Though I have been cycling for more years than I care to remember (I usually post in the Fifty+ Forum), I have never had to replace a wheel.


My front wheel became a bit dished and one mechanic told me that it was too far out to be repaired. Going to get a second opinion (OK, you're ugly) in the mean time need some advice.


Rim for my old Specialized Allez. It has full 600 group but front hub was not. The ideal would be a hub from the same group that will accommodate 23C Michelins. Used but serviceable great, cheap is good on fixed income.


Who should I buy from and how much should I expect to pay? Do I need to post other rim dimensions to get advice? The hub quality is not important to me, should it be?


(No tubeless or disk brakes, would try building were it not for buying a quality trueing stand , perhaps point me to a source where a >$100 quality wheel can be had)

If being a match to the rear is not an issue, pretty much anything labeled as a "road bike wheel" would work for you.

Yes almost any wheelwill work, but you can decide if you want something lighter, or something more robust, or something with a generator hub, or an electric assist.

You could have the wheel rebuilt with a new rim and spokes for around $100. Or you could try building the wheel yourself if you are a DIY type of guy and save the $50 labor (but you would need some tools). I built a set of wheels for my wife's bike that turned out well and got the exact hub and rim combination I wanted. It wasn't that hard to do and I learned a lot in the process.

I can usually find good wheels & wheelsets at the local bike co-op or on Craigslist for about $50 per wheel, or less. Often requiring some grease and adjustment. Spin by hand to verify a wobble, and carefully inspect for cracks near nipples.

I prefer narrow rims (19mm or 20mm outside width), although,perhaps that is more traditional, with a lot of people going to 23mm outside width.

I can't think of anything to really avoid. Do you have/need disc brakes? The disc hubs don't hurt much, but there are a few disc specific rims that could be problem with rim brakes.

Tubeless Ready rims are often harder to mount tires on.

I have been avoiding the new Mavics, and anything that appears too proprietary.

Be aware of differences between clinchers (and tubeless) VS Sewups/Tubulars.