Wheelsmith.co.uk
Comments
-
http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopi ... wheelsmith
Is just one result of putting wheelsmith into the search function.
Some good some bad."Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
Parktools :?:SheldonBrown0 -
As is evident from Nick's link, I've used him for a wheel build before.
The problems I had were really down to the fact that I stressed I wanted a really strong wheel in my initial email to him, which meant we ended up trying a 4x (four-cross) pattern for the lacing and the hub flanges weren't big enough for it. We ended up with spokes touching the heads of other spokes.
But he was very good about it and when I asked him to re-lace it 3x he was happy to oblige, even arranging for the wheel to be picked up and sent back at no cost to me.
I've been using the wheel every day since then and it's going fine. Haven't had to true it very much at all.0 -
Build your own - it really isn't difficult!
And havibg just dis-assembled a wheel expensively "hand built" by a noted frame/bike builder I wouldn't pay for the "privelege" with my money! Guess they thought "hey we've got some 298s, only a bit longer than 296s and we'll grind down the ends on the worst and put extra rim tape on...."
And no, seeing as I didn't pay for the build and only have the "built by" sticker to go by, I'm not naming names.
Often wonder WHY "hand built" is simply accepted as somehow better than machine built. Once a machine is set, the product is all the same! Would you buy a "hand built" TV or sewing machine or....? No. You'd want a standard, quality controlled, MACHINE built one!
I do build some wheels - mainly because I want hub/rim combinations not readily available. And because if patient can be cheaper (but only because these days my time is FREE).d.j.
"Cancel my subscription to the resurrection."0 -
I'd agree with you that building your own isn't hard and, much more importantly, is both satisfying and fun.
Regarding your comments about hand vs machine, surely you'd have to agree a hand made bespoke suit is better than one turned out by a machine?0 -
Jamey,
thanks for your input - I had read your thread before posting my initial question and what I was hoping to get was more of the same - subjective opinion of the service and build quality.
The idea of building my own is tempting but there are some much more basic parts of bike maintenance I should conquer first...0 -
I've had 2 pairs of wheels from this guy over the last 2 years and they have been superb. 1st was hampered by lack of stock (in the UK!) but he always let me know what was happening. The 2nd was a pair of Gigantax 50mm's (kind of lke Planet X but better rims I reckon and certainly better built) - they are still like new after major abuse. Never heard a BAD review.
I know some people (my clubmates!) start to think because they have trued up a wheel a bit or their pal has built a wheel or something then they can build a wheel just as good as a pro. Load of rubbish really. Some wheelbuilders must go mad at folk thinking they know better than them. I spoke to the wheelsmith guy about 28h Open Pros front and rear because somebody told me they would be OK for a 14stoner. The guy at wheelsmith said no and I'm glad now as my old Merlin 28holers are so poorly built that they are unusable and the wheelsmith 32h ones are still perfect.
I think 25 years of building wheels maybe has something to go for. Its a cottage industry and I hope it stays that way. Bet it doesn't even pay the bills - I get the feeling he just wants folk to be happy. Next thing I'm after iis a pair of the IRD rims they do - maybe on Dura-Ace. Will keep you posted.0 -
It's worth mentioning that most, if not all, machine built wheels are finished off by hand.
It would be useful if one of the magazines would do a proper test of the leading handbuilders' wheels and the most prominent factory wheels, and let us know what the spoke tensions are around the wheel. Tightness, within manufacturer's limits, and consistency are what matters, yet all we ever get is a subjective judgement of wheels that are "tested".
5000 miles in the same real-world conditions would be cool too, but slightly more difficult to do.
An objective test would be a really good one for C+, in its best traditions. Better still if an article on "what makes a wheel strong", based on the well-known bikeradar thread of the same name, were included in the same issue so readers would all know what the significance of this level of testing was.
In fact, I hereby volunteer to write it. You listening Jeff?0 -
"Bet it doesn't even pay the bills - ...."
REALLY smart bloke then!d.j.
"Cancel my subscription to the resurrection."0 -
choosey wrote:I know some people (my clubmates!) start to think because they have trued up a wheel a bit or their pal has built a wheel or something then they can build a wheel just as good as a pro. Load of rubbish really.
There's no reason why someone building their first pair of wheels can't produce some that are just as good as a professional mechanic or wheelbuilder. Provided you follow a good guide like Roger Musson's at www.wheelpro.co.uk, have the right tools and take your time, a very good standard is easily achieveable.
A wheel that is perfectly true radially and laterally, has a high and even spoke tension to the rim manufacturer's recommended figure, and is laced properly with the valve hole in the right place, will be just as good coming from the shed of a first-time amateur as it would from a professional shop. In fact it might be better, since a suprising number of professional builders don't use a tensiometer.
The difference is that someone building wheels full-time will knock a pair off in an hour, whereas a hobbyist might take a weekend.0 -
robbarker wrote:It would be useful if one of the magazines would do a proper test of the leading handbuilders' wheels...
For accurate results the handbuilt wheels would need purchasing by a Mystery Shopper. If you said "build me some wheels for a magazine review" they may or may not be to the same standard as those purchased by a normal customer.
Roger
PS Jamey - why did you/he think 4x builds a stronger wheel? It doesn't.0 -
Talk of the devil!
You're right, of course.0 -
rogerwp wrote:PS Jamey - why did you/he think 4x builds a stronger wheel? It doesn't.
I know that now but at the time I had zero knowledge of wheelbuilding and I sent an email to two wheelbuilders asking for their recommendations for a super-strong wheel together with a price for building it. One of those two people was you and the other one was Derek at Wheelsmith. In his first reply he suggested lacing it 4x and I, knowing nothing of spoke lacing trusted his judgement.
Now I suppose you could argue that I should have researched wheelbuilding prior to agreeing but I'd counter-argue that I was just a bloke who was looking to lose weight commuting to work by bike and I just wanted a wheel that worked, and since I was paying for it I expected the other person to do the thinking for me based on my list of requirements, which was really only one item long - "build me a very strong wheel."
Now, of course, I know how to build my own wheel thanks to Rob.0 -
rogerwp wrote:
For accurate results the handbuilt wheels would need purchasing by a Mystery Shopper. If you said "build me some wheels for a magazine review" they may or may not be to the same standard as those purchased by a normal customer.
I am sure the mystery shopper experiment would be very useful for factory wheels as well.
Surely the marketting droids send off a test set of wheels to be tweaked to perfection by the mechanics before providing to a magazine to be reviewed. or am I too distrustful of corporates?0 -
Jamey wrote:rogerwp wrote:PS Jamey - why did you/he think 4x builds a stronger wheel? It doesn't.
I know that now but at the time I had zero knowledge of wheelbuilding and I sent an email to two wheelbuilders asking for their recommendations for a super-strong wheel together with a price for building it. One of those two people was you and the other one was Derek at Wheelsmith. In his first reply he suggested lacing it 4x and I, knowing nothing of spoke lacing trusted his judgement.
Now I suppose you could argue that I should have researched wheelbuilding prior to agreeing but I'd counter-argue that I was just a bloke who was looking to lose weight commuting to work by bike and I just wanted a wheel that worked, and since I was paying for it I expected the other person to do the thinking for me based on my list of requirements, which was really only one item long - "build me a very strong wheel."
Now, of course, I know how to build my own wheel thanks to Rob.
Hi Jamey,
Having looked through a few more posts relating to your wheel purchase I realise my comment was not appropriate. Sorry for it appearing flippant.
Last year I didn't build any road wheels so more appologies if you didn't get a reply from me asking for my advice. Anyway, you've gone through a great learning process and I hope you are now independent when it comes to wheels.
Rob,
The other alternative is to be up front and say you want your best effort to go head to head with other wheelbuilders. You might not get a good response but there will be at least two contenders, me and an amateur wheelbuilder (nominate you or Jamey). It will be good to put in a wheelset made by an amateur just to show what's possible. I've seen many examples of homemade wheels and they are pretty damn good, as good as anything I've done!
Roger
Edit to correct typo I said "you" should be "me"0 -
Fibod, Dereck is a stand up guy who is reasonable, reliable and always tries to do his best by his customers.
Every wheel builder has Ideas on what works best for him or her, however since the invent of the internet many customers arrive with pre conceived ideas of what they want, that can be helpful, but can also make life very difficult.
He's a good wheelbuilder as well as a nice bloke, I'm sure you'll not be dissapointed..0
