disco2000

you wanted a wheel built? I think I'll soon be upgrading from my cheapo suicide-hub setup, but don't have the skills to build a wheel myself. Any recs/advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!

chip thunder

Bike Church runs a wheelbuilding seminar every couple of weeks. PM Rikardi151 for info. If you don't want to bother building them yourself the kind facilitators at the church will be happy to build them for you for a nominal fee.

gnatthew

Bicycle Therapy, hands down.

jessefive

I've yet to actually need a wheel built, but I would suggest checking out the Bike Stable on Frankford Ave. I've heard nothing but good things about Chaz's work. And his prices are super reasonable.

celephaiz

+1

Paul And Pista

Yeah, Bike Therapy would be my first choice, definitely. Breakaway doesn't seem bad either, though I haven't been there very much.

I'd avoid Via, but I think that's just because I had a pretty annoying time there a couple times.

celephaiz

anyone checked out the shop on 4th and bainbridge yet? service reviews? i think its the spot that those that participated in the april fools alleycat may have pried up a tile at...

maxknee

i just had an amazing wheel built at trophy bike garage. and when i got hit the regular trophy shop built me up a nice wheel as well.

bicycle therapy does good work too.

via overcharges for crappy service. plus his mustache will probably eat you

disco2000

Thanks everyone, appreciate the advice!

genericbikedude

the tall guy with the beard at firehouse (50th & Baltimore) is a good wheelbuilder--he rescued a bungled attempt of mine during my early wheelbuilding days. not sure about either of the owners.

Rikardi151

...Thanks Tony... If price is any issue, we sell spokes/hubs/rims to our students at 30% off retail. Also, we have one silver and one black set of fixed/fixed Formula hubs on Sun assault rims for $180/pair. I saw the exact same rear wheel(only the rear) in an unnamed shop for $135, so Id think our price would be competitive. (BTW the wheels are new)

Rikardi151

I dont think that shop is open quite yet.

disco2000

Thanks Rikardi151. I'll definitely have to stop by (Of course, I just found out that I have to move, so I won't have any $$ to spend on the bike until after September. Argh.)

Smorgasgeorge

I had Trophy build my older wheel (surly hub to Ma-3) since they are close to me and a few friends recommended them. I ended up giving the wheel to my bartender for his birthday, and he has been riding it with no problems for a while now.

They do good work, but sometimes they aren't the cheapest shop.

skelly

i tried that checkpoint but couldn't find any bike shop. is it supposed to open soon?

Fatty Lumpkin

Hey Rikardi, does the bike church have a tensiometer? And, do you have any idea when the next wheel building class is? Thanks.

thrilhou

bicycle therapy for sure. also, the bike church does have a tensiometer.

thrilhou

that's funny

Fatty Lumpkin

Thank you kindly.

Rikardi151

The checkpoint was around back.

Erich Zann

I don't think is fair to say that Via is crappy. Curtis definitely knows his stuff. Perhaps he may have been gruff with people coming in and wasting his time, but after doing it for as many years has he has been doing it I'm sure he's sick of it by now.

gnatthew

Via is fan****ingtastic for vintage, weird, rare or otherwise obscure parts. Going there for service, however, is ill advised unless you know exactly what you want.

Philly is great, bike-shop-wise, in that there's a shop to cater to each and every kind of cyclist. Via can be a great shop for the crotchety vintage rider with a rad 'stache.

genericbikedude

Curtis vs Sheldon Brown in a cage match?

dailey_philly

Bicycle Revolution (the checkpoint at the april fools race). brian is a excellent wheel builder. He has built most of my wheels. He was the main wheel builder for bicycle therapy years until he quit about a year ago. So, anything you got a year or earlier is brian. go there. I beleive it will be open soon. Just stop by and ask him. he is a good dude and very old ex messenger for time cycle

Paul And Pista

I should clarify: Curtis at Via has always been great to me. Maybe a little rushed when the place was busy, but that's understandable. I had some beef with a couple other guys, but nothing major. I also prefer Bicycle Therapy because my tastes lean toward the new and shiny rather than classic/vintage.