Had a guy custom make me a wheelset that was super light using white industries hubs, bladed spokes, aluminum nips, 35 or 40mm deep rims (cant remember). Unfortunately those were the days when I didnt read up on reviews or anything to educate myself. That was 10 years ago, last week i broke a spoke on the back wheel while commuting (all i do these days) and so im in the market for a pre-made wheelset or if it allows, just the rear wheel.

Any advice? No carbon. Dont care for bladed spokes or alum nips. I do have panniers on the back of my bike now. Mostly just a ortleib holding a laptop so not too much weight. Sometimes the occasional package i have to bring home from work. I do like the deeper dish look however and the color black/red. Lightweight is a plus as my current set were a joy to ride. Something like the visionteam 35 looks nice in both price and looks. I paid $750 for my original handbuilt set and this round not really looking to spend more than $250ish. Less the better.



So many choices out there im about to go crazy.

Why not replace the broken spoke?

took it to 3 people in the city and they all suggested rebuilding as aluminum nipples arent good. Not sure if they were trying to make $$ but i personally doubt it.

One of the guys tried to just replace the spoke but couldnt true the wheel. Something about the original wheelmaker didnt grease the nips so everything is locked in? I dont know enough about bike mechanics to really judge.

Who made the rims?

My favorite cheapo wheelset is the Performance Forte Titan (I think they are now called Titan II), you can likely get a pair at your price point, especially if you wait for a sale and/or coupon.

fulcrum quattro 35 wheelset:




$292._ with free ship from merlincycles.com

https://www.merlincycles.com/fulcrum...SABEgI2yPD_BwE

https://www.google.com/search?q=fulc...obile&ie=UTF-8

Aluminum nipples do corrode. Especially after 10 years. They're lighter but brass is better for people who aren't weight weenies.

How much would getting a new set of DT comp spokes + brass nipples + a rebuild cost? You're not going to be able to get a better wheelset than what you have (assuming your rims are decent) for $250. You may get a single rear wheel that matches the quality of your current wheel but it wouldn't match in terms of aesthetics.​​​​​​

+1.

I'd go with a rebuild, if the hoops are still in good shape(or if a replacement is available)

I'm looking for recommendations also. Disc brake wheelset ~$500....prioritizing aero over weight.

H Plus Son Archetype Wheelset Shimano 5800 105 Hubs 32h [74351] - $229.00 Velomine.com : Worldwide Bicycle Shop, fixed gear track bike wheelsets campagnolo super record vintage bike
105 hubs that are long lasting.
Archetype rims that are solid and dont seam separate.
Plenty strong for commuting.
$230


H Plus Son Archetype Hard Ano Shimano Ultegra 6800 hubs Wheelset [741039] - $289.00 Velomine.com : Worldwide Bicycle Shop, fixed gear track bike wheelsets campagnolo super record vintage bike
or Ultegra for $290


They arent the lightest due to the Shimano hubs, but they also arent junk that wont last.

assuming hoops means the metal rim, yes they are in good shape as i had a couple of dudes look at it yesterday. not bent. Some dings from riding over the past 10 years but overall still good.

rebuild will cost me $80 labor + ~ $1.50 per spoke+nips. Got 24 so about $116 pre tax? Aesthetics im not concerned about too much. Although I could sell off my white industries hubs (i think they are the MI5) and just go with something lesser. Could probably get some cash back from that.

It'd be hard to sell those hubs, buy new cheaper hubs, and wind up with money back and new hubs that aren't utter junk. Just rebuild and have the hubs serviced.

+1

$1.50 per spoke and nipple is a little high, but within reason. $80 for labor is ridiculous($50 is reasonable).

Even at the quoted prices, it’s still likely the best option. Those are great hubs.

Read sheldon browns article on wheelbuilding and do it yourself IMO. For $36 you get a like new wheel and a new skill.

not everyone wants to build their own wheels.

If the OP wants to have his wheel rebuilt with 14/15 DB spokes, $1.00 per spoke(and brass nipple) is about right. Add $50 for labor.

Hell, not everyone has that sort of time to save that kind of money, because there's no way you'll trust a wheel you build for the first time at any kind of speed. I'd rather be training, or eating, or working, or keeping the house vaguely livable. Just like changing oil - let someone who's good at it do it.

I've got 5000 miles and a cross race on the first wheel I built last year

It really isn't that hard. But I agree...if you're just doing it to save 50 or $100...probably not the best option. You'd have to have an interest in picking up wheelbuilding as a hobby. But really the only point I was making is that it really isn't very hard at all. It's not some sort of wierd dark art. If you can follow directions, you can build a perfect wheel. It's like building a model airplane more than anything.

you started a thread about buying spare wheels.

So...just build them instead, right?

I never said there's logic to what I do

Also....pre-built wheels seem to be cheaper than buying the parts anyway. Rebuilding is another story though.

Buy a wheel from Craigslist -$50.

Right, but how fast did you make that wheel? That was what I meant by "at speed"; the first wheel, to be safe, will take a LONG time of checking everything and probably redoing a lot of it. Hours, certainly.

And when I try to build a model airplane, I wind up with glue on everything, a pile of broken parts, and frustration.

Ahh gotcha. Yea it was not a short process lol. Multiple hours for sure. The real work though was reading up on it, making sure I had the right length spokes, researching proper spoke tension measurements. But hey...it's drinking beer in front of the TV time for me. I've done a handful now, and could probably confidently build a wheel in an hour. Agree 100% about the model airplane analogy. I've never successfully built one where more glue and paint ended up on the plane than it did on my body.

^This. You can't go wrong with anything made by Campagnolo.