Wheel Build Advice

Canyonaero

Hi Guys,

I recently crashed and ruined a Mavic Aksuim race rim (20 Hole).I've dismantled the wheel- the Hub is good-spokes are good- but the rim is ruined. I've tried online to buy a Mavic Aksium Race rim on its own and i cant find one. The best i can do is the open pro - Which i wouldnt have a problem with however its not available in 20 hole version(I stand to be corrected on that one) to match my hub.

As a relative newbie to cycling my question is do i just go and find any rim with 20 hole like the DT Swiss RR 585 and go and get my wheel built up? or will i run into problems with compatibility between rim,hub and spokes?

cheers lads

kumate_champ07

this could work but your spokes might be 3mm too long.
http://cgi.ebay.ie/Mavic-Ksyrium-Equipe-6000-Front-20-Spoke-Black-Rim-/190581231609?pt=UK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item2c5f86cff9

Canyonaero

Hey kumate, cheers for the reply - how do i work out spoke length requirements etc? in other words why do you suspect the spoke could be 3mm too long?

Do wheel manufacturers make this kind of thing difficult to do in general? Even buying a Mavic full front wheel seems to be difficult

kumate_champ07

theres a difference of 3mm in height between both of those rims from checking the spec. it might be a problem as you will need very high spoke tension with a 20h wheel and not having enough threads engaged might be dangerous. Im not familiar with mavic road wheels so maybe someone else can suggest a suitable wheel to replace it.

theres also the dt swiss rr465 which is similar to an open pro but available in 20h. the 585 would make a stronger wheel but you would definitely need new spokes for that

Lemag

If you're sourcing the rim on the internet and having to pay for postage and packaging and then paying to have it built up on top of that it might be cheaper just to buy a complete wheel. Was it front (less expensive) or back (more expensive)?

kumate_champ07

I happened to see that rim a few days ago, its from Cycleways in Dublin so you can prob organise a pickup from their shop so total cost would be 40euro for the rim

Holyboy

Most factory built wheels are what I would call throw away wheels, in that when they reach the end of their life span you just have to dump them, yours seems to have gotten there a bit prematurely, which is a pity.
Yours are cheap and because of this are fitted OEM on a lot of new bikes, don't get me wrong they work very well but when some thing goes wrong it's usually the end of the wheel.
I (as regulars probably know) am a big believer in hand built wheels which last a hell of a lot longer and rims can be replaced (usually) with no bother at all, if you're a pro and crash your bike you can just ask for a new wheel but the average joe can't do that!
Also factory built racing wheels are made for the purpose of racing, not commuting, not training, just racing, so they are designed to last fairly small amount of KMs before they wear out.
After all that rambling I guess what I'm saying is maybe try getting a hand built wheel or wheels:D

Canyonaero

Ah i see what you mean regarding the spoke tension.Not worth taking a chance with the stability of the wheel anyway
@ Lemag - It was the front wheel and I think your right with regards just buying a new complete wheel. saw one on McConvey cycles just now. Just seems a waste of perfectly good hub and spokes but hey

cheers for the help lads, much appreciated

Canyonaero

holyboy- thanks for the advice, Getting a set of custom built wheels is something i'd like to do but the cash isnt there for them at the minute. Do you mind if i ask what you would advise to have built up.is open pro the only way to go? and whats best regards hubs and spokes? For the record I race all summer but i guess i'd like a good strong set to train on in the winter

Lemag

Less than €80 including delivery to your door.

Holyboy

Open pros are fantastic, Mavic rims are by far my favorite to build with but they do wear down on the breaking surface very quickly, I'm hoping this new surface thingy(I've read up on it but can't recall the name) that they have on their more expensive rims will finally work it's way down to all the rims in the their range, but until then there is always ceramic, a bit of a trade off but I think worth it.
Hand builds are a bit of an investment but in the long run will probably save you money if you take care of them, they should NEVER break a spoke unless something drastic happens and if you service the hub and maybe replace the rim as it wears then you should have a wheel for life.

kumate_champ07

Lemag wrote: »

Less than €80 including delivery to your door.

52 delivered to your door
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=73177
just went up this evening I think, also this
set for 81, was tempted myself
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=73336

http://www.gipiemme.com/products/28-tec-020.aspx

columbus_66

Hi Canyonaero

I am looking for a 20 hole rear hub and spokes if you want to sell?

studiorat

I got a wheel built recently, ordered hub and rim online. It turned much cheaper than I had expected for the spokes and a man to build it.

Lemag

kumate_champ07 wrote: »

52 delivered to your door
<snip>
just went up this evening I think, also this
set for 81, was tempted myself
<snip>

Yeah, I've still got a gripe with them though so I'm loathe to post links to their site.

OP, I hope these Aksiums aren't from your Canyon Aeroad

Canyonaero

@kumate_champ07 - Those Mavic ex display model have just been purchased by me Thanks for the heads up much appreciated i dont know how i missed those i'd been on chainreaction already.Is there an ex display section on the website?thanks again

@columbus_66 - Its a front hub im afraid

@studiorat - what spec on the wheels? how much are we talking about approx - still interested in building my own so looking for as much info as possible really, cheers

@Lemag - Also cheers for your help, The wheel in question is from a pretty old but realiable sintessi winter bike

studiorat

Big dirty mountain bike wheel. The shop supplied double butted spokes and built for less than 50 quid. I thought that was pretty fair.

petethedrummer

Canyonaero wrote: »

Even buying a Mavic full front wheel seems to be difficult

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=73177

Canyonaero

@peter thanks for that i purchased that wheel yesterday on advice recieved here.good value imo