Choosing a wheelset?
 

I am contemplating building a Surly Big Dummy from a bare frame. I have all the skills to build it, and
have wrenched my own bikes (sans hydraulic brakes) for years. But I also haven't built anything from
scratch unless you include all the 'alley bikes' I used to build as a kid out of stuff tossed into the alleys
of the city. And that goes back a Loooooong way.

Anyway, as I start looking at wheelsets, I am just downright confused what I should look for -- there
are just so many choices of rims and hubs and all. Is there a quick online guide to explain the various
brands, model numbers of rims and what would build up nicely for a 'utility bike'? As the weather is
heading into sucky season, and I have time, I would like to make a challenge of doing a whole build off
Craigslist or ebay parts just for the heck of it.

Items of note would be 26", 7/8 speed hub & disk brakes. Beyond that?

You can start by giving us a budget. What are you doing with this frame? Commuting? Recreation? Performance?

commuting/recreation. Budgetwise, since these are typically not light bikes, I don't need real
light wheels or their pricetags. Stronger is better, like tandem wheels. I guess dollarwise maybe
$250-400 range.

That pretty much rules out handbuilt. In that price range you're generally looking at LX/XT rear hubs (excellent value), 3x 32/36 DT 2.0 or 2.0/1.8's onto something like a ryhno lite rim or alex dv 33 (assuming 'hybrid' tyre size ranges).

Size of tyres you're planning on running?

bigcommuter pothole absorbers. Big apples? Marathons?

I concur with opie here. And a 3X - laced 32/36 DT-spoked wheel would serve you best and longest trouble-free for your purposes. Or a 36-spoke 3X rear and 32-spoke 3C front. Shopping around will find you some very nice wheelsets for below your outer target of $400. But, like any factory and hand-finished wheels from out there, be prepared to do a final truing and stressing etc. before putting them into service.

can anyone toss out some 'brand' nand model number ideas at me like Mavic xxx or DT Swiss xxx
or what not? things i can look up and compare... (besides the Alex above)

I have built up some very decent wheel sets for < $400.00 but in these cases customers were able to source out their own components and get some really good deals and just paid me to build them up.

I run 26 inch wheels with 1.5 Marathons on my longbike and am very pleased with them.. the rear is a 105 road hub laced 36/3 to a WTB Powerbeam which is a seriously tough wheel and the front is a Shimano DX hub laced to a Wolber with Dt Swiss butted spokes that came off my old Rocky Mountain Hammer.

I think I will wear out that rear wheel before I ever have to true it.

The DX / Wolber is one of the few wheels I run that I did not build (but tuned up) and it has been great as an off road wheel and now as the lead wheel for my cargo bike.

Any wheels you could run off road should work well for the Dummy and you might be able to find some decent wheels on the secondary market as people are always upgrading their stuff.

Make sure you get any wheels you buy checked out by a competent wheelsmith to ensure they are okay...it is well worth the fee and the tip you'll pay.

These bits would make a really nice wheel set and could probably be built for under $400.00

Mavic xm719 disc rims - $150.00 / pair
XT disc hubs - $44.00 front and $60.00 rear
Dt Swiss spokes 2mm - $75.00

Parts = $329.00
Build = $60.00 - $80.00

Total = $389.00 - $409.00

It would be good to see the bicycle you want the wheels for. If you can, please take some photos that will give us a view from all direction. Especially the drivetrain and brakes? Thanks!

Unless you haven't fitted it out for such - yet.

The Big Dummy...

http://www.surlybikes.com/uploads/frames/FM3166.jpg

http://surlybikes.com/frames/big_dummy_frame/

Yikes! Rent a crane?

That is a sweet assed frame.

Built up...

http://commutebybike.com/wp-content/...09/dummy11.jpg

http://www.momentumplanet.com/files/...lg.preview.jpg

someone got me already on the pics, and haven't spec'd anything else out yet. Prolly mechanical
disks, 7 speed hub, no idea on crank or bottom bracket yet, but that is a little less important to
me that the actual wheels at this point. the frame is build to haul, and I want wheels that will be
the same without spending a fortune on them. These are not light bikes, so why pay for less weight
in the end when a few more ounces and a lot more strength are the better setup. Only with so many
damn brands and model numbers and all it is just too confusing. Like keeping track of baseball players
and other sports people, I just don't do it.

You are going to have issues finding a 7 speed freehub and I can't see any reason in getting one... modern hubs are 8,9,10 speed compatible and you could still run a 7 speed with a spacer installed.

Mechanical discs are fine and very user friendly... hydros are better but need a little more skill and the right tools to service them.

This is what I do... I can't read the markets worth a damn but can build bikes in my sleep.

Which is something I need to do now.

You don't need a 7 freehub. You can run 7 on a 8/9/10 with a 4.5mm spacer on the back of the cassette.

There we go! Now start hunting! :thumb:

<EDIT> This may get you started:

http://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cg...-and-Freewheel

Would a wheel set like this work for you? They are on ebay right now, from a good seller (Rocky Mountain Cyclery). I have bought two sets of 700c touring wheels from them and both seem to be top quality.

From the listing:
item # 200394976642
current bid $10.50 with 1 day and 9 hours to go.

Hello, here we have a brand new Custom Hand Built 26" Mountain Bike Disc Wheelset! 2008 Shimano XT M756 rear and RMB 20mm front 32 hole black 6-bolt hubs laced to super tough Mavic X317 eyeleted disc rims using black anodized 1.8 straight gauge spokes with brass nipples.

Rear hub is set at 135mm and the precision XT freehub will hold a 7, 8, or 9 speed cassette.


Total wheelset weight is:

1880 grams

Each wheel was custom laced in a rock solid 3 cross pattern and trued to pro perfection. Wheels will come professionally packed and shipped in a real wheel box.

Here you go: http://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...st+Wheels.aspx Pretty much just what was recommended at 60% of your budget price!

I have purchased Jenson's prebuilt wheels in the past and they are a great value. You will need to check the true and dish and do a bit of fine tuning but then they will work very well.

can anyone tell me what the difference is betwenn the last two rims suggested? qualitywise or
spec-wise?

The rims on the Jenson wheels (Mavic XM819) are usable with tubeless tires while the Rocky Mountain wheels Mavic X317 rims aren't. Both are disc-only.

The Jenson wheels have Shimano XT hubs for both wheels and a standard diameter front hub axle and QR. The RM wheels use their own house-brand front hub and 20 mm thru-axle.

I've been running some nice cheap Rhyno Lite 36 spoke wheels with Deore 6-bolt hubs on my Xtracycle for a couple of years. I'm around 220 lbs, bike is around 45 lbs, and I often have a passenger at 135 lbs and maybe 30 lbs of additional junk in the bags. I just put the wheels in the stand after two years of regular service, and they're still round and true. These were $99 for the full wheelset... works for me!

Isn't that what I said ?

This is an excellent set of wheels and the price is less than what you would pay for the parts... the xm819 is a big upgrade over the x317 rim.

It's a stupidly good deal on an excellent wheel set.

http://redirectingat.com/?id=42X1295...%2BWheels.aspx

I'm not sure why you're quoted, maybe i was drunk.