Burly 29er wheelset

[jon_baler]

So noticed a crack on my On One Retard rims (that's the model name, not a comment). So time to expedite that purchase of a wheelset upgrade.

Requirements:

-29er
-STRONG. I am a clyde (220 lbs w/o gear) and am riding full rigid. Ride Patapsco up to 3 times per week with the occasional trip to Gambrill/Shed.
-Disc
-Single Speed preferred, but would consider geared.
-Price - depends. Would like to keep it reasonable, but may consider higher if necessary. Goal: under $500.

Did I miss anything?

After initial research, looking at the Sun Rynolite for 29 inch...

[langer]

Been hearing good things about Stan's Flow rims. I have his 29er FR rim on the rear of my singlespeed and I haven't had to touch it since I built it (ok, trued it once). Have it laced to a DT240 hub with wheelsmith 2.0/1.7/2.0 spokes and brass nips. I've bottomed out many times and rim keeps ticking. Only other rim I have used is the mavic A317 which seems plenty strong too, though it's on the narrow side. Have that one laced with 2.0 straight spokes to american classic hubs. Stay away from american classic rear hubs...mine's been a bearing nightmare.
My $.02.
-jon

[Dirt]

You could just rebuild the wheels you've got with new spokes and rims. As long as the hubs are in decent shape it would save you a lot of money. The rhinolights are very good rims. Those built up with 14/15g spokes and brass nipples would make a very strong set of wheels.

If you don't want to build them yourself, there are many good shops in the area that will do a great job for you. I'd start with the shops that sponsor MORE and go from there.

Pete

[BikerMiker]

(prepare to give me crap)

I built some 29'er wheels for big guys on some open pro rims. I know, I know, it's narrow but if you are running 2.2 or less tires, you shouldn't have any problems.

The reason I like those rims is the full stainless eyelet. You get support from the inner and outer wall of the rims for the spoke nipples that way. You can use their touring rims for stronger stuff, but I haven't seen any issues with the open pros yet.

29'ers are much heavier than 26'ers and some of that is in the wheels. I like making the wheels lighter to aid in the ride quality.

mike

[Nick]

I've got Alex TD-17's laced up on my 29er.

Beefy, cheap, reasonable weight, I've been happy.

[Dirt]

(prepare to give me crap)

I built some 29'er wheels for big guys on some open pro rims. I know, I know, it's narrow but if you are running 2.2 or less tires, you shouldn't have any problems.

mike

I'll give you crap.... sorta.... :D

My first set of 29er wheels were with open4s. They actually are plenty strong. They are too narrow for real 29er tires though. The sidewalls buckled and rolled unless I was running really high tire pressures. On 2.1" tires, I tend to run 28psi. I generally found that I needed to run 40+ PSI in order to keep the tires from wobbling and wandering in the turns.

I will add that different tires will certainly behave differently. I used braunschweiger XRs (2.2), WTB Motoraptor 2.1s and Maxxis Ignitors on the open4s. The WTB did the best of the three. I still was running 40psi on the back and 38 on the front.

I'm using those wheels on my commuting bike now and they're awesome. I've done some off-roading with it using WTB's Mutanoraptors (44mm wide) and they're awesome. I have no problem with the sidewalls folding.

As a reference, I'm 6'4" and around 225lbs (with gear closer to 235).

Pete

[markie]

Salsa delgado cross rims tend to work for me.

[drevil]

(prepare to give me crap)

I built some 29'er wheels for big guys on some open pro rims. I know, I know, it's narrow but if you are running 2.2 or less tires, you shouldn't have any problems.

The reason I like those rims is the full stainless eyelet. You get support from the inner and outer wall of the rims for the spoke nipples that way. You can use their touring rims for stronger stuff, but I haven't seen any issues with the open pros yet.

29'ers are much heavier than 26'ers and some of that is in the wheels. I like making the wheels lighter to aid in the ride quality.

mike
Begging your pardon, but Open Pros for 29ers are crap (http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=291014). Been riding that on my Inbred for the last six months and because they are so skinny, they have a narrow window of not getting flat and riding too harsh. Too low, and the ride is super squirmy. Too high and either your tires blow off (twice for me) or your back and hands take a beating. If you rode 'em, you'd agree.

Open Pros are perfect for the road where the tires fit on the rim very tight. Every single 29er tire I've used have *never* taken tire levers or very much effort to put on or take off the rim. In fact, some are so loose that after removing one bead, you can shake the rest of the tire off without touching it.

I'm just waiting for some spokes to rebuild the hubs with Delgado rims.

FWIW, I'm 165 lbs, like rocks, and find duckpin bowling amusing.

***********
Mike, when are you goin' to sell out to the 29er man? Just waiting for those Speshy Dual Boingers? Or just waiting for Ned to validate 'em? :p

[Snot-Rocket]

I haven't tossed a leg over my MTB in a few weeks- but I've ran Salsa Delgado's for 2-years now and I'm like 235-lbs and haven't had to even true these wheels- because I use my spoke tensionmeter and balance out the wheels after a first few rides and bam. These are the old school rim brake capable versions. They are light and stout, brass nipples baby.

Granted, I ride smooth like a feather for a fatty, so got that going...

BRAAAAP!

[Dirt]

FWIW, I'm 165 lbs, like rocks, and find duckpin bowling amusing.


The duckpin bowling alley in Falls Church was demolished last year. I was more than a little sad. What the heck am I going to do with my 3 little balls?

On topic: I'm guessing I didn't have trouble with pinch flats with my open4s because A) at that point I wasn't riding a lot of rocks and B) I had the tire pressure jacked up so much that it would take a major seizmic event to cause a pinch flat.

Pete

[drevil]

The duckpin bowling alley in Falls Church was demolished last year. I was more than a little sad. What the heck am I going to do with my 3 little balls?

On topic: I'm guessing I didn't have trouble with pinch flats with my open4s because A) at that point I wasn't riding a lot of rocks and B) I had the tire pressure jacked up so much that it would take a major seizmic event to cause a pinch flat.

PeteIs there a difference between Open Pros and Open 4s? I don't enjoy the jackhammer effect of 25+ psi in my tires.

[BikerMiker]

29'ers are fine. Ride whatever you want. I just don't have the urge to get rid of any more bikes than I already have. The 29'ers I've ridden just don't do it for me. Too much tire to turn over...

Who knows, one day I may ride one full-time but I haven't found anything lighter, better-handling or more comfy than a carbon 5" bike. That and I'm not prone to avoiding 4' drops over and over again. I don't think my body would hold up to that kind of abuse on a rigid bike or even a short-travel one.

BTW, I think Charles at College Park Bikes has been riding Open Pros for a few years now and he's 220 NAKED! (Not personally verified).

mike
go play on your big bikes while I ride my little one...

[drevil]

29'ers are fine. Ride whatever you want. I just don't have the urge to get rid of any more bikes than I already have. The 29'ers I've ridden just don't do it for me. Too much tire to turn over...

Who knows, one day I may ride one full-time but I haven't found anything lighter, better-handling or more comfy than a carbon 5" bike. That and I'm not prone to avoiding 4' drops over and over again. I don't think my body would hold up to that kind of abuse on a rigid bike or even a short-travel one.

BTW, I think Charles at College Park Bikes has been riding Open Pros for a few years now and he's 220 NAKED! (Not personally verified).

mike
go play on your big bikes while I ride my little one...
I've talked to him, and IIRC, he uses very high pressures (for my taste). Not as bad for a bigger boy like him. I'm also not sure he gets out to rocky areas too often because they're a little far for him, plus it sounds like he has a lot of time constraints.

[Dirt]

Is there a difference between Open Pros and Open 4s? I don't enjoy the jackhammer effect of 25+ psi in my tires.

The differences are in the finish and braking surface to my knowledge. The cross sections look the same. I call them all open4s because I remember the days when the MA40 was the new, hot rim on the market and people thought that it was too light to be reliable (on a road bike).

Ahhhh.... where have all the Weinamen Concaves gone? ;)

Pete

[jon_baler]

So I've decided on the following:

DT Swiss TK 7.1 36 hole
http://www.dtswiss.com/index.asp?fuseaction=rims.bikedetai l&id=7

I stopped in Avalon cycles on my way home for the final advice. Decided to shave some weight and upgrade. They were highly recommended, and look like a nice compromise between the salsa delgados and rhynolites. I'll be using the same hub, so the price was acceptable. Also, keeping the original up front.

[Squirrel Girl]

So I've decided on the following:

DT Swiss TK 7.1 36 hole
http://www.dtswiss.com/index.asp?fuseaction=rims.bikedetai l&id=7
I clicked on the link and for "Range of Applications" it said "trekking." Huh?????

[jon_baler]

I clicked on the link and for "Range of Applications" it said "trekking." Huh?????

The glossary on the website has the following:
" trekking bike: Bicycles that are particularly well suited for longer trips and tours. The robustness and comfort offered by the bicycle are of primary importance..."

Since 29er mtb wheels are the same size rims as road bikes, they make excellent touring rims for a road bike.