LazrShark

Has anyone ridden steel wool wheels? Apparently they're popular in Edmonton, and my LBS is getting more in on Friday. They're $280 Canadian for the wheel set.

I can't see them actually being steel wheels, because that would be insane.

Any feedback is good feedback.

-Steven

jet sanchEz

They had better be really good for that price.

Here is a shot of just the hubs from their site, they look nice enough. :shrug:

https://www.steelwoolbicycles.ca/parts.php

mander

They look like anodized and custom drilled Dimensions. $280 is not bad at all for a mid level fixed wheelset at a Canadian lbs. OP do you know what rims are used and whether they are hand built?

Kol.klink

They are Alex G6000's, and yes they are handbuilt.

epschoenly

I could get a 48 spoke setup to match my bmx bike.

deathhare

These hubs are just re-badged Formulas.

Daijoubu

Hollow axle, they're dimensions

jet sanchEz

That was my thinking but I wasn't 100% sure. So, they are way overpriced at 280$CDN.

Sixty Fiver

I'm in Edmonton...

I saw a pair come into the shop the other day and although they aren't my thing, they looked decent and had hollow axles.

A pair of good hand built wheels is going to start at around $275.00 and go up depending on the components that go in the wheel... my rather economical rear wheel on my expedition bike would have cost about $180.00 if I had not built it myself and even then the parts cost (if you actually paid retail) was $140.00 including two inexpensive cogs.

$280.00 is not a bad price at all and I am seeing that our stronger dollar is finally having a positive effect on our parts prices.

mander

Sanchez, you're Canadian right? What are you paying for wheelsets and where are you getting them? Like Sixty Fiver I'm used to seeing decent handbuilt wheelsets go for $265 and up at lbses.

LazrShark

Cool.

Yeah I wasn't sure about them, because RedBike really told me nothing..Those guys are seriously jerks.

My other option is a set of Cane Creek Volcos Track Clinchers, with Vittoria Pista Evo CS tires.

And I can get that set for 300, with rubber. The only thing I'm worried about is that it's a track wheel, and it's not going to hold up to street abuse, and I would feel bad using the wheels as someone on the track could actually use them.

jet sanchEz

Yeah, I am in Toronto and I paid about $250 for my Miche Primatos laced to Velocity deep-Vs. I got the hubs separately on eBay and then the rims came up on eBay as well, total they were under $200 shipped to my door and then Urbane built them for me. It was a few years ago and those kind of deals are hard to find now but I also purchased a set of used Formulas laced to Deep-Vs for $120 shipped on eBay a few months ago and that included rubber (they are tubulars).

I guess I am just cheap but those Steel-wool ones are going to be over $300 with tax.

jet sanchEz

Also, there was a great close-out deal on IRO's website recently where a set of fixed hubs was sold for $30, maybe they are gone now but you could always email Tony and see if he has any left. Then, just pick whatever rim you want.

LazrShark

Yeah.

I'm just going to go with the cane creek wheels. They're a great deal from a good friend.

And I guess it's worth spending the extra on a set of wheels that I could potentially carry over to my next bike.

Thanks everyone.

operator

Dimension hubs = $20

I wouldn't say that it's a ripoff, but just because a entry level hub is anodized and drilled seriously does not make it worth that much more.

Rim is nothing special, spokes nothing special. Handbuilt? Depends who's handbuilding them and what their reputation is. Handbuilt can mean factory stock, then retensioned (omgz0r) or literally from spoke up.

$280 for that wheelset? I'll pass. You could get a similar wheelset on miche hubs which are much, much better hubs on alex da28's for around the same price.

deathhare

No.
Some Formulas have hollow axles. I have a set that do.
Those hubs are Formulas.

operator

Alright, let's see a picture of your "formula" hub.

deathhare

Ill be honest with you. Im not gonna go to the trouble to take a pic of the hubs, load them up and post them. Im way too lazy for that.
Theyre forumulas and have hollow axles.

operator

That doesn't make them dimenion/steelwool hubs.

TRaffic Jammer

The Ambrosios I want are almost 100bux a hoop, so....280 for a built set doesn't sound totally ridiculous. I kinda liked the steelwool hubs, not a good deal you say? I grabbed up a set of those 30$ iro hubs... what to get those laced to?

deathhare

They are CLEARLY the same hubs. Only difference is the holes in the flanges.
Even the hardware is the same.