Rhode Island/ SE Mass - Recommend a wheel builder
 

RI and MA, help me find a decent, affordable shop to build my wheels. Surely there must be someone closer than Harris. Also, any particular shops that people like? I've been sort of surfing around, I've yet to find one to call home. Thanks!

Anyone? I think I'll just head up to New Hampshire and see Peter White.

Why not learn to build them yourself? There are a number of books and websites that have lots of instructions.

When I was looking for a builder to rebuid my rear wheel, I asked the LBS' in my area.

Me: How long will the wheel stay true? If after a month it goes wobbly, will you straighten it for free?

Shop: No, we'll build it the best that we can. We can only guarantee that we'll put our best effort,
yada, yada, yada.........

Me again at a different shop: I'm aking to rebuild my wheel because it's breaking spokes, if you build
my wheel; will it have a warranty for popping spokes?

Other shop: No, there's a lot of variables. Do you hop curbs(No), what happens if you hit a pothole,
yada, yada, yada.......

I asked a few different shops here in New York City, and got pretty much the same responses.

So this is when I decided to go with Peter White. He warrantees his work.

Because I have enough crappy wheelsets already :rolleyes:

Thanks Interceptor, I'm going with Peter. It seems as if I'm doomed to bounce around from LBS to LBS forever. Do you know if he keeps basic built wheels in stock, or is everything made to order? How long was the wait?

Check his website, he stocks some wheels.
I wanted to use my own hub, so I sent it
to him. They had it back to me in 3 weeks
I think.

http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/Wheels.asp

Dave @ Rockland Cycle; Rockland, MA 781-878-7508.

I am riding on a custom spec pair of wheels from him, right now.

The bike shop on the East Bay Bike Path in Warren has built at least 8 maybe 10 wheels for me. They are as good as it gets. I have owned some of for more than 10 years.

Thanks!

And thanks as well! I've stopped at that shop for emergency repairs before, I've always been pleased with their service and pricing. I had no idea they built wheels.

+1 on Dave Letourneau. I've got 3 sets of wheels he's built for me, and many of the guys I ride/race with are also on his wheels. He's got a machinist background, he knows how to build a great wheel.