Cycling UK Forum

I would describe my cycling as light touring and local rides with a few longer trips thrown in. I'm a big chap who weighs 16 stone. I've always used 36 spoke 700c wheels with good quality Mavic touring rims and 28mm Panaracer tyres. Am I too heavy for 32 spoke wheels and would there be any benefit in me changing to them? I use panniers but they are not overloaded. Thanks in advance for any advice.

I reckon that 32h for the rear is too few. It's ok for the front though.

It's ok for the slim and fast out there, but we more portly need a stronger rear to support our heavier rear!

Wheels tend to be sold in matched pairs. ie 36/36 or 32/32. The old British standard was 40h rear and 32h front. The continentals have taken over and standardised it all.

The upside of having a matched pair, is that you can swap rims if required.

I'm 14 1/2 stone these days & I wouldn't sink below 36 spokes at the back. In fact for camping trips I use 40. Otherwise, as Mick said.

Stick with 36/36 they are much stiffer especially when out of the saddle when climbing,You're too heavy for "light" wheels IMO

You have worried me now - I am 17 st - v.overweight -could do with losing at least 5 st. Have bought KaraKum from Spa - no mention made of me being a fat *****. Will the 32h rims do the business?

I would think they will, BUT if you live in a hilly part of the country, they may not.

32h rear wheels are strong mainly due to the modern rim design, but they would be far stronger with more spokes. Any excess torque applied to the wheel will result in a broken spoke and a rim out of true. The more spokes you have, the more the wheel can withstand the torque.

I can only say that I have toured with panniers and racks on 32 spoke wheels, in fact I don't have any wheels with more than 32.
I have never had any problems but considering the size of the OP then probably 36 would be best.
A properly built 32 spoke wheel is in my opinion and experience is plenty strong enough.

Two other ways to increase wheel strength.
by improving the drive side spoke bracing angle by using:
A Shimano MTB rear hub, better flange spacing
Use an off center rear rim, like a Velocity Synergy.

Scott G.
Milford, OH
USA

The biggest problem with too few spokes is not when everything is going well, but when you lose a spoke.

With 36/40 holes, you can ride it home, less spokes and the wheel tends to go so far out of true that it's unridable.

This to me is unthinkable and unneccesary, for all but a few grams saved, but fashion is a fickle master and everyone loves being fashionable, right?.

Freddie wrote:............ for all but a few grams saved, but fashion is a fickle master and everyone loves being fashionable, right?.

Mister Loco wrote:I would describe my cycling as light touring and local rides with a few longer trips thrown in. I'm a big chap who weighs 16 stone. I've always used 36 spoke 700c wheels with good quality Mavic touring rims and 28mm Panaracer tyres. Am I too heavy for 32 spoke wheels and would there be any benefit in me changing to them? I use panniers but they are not overloaded. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Stick with what you've got.

I've broken too many 32 spoke wheels to want to use them again. I'm porkier than you and use wheels similar toy yours with very few problems.

ianr1950 wrote:I can only say that I have toured with panniers and racks on 32 spoke wheels, in fact I don't have any wheels with more than 32.
I have never had any problems but considering the size of the OP then probably 36 would be best.
A properly built 32 spoke wheel is in my opinion and experience is plenty strong enough.

My collection of broken 32 spoke wheels says otherwise

Mister Loco wrote:would there be any benefit in me changing to them?

the benefit is the weight loss of four spokes & nipples, minus 12 holes, plus four eyelets

it's somewhere between a peanut and a boiled sweet, at a guess.

i'm with everyone else here*, that fewer spokes are a fashionable liability

* and sheldon
http://sheldonbrown.com/gloss_aa-l.html#32

I've always used cheap and cheerful Mavic MA2 36 hole rims and I weigh 17 stone.I have lost the occasional spoke but its made no difference . I usually lose a spoke on the front rather than the back.

hubgearfreak wrote:it's somewhere between a peanut and a boiled sweet, at a guess.

obviously not our beloved peanut

peanut wrote: I weigh 17 stone.