Wheel replacement

[Richard Woodrow]

I have a Giant Rapid 2 with the original wheels that are marked S-R2.
About a month ago a spoke broke on the rear which I had mended by LBS (I don't even try to fix anything as invariably I make it worse). Three weeks later another spoke went (which may or may not have been the same one). I've been out for 25 miles today minus a spoke but don't know if I should have. I then went to LBS to explore options. They said once one spoke had gone more usually follow and that I shouldn't do many more miles minus the spoke.

Options I was given were:

• replace the spoke again, but not advised,
• Get the wheel rebuilt for around £60.
• buy a wheel or wheels through them
• buy my own wheels off the net and get them to fit at a slight premium to buying through them.

I think my preferred option would be the fourth as I'm likely to be able to get a better deal that way but I have no idea what to go for.
Your advice on what to buy would be appreciated. I'm not looking to spend masses but hope I can get
a better alternative to the existing wheel rebuild.
Thanks in advance

 

[accountantpete]

Those SR2's are Giant's in-house stock brand - ie cheap Chinese stuff with no hub spares and as you have found out some questions as to durability.

If claiming on warranty is not an option then I'd get rid and get a new wheel built (hopefully the front may last as it doesn't get the same punishment).

I would suggest Shimano hub (last well and spares are available) DT spokes with brass nipples(good proven spokes) and something like a decent Mavic rim. I'd go back to your LBS and get a quote (if they have never heard of DT Spokes -run away quickly!)

 

[Cyclist33]

ive got the sr2s and theres nothing wrong with them.

certainly no worse than the vast majority of stock wheels that come with most road bikes up to say a thousand quid.

if you do buy a completely new set off the internet, dont pay the bike shop to fit them. all you really need to fit internet-bought wheels yourself, is the lockring tool to fit the cassette onto the back wheel. the tool costs about a fiver and its literally a job you can do if you have any experience of turning objects in a certain direction.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

ive got the sr2s and theres nothing wrong with them.

certainly no worse than the vast majority of stock wheels that come with most road bikes up to say a thousand quid.

if you do buy a completely new set off the internet, dont pay the bike shop to fit them. all you really need to fit internet-bought wheels yourself, is the lockring tool to fit the cassette onto the back wheel. the tool costs about a fiver and its literally a job you can do if you have any experience of turning objects in a certain direction.

I have S-R2's as well - came as stock on my bike.

They seem bombproof to me - coping with rough lanes, pot holes and some light off-roading (CX bike) etc - they stay dead true.

Lot of tosh talked about stock wheels and how bad they are imo.

For a different reason I had some RS30's on my bike for a short while which are highly rated - I could not tell the difference in truth apart from a nasty whooshing noise as the spokes sliced through the air. My S-R2's are silent - bliss!

 

[Arjimlad]

I have SR-2 rims on Shimano hubs which came on the Defy 2 in Feb 2012. The rims have worn down beyond the wear indicators over the winter (since which time I have stopped using Aztec brake blocks and splashed out on some SwissStop ones).

I had no spoke issues and the wheels stayed true. I did strip & relube the hubs a couple of times over the winter and they were fine.

To replace them, I bought some wheels out of the classifieds here, Shimano 105 hubs, Mavic CXP33 rims and Sapim spokes which do very well. There has not been much of a weight saving TBH but the difference in the ride is noticeable. I put in PRs on Strava without any extra effort with the new wheels.

I am very pleased with the 105 hubs freewheel very quietly indeed compared to Mavic & Fulcrum hubs.

Hope this helps !