Wheelset Rider Weight Limits

TinyExplosions

How accurate are the weight limits on wheelsets? Are manufacturers covering their arses or what? If a specified limit is say 95 kg, and I'm around 97 on a good day, is it madness to ride them, or would you be fine?

niceonetom

MADNESS!!!


...what wheels?

Lumen

A wheel with a rider weight limit is more likely to have stiffness issues, so even if it doesn't break you might end up hating it.

TinyExplosions

@tom these

@Lumen, that is a good point... I do tend to flex things a bit with my almighty weight power

Lumen

TinyExplosions wrote: »

@tom these

At the risk of stating the obvious, wouldn't these be a better choice?

TinyExplosions

Lumen wrote: »

At the risk of stating the obvious, wouldn't these be a better choice?

No, cos they're heavier

Lumen

I've read that Reynolds don't have rider weight limits. See this discussion for example.

Reynolds in 2007 wrote:

We don't have specific rider weight limits on our wheels, that said performance value for a rider will be different across the wheel line. A KOM wheel might not be the best wheel for a 200+ crit rider. We do test all of our wheels to meet a baseline strength test. From there rider weight, style, bike, pedal style, training, events all factor into the choice of wheel that is right for you.

So something like the Reynolds Solitude might suit.

But TBH, I can't see much further than the 7850CLs or Ksyriums for this application (slightly regretting not getting the Shimanos now).

The other option is to go deep as the rim will be stiffer and you'll gain unimmeasurable aero advantage.

TinyExplosions

Lumen wrote: »

(slightly regretting not getting the Shimanos now).

I couldn't put Shimano wheels on a SRAM equipped bike -you should know that by now!

Chips Lovell

I doubt that the explosions would be very tiny if you greatly exceeded the weight limit on Irish roads.

niceonetom

Even if the 1330g claimed weight is 100g on the optimistic side I'd still say they are too light for Irish roads. Put them under a cottager and I suspect you'll be buying spokes if you're lucky, or binning rims if you're not. They're made in Singapore where they have no concept of people your size, Tiny. I've been there and I felt ridiculously oversized. And their tarmac is everything you'd expect in a dictatorship with unlimited cheap labour: flawless.

Admittedly, my opinion is coloured by having cracked a rear rim on a 1430g (claimed) wheelset over the winter (not SOUL btw). Since then I've been using traditional wheels and can't say I feel any slower on them, though I do feel a lot more confident drilling them over rough stuff without feeling the need to ease off to get light in the saddle all the time... I obviously still crave weight weenie wheels but I have a new found understanding of the importance of confidence inspiring reliability.

TinyExplosions

niceonetom wrote: »

Even if the 1330g claimed weight is 100g on the optimistic side I'd still say they are too light for Irish roads. Put them under a cottager and I suspect you'll be buying spokes if you're lucky, or binning rims if you're not. They're made in Singapore where they have no concept of people your size, Tiny. I've been there and I felt ridiculously oversized. And their tarmac is everything you'd expect in a dictatorship with unlimited cheap labour: flawless.

Admittedly, my opinion is coloured by having cracked a rear rim on a 1430g (claimed) wheelset over the winter (not SOUL btw). Since then I've been using traditional wheels and can't say I feel any slower on them, though I do feel a lot more confident drilling them over rough stuff without feeling the need to ease off to get light in the saddle all the time... I obviously still crave weight weenie wheels but I have a new found understanding of the importance of confidence inspiring reliability.

Hmmm.... maybe better to leave it for a good while so, and get the weight down a bit (read: a LOT) before I consider again

ROK ON

@Tiny.

With Tom on this one.
What's wrong with your Fulcrums. I am similar weight and have ride on alk sorts of sh1te roads on them with nary a problem.

Other than bling what purpose do these wheels serve. Sure a trip to the jacks should see you shift more of the weight differential between those wheels and what you have.

Also on Singapore. Was there a few years ago. Their version of XXL shirts for men barely fit my wife and she is 5'2".

rob1891

Contact Sean at bikesoul and he'll tell you what he thinks. Seems like a pretty straight forward guy.

I'll be trying these wheels next week but I'm a bit under 80kg, my leg strength is down to zero after some months off (i.e. I wouldn't be able to flex the noodlest of wheels) and I've no intention of racing or ploughing them through potholes.

Lumen

ROK ON wrote: »

Also on Singapore. Was there a few years ago. Their version of XXL shirts for men barely fit my wife and she is 5'2".

This is true. But they do specify weight limits on certain wheels (e.g. the Soul 4.0 carbon clincher and those weightweenie alloy wheels Tiny linked to). And their largest market is probably the US, which is not known for the trimness of its citizens.

Chips Lovell

I'd stick with the Fulcrums to be honest, or did something happen to them?

Does this bout of shopping mean we'll be seeing you on the road again soon?

niceonetom

To be clear - I'm not saying don't buy wheels, I'm saying don't buy those wheels. I like Lumen's deep-section suggestion... carbones?

...or these? matchy matchy!

TinyExplosions

Nothing's happened to the Fulcrums, just browsing/considering, and yes, it does mean you'll be seeing pinky on the roads again very soon...

@tom, I'm joust not a big fan of the SRAM wheels, no matter how well they match!

Maybe carbones with pink stickers....

blorg

niceonetom wrote: »

To be clear - I'm not saying don't buy wheels, I'm saying don't buy those wheels. I like Lumen's deep-section suggestion... carbones?

...or these? matchy matchy!

Carbones are slightly lighter but significantly cheaper than those SRAM wheels... the SRAM may be a bit more aero (they are basically heavy Zipps.) The Mavics are probably more reliable on Irish roads given the general Zipp reputation.

Vélo

I think I'll move to Singapore.

ROK ON

Vélo wrote: »

I think I'll move to Singapore.

A lot to recommend it. Good economy. Great infrastructure. Low tax. Great mix of food. Very close to beaches of Malaysia and Thailand.
Phuket is a 50min flight from Singapore. I may join you.

blorg

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Maybe carbones with pink stickers....

They are available.

If I wanted bling and a wheelset I could ride around daily without great fear I think the Carbones in clincher are a good choice.

TinyExplosions

blorg wrote: »

They are available.

If I wanted bling and a wheelset I could ride around daily without great fear I think the Carbones in clincher are a good choice.

Oh, I'd found those alright

ROK ON

Am I the only one who is slightly peeved by Tiny getting back on the road bike now that the weather is nice.
A lot of folks here put in some tortuous miles during an ice age recently. Where were you Tiny?

Now while I welcome your return and wholeheartedly look forward to seeing the best looking PX in Dublin back on the roads I am just not sure that you have earned the right to saunter out for a ride now that the sun is shining.
;-)

TinyExplosions

ROK ON wrote: »

Am I the only one who is slightly peeved by Tiny getting back on the road bike now that the weather is nice.
A lot of folks here put in some tortuous miles during an ice age recently. Where were you Tiny?

Now while I welcome your return and wholeheartedly look forward to seeing the best looking PX in Dublin back on the roads I am just not sure that you have earned the right to saunter out for a ride now that the sun is shining.
;-)

When you've been laid up for a while with injury, ****e weather is not a good motivator to get back out and ride... I was comfy on my sofa while you olks here put in some tortuous miles during an ice age recently

I know I've in no way earned it, but saunter I shall!