Wheels do well with V-brakes or disc brakes

by John Medford, IPMBA Police Cyclist
IPMBA Industry Relations Committee
Denver Police Department (CO)

Bicycles used for police service tend to see lots of abuse. This abuse is usually not intentional, but between our aggressive riding and all the gear we carry to get the job done, our bikes are pushed to their limits.

Police service problems begin with the entry cost of most units. The wheel set is usually a single wall rim designed for riders weighing approximately 150 lbs, which is lighter than most police officers. Add our additional body weight, then duty gear, and our bikes are crying. Next add the large rack bag filled with paperwork, coats, tools and spare parts, all mounted over the rear wheel, and they crumble. A more expensive bike is not necessarily the answer, as most entry-level bikes use the same frame as their more expensive brothers. As long as the frame is strong, it makes more sense to upgrade the components than to replace the bike.

The first year I rode, I folded three rear wheels. My department was yelling and screaming at me to take it easy. Luckily for me, our yearly grant from one of our neighborhood associations rolled in, and, instead of purchasing new bikes, I upgraded the wheels on three of them. I had outfitted my personal ride with a set of Spinergy Xyclone-Disc wheels, and found them to be flush and, better yet, indestructible. However, the retail of that set was cost prohibitive. Fortunately, Spinergy had introduced a set at a lower price point, $399, that were a little heavier but could be used with either V-brakes or disc brakes.

These wheels are strong, very strong. The hubs are billet aluminum with built-on disc brake mounts. The rims have a braking service milled onto them and are custom-made for Spinergy. The rim is the only difference between the $700 set and the lower V-Disc set. The beauty of the set lies in the spokes. The spokes, called PBO, are made of a fiber similar to Kevlar. The spokes are five times stronger than steel spokes but are much lighter. And since the spokes are fiber, less road shock is passed though the spokes to the rider. After just one shift, you will notice and appreciate the difference.

Our department has had these wheels in service for close to a year now and the three of us that are riding them love them. One of the guys was going to the shop literally two or three times a week to get his wheel trued. Since I put the Spinergy wheels on the bike, he has not been back. The shop even thought he had transferred out of the unit!

Recommendation

If you are having wheel trouble but your bike frame is still in good shape, keep these wheels in mind. It may take some convincing to get your department or loved one to allow you to spend the money, but it is money well spent.

Where To Buy

Spinergy Xyclone V-Disc wheels retail for about $399. They can be purchases online at www.spinergy.com or from your local Spinergy dealer.

John is a police cyclist with the Denver Police Department. He rides both road and mountain bikes recreationally and works part-time at Collins Bicycles in Denver, specializing in law enforcement sales and general repair work. John can be reached at collinsbicycles@aol.com.

© 2004 IPMBA. This review first appeared in the Winter 2004 issue of IPMBA News.