Recommend a wheelbuilder in NYC?
 

I had looked into getting some wheels built up, but the prices are a little steep, and I can possibly get some hubs for less than the prices from the wheelbuilders I've talked to.

Any suggestions on someone who knows how to build a solid wheelset in New York City? I'm expecting to have some of the parts (hubs) if not all.

Order from sheldon brown Harriscyclery.com.

sheldonbrown.com has instructions.

In NYC bicycle habitat probably builds wheels. They also have a wheel building course.

City Bikes on 38th Street between 8th and 9th in Manhattan. These guys are great, and though you can find the parts cheaper on the web, the labor is good and inexpensive. I think it cost me $40 to get a wheel built (minus spokes, rim, hub, of course).

Mike garcia can probably get a very decent pair done for cheaper than you can buy it here, he doesn't live in NYC. :p

What were the prices that you got? I just had Todd from Brands in Wantagh build me a set of Deep-v rims on Deore disc hubs for 4 bills.

Matty in Brooklyn

The steep part came down to the hubs. The bike has a 135mm rear dropout spacing, so I can't get regular road wheels. Hubs are a lot cheaper on ebay than as retail for parts through a wheelbuilder. I guess it wouldn't be too tough to get parts and ship it out to get built up...

Yeah, I am in the same boat as you. I have 135 mm spacing also, since my ride is a converted MTB.

Matty in Brooklyn

http://www.bikecult.com/works/

they built my Phil Wood / Mavics, just the way I asked. Very nice place to do business with

Bike Works, lower east side.


http://cdperry.smugmug.com/photos/124340815-M.jpg

I'll second Bike Works. They built my Surly/OpenPros, I've ridden them for five months daily around the city and haven't had any problems or need for truing. I don't remember what the build cost was (it was part of a whole bike build), but overall it was a fair price.

I'm a Brooklyner who has made the trek to Brands too.

I know I'm supposed to love R&A because it is around the corner and they have a trillion dollars worth of frames hanging from the ceiling, but service there is way too hit and miss.

Nothing wrong with that! I am around the block from Roy's on Coney Island Ave. and I buy MUCH stuff there. My next bike will most likely come from Roy's. But I grew up on Long Island, and feel more comfortable having wheels built at Brands.

Since you brought up R&A I have a question for you. Before I did some research, I went to R&A and told them I wanted a set of 700c wheels with disc brakes for my mountain bike (my only bike) and they sold me a set of Mavic Speedcity wheels. He assured me that they would hold up under my 300+ pounds. These rims have a low spoke count though. Should they have sold me those rims after knowing my weight?

I don't want to kill these rims, that is why I had Brands build me a stronger set of wheels. My brand new Speedcitys are now my back-up (or my Sunday Best) wheelset.

Matty in Brooklyn

I'd ask on the mechanics section. (I'm just not knowledgeable enough.) I'm over three hundred still and there is no way I would ride a lowspoke count wheel yet. (I was under the impression that disk brakes were a poor choice for uberclydes like us. If you think about how the forward inertia on the bike is really stressing the spokes when you brake with disks... it kinda makes sense. sorry.)

I find the tall thin guy at R&A knowledgeable and very helpful. The shorter hispanic guy I avoid. I've gotten "advice" from him I think is absurd. The other staff there is mixed but they seem to know what they know. (IF you know what I mean.)

I also find it a horrible shop to browse. Brand (or Carl Hart...) is a shop I can just wander around. But if you ever wanted to just look at an incredible collection of high end frames -- that is the place to go.

Well I have had this bike for a few years now and have beat it up a bit. I have been commuting on it 10 to 30 miles round trip (depending where the job is that day) with machine built Sun Rynolite mountain bike wheels with discs, and that was at 360+ pounds, and never a problem. Never even needed any truing even though a few of the spokes were loose.

I would think the rotational forces are worse on the mountain wheels due to the weight of the mountain tires, but never had an issue.

Matty in Brooklyn

bump.

Thinking of diving into a pair of 700cs to replace my 27". I want to avoid going out to LI because it would be hellish for me to get there without a car. Here's what I'm thinking about for rims.

Sids is close to me and seems to have decent prices on labor ($40) - the truings they've done has been better than other places. Would like to go someplace that's easy to come in for any adjustments. Just had a wheel built somewhere else and wasn't able to get more than 120 miles on it before it fell apart - so pissed.

By the way, here's another NYC wheelbuilding thread.

Would really want someone that can size me up and make some educated recommendations.

Hold on a moment . . .
 

Before you go off and get those 700c wheels, take a moment and make sure your brakes will work. 700c is maybe 1/4" smaller diameter than a 27 inch wheel, so brake blocks must be lowered a bit. So make sure the calipers have enough travel left in them to accomodate this.

ergottwheels is in islip..had a pair built by him....very good quality and have held up beautifully for this first year

Just to give a follow-up, sorry to have forgotten to inform... I ended up picking up an XTR 9 speed hub, along with a Mavic OP CD rim (I went with the OP CD as I got a cheap performance front wheel that was available on discount, but only the CDs were in stock).

I went to Conrad's in Tudor City, and all-in the price for build and spokes was about forty bucks. It seems very solid, and definitely is a far cry lighter than the touring wheels I've been using, even with 3 cross and 32 spokes. I'll see how long and how well they hold up, but Conrad's definitely did the work better and for less than I would have paid online...

It may not be as light as the oddsandendos wheels I had thought about, but I think it may prove a little more bombproof. Heck, saving more than a pound outright on wheels is a pretty big adjustment :)

I guess the all in came to something like $60 for the rim, $65 for the XTR hub (9 speed on clearance, non-disc, with a 20% coupon in addition to the cut rate price), and $40 for the build... $165 for a handbuilt rear wheel seemed like a deal to me at the time.