wadajoobadude

My old alex/suze jr impulse buy wheels have served their purpose, but now I am bit more experienced and looking to improve my ride now that my riding has improved. I want to go with Mavic OP but my hubs will vary with my options. I am also looking to learn how to lace wheels, but no one around my area will teach me unless I pay them. So here are my choices. I also know that Formula and Dimension are extemely similar, but any extra input would be helpful.

option 1 - Order wheels (Mavic OP w/ Formula) online, laced for 235. I don't learn how to lace wheels.

option 2 - Order wheels (Mavic OP w/ Formula) online, unlaced for 200, pay 80 in labor and learn how to lace wheels

option 3 - Order wheels (Mavic OP w/ Dimension) from LBS, 280, learn how to lace wheels.

The guy who would teach me has been doing it for 30 years, so I have a feeling I would be taught correctly, but the questions I have here are whether or not learning how to lace wheels is worth the extra 45, and from experience, has anyone found a performance/endurance difference in Dimension and Formula. I would like to get better hubs, but from what I've read on here, its not worth it to drop more money on hubs unless you go phil/campy (which I don't have the money to do, although gold phils would awesome).

andre nickatina

I'd say option three since you want to learn how.

When you bust through the Forumla's stock bearings, you can put some Phil spec'd bearings in them which some people say makes a difference.

blickblocks

So, are you looking to get rid of your old wheels? I need a track wheelset, even if it's crummy.

wadajoobadude

since you are looking, I will save you the trouble, www.bicyclewheels.com, just go to the track wheels and click on the first option.

blickblocks

Yeah someone suggested that on my bike build thread. I'm looking at the $145 Mavic set, they look nice as hell. But if I could find a used rear wheel for $50 I'd probably just go with that.

Thanks though.