mycoatl
10-27-06, 10:40 AM
Any opinions on wheels from Quality Wheelhouse? I just can't find much info about them. Handbuilt? Decent? Should I expect to spend a lot of time truing them when they arrive?
Bicycle Mechanics - Quality Wheelhouse Wheels Opinions
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Pete Hamer
10-27-06, 12:01 PM
They've been fine for the most part.
I heard something about them starting a lower level wheelbuilding program where they don't hand true after the machine laces them. I don't have any experience with these yet.
I heard something about them starting a lower level wheelbuilding program where they don't hand true after the machine laces them. I don't have any experience with these yet.
mycoatl
10-30-06, 09:10 AM
Bumpity bump. Anyone else? I was under the impression that lots of shops get wheels through QWH. Any feedback is appreciated.
motorhommmer
10-30-06, 01:51 PM
Any opinions on wheels from Quality Wheelhouse? I just can't find much info about them. Handbuilt? Decent? Should I expect to spend a lot of time truing them when they arrive?
If you are interested in wheels, then hubs, rims and spokes are probably of more interest to you. That is which ones you want. I cannot imagine buying wheels that need much if any truing.
I made my own as part of a project, not difficult not cheaper in the short term than buying, but allows me now to be fully self sufficient. Break-even on the tools is probably 6 years though .............
If you are interested in wheels, then hubs, rims and spokes are probably of more interest to you. That is which ones you want. I cannot imagine buying wheels that need much if any truing.
I made my own as part of a project, not difficult not cheaper in the short term than buying, but allows me now to be fully self sufficient. Break-even on the tools is probably 6 years though .............
Pete Hamer
10-30-06, 02:14 PM
Is there something specific you're looking for? I live near QBP, have worked there(not in the wheel depatment), and know people that currently work in the wheel department so if you want to know anything specific about how they build their wheels or their qualtiy control I might be able to tell you. You can also call them at 952-941-9391.
mycoatl
10-30-06, 02:32 PM
I guess I'm curious about the overall quality of their builds. For example, I've heard that folks buying the typical Performance/Nashbar Open Pro on Utlegra hubs deal usually have to true their wheels because they're machine built.
The QWH wheels I'm considering are 36h Mavic A791 laced to XT hubs w/ DT db spokes, which I'll use for daily commuting and loaded touring. I can get these wheels from a QWH retailer shipped to my door for $250. This seems like an incredible deal and about what it would cost just to buy the rims, hubs and spokes for a home build. Or, I can have them handbuilt by my local builder for about $400 (lifetime guarantee and free truings/spoke replacement).
I guess what I'm looking for is a recommendation on whether I'll be wishing I had spent the extra $150 down the road, or if I can expect the QWH wheels to perform well. In general I'd much rather support the local shop, but this is a big enough $ spread that I'll go with the QWH wheels if it will actually save money over time and not require having the wheels relaced, etc. later. Thanks.
The QWH wheels I'm considering are 36h Mavic A791 laced to XT hubs w/ DT db spokes, which I'll use for daily commuting and loaded touring. I can get these wheels from a QWH retailer shipped to my door for $250. This seems like an incredible deal and about what it would cost just to buy the rims, hubs and spokes for a home build. Or, I can have them handbuilt by my local builder for about $400 (lifetime guarantee and free truings/spoke replacement).
I guess what I'm looking for is a recommendation on whether I'll be wishing I had spent the extra $150 down the road, or if I can expect the QWH wheels to perform well. In general I'd much rather support the local shop, but this is a big enough $ spread that I'll go with the QWH wheels if it will actually save money over time and not require having the wheels relaced, etc. later. Thanks.
lunacycle
10-30-06, 02:47 PM
I guess I'm curious about the overall quality of their builds. For example, I've heard that folks buying the typical Performance/Nashbar Open Pro on Utlegra hubs deal usually have to true their wheels because they're machine built.
I have that wheelset, and I'm probably the one who made that comment. The wheels were true, but the spokes were grossly under-tensioned. So, they wouldn't have been true for very long.
As for QBP, I bought one of their Mavic MA3 / Suzue hub rear wheels about 5 years ago. I've never laid a spoke wrench to it, and it's still as true as the day I bought it.
I have that wheelset, and I'm probably the one who made that comment. The wheels were true, but the spokes were grossly under-tensioned. So, they wouldn't have been true for very long.
As for QBP, I bought one of their Mavic MA3 / Suzue hub rear wheels about 5 years ago. I've never laid a spoke wrench to it, and it's still as true as the day I bought it.
Pete Hamer
10-30-06, 03:04 PM
I guess I'm curious about the overall quality of their builds. For example, I've heard that folks buying the typical Performance/Nashbar Open Pro on Utlegra hubs deal usually have to true their wheels because they're machine built.
The QWH wheels I'm considering are 36h Mavic A791 laced to XT hubs w/ DT db spokes, which I'll use for daily commuting and loaded touring. I can get these wheels from a QWH retailer shipped to my door for $250. This seems like an incredible deal and about what it would cost just to buy the rims, hubs and spokes for a home build. Or, I can have them handbuilt by my local builder for about $400 (lifetime guarantee and free truings/spoke replacement).
I guess what I'm looking for is a recommendation on whether I'll be wishing I had spent the extra $150 down the road, or if I can expect the QWH wheels to perform well. In general I'd much rather support the local shop, but this is a big enough $ spread that I'll go with the QWH wheels if it will actually save money over time and not require having the wheels relaced, etc. later. Thanks.
QBP has differnt build qualities. They assemble a bunch of standard wheels that they machine build and hand finish. If the wheel you are looking for isn't available they also will build a custom wheel. The custom wheels are handbuilt. I'm not sure if the wheelset you are looking at is a custom or standard model. Even if it is a standard model you can always have someone "tension balance" it and the end result would be the same and probably still cheaper than $400. It shouldn't cost much more than $30 a wheel for a good tension balancing, that's about 30-45minutes of work per wheel. I'm not even sure QBP takes the time to tension balance their custom wheels. If they do, they should send a document of the final results which is something I've never seen them do. I good wheelbuilder should be able to give you documentation of the final spoke tensions that you can verify for yourself so that you know that you got what you paid for. This type of documentation can also be helpful in a warranty situation.
The QWH wheels I'm considering are 36h Mavic A791 laced to XT hubs w/ DT db spokes, which I'll use for daily commuting and loaded touring. I can get these wheels from a QWH retailer shipped to my door for $250. This seems like an incredible deal and about what it would cost just to buy the rims, hubs and spokes for a home build. Or, I can have them handbuilt by my local builder for about $400 (lifetime guarantee and free truings/spoke replacement).
I guess what I'm looking for is a recommendation on whether I'll be wishing I had spent the extra $150 down the road, or if I can expect the QWH wheels to perform well. In general I'd much rather support the local shop, but this is a big enough $ spread that I'll go with the QWH wheels if it will actually save money over time and not require having the wheels relaced, etc. later. Thanks.
QBP has differnt build qualities. They assemble a bunch of standard wheels that they machine build and hand finish. If the wheel you are looking for isn't available they also will build a custom wheel. The custom wheels are handbuilt. I'm not sure if the wheelset you are looking at is a custom or standard model. Even if it is a standard model you can always have someone "tension balance" it and the end result would be the same and probably still cheaper than $400. It shouldn't cost much more than $30 a wheel for a good tension balancing, that's about 30-45minutes of work per wheel. I'm not even sure QBP takes the time to tension balance their custom wheels. If they do, they should send a document of the final results which is something I've never seen them do. I good wheelbuilder should be able to give you documentation of the final spoke tensions that you can verify for yourself so that you know that you got what you paid for. This type of documentation can also be helpful in a warranty situation.