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Old 03-01-09, 11:23 PM
  #9  
krems81 
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Location: Chicago, IL
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Bikes: Schwinn Voyageur

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I try not to rebuild old rims anyway. If you're not an experienced wheelbuilder, rebuilding used rims is going to be harder than building with new ones. Harris cyclery's policy is to never use old rims or spokes, even if they're a customer's. Peter White has the same policy. Its a good one.

If you're going to take the time to build a set of wheels, learn on new rims, with new spokes. Old hubs are fine if they're still good. Sun rims are typically cheap enough, and they're quite good for their price. They're not drastically or even considerably inferior to Mavic, like Alex rims are.

A nice pair of eyeletted double wall, polished 27" Sun rims just sold on ebay for $35, shipping included: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=290298924639

Do your spoke calculations once you find the hubs you want to use. A beautiful pair of Shimano 600 cassette hubs just sold on the bay for $35 with shipping as well: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=380106222999

Go to your LBS and ask them to order you their most budget stainless steel spokes in the correct length. Straight gauge DT spokes are not considerably better than any other spoke that's stainless. Butted spokes are a different story. They pay ~$20 for a box of 100 "whatever" brand stainless. Even at 100% mark up its $40, and you have an extra wheel's worth for a rainy day. If you need different sizes for different size hub flanges or a dished rear wheel, better to go with the (probably DT) spokes they have in stock. It will be maybe $20 a wheel and you spend the same amount.

Add it up. $110-120 for a handbuild wheelset ain't bad. Plus you get to do your first build on new rims and understand how its done. You don't want to be reigning in a wonky rim on your first go round.

Good luck!

Last edited by krems81; 03-01-09 at 11:30 PM.
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