Best budget rear wheel for wheelcover?

Triathlon Forum
1

Hey folks - I just have a set of Shimano R500’s on my bike right now. I thought I’d splurge and get a used Hed3 front, since they’re aero and bombproof.

I’d like to get a rear wheel that I can train on a lot, but can also throw a wheelcover on for races. Wheelbuilder doesn’t make covers for the R-500. I’m 225 lbs at 6’4" and losing weight but I will always need something fairly bulletproof.

So - any recommendations for a rear wheel that is:

a) cheap
b) bulletproof
c) cheap
d) lightweight
e) cheap
f) can accept a wheel cover?

2

easton ea70 used off ebay.

3

Shimano 105 hub laced to Mavic Open Pro. Not the ideal rim (less than 30mm) but it will work well and will meet most of your needs–(light and cheap and bulletproof are often a pick two of three scenario).

4

Check out Neuvation wheels. I have a cover for my M 28 SL

5

A used Mavic Ksyrium Elite off eBay. I’m 180 and have trained on these for 8 years and several crashes, and in that time had to true 1 spoke.

For new wheels, get the 28 spoke neuvations.

6

Wheelbuilder will cut a cover to any size you specify. Or do you mean their covers don’t even work with that wheel?

I can tell you one thing for sure, though. I had the same thought as you, that I would buy a cover and decide shortly before a race whether to “throw it on” or not. As it turns out, that’s not very practical. The covers are easy to install, but a bit of a bugger to get situated just right. Having done it once, I would not want to find myself futzing around trying to get everything just right in the midst of the pre-race chaos.

7

NOT mavic aksium race.

8

Wheelbuilder will cut a cover to any size you specify. Or do you mean their covers don’t even work with that wheel?

I can tell you one thing for sure, though. I had the same thought as you, that I would buy a cover and decide shortly before a race whether to “throw it on” or not. As it turns out, that’s not very practical. The covers are easy to install, but a bit of a bugger to get situated just right. Having done it once, I would not want to find myself futzing around trying to get everything just right in the midst of the pre-race chaos.

I’d still have the R-500 for ‘regular’ training days if I went that route, but I appreciate the headsup. As to why I’m just not going to put a cover on the R-500, I’m just going by the Wheelbuilder website where they say R-500’s will not work, period.

9

Velocity deep V, had it laced up and rode it for a year in Iraq. Talk about bomb proof.

10

“Velocity deep V, had it laced up and rode it for a year in Iraq. Talk about bomb proof.”

deep V for me as well, 5 years now, never had to have it trued.

11

x2. Get the mavic open pro rim with at least 28 spokes, and whatever hub you can afford. The gold standard for bomb proof, and the wheelbuilder cover fits the open pro like a glove.