26 or 25.4? I know I probably want it.

A nice wheelset is the best upgrade you can make on your bike, if you ask me. Shell out a few bucks and get something sweet. Are you riding fixed or SS?

Bicyclewheels.com has some pretty good deals on wheels made out of good-quality components.

Or, you could find some hubs that you like and match them to some rims that you like and get them built. I had my Miche Primatos laced to Velocity deep-Vs at Urbane 3 years ago and they haven't gone out of true yet. I am about 190lbs or so and I am pretty rough on my wheels and, now that I think about it, I am amazed that they haven't needed a truing yet....weird.

I got a lot of pms from BF'ers yesterday and today regarding that stupid thread where a BF member ripped off some guy on eBay and was bragging about it. I guess a lot of people let the eBay guy know about it due to my efforts (oh god the internet-drama!) and the ebay guy emailled this to me tonight:

"Got fired up and got a major refund confirmed from PP today. Totally appreciate the heads up. For the much lower paid price, hopefully I can do something with it, I REALLY APPRECIATE the heads up. There is some satisfaction in doing the right thing!!"

So, yeah, stupid forum drama aside, it worked out in the end. Also, I need to spend less time on this forum ;)

You're a lightweight! ;)
Let me put in a plug for Urbane Cycles ( www.ucycle.com ) . I've been running a couple of wheels I bought from them and they've been worth every penny and never needed truing in three years.
The rears in question are Alex rims RL 2002 laced to Quando hubs with 36 spokes. The RL 2002's are nothing fancy but they are a nice deep section rim. I believe they were about $150 each.
Besides being 6'3" & 260lbs, I don't see so hot so I tend to hit most potholes in front of me.


Dave

CTFinnegan. the Sovos is a low end hub on par with the Joytech so it's unlikely to be much better than what you have.

They may be okay, but in my book, professionally built is not on par with competently professionally built. Keith at Cycle Solutions on Parliament or John at Cycle Therapy on Queen East both build stellar wheels. Other folks might chime in with recommended builders too. If Nestor is working anywhere, he's another builder I'd never hesitate to recommend. I tend to recommend builders rather than shops and these three guys are ones whose work I've seen or owned and would recommend.

In line with Jet's recommendations, a good wheel is a good investment. A well built wheel will last far longer than a dodgy one. I have a crappy Suzue Junior hub on a reasonable Alexrim DA28 that Nestor built. The wheel is rock solid and is in almost perfect true after about 5 years, but the hub is pooched even after frequent rebuilds and parts replacements. Get a good journeyman hub on a solid rim by a competent builder and you'll never regret the purchase.


Jet: kudos on supporting the right thing.

Where does it all end?

Sorry for the drama but how many of you have had intentions of building up a beater bike to ride and leave around town. But then you like the way it rides & feels so you go a little farther and start tarting it up a bit. You know, little things at first. Perhaps cleaning some of the rust off and touching up the paint. Maybe new bartape or grips. And sure, it cost next to nothing to build up since most of the parts came from the cast off's from other projects, but you know, it would be so much better if, say, the seatpost wasn't a black ZOOM post but brushed alloy like the stem...
Before you know it, the bike you were going to lock up anywhere is now just too damn nice to leave out of your sight for an instant.
So it begins again....

Dave

I'm riding fixed. Guess I'm not surprised to find they were low-end components. The bike's a Trek conversion from CL, afterall.
Looking at bicyclewheels.com, am I looking at track wheels if I'm riding fixed? 36 spokes better than 32? And what's with the flip-flop hub. Or is that like, "you could put a freewheel and cog on one side" instead of it actually coming with all that?

Would I be able to buy all the parts at Urbane and have them do it for me? How does that cost compare to bicyclewheels.com?

Wow you guys are fast. While I was typing out my first reply there were a few more posts.
I guess I am going to pay Urbane a visit and try to price something out. I'd definitely rather pay $150-200 now to get a good wheelset and piece of mind than have to keep shelling out smaller amounts every few months for truing.
Or wait, what about Keith as CS and John at CT? Would it be much more to go there?

Yeah, you would want to choose something from their "Track Wheels" section if you are wanting a fixed-gear bike. They have good prices and the shipping is reasonable (35$USD) but I think someone here said that there will be a customs charge because it is a wheelset----maybe whomever has experience with that will chime in with some knowledge. I generally would expect some sort of tax charge but I don't know what it would be.

I don't know what Urbane's prices are like but I am guessing that with the shipping and some customs charge, a wheelset from the internet will be approaching $200. I would bet that Urbane could beat that, I don't know though.

And yeah, 36 holes might be better for street use but 32 is pretty standard for most road/track wheels. A flip/flop is basically what you said, yes.

Their track wheels include clincher and "sew-up" (meaning tubular) rims. You don't want tubulars as they're not practical for street riding. I'm not familiar with all the combos listed, but I run a CXP22 on a formula
hub and have had no problems.

The flip flop hub that is fixed/free has a thread on for a BMX/SS hub. It allows you to run either fixed or SS on the same wheel (and allows the manufacturer to make one hub for both markets).

Practically speaking with normal use (i.e. not loaded touring), you're probably fine with a 32 if you wanted, but I tend to prefer 36 spoke wheels with 3 cross lacing as the most practical wheel.


edit: As regards to the individual shop costs, you'd need to call. Some shops are smaller too, and there may be a wait time if you want a custom build. Some shops have finished wheels on hand for people like you who are looking for a hand-built wheel set.

End? What is end?

Funny story about bicyclewheels.com: I ordered 32 hole Formula hubs with CXP22s on a plain ol' silver rims two weeks ago. Cost me $150 for the wheels + S&H (no customs tax yet). The box arrives, with a few things attached/stuck onto the outside of the box. The main thing is four identical sheets of paper incased in plastic taped onto the front of the box that says the box contains a "Heart Monitor" worth "$50" as a "Gift" headed for some random address in France!! I'm wondering "how the hell did it get here then?" right beside the plastic bag/paper sheets is a sticker that has my address on it... Anyways, long story short: I didn't pay any customs and I've got a brand new set of wheels!

If you don't mind the price ($299), the Miche Primato wheels that La Bicicletta sells are reliable and bombproof. I have had no issues with mine.

I am currently putting together a set of Corima Aero carbon tubular wheels with a custom drilled and slotted Phil rear hub for the track, but since I'm essentially lazy when it comes to swapping components out, and like the way they look, I'm probably going to ride them on the street too. I've ridden tubulars on one of my road bikes for years with no issues yet. The front wheel is 12 spoke, and the hub is threaded for Mavic track bolts, so no need to change it. Corima hubs are pretty reliable.

If i may, i would suggest urbane or CS for wheel builds over an internet source. you'll never regret buying locally. either of those shops will be able to custom build a wheel for you (you choose the spokes, hubs rims etc) to your tastes and budget and then take care of the wheel after it's built should need be. i still use a set of urbane wheel that i bought in 2001 - i think they've been trued once.

On the plus side, Dave is really great to ride with. He blocks the wind like no other!

yes.

+1 on Keith/John/Nestor. My cross wheelset that Keith built is holding up like a champion, and I ride it offroad (including in the Don). That's gotta be saying something for a lightweight (dt 240s laced to open pros with dt super comps) road wheelset. :)

Nestor is a busy bee working for Tony B. these days, so no wheelbuilding from him.

+ 1 on Keith/John ... you've got to take into consideration rider weight, riding style, expected use, budget, strength vs. weight considerations and then actually build the wheels properly (stress relieve + tension balance + true). There's actually a lot to do right. Some of the discount wheelsets out there might have decent parts on them but the skill just isn't there for making it all come together and last.

all this talk of wheels reminds me that i should get that iro hub i bought off pyze built up...

I saw this thread over in the Framebuilders forum; a very very very nice Canadian-built Naked bike with lots and lots of photos:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=412451

I sold my car last week, it is really nice not having to worry about parking fees, gas prices or some ding-dong smashing into it anymore. I don't think I will need a car for a very long time to come, it rules.

very cool - the fancy lug work reminds me of hechins frames...

It's official, I have to sell my IRO. ;)

http://www.torontolife.com/features/...-out/?pageno=5

Looks like you should have sold it in February... ;)

Is anyone else besides ^^^, cavmech, and myself riding the 24hr at Albion this weekend?

Also here is some friday fun... sorry if it is old news. I love it.
http://omnomnomnom.com/

I'm riding in the 24 hour race. Team Miley Cyrus. Don't mess with us!