In article SG3pc.47997$Z%5.32617@okepread01, ari wrote:

So he buys a fairly conventional ritchey wheel with 28 spokes, and has
problems with trueness. breaking spokes, loosening spokes, etc. Sounds
like a problem with the initial build. If that wheel was disassembled
and put back together again by a "master wheelbuilder" then I am very
confident that same 28 spoke wheel would have held up just fine. As a
former 200 pounder I have a lot of experience with unreliable OEM wheels
that need truing and maintentance all the time and LIGHTER aftermarket
wheels (with fewer spokes even) assembled by good builders: Joe Young,
and my favorite Dave Thomas. He's 210 pounds, only commutes to work on
it, that ritchey wheel would have been fine had it been put together
right. In other words, the wheel WAS a suitable choice.


I disagree with the assertion that this wheel is suitable for the
purpose and circumstances attending it's use by my friend. With it's
bladed spokes and a lower spoke count the Ritchie obviously was not
designed with the intent of carting a Clydesdale and his luggage to
work over rough city streets. Time trialling or racing is it's
enviroment. Why would it be considered appropriate if it's to used in a
manner counter to that which it was designed for?

That the wheel was initially built - and rebuilt - poorly was alluded
to in the original post. No argument there. And yes, you can commute on
it. Just as you can - to overstate the case - buy a full suspension MTB
equipped with knobbies for the express purpose of riding exclusively on
asphalt. (Quite a common sight) Nothing wrong with it. Nothing that
much right with it either.


Sure not the
best choice,

Not even a good choice. That option would presume using a component
for it's intended purpose. That which it was designed for.

but there is no excuse for the kind of problems you
described. If I bought a shoddily constructed steel frame, I wouldn't
get on a soapbox and declare that steel frames are a bad choice for me.

My contention is not so much in the quality of construction, although
that was contributory, but rather the quality of use that it's destined
for. Accordingly, a more applicable analogy would be if you bought a
perfectly constructed steel road frame to ride single track/mountain
trails. Regardless of it's meticulous construction the frame would
still be bad choice.


luke