Originally Posted by Expatriate
Now you know how the sheep feel!
On a different note, I'm looking for some parts, if anyone has suggestions. Wire bead MTB tires for the missus, and a 24" BMX cruiser for me. Also a cheap set of MTB rims (non disc). Yeah, I know I should be able to get my mitts on this stuff, but shipping from the US would be too much, so I'm looking for a local source. Cheap is good too. Cheers.
no. what did you do to those sheep?
anyway...
as it happens, i built a wheel for my wife's MTB yesterday. i had the egged the back wheel on my MTB, borrowed hers and ... well i egged hers as too. I vaguely recall some comment about growing up, but i didn't quite catch it. anyway, i had to make good.
it amazed me just how many shops did not keep rims. Most had to order them - but that might just be because of stocks being low post xmas and orders yet to be placed. even quite large stores were only prepared to sell made wheels. a few shops had 36 spoke, but only one that i called had 32 holes rims. i isn't like i live in birdsville. most shops could do a pre-built wheel for about $80 - and offered suggestions that I would be mad to spend the money building a new wheel. (red rag to a bull...)
Anyway, I think I went way OTT. Got a Mavic XC717. was over $100. i used a Shimano STX rear hub (7 speed freewheel) that i salvaged from my first egged wheel and DT champion 15 guage spokes (straight).
I figured that by the time I spent an hour lacing the wheel, and then time truing, pre-stressing etc, i may as well spend and extra 30 or 40 bucks on a better quality rim - so that i spend less time down the track fixing it up.
anyway, i am rapt with the result.
cheers
marty