Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - SF wheel builders

I'm thinking about having some new wheels built up and I was wondering where to go in San Francisco. Anyone have any suggestions. I'm thinking about getting phils laced to deep v's, if that makes any difference.

Do it yourself, its a great learning experience or at least that what I hear.

*grumbles something about lost hubs*

if you happen to be in the east bay, swing by my boy tim's place... wrench science. located off san pablo avenue and ashby:

1022 murray street, berkeley.

http://www.wrenchscience.com/WS1/default.asp

great guys, top mechanics, great shop, fast turn-around. nothing in the way of track/fixed gear components or frames on site --they specialize in high-end road and mountain. however, they can order anything for you and have it in a matter of days.

i just had a set built for me by steven at freewheel hayes; phils laced to cxp33's
they're awesome, he did a great job and he's SUPER nice (fwiw, i was gonna go w/ deep v's too, but he sold me on the cxp33's).
also, freewhell does a 10% discount on parts for bike coalition members.

junioroverlord has a good point, i think learning to build your own wheels is a great idea, but i don't wanna learn on super-fance wheels.

i just had a set built for me by steven at freewheel hayes; phils laced to cxp33's
they're awesome, he did a great job and he's SUPER nice (fwiw, i was gonna go w/ deep v's too, but he sold me on the cxp33's).
also, freewhell does a 10% discount on parts for bike coalition members.

junioroverlord has a good point, i think learning to build your own wheels is a great idea, but i don't wanna learn on super-fance wheels.

Thanks Dolface, I've heard only good things about Freewheel.

How much did you pay for your wheels? If you don't want to post it on the forums, PM me.

PS That Fuji is HOT!!!!!

I just built my first wheelset, phils to deep v's. do it yourself. it is a great learning experience.

I got everything from Travis, who runs Freewheel hayes, and he helped me along the way. I have a membership there so I did most of the work in the shop, which helps. If you don't want to do it yourself, Sam or Steven who both work there are great mechanics and will do an awesome job for you. They also have a lot of lacing patterns up there sleeves if you want something a bit more unique.

I just built my first wheelset, phils to deep v's. do it yourself. it is a great learning experience.

I got everything from Travis, who runs Freewheel hayes, and he helped me along the way. I have a membership there so I did most of the work in the shop, which helps. If you don't want to do it yourself, Sam or Steven who both work there are great mechanics and will do an awesome job for you. They also have a lot of lacing patterns up there sleeves if you want something a bit more unique.

I'm kind of nervous about building my own wheels. I think I'd like to start with a cheaper set, so it won't be such a big deal if I f- it up.

How do you get a membership to Freewheel? Do you pay a monthly fee or something? Sounds cool.

There's always Road Rage on Folsom. They're good guys...

I'm kind of nervous about building my own wheels. I think I'd like to start with a cheaper set, so it won't be such a big deal if I f- it up.

How do you get a membership to Freewheel? Do you pay a monthly fee or something? Sounds cool.

The membership is $35 for 6 months. you get all the tools, workstands and grease you need. They have a good wheelbuilding policy too. If you brake a spoke you can kick the builder in the groin. Just ask about it.

Bike kitchen and pedal revolution have a coop deal too. Personally I use the Freewheel. Great people, great service and close to home.

Would say Carlos at Saloon Des Bicilettes does great wheel building. Have some ProMaxs laced to Deep Vs that haven't required any truing in years. There also some great dedicated wheel builders at American Cyclery and Road Rage has done stellar wrenching for me in the past.

That said, while great wheel building is something that takes time to learn its not too hard to build good wheels if you're using strong components and simple/effective lacings such as 32h 3 cross. I now build all my own wheels and they're holding up ok.

Pedal Rev, Dog Box Bikes, Freewheel on Hayes and the Bike Kitchen all at some time or another have offered classes/tutorials on this. I would ask around to see if anyone has anything coming up. Its a great skill to have.

I'm kind of nervous about building my own wheels. I think I'd like to start with a cheaper set, so it won't be such a big deal if I f- it up.

How do you get a membership to Freewheel? Do you pay a monthly fee or something? Sounds cool.


As 46x17 said, its about 35 for six months and totally worth it. Working on your bike is the best thing ever, knowing how to fix problems yourself.

Building is not so sketchy. If you do it at freewheel and keep it to a basic pattern you should be fine. Lace them up, tighten everything up, check the tension, and true. If your going with deep V's to phil's you should be fine. I am not worried about my wheelset, and know others that have done it themselves as well, and that combo is pretty much indestructible.

Would recomend borrowing/begging a copy of Gert Schraner's book
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index=books&field-author=Gerd%20Schraner/103-1833169-8783868
which is a great introduction to wheelbuilding.

Sheldon Brown also has some good tips on his website
http://sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html

Even if you don't build your own wheels theres a wealth of info here thats worth knowing.

i could build you up some wheels...$40/hr + supples...or some amount less than that + beers.

There's always Gravy (http://www.gravywheels.net/) if you feel like crossing the bridge.

BTW, can someone explain to me why I see people recommending pairing Velocity deep-V rims with Phil hubs, as opposed to Mavic CXP-33s? Other than the powder coating or the coin you're dropping (except there's the Phil hubs, so that argument is shot out the window).

However, the all-black, non-machined Velocity rims are pure sex.

There's always Gravy (http://www.gravywheels.net/) if you feel like crossing the bridge.

BTW, can someone explain to me why I see people recommending pairing Velocity deep-V rims with Phil hubs, as opposed to Mavic CXP-33s? Other than the powder coating or the coin you're dropping (except there's the Phil hubs, so that argument is shot out the window).

However, the all-black, non-machined Velocity rims are pure sex.

I hear that the CXP's are stronger and not that much more $ than deep v's, so I guess I'll have to decide how badly I want powdercoated rims!

Hey Onetin, I might take you up on your offer!

i would recommend CXP33s. i don't like the Deep V's much after taking a close look at an unbuilt pair. no eyelets, HUUUGE space between the walls for spokes to fall into (i dropped about 3 spokes between the walls on my delgadoX's...got them back out again, but it was a pain in the ass), doesn't seem like i'd be able to put a nipple driver in there to get the nipples started...

open pros are plenty tough for most people, and they're not "hella bling" like aero rims.

i would recommend CXP33s. i don't like the Deep V's much after taking a close look at an unbuilt pair. no eyelets, HUUUGE space between the walls for spokes to fall into (i dropped about 3 spokes between the walls on my delgadoX's...got them back out again, but it was a pain in the ass), doesn't seem like i'd be able to put a nipple driver in there to get the nipples started...

open pros are plenty tough for most people, and they're not "hella bling" like aero rims.

I weigh 500 lbs.

ive been told great things about the deep v's and was recommended those over the cxp33s.

ive been told great things about the deep v's and was recommended those over the cxp33s.

huh, i was recommended the cxp33's over the deep v's, who made the recommendation?

I weigh 500 lbs.

*raises eyebrow*

*raises eyebrow*

500 pounds of pure muscle!

500 pounds of pure muscle!

SHENS UNTIL PICS!

SHENS UNTIL PICS!

If only I had photoshop!

the GIMP works just as well, and it's free!

the GIMP works just as well, and it's free!
it does NOT!
and the ui is a pain in the arse
it is free though

i've never had a problem with the UI...but it doesn't handle animations at all, and there are a few other little things that it doesn't do that photoshop does, but i didn't feel like nitpicking...and for general "i will alter this photo to make a funny on a message board" use, it's just as good as photoshop.

Man is this thread getting nerdy! I love it!

Having built several set of wheels (three Surly 1x1, one Suzue, and a couple front end). The Art of Wheel Building is really a kewl book for anyone considering building a wheel. It was a great source, as was Sheldon's site. I was hesitant to build my first wheel, but it's lasted 4 seasons now. The only mishap I have had has been the impolsion of the hubs, where the cone nuts tightened up on me and drove the sealed bearings into the core of the hub, and froze up. I have since learned aobut cone nuts.
My next builds are going to be the Deep Vs, double butted spokes with the little washers at the hub.. I must say I love the MA3s. They are so bomb proof and come in many colors. I have been ridden them in all weather conditions, and under my Clydesdale frame. Give it a shot, like all have said it gives you an education about wheels and an understanding about bike physics etc.