[ianking]

Hi,

I have a cycling friend who is on the heavy side (210 Kilos) and as you might expect, he is having serious problems withe spokes breaking and coming loose on his road bike. He thought graveI bike wheels might be better, I suggested tandem wheels might be the answer but don’t know enough to advise.

Can anyone suggest what wheels might support someone this heavy which would fit on a road bike?

Thanks,

Ian

Topic

[Tom_77]

There’s an American site that

There’s an American site that sells bikes for heavy riders – https://zizebikes.com/

Shipping and taxes would probably make it quite expensive though. I’m not aware of anything similar based in the UK.

[David9694]

Asking for a friend.

Asking for a friend.

[Rendel Harris]

Right – either handbuilt then

Right – either handbuilt then or perhaps a 40-spoke tandem pattern – these look good value:

http://store.velocityusa.com/p/tandem-standard-wheelset/wheels_tandem?pp=12

Obviously also might help to run the biggest tyres his frame can take for better shoch absorption.

[Hirsute]

Do frames have a rating for

Do frames have a rating for weight ? Tandem wheels can take 2 riders so those type of wheels sound possible but the frame is also bigger and stronger. Wouldn’t want something breaking midride as that could be a ksi stat – we saw that aussie rider come off this week with his handlebar failure.

[ianking]

he really is 210Kg yes, heavy

he really is 210Kg yes, heavy.

[Hirsute]

Scribe do some heavy duty

Scribe do some heavy duty wheels rated up to 130 kg so if the frame is not too heavy, then at 120kg you should be ok. Otherwise hp and kil0ran have given examples of possibles.

 

[Rendel Harris]

I don’t want to be rude, but

I don’t want to be rude, but do you maybe mean 210lbs, or as hirsute suggested 120kgs? 210kgs is 33 stone, which is a bit more than “on the heavy side” – I’m “on the heavy side” and that’s nearly three of me! If he really is 210kgs I’d suggest talking to a custom wheelbuilder, I don’t know of any road wheelsets rated for more than 120kgs.

[Hirsute]

Did you transpose some digits

Did you transpose some digits there? Did you mean 210 kg and not 120 ?

[Bungle_52]

In my limited experience I

In my limited experience I have found that galvanised spokes break a lot less than stainless steel. These are usually found on older wheels. Personally I would try to find an older steel framed road bike on ebay. It will be a lot cheaper than new wheels.

[kil0ran]

Custom is probably the best

Custom is probably the best option, or maybe (providing the hubs fit a road bike) something from the downhill MTB world. Another option would be an e-MTB wheel as they’re built strong too. I’d imagine he’s breaking rear spokes more than the front? Hope Fortus 30 might work too, but possibly too wide for a road bike.

Also, despite being triple-butted and fancy Sapim CX-Ray spokes build an immensely strong wheel according to a wheelbuilder I was talking to. I’m a shade under 120kgs so not quite in the same boat. 

Maybe try PT Cycles. Others would be Spa or JRA but many have very long lead times at the moment.

[hawkinspeter]

Tandem wheels might work, or

Tandem wheels might work, or alternatively contact a wheel builder (sorry, no recommendations as to who) to get some strong 36/40 spoke wheels made.

[Author]

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