Mavic Aksiums for bridleways

[XjayV]

I have a set of Mavic Aksiums wheels that I am thinking about putting on my commuter to use on bridleways that can be a little bumpy! The surface on the bridleway has concrete parts on the route and also includes stones, roots from trees and plenty of puddles when its it wet! I have a Specialized Tricross Sport and would put some 32 Marathon Plus on them if I was to do it. I weigh 78kg.

What do you guys think? Should I leave the wheels for on the road or do you think they will be ok?

Thanks in advance,

XjayV

 

[ColinJ]

I ride mine on the Calder Valley Cycleway without any problems. It has some gentle bridleway-like sections. I always remember that I'm on a road bike though and ride carefully, steering round the worst stuff. You certainly wouldn't want to be doing hardcore offroad on them!

Be warned though - because of their low spoke count, Aksiums go very out of true when a spoke breaks! One of my spokes broke after a rear-mech-in-spokes incident and the only way I could ride to a station to catch a train home was to take my mudguard off, release the brake cable and take one of the brake blocks out!

 

[downfader]

Have used aksiums on rough roads many times. Great wheels. Tend to prefer 36 spokes for rougher roads/surfaces thesedays, partly for reasons Colin says.

 

[HLaB]

I've ridden mine on the Union canal a few times and on forest tracks and they've not complained but I wouldn't want to submit them to that too often. Touch wood I've never had a problem with the spokes but I'm fairly light, I could imagine some folk would and they are also spoke specific (bladed spokes) making it more difficult to source a replacement. So I think you have to ask how often do you intend to this (if not often go for it) or if you are somebody likely to break a spoke.

 

[ColinJ]

In case anybody does break an Aksium spoke ... I found replacement spokes at Pedal On.

You need to be very careful to order the right ones! There are at least 3 variations on the Aksium design and even then, it depends which of the spokes has broken. Most are likely to be drive side rear as in my case.

I had to buy a pack of 4 for £8 so I now have 3 spares. I am toying with carrying them wrapped in bubblewrap and stuffed inside my seat post.

Be warned - some spoke keys will not work with bladed spokes. The one I have on my mulitool doesn't because it has a channel for the spoke to sit in. That's fine for a conventional spoke but the bladed Aksium spoke just jammed in it.

 

[XjayV]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I think I will give them a go for a few commutes and put a lower tyre pressure in to try and withstand the bumpiness!

Will speak to the LBS about a spoke tightener and spare spokes just incase!

Am loving the weather these days on my rides. Long my it continue.

Cheers,

XjayV

 

[fossyant]

Don't get too worried about the wheels going out of true - Aksiums are fine, just a little fiddly being aero (use an adjustable spanner to hold the blade and a spoke key)...

 

[frank9755]

I've got a set of Aksiums which are now on my commuter. I find they roll well but are a little harsh.

I wouldn't have any problems with the odd foray onto rougher ground with them but if I was going to ride on towpath every day they wouldn't be the wheels I would choose...

 

[fossyant]

As this is in commuting, I don't use factory wheels for commuting at all.... handbuilts

I wear rims out quite quickly - so get them re-built.

 

[ColinJ]

I've got a set of Aksiums which are now on my commuter. I find they roll well but are a little harsh.

Pneumatic tyres were invented to take the harshness out of stiff wheels, but people insist on trying to turn them back into solid wheels again by over-inflating them!

 

[MacB]

Pneumatic tyres were invented to take the harshness out of stiff wheels, but people insist on trying to turn them back into solid wheels again by over-inflating them!

Ooooh, Mr Controversy, next you'll be saying that people don't need 5mm tyres at 600psi to go fast!

 

[frank9755]

Pneumatic tyres were invented to take the harshness out of stiff wheels, but people insist on trying to turn them back into solid wheels again by over-inflating them!

True, but blade spokes were invented to make the bike go faster at high speeds so by going more slowly off road with them you're not exactly playing to that strength...!

I like mine, but I find my other bike with similar tyres / pressures on a set of Hewitt handbuilts is just a touch less harsh

 

[ColinJ]

True, but blade spokes were invented to make the bike go faster at high speeds so by going more slowly off road with them you're not exactly playing to that strength...!

I like mine, but I find my other bike with similar tyres / pressures on a set of Hewitt handbuilts is just a touch less harsh

The reason I got mine was because a mate sold me an almost new pair complete with tyres and tubes for £50! (He'd been offered a similarly fantastic deal of a pair of Campagnolo Nucleons for about £100 and needed cash in a hurry to buy them!)

 

[frank9755]

Mine came on my time trial bike (second hand) and I raced on them last season. They were perfectly fine and on a flat TT course where you are not accelerating all the time, weight can't be such a big deal. But I thought I'd upgrade for this season, they became hand-me-downs to the commuter.