London/SE-based wheel builder
Discussion
Can anybody recommend a respected wheel builder in/around London? I'm hoping to find somebody with lots of experience to help with some hoops for the Transcontinental. Ideally somebody who could push the boundaries a bit. Tubeless, disc-braked wheels with a dynamo, built strong enough to survive the race and as aerodynamic as we dare and light. If they could throw in a moon-on-a-stick too that'd be great.
Got mine built by Jonny at Noble Wheels and know quite a few other people who have also and was very impressed. Mine were a fairly straight forward build but have no doubt he'd have no trouble with something a bit more complicated. Lots of wheel porn on his website too 
He's based in Earlsfield, SW London.
He's based in Earlsfield, SW London.I had a little struggle recently trying to find someone to lace the tubeless ready carbon rims to the disc hubs I'd bought. My much respected local LBS did the intake of breath twice, first at carbon and then again at disc hubs. I didn't bother mentioning tubeless.
I was about to try Condor on the Gray's Inn Road next when I read some recommendation on an MTB forum for the wheel builder at an unassuming little bike shop in Chesunt, which is easier for me to get to. Gave him a call, and he wasn't in the last bit fazed by them being for a road bike. Asked me all the right questions about lacing patterns, aero spokes, nipples and tape. I wanted conservative 2x lacing front and rear but he would have built them differently had I asked. Dropped what I'd bought off, he supplied the rest and a week later they were done. Worked for me.
http://www.stanleybridge.co.uk/ and the builder was Ben.
I know you're looking for someone to help work out what the build should be as much as build it, but might be worth a phone call anyway.
I was about to try Condor on the Gray's Inn Road next when I read some recommendation on an MTB forum for the wheel builder at an unassuming little bike shop in Chesunt, which is easier for me to get to. Gave him a call, and he wasn't in the last bit fazed by them being for a road bike. Asked me all the right questions about lacing patterns, aero spokes, nipples and tape. I wanted conservative 2x lacing front and rear but he would have built them differently had I asked. Dropped what I'd bought off, he supplied the rest and a week later they were done. Worked for me.
http://www.stanleybridge.co.uk/ and the builder was Ben.
I know you're looking for someone to help work out what the build should be as much as build it, but might be worth a phone call anyway.
I've used Strada a few times and have been great and I would imagine also be good to chat to on different ideas, ask for Jonathan
www.stradawheels.co.uk
www.stradawheels.co.uk
Should have said, I used Malcolm at http://thecycleclinic.co.uk/pages/wheelbuilding very good service and knows his stuff (not London based though).
Their guarantee:
I offer this as it hardly gets called on. Any wheel I build will be backed up (against spoke failure) for the life of the rim (for the original owner) or 5 years. This means free spokes for the life of the rim brake rim (until it wears out). If your wheel goes out of true for any reason get it back and it will be sorted and sent back to you. If a spoke breaks the same applies. If more than one has gone I will rebuild with new spokes I don't mess about with wheels. I offer this as I am not expecting problems, should they happen though you are covered. This is a truly free service (for u.k customers). Crash damage is repaired at cost only, i,e no labour but you do pay shipping costs.
The only exception to the guarantee and this is important is when Hutchinson tubeless tyres are fitted. I have found that on some rims the tension drop is so large that spokes can unwind on the rear and premature spoke failure is likely on the front wheel. I cannot recommend these tyres on my wheels. Schwable One tubeless tyres do not cause this problem which is why I stock these. I will not tension a rim past its safe limit in order to compensate as rim cracking is likely if you ever run an inner tube.
Their guarantee:
I offer this as it hardly gets called on. Any wheel I build will be backed up (against spoke failure) for the life of the rim (for the original owner) or 5 years. This means free spokes for the life of the rim brake rim (until it wears out). If your wheel goes out of true for any reason get it back and it will be sorted and sent back to you. If a spoke breaks the same applies. If more than one has gone I will rebuild with new spokes I don't mess about with wheels. I offer this as I am not expecting problems, should they happen though you are covered. This is a truly free service (for u.k customers). Crash damage is repaired at cost only, i,e no labour but you do pay shipping costs.
The only exception to the guarantee and this is important is when Hutchinson tubeless tyres are fitted. I have found that on some rims the tension drop is so large that spokes can unwind on the rear and premature spoke failure is likely on the front wheel. I cannot recommend these tyres on my wheels. Schwable One tubeless tyres do not cause this problem which is why I stock these. I will not tension a rim past its safe limit in order to compensate as rim cracking is likely if you ever run an inner tube.
ALawson said:
Should have said, I used Malcolm at http://thecycleclinic.co.uk/pages/wheelbuilding very good service and knows his stuff (not London based though).
I think that's a good call. I'd forgotten them but I found their site when looking myself. I already had the rims and hubs though so ultimately went down my different route. Plus Suffolk and back for a face-to-face chat is certainly cycling distance for Gruffy, though probably not far enough for him to count it as a proper day's riding..
I imported mine from Light-Bicycle in China. They've a good rep in the MTB world, as Chinese carbon manufacturers go. Certainly better than a random seller of no-name rims on ebay.
I got their U shaped 35mm rims without braking tracks, and had them drill 28 holes. They can also drill from the underside of the rim only, leaving no holes in the outer side for an easier tubeless setup, though I didn't go with this as I was toying with the idea of building them up myself and thought that would make doing so definitely beyond me.
I don't for one moment expect that their profile was honed in a wind tunnel and that they offer quite the same aerodynamic advantages as the latest HED, Zipp or Reynolds, but they were straight and the wheel builder was impressed by them.
I got their U shaped 35mm rims without braking tracks, and had them drill 28 holes. They can also drill from the underside of the rim only, leaving no holes in the outer side for an easier tubeless setup, though I didn't go with this as I was toying with the idea of building them up myself and thought that would make doing so definitely beyond me.
I don't for one moment expect that their profile was honed in a wind tunnel and that they offer quite the same aerodynamic advantages as the latest HED, Zipp or Reynolds, but they were straight and the wheel builder was impressed by them.
Or, if you've a better budget than I was working to, how about getting Hunt's ready-built light 38mm carbon disc wheelset plus a 24 hole Schmidt dynamo hub, then have a wheelbuilder rebuild the front wheel with the Schmidt?
I know you said 28 spokes, and that's what I went for, but 24 would be faster. The rim brake traditionalists keep telling me that disc brakes are no more powerful so do we really need 28? Hunt don't seem to think so, at least.
I know you said 28 spokes, and that's what I went for, but 24 would be faster. The rim brake traditionalists keep telling me that disc brakes are no more powerful so do we really need 28? Hunt don't seem to think so, at least.
They look great but I'd be worried about going lower than 28H on some of the sketchy road surfaces I'm likely to find in Eastern Europe, especially as I'm hoping to spend time on the extension bars with more forward weight than usual.
I've been looking at their 4-season gravel disc with 30H, which looks like a safe option, but it's only 24mm and I'm hoping I can find something a bit deeper. I suspect I can handle up to 40mm before the crosswind handling becomes a big issue.
I've been looking at their 4-season gravel disc with 30H, which looks like a safe option, but it's only 24mm and I'm hoping I can find something a bit deeper. I suspect I can handle up to 40mm before the crosswind handling becomes a big issue.
Gruffy said:
They look great but I'd be worried about going lower than 28H on some of the sketchy road surfaces I'm likely to find in Eastern Europe, especially as I'm hoping to spend time on the extension bars with more forward weight than usual.
I've been looking at their 4-season gravel disc with 30H, which looks like a safe option, but it's only 24mm and I'm hoping I can find something a bit deeper. I suspect I can handle up to 40mm before the crosswind handling becomes a big issue.
Two responses from Malcomn.I've been looking at their 4-season gravel disc with 30H, which looks like a safe option, but it's only 24mm and I'm hoping I can find something a bit deeper. I suspect I can handle up to 40mm before the crosswind handling becomes a big issue.
This is probably he most useful.
I forgot carbon rims in 24H, 28H or 32H are available. Kappius they are 35mm deep wide, tubeless compatible and £500 each though. The SONdeluxe hub is the way to go. It offers slightly lower power consumption than the Shimano hub
TCR is that the transcontinental race? Sounds fun. I could use aero spokes like the Cx-ray as well.
I would suggest 30mm deep and wide over deeper and narrower for pace.
So the best option would be a
28H Velocity Aileron rim (25mm wide 30mm deep) SONdeluxe hub (centrelock) and black sapim CX-ray spokes cost £366. Splurging on the Kappius rims will only result in a stiffer wheel and a bit more aero but not lighter by anything meaningful. The is about as light and as aero as is possible with current components and it uses the best dyno hub on the market.
If I was doing TCR (I wish I had the time) I would use this.
I've also remembered there's DCR Wheels in Lewes, another specialist wheelbuilder who certainly seems to know his stuff.
He has some 36mm deep carbon "Clydesdale" clincher rims in 28 hole listed, along with dynamo hubs and all the other gear.
The website's a very good read if nothing else http://dcrwheels.co.uk/products/dcr-components/dcr...
He has some 36mm deep carbon "Clydesdale" clincher rims in 28 hole listed, along with dynamo hubs and all the other gear.
The website's a very good read if nothing else http://dcrwheels.co.uk/products/dcr-components/dcr...
Gruffy said:
The challenge I'm having at the moment is finding a disc-specific tubeless rim with 28/32 holes and a bit of depth for aero gains. I was hoping for something around 35-40mm.
Sounds like you are describing the ENVE XC 29er wheelset:
The ones in the picture are going on my new road bike, I've got another pair on my cross bike - hugely strong, tubeless ready, nice and wide, very light - ideal rims for a bike that's going to see mixed terrain (my new road bike is being built for Colorado, where a lot of the roads in the mountains are gravel).
Also, if you want a wheel builder in SE London then try Justin at Blue Door bikes - he's built numerous wheel sets for me and they've all been great.
He built these, Nemesis on 6800 and they're fantastic - and Roubaix proof:
SixPotBelly said:
I've also remembered there's DCR Wheels in Lewes, another specialist wheelbuilder who certainly seems to know his stuff.
He has some 36mm deep carbon "Clydesdale" clincher rims in 28 hole listed, along with dynamo hubs and all the other gear.
The website's a very good read if nothing else http://dcrwheels.co.uk/products/dcr-components/dcr...
I use DCR Wheels too, proper wheelsmith with lifetime guarantee on his work.He has some 36mm deep carbon "Clydesdale" clincher rims in 28 hole listed, along with dynamo hubs and all the other gear.
The website's a very good read if nothing else http://dcrwheels.co.uk/products/dcr-components/dcr...
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