MTB rear wheel woes
Discussion
OK I've had enough of my spokes popping on my rear wheel.
Over the past 6 months, (3 builds & 7 spokes). Previously I've had a couple of off's where spokes went requiring 2 retrues & 4 spokes in the 3 years before this recent spate.
It was only done last week and has survived "just" 40 miles of reasonable use before pop, pop, pop, pop and finally pop, Yep five spokes gone in a the space of 5 miles, (4 spokes grouped together and 1 opposite side) luckily those were the last 5 miles close to home and back on the fire roads & tarmac so despite a tire rubbing on the frame managed to get home ok.
All the spokes are going on the Hub end and the tension & truing seemed fine pre-ride.
Have I exhausted this wheel and/or am I asking too much of it?
I'm 16st, don't absolutely punish the wheels but I'm not particularly easy on them, mainly varied single track riding. The front has never had any issues, but then it is suspended and doesn't carry all the weight.
The rear wheel is a 32h M475 hub laced to a Bontrager ranger rim with plain gauge spokes.
Should I go for a complete respoke using DT swiss plain gauges or purchase a stronger rear wheel.
A respoke will cost I suppose £40-£50 and looking at Merlin I could get a custom build wheel as an ex729 mavic rim laced to a XT hub with DT swiss spokes for £94
Anyone had anything similar happen, or suggestions?
The ex729 is a DH rim and mavic are suggesting a 2.30-3.00 tire, would it be ok to run my 2.1 xc tires on it?
Over the past 6 months, (3 builds & 7 spokes). Previously I've had a couple of off's where spokes went requiring 2 retrues & 4 spokes in the 3 years before this recent spate.
It was only done last week and has survived "just" 40 miles of reasonable use before pop, pop, pop, pop and finally pop, Yep five spokes gone in a the space of 5 miles, (4 spokes grouped together and 1 opposite side) luckily those were the last 5 miles close to home and back on the fire roads & tarmac so despite a tire rubbing on the frame managed to get home ok.
All the spokes are going on the Hub end and the tension & truing seemed fine pre-ride.
Have I exhausted this wheel and/or am I asking too much of it?
I'm 16st, don't absolutely punish the wheels but I'm not particularly easy on them, mainly varied single track riding. The front has never had any issues, but then it is suspended and doesn't carry all the weight.
The rear wheel is a 32h M475 hub laced to a Bontrager ranger rim with plain gauge spokes.
Should I go for a complete respoke using DT swiss plain gauges or purchase a stronger rear wheel.
A respoke will cost I suppose £40-£50 and looking at Merlin I could get a custom build wheel as an ex729 mavic rim laced to a XT hub with DT swiss spokes for £94
Anyone had anything similar happen, or suggestions?
The ex729 is a DH rim and mavic are suggesting a 2.30-3.00 tire, would it be ok to run my 2.1 xc tires on it?
Id always use top quality spokes like dt swiss as they seem to make wheel builds so much stronger!
Lots of people can build wheels but not very well. Maybe when being rebuilt someones doing a quick fix rather than a full rebuild?
Id recommend Mavic EX721 on a Hope hub Pro 2 or the lighter Pro3 from memory fairly, light setup and super strong! Check out the Hope hoops factory wheel builds, Ive been running a set on my Dirt Jump bike for 2 years and not had to true them up once!
Lots of people can build wheels but not very well. Maybe when being rebuilt someones doing a quick fix rather than a full rebuild?
Id recommend Mavic EX721 on a Hope hub Pro 2 or the lighter Pro3 from memory fairly, light setup and super strong! Check out the Hope hoops factory wheel builds, Ive been running a set on my Dirt Jump bike for 2 years and not had to true them up once!
Edited by Matt106 on Monday 13th September 11:48
Firstly I'd set aside any idea of running a 729. I had a front wheel taco on me sending headfirst into the undergrowth so decided to 'overspec a wheelset' and used 729's they never failed once, but weighed a tonne and you really feel the drag when you try to spin.
I've used EN521's ever since and they're just as reliable but much lighter.
But if your rims are fine and it's spokes failing it's ether your speccing too light a spoke but almost certainly down to a poor build.
Have a word with other riders in your area, there's always a s
t hot wheel builder in one LBS. Usually easy to spot as he'll be twice the age of the other lads in the shop and have a rebuild with new spokes.
I've used EN521's ever since and they're just as reliable but much lighter.
But if your rims are fine and it's spokes failing it's ether your speccing too light a spoke but almost certainly down to a poor build.
Have a word with other riders in your area, there's always a s
t hot wheel builder in one LBS. Usually easy to spot as he'll be twice the age of the other lads in the shop and have a rebuild with new spokes.Thanks guys confirming my thoughts:-
Recently I've used a couple of LBS to rebuild the rim, the first two builds were done at the "recommended place", they did say the wheel was quite difficult to get absolutely spot on, the last place said he had to let all of the spokes completely out and restart it to get right, so I guess the writing was on the wall.
After a long chat with the guys at merlin, they are going to hand build me a wheel.
I went through everything and they said that the either one or all the components in the current build (rim/remaining unchanged spokes/hub) are now probably past it (new spokes are probably overcompensating for old one) and re-lacing could sort out the problem with spokes but compound issues with the rim and/or hub.
They also said the ex729 rim and 36h I wanted was way over the top and just me overcompensating for poor service from current well worn set up.
On their recommendation I'm going with a cheaper build:- 32h XM719 rim, XT hub, & plain gauge DT Swiss spokes: not a full-on DH or jump setup but plenty strong enough for extreme single track. £85, hope it works well.
Recently I've used a couple of LBS to rebuild the rim, the first two builds were done at the "recommended place", they did say the wheel was quite difficult to get absolutely spot on, the last place said he had to let all of the spokes completely out and restart it to get right, so I guess the writing was on the wall.
After a long chat with the guys at merlin, they are going to hand build me a wheel.
I went through everything and they said that the either one or all the components in the current build (rim/remaining unchanged spokes/hub) are now probably past it (new spokes are probably overcompensating for old one) and re-lacing could sort out the problem with spokes but compound issues with the rim and/or hub.
They also said the ex729 rim and 36h I wanted was way over the top and just me overcompensating for poor service from current well worn set up.
On their recommendation I'm going with a cheaper build:- 32h XM719 rim, XT hub, & plain gauge DT Swiss spokes: not a full-on DH or jump setup but plenty strong enough for extreme single track. £85, hope it works well.
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 13th September 15:19
Well a box delivered from Mr Parcel force a few hours ago. Not bad from Merlin.
Order placed Monday pm for a hand built wheel arrives Friday am, within 4 days later.
Out it comes, oh that looks damn nice and feels stupidly strong. The DT swiss spokes & XM719 rim really feel & look like they'd cage a tiger no problem, the XT hub spins very nicely (nice XT QR as well), on checking the true roughly in the office, it looks absolutely on the money. Oh look pressies! They've chucked in some sample hydro packs, I love mail order co's that do that sort of thing. Company I by batteries from (battery force I think) puts little choccies in, nice touch.
I have a very warm feeling inside and can't wait to whip the old cassette on it tonight and get out for a ride tomorrow am.
Why is it that having something built to your spec has such a good feel associated with it?
Order placed Monday pm for a hand built wheel arrives Friday am, within 4 days later.
Out it comes, oh that looks damn nice and feels stupidly strong. The DT swiss spokes & XM719 rim really feel & look like they'd cage a tiger no problem, the XT hub spins very nicely (nice XT QR as well), on checking the true roughly in the office, it looks absolutely on the money. Oh look pressies! They've chucked in some sample hydro packs, I love mail order co's that do that sort of thing. Company I by batteries from (battery force I think) puts little choccies in, nice touch.
I have a very warm feeling inside and can't wait to whip the old cassette on it tonight and get out for a ride tomorrow am.
Why is it that having something built to your spec has such a good feel associated with it?
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