Best Place To Buy Rims

stoobydale
stoobydale Posts: 535
edited October 2009 in Road buying advice
Where's the best place to buy rims (ie cheapest) Looking to build up a new rear wheel for the winter bike. I have a spare campag veloce hub, 32 hole. Built a pair last year around Mavic CPX33 rims but would prefer to use something with standard length nipples to keep the cost down. Was thinking about a Mavic open pro or a DT Swiss R1.1, but quite like the thought of an Ambrosio or Alex or something else reccommended. Cheers.

Comments

  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    For good value rims, consider DRC - available through Bob Elliot, so your LBS might be able to get them. I've just built some wheels with Halo rims which look nice in white :lol:
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • stoobydale
    stoobydale Posts: 535
    Thanks for the reply, not heard of DRC before and everything on the Bib Elliot website seems to be out of stock. I considered the Halo rims for my last build, but the local shop that could supply them would have had to make a minimum order or the P&P was massive so I didn't bother. Did you have to use longer nipples with the Halo rims?
  • huuregeil
    huuregeil Posts: 780
    Ebay is actually really good. And last time I looked (I was after Ambrosio Excellence rims and excellent they are!), the cheapest place to get them was Germany, where there are a range of good online shops. (google is your friend here).
  • pianoman
    pianoman Posts: 706
    Those IRD Niobium rims at Wheelsmith sure look sublime. And they're NOT Mavic! So how about something a little different :D

    Then again, this is the same person who's just put across why you should NEVER buy carbon frames :P
  • chriskempton
    chriskempton Posts: 1,245
    :shock: IRD Niobium are NOT recommended for winter usage.
  • top_bhoy
    top_bhoy Posts: 1,424
    edited October 2009
    DRC rims are good rims. However, speaking with Big Al at Wheelcraft on my recent visit, he has stopped using the ST24 rims because they are a tight fit for some tyres. I have a pair of these ST24 with ProRace 2s and can confirm this is the case - tight fitting aside, they are great rims and bombproof.

    On the visit back, I got a pair of DRC CXR Pro Racing rims on Hope hubs from Al...not yet used as the bike is being built up but they look really good. These rims are 470g each. I wouldn't rule out other DRC rims.
    Click here to view Top_Bhoys Pedal Force:
    Click here to view Top_Bhoys RC2:
  • chriskempton
    chriskempton Posts: 1,245
    If you want cheap, can you not get a replacement CXP33 and reuse the previous spokes and nipples?
  • stoobydale
    stoobydale Posts: 535
    This is for a new wheel to replace the Campag Khamsin that I am using on my winter bike. The Khamsins are coming up for their 3rd winter but I have already replaced all the bearings last year and had a lot of trouble with the freehub. My previously built CXP33's on mirage hubs are still going strong on another bike. Don't want to downgrade them just yet for winter use.
  • derosa
    derosa Posts: 2,819
    I get my Ambrosio rims from here http://www.totalcycling.com/index.php/p ... index.html

    Not cheap, but good service.
    Big H

    May the road rise up to meet you.
    May the wind always be at your back.
  • stoobydale
    stoobydale Posts: 535
    Ok decided on a purple Halo Aerorage rim, ordered today. Now after looking at what I thought was a spare Veloce hub I have discovered that it is a mirage, still good enough for a winter wheel, but now I am thinking of getting a purple hub. So can anyone reccommend a cheapish rear purple Campag hub and a source for cheap black spokes?
  • chriskempton
    chriskempton Posts: 1,245
    Purple wheels?

    Halloween-tastic :o

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