I tried searching for the answer to these question, but couldn't locate them. Does anyone make prebuilt wheels for fixed gears? Is it cheaper to build them yourself or have a shop do it (I don't have a truing stand, dishing tool, and never built a wheel before)? Can I buy a wheel off ebay and just put a fixed gear hub in? What is the best wheel for city riding? Of course I'm exposing myself as a true poser here, so be gentle with me.

Most online stores deal with pre-built or custom built fixed wheels...
http://www.bikesnyc.com/catalog.php?...cat=Components
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/fixed.html#wheels
http://fixedgear.americancyclery.com/

These are but a few out there. I was thinking about going that route as well but decided that I'd save my cash for a Surly fixed hub and some spokes and build it myself with an Open Pro rim I have already. Just seems that the saved cash always ends up going to groceries or my kids registration fees for soccer and the like.

check your lbs. i know the ones around here carry pre-built wheels.

I know there's a bunch of LBS around here that carry them - the last one I bought was a surly laced to a 32 mavic MA3 for $129 before tax. Then there was like another $30 for cog and lockring (but I did get the Phil Wood lockring...) Probably cheaper than buying a truing stand, but eventually I'm going to get me one...

Just don't buy the suzue entry level wheels off of ebay - laced to a alexrims RP15F... seems like a good deal, but I really wasn't happy with the hub. I don't think I'm ever going to get another Suzue hub...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...688352198&rd=1

these look good. i think the hubs are similar to the Iro hubs, only a different color. prolly made in the same factory...

I just had my LBS build me a new wheel. They charged me $35 for the labor. With a stand costing somewhere around $100, a dishing tool being around $30, plus the head-ache of getting the tension right, it true, etc. $35 is a deal to me.

Building up a set of wheels with decent components can save you at least $100 bucks or so. About pays for the tools right there. And you get the personal satisfaction of riding your own.

I like my Phil/Sun Ringle Venus combo. High flange combined with med profile rim makes a strong wheel

Wow, thanks for all the good ideas.

>I don't think I'm ever going to get another Suzue hub...

Don't judge all Suzue hubs based on the Jr. The Pro Max-SB is hot. I'd assume the NJS is also good, but I don't have personal experience.

Yeah I ride suzue promax and phil wood on two different bikes. I don't really notice that much of a differnce between to two, although that might change as the years pass. I think that HereNT was talking about the suzue JR though, he has ridden my promax wheels a couple of time and was impressed compared the the JR...

Phil