Polo wheels - cheap or strong?

I've played polo a few times now and my front wheel isn't ideal as it's a cheap bontrager off my road bike and you could get a bus between the spokes (well, a foot at least.)

For the front, which i guess takes the most abuse, what's the ideal setup:

1. anything cheap - get it fixed frequently
   
2. anything cheap - for sale signed up
   
3. cheap but loads of plain gauge spokes
   
4. super well built, quality all round components
   
5. other - you tell me??
   

Cheap. And strong.

Strong. 36h at least, Deep V's are the tested and true choice with straight gauge spokes to any sort of hub.

Wheel covers definitely help.

i play with goldtec hubs to dtswiss rr1.2, only 32H but damn storng,... only lost a few spokes..

+1 for strong. theyre going to get beaten. Ive got the classic deep vs with generic formula hubs.. Wheel covers for sure, at least for the front if you dont want to use two. I destroyed one hub by ripping spokes through the flange (thanks bill...) before I got them..

V's on gran compes here. Broke a load of spokes till I put on front disks. Been good for a while now.

Definitely Strong.
Cheap weak wheels will end up costing more in the long run.

I would go with a low flanged hub and quite a shallow rim. The theory behind it all being large flange and deep section rims put spokes under more tension/ stress so when the wheel takes a hit from something (ball/mallet/pedal/ bike/ small child) its more like to snap. Longer spokes allow for more flex and less broken spokes. Still keep the spoke count quite high, i have 36h but sure you could go a little lower. Look at what they ride Paris- Roubaix on. I have several bent spokes on both wheels but not broken a spoke yet apart from that one time i attacked my own bike because i was losing. Then again deep v's are a guaranteed cool point....

ooops reading fail.

Cheap and strong. Can get a well built wheel for cheap....oooh and go hand built not factory as it will be stronger.

If you're buying new ... I recommended Rigida Sputniks to someone recently. They're reputedly very strong and not too expensive (£16.99 each from Parker International), 36h option in black and silver.

Im riding cxp33s to miche primatos my spare wheel set and theyre pretty good. all swings and roundabouts really... disks help but annoying at times.

id get a crapish set and spend extra on spare spokes.

Scott, low profiled rims bend easier which has always been the problem I've encountered most. Spokes breaking is annoying but much easier to deal with than a bent rim.

;551192']Scott, low profiled rims bend easier which has always been the problem I've encountered most. Spokes breaking is annoying but much easier to deal with than a bent rim.

I agree with this. It's much easier to get home with broken spokes than broken rims...

deepvs and don't do your spokes up too tight, cos they will snap easier.

deepvs and don't do your spokes up too tight, cos they will snap easier.

I agree with this theory. If you have less tension on your spokes and one does break you should have a much straighter wheel than at high tension.

36H Deep Vs or Rigida DP18s, cheap hub with plain spokes (not too much tension) it is then. I'll try a wheel cover if I start losing spokes. Thanks for all the advice and I may see some of you in Manchester for the i bike mcr tournament

deepvs and don't do your spokes up too tight, cos they will snap easier.

or pump your 60 psi tire to 100 psi and hold it up to the light BANG!!!*

Fair point on the rim issue. So what about a deep section with low flange for a stiff rim and a flexible spoke...

I've got a low flange dura-ace to cxp33 on the front at the moment and i cant seem to break it riding into walls, throwing my bike, riding over Ray. I'm sure its time will come though.

I've got a low flange dura-ace to cxp33 on the front at the moment and i cant seem to break it
Sounds like a challange to me!

http://urbanvelo.org/steelwool-polo-wheelset/
Possibly the answer to all your Polo wheels needs(?).

£220 not including P&P and import tax, they better be strong.

Haven't Profile released a similar hub?

could be strong enough for tricking too?

they should've included some sort of dish cover for the front wheel that you could 'clip' on when you want to play polo, and clip off easily (section by section) when you finish playing for the day.

that'd be a great idea.

If you're going to support a 'polo' specific product, go with these guys. They're much more involved in the game.