Handbuilt MTB wheels around London area?
Discussion
Can anyone recommend a good wheelbuilder who can rebuild my MTB wheels using decent spokes and get an evenly high spoke tension. Most machine built wheels are s
te and tend to have a massive variance in the spoke tension, however expensive they were to buy.
In terms of hubs, I've been told that expensive hubs don't offer any real benefit once they're covered in mud (assuming they're regularly serviced).
I'm looking for XC wheels, not DH, so outright rim strength shouldn't bee that much of an issue once the wheel is built correctly.
te and tend to have a massive variance in the spoke tension, however expensive they were to buy. In terms of hubs, I've been told that expensive hubs don't offer any real benefit once they're covered in mud (assuming they're regularly serviced).
I'm looking for XC wheels, not DH, so outright rim strength shouldn't bee that much of an issue once the wheel is built correctly.
How close to London do you want to be?
Cycleworks in Leatherhead can certainly hand-build wheels for you. I wouldn't claim to have any expert knowledge to tell you how good they are, but I've had absolutely no problems at all with the ones they did for me around 2 years ago, and with 18 stone of me pushing them round the Surrey Hills, I think I'd have uncovered any potential problems by now.
Cycleworks in Leatherhead can certainly hand-build wheels for you. I wouldn't claim to have any expert knowledge to tell you how good they are, but I've had absolutely no problems at all with the ones they did for me around 2 years ago, and with 18 stone of me pushing them round the Surrey Hills, I think I'd have uncovered any potential problems by now.
If you can wait another 10 days or so (as he's on holiday the jammy ), a mate does bike tuning and wheel building in the evenings. He builds the best wheels I know, and 2 years of 17st riding DTswiss 5.1s for XC, 4X and general messing around and they're still true as a... eerr... a very true thing.
Based in Milton Keynes tho... so bit outside of London.
), a mate does bike tuning and wheel building in the evenings. He builds the best wheels I know, and 2 years of 17st riding DTswiss 5.1s for XC, 4X and general messing around and they're still true as a... eerr... a very true thing.Based in Milton Keynes tho... so bit outside of London.
Rico said:
If you can wait another 10 days or so (as he's on holiday the jammy ), a mate does bike tuning and wheel building in the evenings. He builds the best wheels I know, and 2 years of 17st riding DTswiss 5.1s for XC, 4X and general messing around and they're still true as a... eerr... a very true thing.
Based in Milton Keynes tho... so bit outside of London.
MK not a prob. Any idea what he charges for a pair of wheels, i.e. spokes and labour? Thanks), a mate does bike tuning and wheel building in the evenings. He builds the best wheels I know, and 2 years of 17st riding DTswiss 5.1s for XC, 4X and general messing around and they're still true as a... eerr... a very true thing.Based in Milton Keynes tho... so bit outside of London.
PS what's 4X (are you talking in terms of the number of times the spokes cross when laced up?) I thought only tandem rear wheels used 4X spoke lacing patterns?
Rico said:
No idea tbh. I'll make a note to ask him when he gets back and let you know.
4X = It's a type of riding with jumps. Four riders against eachother down a track. Clicky Basically means that the wheels have taken a beaten above just XC riding.
4X = It's a type of riding with jumps. Four riders against eachother down a track. Clicky Basically means that the wheels have taken a beaten above just XC riding.
I understand, like boardercross at the X games, but with MTB?!Thanks. PM details when you have a rough price.
Bingo. Exactly like BoarderX.
If you can get some Hope Hoops tho, I'd go for them, as I can't guarantee when he'll be free to build the wheels as they're time consuming to do right and he's just moved house, so I'd imagine wifey will be making him do DIY...
Get Hope hubs on DTSwiss 5.1s and you've got a great mix of strength and lightness.
And a TONNE cheaper than the virtually identical EX1750s that Neil uses.
If you can get some Hope Hoops tho, I'd go for them, as I can't guarantee when he'll be free to build the wheels as they're time consuming to do right and he's just moved house, so I'd imagine wifey will be making him do DIY...
Get Hope hubs on DTSwiss 5.1s and you've got a great mix of strength and lightness.
And a TONNE cheaper than the virtually identical EX1750s that Neil uses.
Edited by Rico on Friday 3rd April 13:15
Rico said:
Get Hope hubs on DTSwiss 5.1s and you've got a great mix of strength and lightness.
And a TONNE cheaper than the virtually identical EX1750s that Neil uses.
As a friend who road races for the Scottish Commonwealth squad told me, once the bike is caked in mud, the 'weight' saving from 'leightweight' (i.e. about 80% of the weight of the heavist mid range hubs) will be absolutely negligable. He swears by getting the wheels built really well, and suggests that well built wheels using 'standard' hubs and rims will be a lot stronger than machine built wheels which use high end hubs/rims.....And a TONNE cheaper than the virtually identical EX1750s that Neil uses.
Yeah, there's not much in it tbh.
I like DTSwiss 5.1s. They're a good strong rim (world cup DH racers use them), but not too wide nor stupidly heavy. For Downhill I use Mavic 823s which are just stupidly strong and don't dent like DT 6.1s (2350s). DTSwiss spokes seem pretty solid, then whatever hub you fancy.
There's an argument that big hubs = shorter spokes = stronger wheels, but its not a massive issue these days as spokes are a lot better.
DTSwiss pre-built wheels are superb though, but they're handbuilt and the price reflects this...
Pricey but gorgeous
Just a rear at this price...
Hope Hoops are handbuilt, just well priced as they use their own hubs obviously.
I like DTSwiss 5.1s. They're a good strong rim (world cup DH racers use them), but not too wide nor stupidly heavy. For Downhill I use Mavic 823s which are just stupidly strong and don't dent like DT 6.1s (2350s). DTSwiss spokes seem pretty solid, then whatever hub you fancy.
There's an argument that big hubs = shorter spokes = stronger wheels, but its not a massive issue these days as spokes are a lot better.
DTSwiss pre-built wheels are superb though, but they're handbuilt and the price reflects this...
Pricey but gorgeous
Just a rear at this price...
Hope Hoops are handbuilt, just well priced as they use their own hubs obviously.
Chaineys Cycles in Leighton Buzzard ( http://www.chaineys.co.uk/maintenance.html ) offer a wheel building service. Not had any done there myself, but have heard good things about them. Will be getting mine done there when i need a new set, and the chap who does all the maintenance and building is friendly, knowledgeable and helpful.
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I was under the impression Hope Hoops are actually machine built...? Not had a problem with the one on my wife's bike though, perfectly tensioned.
I've bought custom hand-built wheels from Merlin Cycles (online shop) a few times - absolutely top-notch quality. Perfectly true after a lot of use.
Hubs: there's definately a difference in terms of maintenance between something with cup-and-cone bearings (i.e. Shimano hubs) and cartridge-bearings (e.g. Hope). I run 3 bikes - 5 of the wheels are Hope-hubbed, and when the final Shimano rear hub dies I'll replace it with a Hope hub. Bearings and sealing are a step above Shimano.
I've bought custom hand-built wheels from Merlin Cycles (online shop) a few times - absolutely top-notch quality. Perfectly true after a lot of use.
Hubs: there's definately a difference in terms of maintenance between something with cup-and-cone bearings (i.e. Shimano hubs) and cartridge-bearings (e.g. Hope). I run 3 bikes - 5 of the wheels are Hope-hubbed, and when the final Shimano rear hub dies I'll replace it with a Hope hub. Bearings and sealing are a step above Shimano.
a11y_m said:
I was under the impression Hope Hoops are actually machine built...? Not had a problem with the one on my wife's bike though, perfectly tensioned.
Are they? I may be wrong then. I just assumed handbuilt as they're very well built.Which makes me think... anyone seen a machine that builds wheels? Would be fascinating to see in action!!
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