Are you a big guy and concerned about the durability of your wheels? Do you suffer from broken spokes and wheels that need regular attention? If this sounds painfully familiar then you probably need stronger wheels.
Rims
The rims pictured (and others) above are some of the burliest available: Spank, WTB, RaceFace, Stan’s NoTubes and DT Swiss all offer very strong rim options.
What makes a rim strong? I hear you ask….
Generally speaking, wider rims are stronger, as well as those featuring internal reinforcements and corrugated rim beds.
What about other components?
Spokes make a difference too. These days there is a trend towards using fewer spokes. Don’t fall into that trap. If you’re particularly concerned with durability, stick to 32 spokes per wheel. Less spokes are for the podium sitters.
Brass nipples are also stronger and last longer than alloy ones.
Have the quality rims laced with stainless steel, butted spokes to a set of reliable, good looking hubs such as those from Hope, and you have the makings of a fit-and-forget wheel set.
And finally, if you’re serious about NOT worrying about your wheels, have them hand-built by a professional. The strongest wheels are properly laced, tensioned and stress-relieved (which means there is no inherent spoke twist which may cause a wobbly wheel in the future).
Don’t be afraid of carbon fiber rims either. Today’s carbon rims are much stronger than their alloy counterparts, given similar weight.
What now?
So if you’re not entirely content with the wheels on your road or mountain bike, get in touch, even for some free advice. I really hope to hear from you!
Everyone has a unique requirement – this could be budget, colour preference or brand. I understand this and my mission is to help you get the RIGHT wheels.
