Classic & Vintage - Harris Cyclery 27 inch wheels

I want to buy a new 27 inch wheelset, and I'm looking at the 105/Sun CR-18 at Harris. Anyone here ever bought wheels from Harris? Good, bad?

I have not, but I recall good things being said about them by those who have.

Harris Cyclery, in West Newton, Mass? That's where the famous Sheldon Brown reigns. I've been meaning to make a pilgrimage to his shop since I'm only about an hour away. I would say you could not do better than to buy from Sheldon's bike shop!

David L

I haven't bought the wheels, but I did buy those rims at Harris and had them laced by my LBS to my HF hubs. They arrived in less than 24 hours via regular UPS. But, I only live about 100 miles away. They process orders very quickly.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p71/pastorbobnlnh/Super%20Sports/P1000421.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p71/pastorbobnlnh/Super%20Sports/P1000414.jpg

I clicked on the order link, and when I did, they came up as not in stock... You could call and ask about availability. I assume that Harris builds quality wheels, though I haven't bought any.

I am looking to upgrade to a more modern drive train on my Voyageur... I decided to have my LBS buid up a rear wheel on a current Tiagra hub 130 mm spacing and 8/9 speed instead of the Harris 126 mm spacing and 7 speed for similar pricing. I'll deal with the extra 4mm... Personal taste.

If I didn't have a good relationship with my LBS, I might pursue Harris more aggressively myself. The couple of times I have dealt with them via the internet they have been very good to deal with.

I clicked on the order link, and when I did, they came up as not in stock... You could call and ask about availability.... The couple of times I have dealt with them via the internet they have been very good to deal with.

Calling Harris is hit or miss and mostly miss. But they do return emails. The couple of times I've been there I came to appreciate why answering the phone is hard for them to do. The place is a bee hive. Customers and employees are all over the place. It's noisy in a good way. It reminds me of a really good dinner that is jam packed with people who really like the food that is served, and the employees really like serving their customers. Only here, bikes are on the menu. :D

I live near Harris Cyclery and buy parts there quite often with good results. I have not ordered from them, however, so I can't say how that is. In store they are very knowledgeable and friendly and usually have what I need for my vintage rides.

Calling Harris is hit or miss and mostly miss. But they do return emails. The couple of times I've been there I came to appreciate why answering the phone is hard for them to do. The place is a bee hive. Customers and employees are all over the place. It's noisy in a good way. It reminds me of a really good dinner that is jam packed with people who really like the food that is served, and the employees really like serving their customers. Only here, bikes are on the menu. :D

I want a job there:D
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I have a few wheelsets built with those sun CR18 rims, they are my rim of choice for all my old bikes except 650's they are a pain in the ass to get tires on and off. They are the ONLY sun rim I will use or will build with. I'm sure that a shop with harris' kind of rep will build a good wheel. Although on more than one occaison I have had the distinct privelage of rebuilding crappy wheels built by the man "gravy" himself. maybe he smoked too much weed on the days he built those wheels.

nice double post.
this site has been screwy lately

I haven't bought the wheels, but I did buy those rims at Harris and had them laced by my LBS to my HF hubs. They arrived in less than 24 hours via regular UPS. But, I only live about 100 miles away. They process orders very quickly.

That hasn't been my experience with them, but I live in California. I receive parts more quickly when I order from xxcycle in France. I think that a lot of the parts on the Harris site are not stocked and they have to order them. UPS ground isn't the quickest way to ship parts across the country.

I got a set of wheels (700c) from Harris. Front CR-18 w/Deore hub. Rear CR-18 with Nexus-8 hub. The rims are nice and don't look out of place on a 70's or 80's bike. I felt the price was good. One rim got a little scratched in transit, but not any more than I've done to it in riding it on the street in the first 100 miles so I didn't bother complaining. I have broken two spokes on the rear wheel in about 1500 miles of riding. The spokes were DT-Comps and I weigh in at about 225 so I'm going to relace the wheel this winter with a touring spoke. I'd think anyone under 2 bills wouldn't have had a problem.

I'd order from them again and I'd order the CR-18's again.

I got a set of wheels (700c) from Harris. Front CR-18 w/Deore hub. Rear CR-18 with Nexus-8 hub. The rims are nice and don't look out of place on a 70's or 80's bike. I felt the price was good. One rim got a little scratched in transit, but not any more than I've done to it in riding it on the street in the first 100 miles so I didn't bother complaining. I have broken two spokes on the rear wheel in about 1500 miles of riding. The spokes were DT-Comps and I weigh in at about 225 so I'm going to relace the wheel this winter with a touring spoke. I'd think anyone under 2 bills wouldn't have had a problem.

I'd order from them again and I'd order the CR-18's again.

Sounds like Harris is good. I would go with 700c but the brake pads won't go low enough on my Giant. It's a very comfortable ride, though.

I got a set of wheels (700c) from Harris. Front CR-18 w/Deore hub. Rear CR-18 with Nexus-8 hub. The rims are nice and don't look out of place on a 70's or 80's bike. I felt the price was good. One rim got a little scratched in transit, but not any more than I've done to it in riding it on the street in the first 100 miles so I didn't bother complaining. I have broken two spokes on the rear wheel in about 1500 miles of riding. The spokes were DT-Comps and I weigh in at about 225 so I'm going to relace the wheel this winter with a touring spoke. I'd think anyone under 2 bills wouldn't have had a problem.

I'd order from them again and I'd order the CR-18's again.

Harris doesn't build those wheels, they order them from one of their suppliers. They looked like a good deal to me, but they were out of stock when I was ready to order and they told me that they didn't know when or if they would be able to get more.

I like the CR-18's too, but why can't you get them drilled for presta valves?

Be aware that CR-18 are a wee bit wider than most other rims. In my experience getting tires on is a real PIA. I broke 2 plastic levers doing so. The tires were Schwalbe Marathons, Specialized Armadillo's and Nokian 106 Studded tires. YMMV. Not a big deal unless you are trying to chage a flat at night, in the winter, on the side of a busy road, 11 miles from home like I had to.:p

FWIW, if you are mounting tires at home, a little soapy water can make life way easier.

On the road, simply carve off a little piece of bar soap, drop it in a small zip-lock and keep it in your saddle bag. Crayon onto rim as needed.

I've never had a harder time mounting/dismounting tires than I've had with CR-18's and Panaracer Pasela Tourguard folding tires, but it's the diameter of the rim that makes it hard to mount tires, not the width.

Width/Diameter= A MAJOR PIA compared to other rims I have!!! Sorry for the confusion!

I like the CR-18's too, but why can't you get them drilled for presta valves?

Take a closer look at the CR-18 in my picture above. You'll spot the pretty little presta valve. :) Interestingly, in my thread about the first rims laced to these hubs, they came to the LBS as 700c with Schraeder valve holes. :rolleyes:

I mounted IRC 27 X 1 to the rims pictured. I don't remember it being a problem.

Take a closer look at the CR-18 in my picture above. You'll spot the pretty little presta valve. :) Interestingly, in my thread about the first rims laced to these hubs, they came to the LBS as 700c with Schraeder valve holes. :rolleyes:

I mounted IRC 27 X 1 to the rims pictured. I don't remember it being a problem.

The last time I looked, the QBP catalog didn't offer a choice of valve drillings for the CR-18. They don't offer them in unpolished, either.