wheelset advice needed
 

Surly 36h track hubs laced to Mavic MA-3 3X front and back with light use - hand built. The seller is asking $175 which includes a 17t 1/8th Suntour cog (which happens to be exactly the tooth count and pitch I was planning to get). I would love some fancier wheels, especially since this bike might see some action at the track, but I am kind of broke at the moment. I am also not in dire need of a wheelset and could definitely wait until a better deal comes along or I have more funds to put into getting something better. I doubt there is much leeway on the price.

What would you do?

If they are not what you want, pass. Find a deal on the hubs you want, then get the wheelset you want built.

Unless they're worth more on ebay, leave 'em be for someone else. You said it yourself, you're not in dire need of a wheelset.

Aside from the hubs they are pretty close to what I want though, and I'm guessing I could upgrade bearing if needed.

The seals are fairly loose and that is why I got rid of mine.

come on now, the hubs are the most expensive component of the wheelset and your saying they aren't really what you want...pass on 'em.

i'd recommend by price:
1) handbuilt formula/cxp22 - $130
2) handbuilt promax/open pro - $270 - harris cyclery
3) cane creek volos track - $330 - alfred e bike
4) handbuilt phil wood/open pro - $450 - thebikebiz

i'd wait. as hard as it is to wait, it'll be worth it

Thanks (to everyone). This is definitely helping shake some sense into me. Miche/Deep V with the cog carrier system was where I was leaning before, but it wouldn't be too much more to go Phil.

i like my deep v's but i'm pretty sure i'll never get a wheelset with them again. they're durable and stay true, but i think a lot of other rims would too since i weigh 150#. i'm not a fan of how heavy they are, and i could take or leave the stiff ride.

that's actually what i'm getting in the next week or so, minus the cog carrier. obviously i haven't had a chance to ride them so i don't know how much i'll notice, but i'm kind of turned off by how heavy they are. i almost decided to go with fusions instead but it would have been a pain in the ass to get new spokes, so i got vees instead. i guess we'll see if the weight bugs me.

aeroheads are a good alternative to v's too. just as strong, about a quarter pound less weight. no huge color selection, but i assume that'll change real soon.

the Miche cog carrier system is a total failure. Stay clear of that ****.

Also, Aeroheads are the ****. I have two sets, much better than V's.

Please esplain.

I am running that for 3000k+. I had problems tightening lockring hard enough, especially that the lockrings as they come with the hubs, having too small diameter barely engaged the cog. I had to machine my own lockring for it to work.

The carrier is narrower than the cog (as it has to be), so properly setup lockring should engage just the cog - this gives a chance of some play on the splines between the carrier and the cog - I find it to be a design flaw.

Nevertheless, it works ok since last tightening, some 600k ago.

Are you running the carrier on a Miche hub or something else?

I am running the carrier on Mack hub.

I've got a Miche/Deep V set up that I built up myself and love. They've got a couple thousand miles on them by now, and they're running great, I would highly reccomend this set up. I'm also using the carrier system that came with the set up, and i haven't had any problems with it. I don't really need it though, seeing as I don't ride the track and never change cog sizes. Just my 2 cents, but i'd pass; doesn't sound like that amazing of a deal anyway.