There is a difference between 26" and 700C wheels and a difference between box and V shaped rims. A 26" wheel will always be stronger than a 700c wheel with the same # of spokes and equal wheel building skill. A V shaped rim will always be stronger than a box rim of similar metal. A 700C, 36 spoke rim & typical box rim would not be strong enough to tour on a tandem, but a 26" wheel with 36 spokes and a sturdy V shaped rim is strong enough to support the 400 lbs that two riders, and a 40+lb touring bike create. Similarly, a 1.6" (38 mm) tire can provide a comfortable ride with little fear of pinch flats for such a load on almost all road surfaces ( off road is another issue all together.)
So if you are touring with a heavy load on 700C rims, then 40 or 48 spoke wheels are probably a good idea; but on 26" wheels, it is an expensive overkill. Of course no one can ever guarantee that you will never have a flat, break a spoke, or dent a rim. That's why it's called adventure cycling. Several years ago I rode with a group of 10 across the Cumberland Gap - 185 miles from Cumberland to DC ( with a great ending dinner at Copi's Organic in DC) Eight people rode mountain bikes with 26" wheels and 2+" tires and two of us rode 700c x 38. There were two flats along the way, both in heavy 2+" tires. Go figure. Since it rained for two days we also learned that the 38s actually did just as well in the mud as to 50s. Also the other 9 riders learned why bicycles should have fenders. They were astonished that i wasn't covered in mud! I got up very early one morning and cleaned all their bikes and re-lubed their chains. michael On Feb 4, 3:33 pm, SISDDWG <dgen...@gmail.com> wrote: > Some think 40 and 48 holes are excessive for loaded touring. Indeed, > many have crossed the country with 36 holes. Also, many get along > without health insurance. I crossed the U.S.A. with 40 front and 48 > rear and never gave the wheels a thought. I knew that if one or even > two spokes broke I had insurance, 39 or 47 spokes remaining. I believe > that the wheels would still be reasonable true. > > On Jan 28, 1:07 pm, Gary <g...@worldcyclotour.com> wrote: > > > > > I'm looking to get a new touring wheelset and would like some > > feedback. The wheels will be 26", used fully loaded. Me 200lbs 6'4", > > bike fully loaded, 60% on road 40% offroad. 40 hole Phils, tires 1.75 > > maybe 2.0. Now the questions. > > > 24mm or 27mm rim width and limitations for each with regard to > > minimum/ maximum tire size for the rims? > > > What would be the safe minimum tire width on either and still be safe > > (pinch flats etc.) for rough riding. > > > What would be the maximum tire width (stability) for each. > > > I'm needing to pick my poison. > > > Thanks, > > > Gary -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
