what wheels (hand built and 300 budget ) for use on audax

firestarter4075
firestarter4075 Posts: 230
edited February 2009 in Workshop
i want some nice handbuilts for using on clubruns/audax/sportive ive a budget of 300 quid. im 13.5 stone . id prob be looking at 32 hole rims. oh and where to get them built my lbs is crap ;-) oh shimano fitting too. cheers

Comments

  • balthazar
    balthazar Posts: 1,565
    Ask Harry Rowland:

    http://www.rstocker.freeserve.co.uk/harry.htm

    to build you wheels from top end Shimano hubs (or Campag, depending on your gears), 3 cross, DB spokes, Mavic Open Pro rims or similar. That's probably what he'd suggest anyway.
  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    Harry Rowland or Paul Hewitt

    Though I just got an Open Pro rear on Ultegra from Parker for £92 - seems excellent.
  • shockedsoshocked
    shockedsoshocked Posts: 4,021
    I'm sure Paul Hewitt do Open Pros with dura ace hubs for about 250. Probably the best you'll get in that budget.
    "A cyclist has nothing to lose but his chain"

    PTP Runner Up 2015
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    + 1

    DA on OPs, or perhaps Hope hubs if you fancy something different. Paul builds all my wheels and they are excellent.
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • ScottieP
    ScottieP Posts: 599
    Another option that I nearly bought recently was Ambrosio Excellights on Ultegra hubs. Paul Hewitt, Harry Rowland and Wheelsmith are three builders I know that all make this combination - but I'm sure there are others too. It should be comfortably inside your budget and is a bit different than the ubiquitous Open Pro.

    ScottieP
    My cycling blog: http://girodilento.com/
  • firestarter4075
    firestarter4075 Posts: 230
    ive been recommended excellent rims on ambrosio hubs which sounded a pretty good strong/light build
  • robbarker
    robbarker Posts: 1,367
    Open Pro Ceramic on Ultegra hubs for that money and use. 32 front, 36 rear. I run these rims on my audax bike, but with a SON dynohub front and an XT rear for the sealed bearings, and had the frame made to 135mm at the rear dropouts specifically to use a mountain bike hub.

    Get Roger Musson's guide from www.wheelpro.co.uk and build them yourself!
  • balthazar
    balthazar Posts: 1,565
    firestarter4075 wrote:
    ive been recommended excellent rims on ambrosio hubs which sounded a pretty good strong/light build

    I guess you mean Ambrosio Excellence rims:

    http://www.ambrosio.co.uk/ambrosio_rims_clincher.htm

    These are broadly the same thing as Open Pro's, I think, and have an equivalent reputation. In my judgement, Shimano and Campagnolo hubs are the best available, all things considered, and I'd need a compelling reason to forego them. The Ambrosio hubs are probably fine, however.

    It's the build, thus the builder, that matters. The best way, as Rob says, is to do it yourself with good reference but that isn't always possible. Short of that, the advice you've been given in this thread is good and, unusually for this forum, in spectacular agreement.
  • caw35slr
    caw35slr Posts: 439
    Another vote for Harry Rowland. Quality work and a fast turnaround (although I dare say that the latter depends on the time of year).

    Call him for a chat/advice. He doesn't really like email. 01843 597443
  • Nelson Longflap
    Nelson Longflap Posts: 129
    The Ambrosio hubs are apparently as good as old (pre 2008) Record/ Chorus and cheaper, and just a tiny bit heavier. Derek from Wheelsmith rates them, as does Harry Rowland. I think they have a nice wide flange spacing which makes them easier to build with.
  • harrywolper
    harrywolper Posts: 95
    +1 vote for Harry Rowland.

    He's done me 2 pairs both Ambrosio Excellence rims, one with Durace hub, one with Ultegra hubs. Forget the spokes but never a problem. Both within spitting distance of £200. He's also a really nice bloke. The World Champ (sort of) logo he adds is also quite cool IMHO and very different.
  • acorn_user
    acorn_user Posts: 1,137
    We've had two sets of wheels from Spa Cycles that have been very good. They've seen nearly three years of commuting, training and racing, and I've not had to true them. Both sets are built onto Rigida Chrina rims. Spa specialise in the audaxey side of things. They definitely build a strong wheel!

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