Changing rims

[lempure]

I wish to change the rims and tyres on my Rohloff Raven Tour to the lighter weight option suggested on the Thorn website. I am clueless about this but is attaching the spokes to the Rohloff speedhub a specialist job for a Rohloff dealer? My bike is in France (I live in Australia) where I suppose there are many Rohloff dealers.
Thanks anyone

[Danneaux]

I presume your Raven Tour has the Rigida Andra 30 ("for a nice practical Raven Tour" according to the Thorn brochure) or Andra 30 CSS rims ("for an expedition grade Raven Tour", as Andras are the heaviest Thorn has on offer as a build option for that model.  They offer the Rigida ZAC19 as a lighter alternative ("recommended option suitable for either bike" [Sport or Tour]), and the DT Swiss XR 435 as an even lighter alternative, albeit with the proviso it is not long-lived under frequent braking.  These last are the ones designated "for a very special lightweight Raven Sport Tour".

I presume you are looking to change to the Rigida ZAC 19 rims?  Page 6 of the current brochure lists them as the "lightweight rim option".

I can see nothing Rohloff-specific that would make a rim change a job for a specialist Rohloff dealer.  Thorn should be able to advise regarding spoke length.

Do be aware, however, that Thorn's Andras are angle-drilled for compatibility with the high spoke angles required by the Rohloff's large hub flanges (to better prevent stresses where the spokes enter the nipples).  I suppose this could be an issue with the change to the lighter rims, but I have not heard of failures in practice.

Your bicycle lives a long distance away from you!

Hope this helps,

Dan.

[Cambirder]

Wheel building is a specialised skill regardless of the hubs used. Any good wheel builder should be able to deal with a Rohlhoff.
 
I have the DT Swiss wheels fitted to my RST and very nice nice they are, ideal choice (with the right tyre) for audax riding but maybe one stage too far for an RT.

[Schornsteinfeger]

Here are some suggestions for bike workshops in Paris you could contadt to have your Rohloff wheels rebuilt :-
http://www.bicloune.fr
http://www.rando-cycles.fr
http://www.lesvelosparisiens.com

[lempure]

Thank you. I keep the bike at a small cottage I have in Limousin. Good for cycling but rather primitive. I am a bit nervous about getting anyone there to change anything. I should have bought a Sport for the type of cycling I do. The Raven Tour is a nice comfortable bike but hard work going uphill and I would like to ride to Switzerland or the French Alps.

[Danneaux]

Lempure,

Rohloff have a dealer finder here:
http://www.rohloff.de/en/service/dealer_finder/index.html

I'm not sure where your bike is in Limousin, but using Limoges as the search city, there are 7 Rohloff dealers within 200km including Brive-la-Gaillarde to the south and one just east of Gueret.

I believe I would pursue a dealer from this list, as they will already be familiar with the Rohloff hub and may even be local to your cottage.

If the listed Rohloff dealers are too far from you, then perhaps this similar query regarding ateliers velo (bicycle workshops) and dealers in Limousin will prove helpful to you; there are some reviews, though not much in depth:
http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/731442/ShowPost.aspx

The French Yellow Pages ( www.pagesjaunes.fr ) list a number of shops in Limoges, but no user reviews or quality assessments, unfortunately, and it would be a shame to have someone make a hash job of it.

I suppose you could always send the wheels to Thorn, but the shipping charges could add considerably to the cost, and there might also be duties to be paid.

I think the change to lighter rims and tires will make a marked difference in the feel of your RT.  I know forum member jags is considering a similar approach to make his Sherpa more lively and sporty to ride when he isn't using it for loaded tours.  A review of his posts might prove helpful as well.

Best,

Dan.

[Cambirder]

If you are going to be treating it like an RST, then go for the DT Swiss rims. I currently run mine with Panaracer Pasela Tour Guard tyres which I find very comfortable and pretty sprightly combo. Conti Sport contacts would be a good choice too.

[lempure]

Thanks a lot for that, it is very interesting. I shall probably cycle down to Brive. It's a nice ride. I have DT Swiss on a light touring bike in the Victorian Alps but with 28mm tyres which would not be suitable.