problems.

I am looking for a set of road wheels for long distance group riding
not racing. I weigh 160 pounds which might make the choice easier.

I want the hubs to be of high quality with no maintenance sealed
cartridge bearings. Based on the distance requirement we're probably
talking conventional round spokes and aluminum rims. BTW, these will
be for a Shimano 10-speed drive train.

Based on these requirements I am probably looking at having someone
build these wheels from the recommended parts. however, if you can
recommend some good wheels that match the requirements that are
pre-built I will consider these also.

So which components / wheels would you recommend?

Thanks,

Steve





I would suggest DA or Ultegra hubs altho they are not cart bearings.

The hubs out there that have cart bearings are expensive and not made as
well as shimano(or Campagnolo).

But the best are certainly PhilWood, but very expensive and not light.

Velocity Aerohead or Fusion rims, DT spokes, 32 hole, laced 3 cross,
brass nipples. made well.

An inconsistency. I have not found a high quality hub that uses cartridge
bearings.

Phil Wood.


Chris Neary


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