The economics of it was something I hadn't ever really thought about. I build as a hobby, and I'm really good at it (that's why my friends ride my wheels!), but I'd never considered it as a living.

It was rather eye opening to find that I can't buy parts as inexpensively as some outfits sell built wheels.

One of my friends had recently suggested that I start a side business building wheels, and I almost spit out my coffee laughing. But it also made me think that there actually are guys who build for a living (or part of it) and I couldn't get my brain around how that would even work.