Is it the norm to have to buy a pair of handbuilt wheels?

jhop
jhop Posts: 369
edited January 2008 in Workshop
I only want/need to replace my rear handbuilt wheel, silver Open Pro on Centaur hub. In a quick search I could only find Dave Hinde who quoted prices for single wheels. I have mixed feelings about buying from him so wondered if it would be easy to buy a single wheel from another more highly regarded source. Any ideas?

Comments

  • turkeytickler
    turkeytickler Posts: 640
    Im sure if you called an outfit like Parkers http://www.parker-international.co.uk they would oblige even though they only seem to advertise by the pair....

    You would be right to be cautious about Hinde - I count myself among its list of victims...
  • sward29
    sward29 Posts: 205
    I had a pair of Dave Hinde handbuilt wheels and they were v. poor.

    Definitely go elsewhere.
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Try Paul Hewitt. Campagnolo hubs are sold singly, so getting a single wheel should be no problem
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • colint
    colint Posts: 1,707
    YOu can buy single wheels from Ribble, I was worried about their reputation but I bought a pair for my cross bike and they survived racing and training without any problems at all
    Planet X N2A
    Trek Cobia 29er
  • nickwill
    nickwill Posts: 2,735
    If you want a hand built wheel, go to Paul Hewitt!
    http://lakescyclist.wordpress.com/
  • Random Vince
    Random Vince Posts: 11,374
    so the answer would be,

    ask the shop, they can usually accomodate :D
    My signature was stolen by a moose

    that will be all

    trying to get GT James banned since tuesday
  • jhop
    jhop Posts: 369
    Cheers, I will follow these ideas up and try to get a single wheel made up as quickly and reliably as possible.
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    Paul Hewitt would be my choice.
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    most decent shops will be able to build what you want.

    I use Paul Hewitt

    I once used DH for some mtb wheels - the buiild was poor and the got the spec wrong.
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • andrewgturnbull
    andrewgturnbull Posts: 3,861
    Hi there.

    Why not have a go at building the wheel yourself - it's really not that hard. There are plenty of instructions online, or a book such as the one by Jobst Brandt will do the trick.

    Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day, teach him to fish and he'll eat for a lifetime. Or something like that.

    Cheers, Andy
    http://www.andyturnbull.co.uk
    http://www.stirlingtri.co.uk
  • geoff_ss
    geoff_ss Posts: 1,201
    andrewgturnbull wrote:
    Hi there.

    Why not have a go at building the wheel yourself - it's really not that hard. There are plenty of instructions online, or a book such as the one by Jobst Brandt will do the trick.

    Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day, teach him to fish and he'll eat for a lifetime. Or something like that.

    Cheers, Andy

    I agree. I was in my late 30s when I started cycling seriously - to get fit for dinghy racing - and I thought everybody built their own wheels, so I taught myself. Never regretted it. Strongly recommend the Jobst Brand book if it's still available - I've had mine since '84

    In any case, surely any bike shop worth ithe name should be capable of building you a wheel. Locally to me Mercians, Derby and Stanley Fearns, Matlock spring to mind. I'm sure there are others.

    Geoff
    Old cyclists never die; they just fit smaller chainrings ... and pedal faster
  • acorn_user
    acorn_user Posts: 1,137
    If the hub is still good, you could get the rim replaced. That is a pretty routine job for an lbs, and would be much, much cheaper than a new wheel since you could use your existing hubs.

    Note that the new Centaur hubs are different from the old ones visually and internally.
  • andrewgturnbull
    andrewgturnbull Posts: 3,861
    acorn_user wrote:
    If the hub is still good, you could get the rim replaced. That is a pretty routine job for an lbs, and would be much, much cheaper than a new wheel since you could use your existing hubs.

    Note that the new Centaur hubs are different from the old ones visually and internally.


    ...and even easier for the home mechanic:

    1) Buy an identical new rim
    2) Sellotape the new rim to the old one, making sure it's the right way round, and the valve holes are lined up
    3) Transfer each spoke across in turn
    4) Undo sellotape - give old rim to kids for hula-hoop practice
    5) Play about until the wheel is tight and round.

    Cheers, Andy
    http://www.andyturnbull.co.uk
    http://www.stirlingtri.co.uk
  • JWSurrey
    JWSurrey Posts: 1,173
    Another wheel builder I've considered is Harry Rowland.

    I checked the Campag. spec. of a Centaur '08 hub - It's actually heavier than a Mirage hub, and looks near identical.
    As far as I can see, the only difference is that Mirage are black.

    The LBS said that the Centaur were much more reliable than Mirage - I'd like to know what the official line from Campag. is - Why pay more for more weight - not that there's much in it in terms of weight.
  • jhop
    jhop Posts: 369
    I have ordered today from Paul Hewitt who promised to supply a rear wheel only within 10 days.

    I have built front wheels but don't feel ready to tackle a rear in the short time I have available, I will do it sometime though.

    Thanks to you all for helpful advice and ideas.
  • jhop
    jhop Posts: 369
    giant mancp wrote:
    Paul Hewitt would be my choice.

    I did use Paul Hewitt and have now ridden the new Open Pro on Centaur wheel for a couple of hundred miles and it is beautiful.

    Quick and efficient service and a great quality wheel, right straight from the box.

    Cheers for the advice.
  • graham_g
    graham_g Posts: 652
    I always just used my LBS, supplying the hubs myself every time - they never cared if I wanted one or a pair (I had three built once) and I supplied a couple of second-hand rims the once too. Again, no problem, they just charged for labour and spokes.

    There is something of a contradiction in responses to threads about hand-built wheels. On one hand you've got people saying "it's not that hard, try building them yourself" and then a handful of others who only mention Paul Hewitt/Harry Rowland as if there couldn't possibly be anyone in a shop that can build wheels!

    One good reason to fill in your location on your user profile is that people can read the question, make note of location and say "XXX is a good shop near to you - they'll sort you out" rather than going into the complexities that this thread has.

    Just my tuppence worth.
  • turkeytickler
    turkeytickler Posts: 640
    Graham G wrote:
    I always just used my LBS, supplying the hubs myself every time - they never cared if I wanted one or a pair (I had three built once) and I supplied a couple of second-hand rims the once too. Again, no problem, they just charged for labour and spokes.

    There is something of a contradiction in responses to threads about hand-built wheels. On one hand you've got people saying "it's not that hard, try building them yourself" and then a handful of others who only mention Paul Hewitt/Harry Rowland as if there couldn't possibly be anyone in a shop that can build wheels!

    One good reason to fill in your location on your user profile is that people can read the question, make note of location and say "XXX is a good shop near to you - they'll sort you out" rather than going into the complexities that this thread has.

    Just my tuppence worth.
    I guess the added value you get from the Hewitts/Rowlands of this world is the benefit of their experience in finding the right configuration for your style / weight etc - as well as a job done well first time...

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