New Wheelset, need advice
07-24-05, 01:21 PM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 25
Bikes: 1999 Gary Fisher Marlin, 2001 Cannondale R500
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
New Wheelset, need advice
So, I recently popped a spoke on my rear wheel on the commute to work the other day.
The bike is a '99 GF Marlin that has been slowly getting twisted into a commuter bike.
Now, I've always know that the wheel wasn't strong enough to hold me. I am 6'4", 250lbs. Luckily that weight it dropping, but still...
Anyway, the spoke popped, and luckily, living in Chicago, I was already headed to the Millenium Park Bike garage, which has a mechanic on duty all day for us commuters.
He said he could get me a new beefier wheelset, custom built.
Here are the stats (mind you, I'm not a mechanic, so I hope I don't mess these up)
Velocity Deep V Rims
Shimano DX hubs
DT Swiss Budded Spokes - 36 spoke / 3X setup
$220
$240-250 for the Deore LX hub upgrade.
In any case, I just wanted to throw this out there for some advice/feedback.
I don't mind spending the money, I just like to know that I'm paying a fair price and that these will hold my weight and stand the test of time.
He seems a good guy, so I'm not too worried, but it's always good to do the homework.
Thanks for the advice in advance!
Sam
The bike is a '99 GF Marlin that has been slowly getting twisted into a commuter bike.
Now, I've always know that the wheel wasn't strong enough to hold me. I am 6'4", 250lbs. Luckily that weight it dropping, but still...
Anyway, the spoke popped, and luckily, living in Chicago, I was already headed to the Millenium Park Bike garage, which has a mechanic on duty all day for us commuters.
He said he could get me a new beefier wheelset, custom built.
Here are the stats (mind you, I'm not a mechanic, so I hope I don't mess these up)
Velocity Deep V Rims
Shimano DX hubs
DT Swiss Budded Spokes - 36 spoke / 3X setup
$220
$240-250 for the Deore LX hub upgrade.
In any case, I just wanted to throw this out there for some advice/feedback.
I don't mind spending the money, I just like to know that I'm paying a fair price and that these will hold my weight and stand the test of time.
He seems a good guy, so I'm not too worried, but it's always good to do the homework.
Thanks for the advice in advance!
Sam
__________________
"More ideas than a dying duck in a thunderstorm"
"More ideas than a dying duck in a thunderstorm"
07-24-05, 02:01 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times
in
364 Posts
That's a very durable component spec and I'd say that's a fair price.
You could probably save some money by buying wheels built with similar components from an internet source. The real key question, however, has to do with build quality. Hand built wheels laced by someone who understands what he's doing are likely to be more durable than machine built ones.
You could probably save some money by buying wheels built with similar components from an internet source. The real key question, however, has to do with build quality. Hand built wheels laced by someone who understands what he's doing are likely to be more durable than machine built ones.
07-24-05, 02:14 PM
#3
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 25
Bikes: 1999 Gary Fisher Marlin, 2001 Cannondale R500
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks Retro,
I've done some searching online for similarly spec'd wheels, and I've only found them for around $250, so, I'm thinking this is as good as I'll get for price. Once more, I've got a face-to-face recourse if something doesn't jive.
As for build quality. The guy he has do them apparently does tons of them. He had a pair of 700c wheels in the shop that the guy had already built for someone else. So, I definitely get the impression that he's been around the block. Aside from that, they're working out of that Millenium Park Bike garage, which is affiliated with the City, and I know that there'd be a real stink if they were putting out shoddy goods.
Thanks for the confirmation though. It's always nice to have some unbiased 3rd party opinions.
I've done some searching online for similarly spec'd wheels, and I've only found them for around $250, so, I'm thinking this is as good as I'll get for price. Once more, I've got a face-to-face recourse if something doesn't jive.
As for build quality. The guy he has do them apparently does tons of them. He had a pair of 700c wheels in the shop that the guy had already built for someone else. So, I definitely get the impression that he's been around the block. Aside from that, they're working out of that Millenium Park Bike garage, which is affiliated with the City, and I know that there'd be a real stink if they were putting out shoddy goods.
Thanks for the confirmation though. It's always nice to have some unbiased 3rd party opinions.
__________________
"More ideas than a dying duck in a thunderstorm"
"More ideas than a dying duck in a thunderstorm"
