Originally Posted by onetwentyeight
whats wrong with just getting your LBS to build a wheel for you? its a similar cost to the iro wheel, as you state, so why not support the guys around the corner?
My point was that buying the parts and having the LBS build it up is a LOT more than a pre-built wheel like the IRO silver rear. And in my case, the LBS is about 50 miles away. In today's market, a private user can't even buy the parts for what commercial internet sellers are charging for complete built-up wheels. For example, the IRO hub would cost me 45.00, the IRO Kinlin XL-240 is about a 30.00 40.00 retail rim (if you could get it, which you can't because it is not marketed as such), and spokes are around 20.00. Add shipping and you are well over the 105.00 IRO charges for the complete build, and you still have to get the wheel built. Even if I build it myself, I can't match the price of the internet sellers. See what I mean?
Dr. Bill