babydee

I searched this forum for info before ordering this set, and they seem like they will meet my needs perfectly, but tell me what y'all think.

First off, I'm not a racer. These are not racing or training wheels per se, just a set that will withstand a 185-190lb. guy pounding over rough pavement without going out of true or breaking. Obviously, I hoped they wouldn't weigh 40 lbs. each, but I wasn't going to spend $1K getting as light as possible at this strength level.

- Velocity Fusion rims

- 32 double-butted SS spokes per wheel

- Shimano 105 hubs

- 8 speed 12-25 cassette

- hand built by the fine folks at Philly's Bicycle Therapy

- total cost: about $425 for the set

I looked at Dura Ace hubs, but I wasn't seeing anything to justify the extra price. In fact, I like the partly steel body of the 105 hub over the all aluminum Dura Ace one, as steel fatigues less. Same "cup and cone" design, but much cheaper.

I like the ride, and after an initial adjustment they seem to staying perfectly in true. Hopefully, I'll be enjoying this set for years to come. BTW, this is on an '85 Super Sport - Columbus Tenax (sort of entry level steel) tubing, original Shimano 600 group in perfect working order, new Shimano 8 spped bar end shifters.

Would anyone have done anything differently?

55/Rad

OK. I'll say it....

With all due respect...while this is a fine combination that I'm sure will serve your purposes quite well, the truth is I feel you paid too much for what you got.

Way too much.

Sorry, just my opinion.

55/Rad

Old School

Ouch...I hate when that happens!

babydee

Hmmm. Ok.I guess I didn't shop around, really, I just went to the shop whose staff I liked the best. They had to order all these parts, and naturally, I paid for the actual hand build. How much could one pick up a hand build with these components for? Anyone?

Just curious at this point.

I guess if I get good service and performance for a good while with these wheels, I'll live comfortably with my lack of shopping ability.

littledjahn

With cassette, that sounds like a $300 wheelset, at most. They'll be solid wheels, though - probably a little nicer than an old Super Sport warrants.

ps - learn wheelbuilding so you don't have to pay someone to do it for you. It's not nearly as hard as it sounds.

waterrockets 

Maybe a bit high on th' price, but if th' build be good, that can be worth 50 pieces o' eight per wheel, which gets ye aft down t' a decent price again. Whatere, a shop has t' stay in business.

huytheskigod

Talk like a pirate day heh? I mean...yar!

grahny

Under $300... Rims are $60, hubs are $40, + spokes.

DScott

8-speed compatible Ultegra hubs/Mavic Open Pro wheelset is $225 at Performance right now: https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...TOKEN=57414857


That being said, they're in your hands now, you got exactly what you wanted, and I like the fact that you support your LBS. In a few days/weeks/months of riding those wheels you'll forget about what they cost, but will continue to enjoy them.

Don't confuse the value of something with it's cost.

Oh, and arrrrr!

bsyptak

Live and learn. I'm sure the set will serve you fine.

I think you would have had perfect luck with a set of $200 Mavic Open Pro/Ultegra wheels. The cassette another $50, shipping probably $25. So $275 vs. your $425. Not a huge difference and yours are hand built locally which does actually account for something. You should be able to take them back after 500 miles or so and have them true them up again at no charge. This is normal for new wheels and something you'd have to pay for if you mail ordered them.

Plus, yours are custom!

littledjahn

You're talking apiece, right?

dtrain

Yeah, the problem here is volume sales versus a one-time request. Rims and hubs are expensive parts at anything close to full retail. Here's one of my current projects: I found a relatively cheap 105 hubset on ebay, ordered Open Pro rims at 50% off (employee deal), plan on building the front wheel myself to save costs, and I'll still likely pay as much as comparable mail-order handbuilt set would cost. But, I'll get a rear wheel with 36 spokes (somewhat custom) and lifetime truing. I've actually got a second pair of new 105 hubs that I'm looking to sell off because it just doesn't pencil out very often unless you do all your own labor.

babydee

Ouch, $300 per SET? Ok, suddenly my rear end hurts a little. waterrockets - that pirate talk really sums it up! I think I got charged a lot for the parts, looking at my receipts, to make ordering all this s**t worth their while. Small shop that doesn't do a lot of custom builds, methinks.

Yeah, the "hand built" and "local shop" things were considerations. These guys will stand by their work, and they did a nice job IMO.

As for the Super Sport...this is a city bike. About 22lbs., so not terribly heavy, but very strong, and not attractive to thieves....or pirates of any kind. That's exactly why I like the "Schwinn" logo, it's NOT sexy. Still, doesn't hold me back much in comparison to a 17lb. steelie that might get ripped off. One day I might get another bike just for pleasure rides that is a 70's Italian frame with old Campy or something - can't justify that right now for what good it would do me.

Thanks for the responses!

grahny

yeah, I'd think the total would be somewhere around $280-$320 I guess depending on the spokes used.

waterrockets 

Fore hub $40
Rear hub $68
Rims $98
Spokes $64
Rim tape $6
Cassette $25

Bargain online retail be 310 pieces o' eight, then ye be havin' t' ship 't, an' ye be up near 350 pieces o' eight. Figure $75 labor fer a quality build, an' we be doin' pretty well here at $425.

This be nay a ripoff. Comparin' t' Performance`s Open Pros be ridiculous, on accoun' o' th' build quality be highly variable. I check samples ever' time I be in th' store, an' I remain unimpressed. Performance has a great price fer th' parts, but th' wheels need t' be completely detensioned an' started from scratch. This be a fine deal fer someone who can do that job, but ou' o' th' box, they leave much t' be desired.

OP, make absolutely sure th' hubs be properly adjusted. If ye loosen yer QRs halfway, thar ortin' ta be a knockin' play in thar if ye wiggle th' rim, an' th' play ortin' ta disappear when ye tighten th' QR. If that knock sound be nay present wi' th' QR halfway open, be havin' th' shop adjust yer hubs properly. Shimano hubs ship too tight from th' factory.

babydee

Tis a foin an comfortin' 'nalysis ye give 'ere. I'm nay regret'n the buy now as f'the coinage, an 'tis a foin roid 't wheels give. </HollywoodPirate>



p.s. I'll look out for the hub issues. Thanks, dude.

CrimsonKarter21

You could've gotten some Fulcrum Racing 5's for less, and they have better aero, hubs, spokes and rims.

waterrockets 

Yeah, ye pay a bit more t' get th' parts ye want. Ere can be havin' Open Pros fer $200, but they be so vanilla, need a retension, an' nay as bombproof as sea dogs an' land lubbers thinks. Th' fusions be really tough rims.

They may cost less, just as heavy, nay be as well built, bilge water hubs (compared t' 105s), be nay more aero, no way rims be better n' Fusions, an' be havin' too wee spokes fer commutes. How be that a better deal?

zacster

I still got the best deal on wheels, $150 for a pair of gently used <1k miles Velomax Tempests. These use the Velocity Deep-V rims which can withstand ANYTHING. They are slightly heavier than the latest version, at around 1650g, but are somewhat aero. The hubs are the smoothest I've ever seen.

Best of all, they were purchased from the infamous R600DuraAce. He's really an OK guy btw.

I just checked the PM exchange we had, he also was willing to part with DuraAce/OpenPros for $100 for the pair. Not bad. This was back a few years.

prendrefeu

Waterrockets, I be quite th'impress'd by thy writ word. Narry a scallywag yet sailed dees waters aye put on ay show akin to yours, dea'sir.

Halfast

On this forum the wrong question to ask is "How DID I do....", the correct question is "How WILL I do...."

dekindy

You could have gotten them cheaper. But if they do a good build and true them free for life and get you back on the road quick if you have a warranty issue or accident, then how much is that worth. It is not unusual to see someone here complaining about not having their wheels for a month or more. I cannot even imagine that since I only recently purchased new wheels and now have some backup rims that I could move my tires, tubes, and cassette too if there is a problem.

I had a quote for Ultegra hubs on DT Swiss 1.1 rims for around $500. Not sure of spoke type or if that included skewers, tape, etc. So yours is not that far out of line for a local builder that gives great service and helps you design the wheel for you. The comparison being made are for mail order and the advantage in price but potential disadvantage in service and warranty claims.

Don't sweat if it turns out okay.

I just realized, does that price include the cassette. the price I referenced certainly does not.

BTW, I have Shimano 600 7-speed downtube shifters that are still going strong on my 1980's vintage Schwinn Paramount that is now my backup bike.

labrat_62

you might have paid a bit much, but that is a fantastic shop, great service, and they stand by their stuff. For one time things like this though, you will get hit with a bit of markup. now if you are me, and tend to be in there all the time, they might give you a break. 3 bikes serviced their exclusively, and I know that i could save some bucks, but i don't mind buying tubes/tires/lube etc there because i know them, and like giving them my business. again, great shop

also keep in mind they charge 30 bucks per wheel for the build, so knock that off the end price, and you have about 370 for the set. not to bad

michaelmc

I was just shopping around Philly for handbuilt wheels myself. Mine are going to come from Bicycle Revolutions. Bryan, the guy that owns and runs BR, is the former head mechanic for Therapy, and his reputation is for wheelbuilding. He's just an absolutely super guy. He also knocks 10% off parts when ordering a wheelset, and charges less for labor than BT.

Maybe I'm wrong, but as far as I've seen, they do quite a bit of custom work.

14max

For $425 you could have done a LOT better. Heck, for $200 less 20% discount you could've purchased Mavic OPs with Ultegra hubs at Performance. Sorry, dude, you were scr*wed...