[pete_72]

just rang the shop for an update on my broken wheel. They (the retailer)are having to send it back to Mavic who will repair it and return. !! Anyone else think this is out of order?<br><br>
I expected a new wheel, not a repair. what's to stop it happening again?<br><br>
Also, because the turn arround is 5 days minimum (I think Mavic is in France, so we'll be lucky if they're not having a strike or something) I will almost definitely not see the bike again untl next week, meaning I'll have been without it for consecutive weekends.<br><br>
I'm pissed off about this. It's an expensive (Ksyrium Elite), but not uber-pricey wheel: An immediate replacement ought to be the minimum customer service requirement, eh? The bike is 4 months old.

 

[jroden]

My experience with Mavic a few years back was it took months to get the wheel back. That wheel of yours uses very high tension spokes that are threaded directly into the rim, so they are pretty sturdy, but when one bit fails the wheel needs some serious attention.<br><br>
Those particular wheels are really not suitable for daily training, why not put some nice tires on them and set them aside for race day and just get some standard 32 spoke regular wheels, I like the Dura Ace hubs, mavic box section wheels, dt spokes (14/15) and brass nipples, laced 3 cross. The bike will be more comfortable to ride and any bike shop on the planet can service the wheels right on site.<br><br>
Welcome to pre-built wheel hell, it's fun to visit there...

 

[pete_72]

crikey. hadn't thought of that route at all, but what you say makes sense.<br>
This wheel is really that fragile?

 

[jroden]

No, it's a pretty bomb proof wheel, but you don't need to train on a $600 wheelset. The problem, as you have noted, is they can't be serviced very well on site when you break a spoke. You need a training wheelset or at least a rear wheel, maybe the shop has a 32 spoker lying around.<br><br>
One thing, when you send the wheel in, make sure they pull the cassette off, you'll need it on the new wheel, perhaps the tire and tube also. Every serious cyclist needs a bunch of wheels, it's just part of the sport, sorry to say.

 

[pete_72]

<img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"> more learning curve.<br><br>
spoke to my man at the shop. do you think the Mavic Axiom would also do the job as training wheel? He suggested it.<br><br>
Also mean I'll get the bike back this week. I'm having a new crankset put on it too (for some lower gearing options).

 

[4boysmom]

Uh, yah, they should at least give you something to use 'til you get the whell back!<br><br>
jroden--I have a spare front wheel. What does that make me? ANd there are 6 people in my family. Four of us have two bikes...

 

[jroden]

I think that Axiom is a low end wheelset that comes as a spec on cheap bikes, but maybe I'm wrong. If your dealer sells specialized, they may have a prebuilt called a Roval Pave--i used a couple sets this season and they held up well.<br><br>
I don't know what country you are in, here in the US, I end up getting wheels from here:<br><br><a href="http://www.coloradocyclist.com/product/kit/SSBCEU32" target="_blank">http://www.coloradocyclist.com/product/kit/SSBCEU32</a><br><br>
What is nice with the good hubs (e.g. dura ace) is when the rim gets trashed, you cut the hub out and mail it in, they rebuild the hub and lace it with a new rim and spokes. I muchly prefer this route as compared to the prebuilts, even the Rovals.<br><br>
Shops don't like to build wheels, so they sell the prebuilts. I think they can be problematic, especially cheap ones like the axioms.

 

[jroden]

I have about 2 fronts for every working rear wheel, I always bust the rears and keep the fronts out of sentiment. I have a garage full of wheels that are slightly too good to throw away, the last stage of their life is cyclocross duty, then out to the curb.<br><br>
I wish shops would give me a spare wheel every time I smash one, but alas those are on me.

 

[pete_72]

England.<br><br>
Mavic Aksium = £140 ($280)<br>
Roval Pave = £250 ($500)<br><br>
getting close to hitting my "too much information" panic mode here.<br><br>
the website <a href="http://www.evanscycles.com" target="_blank">www.evanscycles.com</a> says "The new Pave SL is a highly strong and durable wheel set designed for heavier riders. Ideal for commuting touring and for free-roading use" which sounds apppropriate for training on, but I'm not crazy about the price.<br><br>
I don't want to buy-cheap-buy-twice, but I also don't want 2 sets of "expensive" wheels; given I'll have the Ksyriums too.

 

[pete_72]

forgot to say thanks for the advice though JR!! (as ever).

 

[therambler]

Do they have velocity wheels in England? I got a set of their Aero Section rims to replace my cheap mavics. I Just used the mavic hubs and had the bike shop lace up the rims. So far they've been great. I got them this summer and haven't had to touch them yet. They are a really good rim for training, they really are bomb proof!<br><br><a href="http://www.velocityusa.com/" target="_blank">http://www.velocityusa.com/</a>

 

[jroden]

See if you can find a local shop that will build you a set of wheels or look for a mailorder outfit--the build I outlined above is a very nice wheelset that will give you many, many years of service. You don't have to spend a lot, but avoid buying cheap wheels, especially with low spoke counts, they are a real nightmare.