[MENTION=152773]noglider[/MENTION] - thank you for the encouragement. I just re-read Sheldon Brown's instruction on wheel building, and I'm certain I could lace one. It's the art & science of trueing the wheel that will take practice.

The Hecules seller is very cagey. I essentially asked when/where after several emails regarding what time they were available. When I said I could meet any time and asked where should I go, I never heard back. They keep resisting it- changing the price daily. The others on our CL don't call to me. If I'm gonna get one it might as well be pretty.