Custom-built wheels

caw35slr
caw35slr Posts: 439
edited November 2007 in Workshop
I'm in the market for some wheels. If this was for my mountain bike I'd head straight for Merlin (http://www.merlincycles.co.uk) and be done with it.

I wonder who offers the same quality of service for road wheels... I trawled and found Parker International (http://www.parker-international.co.uk/), do they have a good reputation? If you've used them I'd like to hear what you think.

I'm considering a Mavic CPX-33 rim laced to groupset-matching Campag Centaur hubs. Any comments on that would be appreciated.

Comments

  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    Paul Hewitt

    just down the road from Merlin

    top wheels. Wouldn't go anywhere else...
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • colint
    colint Posts: 1,707
    seconded
    Planet X N2A
    Trek Cobia 29er
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Wheelbuilders with great reputations:

    Paul Hewitt in Leyland, Lancs
    Pete Matthews in Liverpool
    Harry Rowland in Kent
    Grant Young at Condor
    Helmut at Sonic Cycles
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • caw35slr
    caw35slr Posts: 439
    maddog 2 wrote:
    Paul Hewitt

    just down the road from Merlin

    top wheels. Wouldn't go anywhere else...

    For road wheels? Didn't know they did them.
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    oh yes

    it's a roadie shop basically
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • caw35slr
    caw35slr Posts: 439
    maddog 2 wrote:
    oh yes

    it's a roadie shop basically

    Blimey, they seem hell bent on hiding it.

    /caw heads to http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/ and reads the title:

    "Online Mountain Bike shop Merlin Cycles, Mountain bike parts, mountain bike accessories and mountain bikes"

    They also boast the title of "The UK's Number One Mountain Bike Wheel Builder"!

    /caw clicks "About Us and searches for "road":

    No hits, same with the FAQ. Yes, clearly a roadie destination! LOL. :-)

    There's not a single road component in their online shop. I'm intrigued - are you talking about a different Merlin, or am I missing something?
  • caw35slr
    caw35slr Posts: 439
    Heh, just re-read your posting...


    ...Paul Hewitt, just down the road from merlin. I thought you meant that you were just down the road from Merlin.

    Doh!

    FYI: http://www.hewittcycles.co.uk/
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    :D
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • Special K
    Special K Posts: 449
    Monty Dog wrote:
    Wheelbuilders with great reputations:

    Paul Hewitt in Leyland, Lancs
    Pete Matthews in Liverpool
    Harry Rowland in Kent
    Grant Young at Condor
    Helmut at Sonic Cycles

    RE Condor - don't want to start a Condor "victims of their own success" thread, but it is worth noting that even though someone might have a good reputation they might still sell you a pair of wheels that aren't up to the job. As an example I bought some 36H Mavic open pros. Chunky bit of kit for light touring with a not so light rider. Wheel softened within a couple of hundred km whilst on tour, an leaving me unable to use the lowest gear (as spokes were so loose and bowed that they were hitting the mech in the lowest gear!).

    so no guarantees in other words.
    "There are holes in the sky,
    Where the rain gets in.
    But they're ever so small
    That's why rain is thin. " Spike Milligan
  • caw35slr
    caw35slr Posts: 439
    LOL, no let's not start that one again. Let's just say that I'm more interested in Hewitt's...

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