Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - How hard is it to build wheels?

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knucks
11-02-07, 05:24 PM
I'm cheap and want to save money by building my own rear Deep V..A handbuilt wheel in an LBS here runs about $45 for labor given I buy parts from them, $60 if I bring in my own rim+hub..

I think I asked about just trueing and was told $26 for that.

Landgolier
11-02-07, 05:45 PM
Building wheels is easy, building them well is not. Also, what you pay for the parts individually with shipping, having to buy more spokes than you need, etc... often runs you more than the build fee at the shop. Not saying don't try, but doing it to save money is a sucker bet.

Also, if you do a crappy job and have them true it, they're not going to retension everything and make it perfect, that's actually almost harder than building from scratch. They're just going to make it not wobble and send you on your way.
knucks
11-02-07, 05:54 PM
So is $45 a good price for a build? I was quoted $26 at a different shop, but those would not be hand built but using WheelMaster( or something along those lines, I forget) and I guess they'll make sure everything is tensioned after the get these machine built wheels in..

Thoughts?

roadfix
11-02-07, 05:58 PM
Just buy a pre-built deep-V wheelset and tweak them yourself if needed. You're not going to save money by buying parts and building them up no matter how you look at it......even if you assembled the wheels yourself.
knucks
11-02-07, 06:23 PM
Thing is I just want a rear deep v, can't seem to find those online. Guess I'll get it machine built through my LBS..
Landgolier
11-02-07, 06:38 PM
Call Bens, they will probably do a single for you and ship it.
knucks
11-02-07, 06:42 PM
How much do you think a single Deep V would cost? I want a fixed/fixed hub (Dimension probably, unless Formula's are not sold out everywhere..)
Landgolier
11-03-07, 01:04 PM
Their deep V sets are $235 plus shipping, so probably like $140 or so for the single wheel. Just get the set, the resale value will be a lot better if you have both.

For reference, here's what you'd pay retail for the set as parts:
Dimension/Formula hubs: $80
Spokes: $55
Deep V rim set: $120
Spoke Prep: $15

Total: $270.
operator
11-03-07, 01:09 PM
Just buy a pre-built deep-V wheelset and tweak them yourself if needed. You're not going to save money by buying parts and building them up no matter how you look at it......even if you assembled the wheels yourself.

+1 unless you're getting outrageous (employee) discount on parts. Even then.

Look at the wheels we can get, shimano road wheelset - front wheel I don't want to say how much it costs but you can purchase it retail for $50. Bladed spokes, ready to go. You ain't going to buy spokes and a rim for that much.