The Rock Island Trail

Good wheels to ride on?

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Jason from Huntsville, AL on 6/14/2006 1:09:17 PM:

I am planning a trip for early October to cover the total length of the Katy Trail. I will be riding my Fuji road bike, but my question is about my wheels. On the bike currently, I have a set of Performance Titan Forte Aero wheels. I was riding on the street the other day and broke a spoke. This makes me question the strength of the wheels. They only have 16 spoke on the front and 20 on the rear. I have the stock wheels that came on the bike which are also aero wheels but they have the standard type and number of spokes. I plan to have probably 40-50 pounds of gear on the bike. I weigh about 165. Just wondering if anyone had ridden the Katy with aero wheels or if I would be better off with my stock wheels. Thanks in advance!

Nails on 6/14/2006 8:48:03 PM:

I have Rolf Vigor Tandem on my tandem (of course). 20 bladed spokes on the front and 24 on the rear. Apparently, I'm the only owner of these wheels on record to bend a rim. I've bent 3. All on the road. I've had no trouble whatsoever on the KATY with these wheels. However, if I were you, I err on the side of caution and go with more spokes. You won't lose much speed and I'd take the durability with that much weight hanging on the bike. I'd also encourage you to be more spartan and warn you not to carry more than 15 pound in your pack.

Mark of the Dalton Boys from Austin, TX/Columbia, MO. on 6/16/2006 9:15:10 AM:

I believe that one of the most functional suggestions I've ever seen regarding what to take involves putting what you are going to take on the floor, look at it again, take out what may be superfulous, do it again. Whatever you take, you have to haul (wherever you go, there you are), but in the final analysis you might utilize Freewheelin' Frank's (of the Fabulous Furry Freakbrothers), take on it and that is....better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. Just a thought. You might also check Adventure Cycling website wherein they have a suggested list for "long" bikecamping sojourns. Regards...Mark of the Dalton Boys

geea on 6/18/2006 10:34:58 PM:

If your are breaking spokes on the road then you are asking for trouble on the trail. An average weight of 250 pounds is about all that a most wheels will take. I would forgo the light racing wheels and opt for 36 spoke, triple cross. Your weakest link on a wheel is where the elbo of the spoke inserts into the flange on the hub. The drive side of the rear wheel will always have the most failures and when one fails others will follow. This can be a costly repair in more ways than one if you can not fix it yourself.

sbikes from Kansas City on 6/25/2006 11:40:33 PM:

Call Hartsburg Cycle Depot and ask them for a recommendation. They deal with folks on the
Trail all the time. Pam and Mark are the owners and they are just fabulous people and I am
sure they will help you out.

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