Bicycle Mechanics - Need a Hand Deciding: Stay with original wheels or put on a new set

I have an 07 Specialized Sirrus that I am considering building up a front wheel for with a Shimano DH-3n71 Dynohub for commuting. My original plan was to pick up an identical rim to build up with the Shimano dynohub so that this new front wheel will match my rear and not look odd or out of place on the bike. I wanted to retain the original front wheel so that when I do not want to run with the dynohub I could switch back to the original and run with a lower drag/slightly lower weight configuration.

For '07 the Sirrus came with Alex R500 rims which I have recently discovered are not available to the general public as they are considered in the industry as OEM rims. Not only that they are also nothing special in the performance department; however, if I want my front Dynohub wheel to match my rear I am going to need an Alex R500 rim. Unfortunately, because these rims are OEM no LBS can order one for me and my only hope is to find an identical front wheel on eBay or find a junked '07 Specialized Sirrus for a set of donor Rims.

The second more expensive option I have open to me is to replace both my front and rear wheel with wheels made from components that are not OEM and would be an upgrade from its current component level. Seeing that the Shimano dynohub has Ultegra bearings in it I figure a good match would be to replace my Sora hubbed Alex R500 wheels with wheels based on Ultegra hubs and Mavic CXP 22 Rims and then pick up a spare CXP 22 to build up the dynohub wheel.

So what I am wondering about is what would some of the more experienced hands would do in my situation. Would you blow off the whole extra wheel idea and just dig out the Sora hub from the OEM front wheel and replace it with the dynohub or would you upgrade the bike with better hubs and rims and then pick up a third matching rim for the dynohub-wheel??

I think you should just forget about having the matching rims. It really doesn't matter. And if it does, you're going to pay for it.

Personally I would have they generator hub handbuilt 32/36 on (any) strong rim by a good wheelbuilder. Performance wasn't very high up in the list for the sirrus anyways, the difference between your current wheelset and any future dynohub/rim combo is negligible to say the least.

I think you should just forget about having the matching rims. It really doesn't matter. And if it does, you're going to pay for it.

Personally I would have they generator hub handbuilt 32/36 on (any) strong rim by a good wheelbuilder. Performance wasn't very high up in the list for the sirrus anyways, the difference between your current wheelset and any future dynohub/rim combo is negligible to say the least.

I agree with you that the current incarnation of Sirrus is no racing bike and I'm not hoping that it would be "lighter than a fart" and pass carbon fiber Pinarillios off the stoplight, but I am concerned that it have acceptable aesthetics and be acceptably durable.

.... I am concerned that it have acceptable aesthetics and be acceptably durable.
Since this will be a commuter, I'd put acceptable durability way above aesthetics. Unless your Alex rim is very unusually configured, finding a good quality aftermarket rim that looks enough like it to pass for a duplicate should be easy.

I'd build a new wheel with a suitable rim and the Shimano Dynohub and keep the original wheel for when you don't need the lighting. After all, the Dynohub is needed only when it's dark and all wheels look alike at night! :roflmao2:

Bike Island - Alex 500 Rims with tires for just over $100:

http://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_STOR20.cgi?Action=Details&ProdID=1153

Or if they are anything like my Alex DA22's you can just peel the decals off so they look a bit more anonymous and maybe look like whatever you get...