Truing and replacing wheels

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JamesM

Senior Member
Location
West Yorks
Both my wheels were either rubbing out closer to doing so and I had a few loose spokes.

I've never done it before but fancied having a go myself so I read through that section in my new Zinn book and on Sheldon Brown and gave it a go. It seemed to go OK - I didn't turn any spoke too far except the ones where the nipples were spinning freely. There's still a bit of wobble on the rims but it's not touching the brakes now.

I've heard wheels are a good first upgrade on a cheap bike. Is that true and how much do you have to spend to see any benefit?

Are Shimano RS010 or RS11 any good and is there much difference between them? They're both under £100 for the pair on wiggle. My bike is a Carter's Delia with a 7 speed cassette do I guess I'd need a spacer with a lot of wheels?
 

dee.jay

Network Ninja
Location
Wales
I had cheap wheels on my previous bike and I broke a few spokes. The whole bike was £300 so I doubt the wheels were up to much. I had the rear wheel trued twice, and two broken spokes and at that point I got fed up and binned the pair of them.

Depending on your weight - but I was getting quotes of £200-£300 for a pair of decent handbuilt wheels. I've since replaced my bike with one that cost a lot more and the wheels appear to be a lot better quality, but I am still a heavy-ish bloke - if spokes start going then I will be investing that kind of money in a very decent handbuilt set.
 
Location
Pontefract
@JamesM I had both the RS10 and 11's one is a10sp cassette it will also do 7/8/9 with the appropriate spacers, though I did use a spare small toothed 7 or 8sp cog as a spacer as it fitted better, my bike is usually no less than about 13-14Kgs and I am usually 76-78, so total weight is never more than say 95Kg's snd both rear rims fractured with in 7,000 miles or about a year, no I am not sure if its the low spoke count and the roads round here or my maintenance, but I don't think I will use them again, I currently have the R501's they have a slightly higher spoke count, are a touch cheaper, weigh about the same, however I am slower on these, not that that is a real issue, and is more likely a fitness thing, I can't comment on longevity yet as they have only done 1,500 miles since March, the other thing is both the other sets seem to fracture after the winter.
 
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