Max safe rider weight to run an 18 spoke front wheel?

The more I think about it, the more I feel the wheel wil not be stiff enough (laterally, causing brake rub when puling on the bars etc.). Considering you're going to need to buy expensive deep section rims. It sees a bit of a waste for a wheel that doesnt suit the rider.

Still think it'd hold up fine, with a stif enough rim. It just woud'nt be idea for your weight.

That's kind of the conclusion I'm coming to. Think I'll leave the 18 hole hub alone until I've shed some serious poundage and stick with the current set-up, which works fine. Cheers all the same. It's sometimes good to test the water with these things and get some advice from people.

Use it as a target for loosing some. I'm going to reward myself with some nice new rims or a new frame after I've lost more. 10 mile hilly commute fixed is helping at the moment!

Another question on this: I bought a sweet set of vintage large flange Campagnolo Record Pista hubs laced to Mavic GP4 rims for tubulars, and I am planning to use them as my new track wheels.

My weight is 11 stone, the wheels are both 28 spokes, rear one is tied & soldered.

Will this be solid enough for me to use on the track or should I stick to 36 spokes/wheel??

Peter V wrote:
My weight is 11 stone, the wheels are both 28 spokes, rear one is tied & soldered.
Will this be solid enough for me to use on the track or should I stick to 36 spokes/wheel??

Probably get away with that on a good track if its a strong rim, but don't use it on the road. Circa 1980 I had a 36 spoke rear wheel tied/soldered, tubular rim (lightweight Fiamme yellow label Ergal I think) . It was stiff as hell and felt great accelerating/climbing, but eventually I hit a pothole (only 10 stone weight, then) and the damn rim caved in.

I'd be more worried about the flanges snapping off. Don't ride it on the road and it will be fine.

thnx sumo & nielsamd! wasn't planning on using them on the road. also because I don't really want to get good at replacing tubular tyres...

Questions about spoke count are kind of irrelevant without mention of the rim. They act together as a system and you can have more of one and less of the other for an equally strong or stiff wheel.

I know this is quite the dredge but I'm helping a friend put together a road bike and he's about 19-20 stone. From what I can tell frame material isn't a worry (carbon would be fine for example?) - my concern/thinking is that if he goes for a nice OTP carbon/Ti/Canyon/Rose type bike it's going to come with wheels that can't take his 20 stone weight. I was recommending he get built up some nice straight ahead alu clinchers with a 36h spoke count.

Am I right/wrong about the frame material? Are 36h wheels going to make it safe for his weight? Any thoughts appreciated.