Santaria

So I finally decided what to spend some of my bike budget on.

I ordered a EAI bareknuckle in Khaki Green. $699 with fork.
I am now looking at building it up as a daily rider. My vision is running IRD defiant crank, Brooks honey saddle, chrome stem, seatpost with honey bar tape and only the front on an El Toro bar (with IRD cross lever).

My problem is, without much work, I'm pretty sure the wheelset is going to be the hard part for me. I don't want to build my own, and I'm not seeing any pre-built sets online that offer quality at a sub$500 pricetag.

Ah, the days of pre-built bikes. Why did I have to go deciding I wanted to build my own finally.

yummygooey

What are you looking for in a wheelset?

muckymucky

really? you have a $2000 budget and your dream ss/fg is a bareknuckle?
seems like your dream consists of classic leather parts, super low profile rims, tan sidewall tires, and a brass bell.

GMJ

Velomine has great wheelsets.

8bits

as others said, a 2K bike should have top notch components on a very nice frame. But if your focus now is wheelset you can browse this link...you can choose mavic rims laced to phill or dura ace hubs with db spokes for less then 500USD.

https://www.velomine.com/index.php?ma...ath=87_172_178
https://www.velomine.com/index.php?ma...ath=87_172_180

you can go for a better cost Vs benefit with Scrod's wheelsets too:
https://www.retro-gression.com/catego...ms-hubs-spokes

GMJ

Back the **** off of those Dura Ace to Open Pro's. Those will be mine shortly.

Santaria

lol, yep. Only thing missing is for me to order a WWII aviator goggle set w/ matching bomber hat for the annual 100 miler this year

BigglyPuff

I have no experience with them, but I am looking at either Velomine or Retrogression for my next wheelset. OP might want to check them out too. $500 should be more than enough to get a better than average wheelset.

Might want to change your crank choice too. I'm looking at IRD Defiants or Sugino 75's, and if I had a $2000 budget, it's not even a question.

TheRealFaux

Or Campy Records

Scrodzilla

This makes me want to buy every set Velomine has, and I don't even want them.

TejanoTrackie 

I can't understand the appeal of lacing up premium rims and hubs with fat and heavy straight gage spokes. I paid $110 for some Velomine wheels with Formula hubs and Deep V rims, and that was ok, but I can't see paying $350 for a set of DA to Open Pros.

renton20

2nd

If I was buying a $350 wheelset I'd damn sure want DB spokes, for sure more than super premium track hubs

hamfoh

ben's will do your wheelbuild labor for "free" if you do the build for them - made sure to get DB when I got my h+sons built. plus coupons work on wheelbuilds too. you may have to call in a custom order, I did.

your idea is what I was thinking about doing in the summer. I have the honey to honey setup atm, and was thinking once summer rolls around moving it to a green style from, nice choice on the BK

yummygooey

Yay! One of the few times TT and I agree on something!

conbon

So I get my set, then toph gets some, then micah, now you? Are daop's like the cool new thing in stl? Buy mine, I need money to buy my ellipses....

To op, good call on the barenuckle. For wheels I would recommend velomine, they have a great selection for custom prebuilts, and for tires I vote paselas.

-connor

markaitch

i was about to make a snarky remark that it seems rather pointess to me to retro up a modern trackish frame like a bareknuckle with honey brooks, old school looking cranks & wheels, etc. but then i glanced over at my steamroller i finally finished yesterday & am about about to take pics of & noticed that i did it pretty similar to your description of your prospective dream bike, just a bit cheaper. guess if i had, that would've make me a hypocrite?

ooops...

sagamore

To the op. I built up my dream bike this past spring using the inspiration of vintage french cycling posters. Used the IRD Defiant crank Brooks Flyer, shellacked cotton bar-tape, and most of the other items on your wish list. I had a set of wheels built locally using Velo Orange’s Grand Cru fixed hubs and Velocity a23 rims. They look fantastic, and work even better. This may be an option for you.

Santaria

I am going with the IRD Defiant crank because I'm trying to stick to IRD for as many components as I can. Figure I'd go with a theme of consistency. I can't find much info on their headsets though, which has me back looking up reviews through 10 years of archives on BF. Ugh.

Velomine has become my second favorite place to hang out. So much cool stuff there. Their price on the SRAM Omnium I want for my Nature boy is happy time for my feet. Although honestly, I'll end up buying my wheelset of Skrod because I'd rather support a builder in the community over a complete stranger. Bonus points for my wife wanting me to add Retro-gression stickers to our van's "sticker-paint scheme."