Originally Posted by
redtires
Am I starting to get "grouch syndrome" to a point? I mean, I ride a new, modern bike, but I feel like something is missing when I can build a whole bike from a pile of parts and 45 minutes later be riding down the road.
Nope. I feel the same way. I'm sure I'm younger, but I came around to handbuilt wheels after years of frustration with breaking spokes and wheels that would not stay true. I built my first wheels in 2007.
Machine built wheels are kind of like tube amps with printed circuit boards. Most people don't notice the difference until something goes wrong.