alexbaker

First of all, three days ago I didn't know anything about bikes. Really, dura ace meant nothing and I google "Campy". Anyway, Ive decided to build a road bike, mainly used for commuting. My question is this:

What are some good brand rims, just to get me started? I will be looking through primarily used stuff. Any specific models?

Thanks a bunch, Im hard at work "studyin up" on all this road stuff.

Alex

Grasschopper

When you say rims do you mean wheels? I wouldn't buy used rims to build a wheel with...and used wheels can be sketchy too. You can get a nice set of Mavic Open Pro rims laced to Shimano Ultegra hubs for around $200. Or a set of Mavic Cosmos wheels for about the same (similar rim to the OP and a Mavic hub). They will treat you pretty well.

You should be able to pick up something like a Roval take off set on eBay for $200 or maybe less. The wheel they sell as a cyclocross wheel woul dbe pretty good for comuting.

Another thought would be something like a Salsa DelgadoX rim laced to say 105 hubs. This is what I run on my commuter and they are very strong.

alexbaker

Thanks for the great reply. I do mean rims, and I was planning on building my wheels. Why is it bad to by used rims? Are they generally available?

Thanks again.

Alex

Grasschopper

I guess I would look to the reason someone would have a used rim for sale. I woul dnever use a used rim...or spokes...for a wheel build, but that is me.

These are all good rims.

https://aebike.com/page.cfm?PageID=30...ils&sku=RM1742
https://aebike.com/page.cfm?PageID=30...ils&sku=RM4408
https://aebike.com/page.cfm?PageID=30...ils&sku=RM8628
https://www.excelsports.com/new.asp?p...jor=1&minor=25
https://www.excelsports.com/new.asp?p...jor=1&minor=25

dekindy

Go to roadbikereview.com, reviews, rims. Read to your hearts content. I am sure you will have more questions after that.

rpc180

Rims, spokes and hubs take a lot of wear and tear on a bike. The rims could be out of true, or slightly bent, etc. My friends only let me rebuild my wheels on the same rims after I convinced them I was the original owner and only put 800 easy miles on them. Also, it'll be hard to find a used set or rims laying around cause the original owner decided to use the old hubs on a new rim. That's just a condition that doesn't happen much.

If you've got a craigslist in your area, I'd check it out for wheelsets instead or maybe just an old bike. BTW - please don't take this the wrong way, but I think you might be a little "ambitious" to lace your own wheels since you admitted discovering bikes just 3 days ago 3-cross still confuses me.

dtrain

You'll have plenty of building to do even if you buy the wheels intact.

roadfix

Sorry..... I don't know how mechanically inclined or ambitious you are but if I were you I wouldn't jump into wheelbuilding as your first project if you didn't know anything about bikes 3 days ago. I would start with pre-built wheels and do a frame build up instead.

Bop Gun

3 days into bikes and you wanna build one?

Am I missing something?

Save yourself time and trouble and go to your LBS and buy a starter bike, ride it and learn, talk to others, then you will not only get upgrade-itis but you will have some idea what you want. Learning about road cycling is a process that takes time. Enjoy the journey.

alexbaker

Thanks. Yeah, I agree it's a bit ambitious. Im mainly doing it to have fun building you know? Anyway, thanks for the great advice. Ill be looking for some wheelsets. PS Ill have more questions soon Im sure. 8 replies in about 2 hours??? Rad.

Alex

Eatadonut

As someone who started building bikes before he started riding - don't. One of the most valuable tools I have when fixing or adjusting something on my bike is my ability to hop on, ride in a circle, and know exactly what's wrong. If you go from nothing to everything, you'll hear a creak and the wheel will wobble, and you'll have no idea what it is you've screwed up.

Also, I'd recommend reading for another week or two before you drop any real money on parts, or at least have a nice long chat with your local bike shop owner.

alexbaker

No money spent yet. I have been riding bikes for several years, but just commuting. Several bikes as well. I have just never built a bike. So here I am gathering info. This site is great.

Thanks

Alex

webist

I've seen 'em recommended at least 100 times, including in this thread. Mavic Open Pro with Ultegra. I use 'em also.

greenstork

You might ask this question in the commuter forum because responses will greatly differ. The road racers/riders will primarily value a lighter rim over sturdiness. In your case, you should consider what tire width you want to run on your bike.

I'm assuming it's a road bike (which is why you asked here) and that you're running 700C wheels. For commuting, I prefer a little wider wheels, 28-32mm over the narrow race widths. This allows you to soak up bumps, nail the occasional pothole, and worry less about bending or cracking your rim (not that 28mm is all that wide).

Another consideration is how much do you weigh? As a general rule of thumb, heavier riders should purchase rims with more spokes. I weigh 220 lbs. and run a 36 spoke rim/hub in the back.

A great, sturdy (stiff) commuter rim that I would recommend, that also makes for a nice road riding is the Mavic CXP33.

slabfoot

Velocity razors with ultegra. First wheels I built and they came out great. Go ahead and build. If I listened to all the advice I received I'd still be on the lousey wheels the bike came with. Good luck and have fun.

waterrockets 

I wouldn't be discouraged about building a wheel as a newbie. Wheelbuilding has very little prerequisite knowledge with respect to the rest of the machine. Experience can help you select appropriate components, but if you stay conservative (32 spokes, Shimano hubs, Mavic or Velocity rims, 2.0/1.8/2.0 double butted Wheelsmith or DT spokes), then you can't go wrong with component selection.

Have fun and bump this thread with updates as they come!

cuda2k

I've been riding seriously for a year and a half and just recently got the guts to try to build my own wheels. You will easily spend 2x as much on parts and tools to properly build the same wheelset as you would if you bought a simular wheelset prebuilt.

I'll 3rd or 4th or what ever the Open Pro/Ultregra combo. I was just out for a short ride on mine this morning. I love that they look good on just about any bike I put them on, they are strong and reliable.

Read: parktools.com, sheldonbrown.com, roadbikereview.com, bikeforums.net (obviously) - specifically the mechanics forum, and the road forum, go look at prices at Peformancebike.com, Nashbar.com, Cambriabike.com, pricepoint.com, and of course ebay.

jccaclimber

For my first road bike I took what was the equivalent of a $25 garage sale bike and tore it down until the only thing left imaginable would have been to un-braze the frame. I put it all back togeather and it was a great learning experience. I'd do that first. Also, even if you do want to do a new build, just buy the wheels. Really. I've built several wheels, the first few with experienced help. Don't try this now. Even if you do get something close to safe that rolls and is almost true it's going te have miserable spoke tension and will be out of true soon. Later on if you do want to wake wheels find yourself a copy of "The bicycle wheel". Lastly, read every term and tech article on or associated with www.sheldonbrown.com