Hand built wheels

Wazza1878

Guy's
Like a few people on here recently, i'm looking to upgrade my stock wheels on my Bianchi.
I've looked at various Shimano's, Mavic's and Planet X wheels. However a friend of mine mentioned an esteemed chap called Pete Matthews up in Crosby area of Liverpool, an ex rider and builder of Sean Kelly's wheels one year in the tour.
Should i get in touch with him and get a set, max budget is around £300.

estampida

have a chat see what he says......

but the only thing is to avoid cup and cone hubs (shimano)........

kangarouge

but the only thing is to avoid cup and cone hubs (shimano)........

I don't think so. I just serviced my Dura Ace rear wheel hub last night and it took 30 minutes in total. It ran really well out on the ride today.

Also, cup and cone hubs are easy to get serviced anywhere there is a bike shop in the world, as it is the traditional way of building wheels.

Stuff sealed hubs, drifts and hammers.

rake

shimano are also the strongest hubs around and very reasonably priced.

blackhands

Kangarouge wrote:

but the only thing is to avoid cup and cone hubs (shimano)........

I don't think so. I just serviced my Dura Ace rear wheel hub last night and it took 30 minutes in total. It ran really well out on the ride today.

Also, cup and cone hubs are easy to get serviced anywhere there is a bike shop in the world, as it is the traditional way of building wheels.

Stuff sealed hubs, drifts and hammers.

I agree. I use a large flange DuraAce front hub on my training bike which I've had since 1978 (it was second-hand then) and have done 000's of miles winter and summer on it. I've never had to replace anything - just give it a good clean and re-grease (I use Campagnolo grease which I find the best - but it now seems unobtainable).

Also, I've just dug out an old wheel with a Campag Record hub (cup and cone) which I've cleaned and oiled and will use it as a spare for timetrials when its too windy Campag Record for my deep section. I just need to decide what tub to stick on it.

ugo.santalucia

rake wrote:

shimano are also the strongest hubs around and very reasonably priced.

The Shimano range spans from utter garbage, like the Deore hubs for MTB to Dura Ace, which are exceptionally good... in between there is different quality for all pockets.
Cone/balls bearings are great when they don't come loose and don't get rusty, hence only the mid-upper range are worth considering. If you are looking for a set of reasonbaly priced hubs to last a few seasons, I'd rather go for a set of cartridge bearings type

jmeadows

i can vouch for pete, great guy & i am made up with my wheels, got them 12 months back. i spoke to a few wheel builders & found pete very easy to talk to, he listens, doesnt just say yeh yeh i am the expert.
he has some great deals on at the moment too, so good time to see him.
let me know if you want any more info etc,

rpd_steve

If you CBA with bearing adjustment, servicing etc then cartridge bearings are an easy way to get a smooth ride with no effort... That said when they come to end of life it is bike shop time (unless you do it yourself) and more effort than cup/cone.

If you are happy to do the servicing yourself (it can be quite therapeutic) then cup/cone can be great.

dennisn

Kangarouge wrote:

but the only thing is to avoid cup and cone hubs (shimano)........

I don't think so. I just serviced my Dura Ace rear wheel hub last night and it took 30 minutes in total. It ran really well out on the ride today.

Also, cup and cone hubs are easy to get serviced anywhere there is a bike shop in the world, as it is the traditional way of building wheels.

Stuff sealed hubs, drifts and hammers.

+1 on all you've said