Who can I get to build my exped wheels if I have the parts

weeve
weeve Posts: 393
edited February 2011 in Tour & expedition
Have some hubs and rims. Most good wheel builders prefer to sell the these (understandably) rather than just build wheels with customers own stuff. Any (top notch) known exceptions?

Comments

  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    Build them yourself then get one of the top wheel builders to check them over for you (if you're concerned about the build). If these are expedition wheels and you are actually off on an expedition then you'll want to know how to fix a broken spoke and no better way than by building some wheels from scratch.

    FWIW I started building my own wheels for my trips to Africa and never popped a single spoke or even had a wheel go out of true. Most people can build good wheels if they take their time (better builds than you'd get from most LBS where they just want to get them done as quickly as possible).
    More problems but still living....
  • weeve
    weeve Posts: 393
    yeah, thought about that but dont have the energy to make/buy a truing stand and do the lot...Ive two pairs to do (the Mrs wants to ride her bike not fiddle with it) and no time or patience. Anyway it would detract from wasting precious life on forums...
  • andymiller
    andymiller Posts: 2,856
    It's a bit difficult given that you're in the Netherlands - presumably the cost of posting the bits to the wheelbuilder, and them posting them back, would add significantly to the costs as compared with getting them built locally.

    Unless you are convinced your rims are wonderful or no longer in production, I'd doubt it's worth posting them from the Netherlands to the UK (or even within the UK). The hubs would be a different matter - and this is something I've done in the past.

    Otherwise there are people who might do it; eg Harry Rowland in Ramsgate, or Spa Cycles.
    Italy Cycling Guide
  • weeve
    weeve Posts: 393
    thanks. will do the calling rounds just wondered if anyone new someone specifically..come to UK quite a bit.
  • andymiller
    andymiller Posts: 2,856
    weeve wrote:
    thanks. will do the calling rounds just wondered if anyone new someone specifically..come to UK quite a bit.

    Try Harry Rowland

    http://www.harryrowland.co.uk/

    I don't know what rims you are planning to use, but I'd follow the advice of your wheelbuiilder - after all the cost of the rim is relatively small in comparison to the overall cost of the wheel.

    Ramsgate is a bit off the beaten track (unless of course you live in Kent) but if you have an address in the UK that you can use as a postbox you could do it by post (although posting to the Netherlands is not going to be prohibitively expensive).
    Italy Cycling Guide
  • bikepacker
    bikepacker Posts: 898
    This is the person who taught me and his ebook would easily guide you to build your own. http://www.wheelpro.co.uk/wheelbuilding/book.php

    You don't need a truing stand, bike forks to hold the wheel and brake blocks act a truing guide. Give it a go.

    Alternatively you could visit Worcestershire and I will show you have to build your wheel.
    I\'m pedaling around the world looking for the sunshine that always seems to come my way.
    www.bikepacker.co.uk
  • prb007
    prb007 Posts: 703
    Build it yourself, ffs!
    What are you going to do in the middle of Africa
    if it goes (literally) pear-shaped - post it back to blighty
    and wait a fortnight for it to turn up?

    Sheldon Brown's website, a Park spoke key and crack on!
    If Wales was flattened out, it'd be bigger than England!
    Planet X Ti Sportive for Sportives & tours
    Orange Alpine 160 for Afan,Alps & dodging trees
    Singlespeed Planet X Kaffenback for dodging potholes
    An On-One Inbred for hard-tail shenanigans...
  • cookiemonster
    cookiemonster Posts: 668
    +1 for Harry Rowland

    Hes done a load of round the world type wheels. I've used him for my expedition wheels (Himalayas, Tibet, Syria and the middle east, etc) and they've been faultless. I'll build my own wheels on occasion but for expedition use Id rather have them done by someone who knows what they're doing :)
  • andymiller
    andymiller Posts: 2,856
    prb007 wrote:
    Build it yourself, ffs!
    What are you going to do in the middle of Africa
    if it goes (literally) pear-shaped - post it back to blighty
    and wait a fortnight for it to turn up?

    Sheldon Brown's website, a Park spoke key and crack on!

    Well maybe. But you could make the same argument for learning to build your own frame.

    There's a lot to be said for being able to true/retrue your wheels, but on the other hand I can't see the reason for not going to a professional specialist who will do a quality job for not very much money.
    Italy Cycling Guide
  • weeve
    weeve Posts: 393
    Thanks for the responses (save for a couple of outbursts..).
    Nothing quite like the bikeradar forum to get the opinions flowing in. For the record I can (just) build my own wheels. But .. as per my post...I have two sets to do, a day job and well .."cfb bothered (ffs)" ....... :)

    Lets call this forum string dead and buried

    Thanks to those with the harry rowland vote. I will be in touch with him
    Have a nice evening.
    Bye

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