What's pros and cons?

I've only custom built my mtb wheelset because I like King hub, but for roadie, I've always used pre-built (either campy eurus or mavic ssl)

Ill say it first

Mike Garcia

Cheap, easy, quality, and everyone on the board talks about him like He would throw his child under a car to make sure your happy.

Used to buy prebuilts exclusively (2 pairs Neutrons, 1 pair Electrons, 1 pair Nucleons, 1 pair Ksyriums, 1 pair FSA, 4 pairs Velomax, 1 pair AC350.)

Then I woke up and called Mike Garcia. I doubt I'll buy another pair of pre-builts. Too expensive, heavier, harder to fix if they fry, far, far more expensive. Why bother aside from the coolness factor?

pavlovian response to marketing?

Best reply ive ever heard

Garcia is great. They are also probably a few very good wheelbuilders in your area....

Pavlovian response to wanting a high performance set of wheels before I was smart enough to pick up the phone and talk to someone who builds them for a living. Marketing? No different than my other long term misconception that custom bikes cost more than rack bikes.

We grow up, we learn.

thanks. unfortunately, an improved ability to make snarky remarks is just about the only thing i've got out of grad school. which is why i'm quitting.

hmm, i had hoped it would be obvious that i was referring to folks other than you. the people who haven't learned and will never learn.

I did the same...

Bontrager: Select, Race Lites, Race X-Lites, Race X-Lite Aeros
Rolf Prima Vigors
Neuvation M28 Aeros
American Classic 350's
Korsos
Mavic OP w/Ultegra

And finally, a set of Garcias. Probably won't get another pre-built again.

55/Rad

No offense taken. I don't find myself particularly susceptible to marketing, but I do find that it takes some time to learn the better path. Wheels like Neutrons are damn nice - bombproof, relatively light and clearly billed as the be-all and end-all in wheel options. But, once you really start digging you find the other options. Still, it's far easier to hop on line and buy something than actually spend time talking on the phone with a custom builder. Not necessarily a better option though.

I\m so glad someone taught me how to build wheels when I was 14. I was so darned proud of myself, I never wanted a prebuilt set again.

Custom built or self built wheel can be self-repaired and trued at one's convience. Prebuilt usually means boxing and shipping them to the factory for repairs. That usually means packaging, shipping and labor costs, and a long wait to get the wheel back.

OK, can some one tell me what makes a custom set better than prebuilt? If it's stronger, then by what test? or just from your opinions? If it's better then in what aspects? And how much it gonna cost me?

I paid for a set of Campy Eurus or Mavic SSL for just 625, my LBS can true them, replace spokes without sending them in. So far I have not sent them in to get them fixed yet.

To me, it isn't so much a matter of custom built as much as hand built. When I build my wheels, I true the wheel then take the time to hand tension each spoke, then true the wheel a second time. This keeps the spokes from stretching while riding, losing tension and going out of true while risking wheel failure. Aside from a custom set being able to have YOUR specifications, that's the only thing I really like about handbuilt sets. You're absolutely right, most prebuilt sets can be trued at home or at the LBS, so that's not an issue. As for my personal experience, wheels that I build myself have always stayed true far longer than any factory built wheel. As for cost, it's about the same. I'm building a set of 24/28h wheels on record hubs for about $300.

I've never had a set built for me but i can tell you that my pair of these:
https://www.neuvationcycling.com/whee...silver_big.jpg

Which are apparrently built by hand, seem FAR better then my bontrager selects. The day i bought my trek (which had the bontragers on it), if i got out of my saddle they snap crackled and popped more then rice crispies..the new wheels are solid.

Having only put 20 miles on them thats all i can tell you right now, but if thats all i get out of them then thats great, but i have a feeling there is more to be found here.

**It should also be noted, after taking the bontragers off after a mere 600 miles of riding on them, the bearings in the rear wheel are shot**

I am not a big fan of Bonty anyway.

for my 3 sets of wheels (eurus and ssl), I have ridden over 10K miles on them and I have not had any problem with them, even a flat (the tires are tufo tubular clinchers), never out of true (except 1 time I did touch wheel with my friend and bent a couple spokes which needed to replaced). And now i am looking for a good reason to justify for getting a custom set.

Well maybe some of the response is not just to do with custom built vs pre built as much as its to do with traditional wheel design/spec vs new fangled low spoke count wheels. I'm back riding Sora 32 spoke 3 cross wheels after using Shimano 550's and honestly the Sora's are great. Stiff and responsive yet with a good ride. The real point being that a newer design isn't nessecarily a better design.

So if you want a nice pair of 32 spoke 3 cross or 28 hole 2 cross you need to go custom these day's but it shouldn't have to be that way.

Seriously have some nice hubs built with lightweigh butted spokes/aero spokes, a good rim and go for a cross patern front and rear and you won't be disapointed. They will be light, stiff, ride well and probably end up costing no more than fashionable but poor performing low spoke count wheels.

Regards, Anthony

how would you rank em? ^^^

I cant speak for everyone else, but my m28's aren't exactly "high-count"...16/20 front/back

I don't have any issues with Bontrager wheels.....my Race Lites have done a pretty good job I must say, even when I nailed a giant rock at 23 mph that resulted in A) a big crash, and B) an out-of-true wheel that ended the ride. Brought the bike to the shop, and they were able to get it trued up and as good as new. Didn't break anything, which kind of surprised me as the bike, along with me, went flying upon impact.

i moved from the bontragers that came stock on my lemond to having my local mech build me a set of mavic open pros... ultegra hub rear and a custom hub (dyno) front.

i'm saving cash to get another, lighter set built by the same mech.

love em, (the wheels) - and he's been around long enough to build fantastic wheels - and back it up with lifetime maintenance on them.

I'm happy with my Mavic OP 32's w/Ultegra hubs. Bought 'em prebuilt from Performance store and had my LBS spin 'em for a bit on his truing stand. Seem bulletproof to me.

What, can't use a spoke wrench? There is NO difference between most pre-built wheels and custom builts. Rims,spokes, hubs -its not rocket science.

It depends, if you are of average weight, little advantage. Most Mavics, Campy etc. are ALL handbuilt.
Customs tend to cost less because there are fewer middlemen, and if you have certain hub, spoken rim preferences, you can mix and match and tailor to your riding style and weight.

The important difference is not handbuilt versus custom built, but handbuilt versus machine built. Machine built wheels are made faster and cheaper, but will have uneven spoke tensions, while a good handbuilt will have even spoke tension and likely remain true longer, but they cost more due to the extra labor.

In my case, my weight and riding style needs a high spoke count with aero rims.

Hand built wheels have more constant spoke tension around the wheel, they go out of true less often, parts are cheaper, the wheels weigh less and are less expensive. I also consider them to be a more comfortable ride. On the down side they have worse resale value if go to sell them and they have less bling (the reason behind the lower resale value.) My pair of Garcias cost $400 using his hubs and the DT Swiss rims.