Seaching for decent replacement wheels
 

I'm looking for a decent set of new wheels for my commuter. Before I go any further, price is a big factor, I want to stay under 300 dollars.

I've spent the last few days searching old BF posts and the interwebs. When it comes to prebuilt wheels It seems difficult to find the right combo of rim, hub and spoke count. Velomine seems to have great prices and it seems his wheels get fair reviews. I weigh 220lbs, so I think I ruled out 32 spoke count wheels. The only 36 hole set that velomine carries is an ultegra/Mavic OP combo. That seems fine, but I am worried that Mavic open pros might not be the best suited rim.

I'm searching pre-built because the prices are so low that I cannot build them cheaper myself. I do have experience with truing rims.

Some things I care about
-Under 300 dollars
-36 holes
-Rim that can fit 25-32mm tires
-130 rear spacing

Any comments or suggestions?

Handspun has some 36 hole wheels with 105 hubs and Velocity rims, should be plenty stout. You can probably find these online for around $300 for the set.

http://handspunwheels.com/products/view_product/1804/
http://handspunwheels.com/products/view_product/1803/

Fulcrum Racing 7 wheels are well within your budget, and indestructible. They'll fit 25 mm tires, but I doubt you could make 32s work. While they have something like 36 spokes for the whole set, you can bunny hop on them all day long at your weight and not bring them out of true.

Probably not exactly what you're looking for ... but nobody else has suggested anything, so this is maybe better than nothing.

EDIT: FunkyStickman answered while I was typing this.

Have you looked at Sun CR18? I have a set on one of my commuters that has served me well.

Go to Peterwhitecycles.com and look up the least expensive road hubs he has,Tiagra, I think you can get the whole thing built up with butted spokes and CR18 rims for just under $300 with shipping.

Quick look here brought these up for about the same price. I'd go for the PeterWhites with CR18 rims and butted spokes

http://www.bikeman.com/WE7288.html

http://www.bikeman.com/WE7289.html

Your local shop can order and hand finish wheels that will be fine.

Commuting you have a choice buy top shelf hubs, then replace rims as they get damaged,

or just get a pragmatic set of wheels, then when they have gone past their serviceable life
just get another wheel, 50~100 each, minus gears.

Thanks for all the links and help everyone. I think the Peter white wheels are a nice option. I'm going to inquire with my LBS also, a while back the owner offered to teach me to build wheels if I bought the parts from him.

I would love to learn how to build wheels. I'd take him up on that offer.

that's an offer worth taking up

Yes, he is an awesome guy. I think I like the Velocity Synergy Rims. Anyone else riding them, 36 or 32 spokes?

While building your own is a heck of an experience, getting Peter White to build a set for 300 shipped is almost too good to pass up. He's a master wheelbuilder, you know....