Wheelbuilder in Peterborough?

rolf_f

Can anyone recommend as per above?

A mate of mine has a Bianchi Sora which, last time he came up, pooped a spoke. His LBS replaced two spokes and it was fine til he came up this weekend again and popped another spoke! Not sure if it was in the same part of the wheel as it happened two minutes before his train back to PBro left!

So, I reckon the LBS will probably just want to put a couple more spokes in for another tenner (last time they weren't interested in my suggestion that more than one or two spokes would be likely needed!) so I'd rather point him towards someone who knows wheels rather than someone who can just replace a spoke!

The wheels are the standard ones (not sure what make) and I don't think they are massively heavy for what they are but the mileage won't be huge so I still think that the original wheels are worth keeping for now.

Couldn't find any existing recommendations in here so any suggestions?

boblo

I use Bristowes at Orton Waterville. Been using them for nearly 30 years. Ask for Dave Coxhead, he builds a good wheel.

rolf_f

Thanks for that. I'll make the recommendation. No idea where my mate goes though he's already gone back to his usual for a single spoke replacement. We'll see how long it lasts.....

As it happens, when he comes up he overpacks so the bike is laden quite heavily so no doubt why the spokes break when he is up North!

centimani

boblo wrote:

I use Bristowes at Orton Waterville. Been using them for nearly 30 years. Ask for Dave Coxhead, he builds a good wheel.

Didn't realise it was David that built wheels there, i assumed it'd be William, not based on anything, just an assumption.
Bristows being Bianchi agents hopefully would mean they'd have spare spokes for stock Bianchi wheels.

Funny how you find different LBS's. I asked about having some wheels built at bristows (it was a half hearted convo, perhaps he sensed it) but they kind of put me in the direction of factory builds.
On the other side of the scale, i went into Greenwheels (i think thats the name) , new LBS on fengate with a firm view of having some handbuilds, had some serious discussion re hubs, wheels, spokes etc and he said he'd ring me back with a firm price...he never did !!.
So they do have the ability...but perhaps not the will.

boblo

Hmmm, I still (unfairly) see William as the 'boy' despite his advancing years

When I have wheels built, I ask Dave to do them. I've been going in their since the early 80's. They know I'm fussy and I think they indulge me. I'm sure William is a good builder, it's just that I've not had any of his wheels.

They probably steered you torwards factory builts as in a busy shop, it's easier to make margin on ready builts rather than tying up someone on a wheel build that's going to take at least a couple of hours. Better for them to mend bikes and sell ready builts at the same time(I would imagine).

As for Bianchi, they should have the spokes regardless of this. If they don't have or won't get them, that tells us all we need to know about what sort of LBS they are.

centimani

boblo wrote:

Hmmm, I still (unfairly) see William as the 'boy' despite his advancing years

When I have wheels built, I ask Dave to do them. I've been going in their since the early 80's. They know I'm fussy and I think they indulge me. I'm sure William is a good builder, it's just that I've not had any of his wheels.

They probably steered you torwards factory builts as in a busy shop, it's easier to make margin on ready builts rather than tying up someone on a wheel build that's going to take at least a couple of hours. Better for them to mend bikes and sell ready builts at the same time(I would imagine).
As for Bianchi, they should have the spokes regardless of this. If they don't have or won't get them, that tells us all we need to know about what sort of LBS they are.

And that's more than fair enough given my enquiry was half hearted and kinda searching for options.
Very nice and knowledgeable bunch, i couldn't see myself using anyone else on a regular basis.

jimmythecuckoo

boblo wrote:

I use Bristowes at Orton Waterville. Been using them for nearly 30 years. Ask for Dave Coxhead, he builds a good wheel.

+1 to that.

rolf_f

Worked out OK - turns out it was Bristows my mate was going to anyway!

boblo

I was expecting that to be the punchline