I go to school at the University of Chicago and live off campus so I ride my bike ('98 Cannondale R1000 I bought used this summer) to class. This morning I locked my bike up at 9:00, and when I got done with my classes + lab at 4:30, I returned to the bike rack only to find out the back wheel was gone. It was barely dark by the time I returned to my bike... ridiculous that someone came up in the middle of the day and stole the wheel.

Multiple people I've talked to as well as the campus police recommended a u-lock through the front wheel and frame, so that's what I did. While it prevented my whole bike from being stolen, the back wheel was vulnerable. I've learned that I need to use a cable to lock the back wheel up in addition to the u-lock.

Stolen was a Mavic CXP-30 rim with Hutchinson Carbon Comp tire as well as the ultegra rim and gears. Right now I'm just using the bike for commuting. Would it be worth it to get the same rim + tire to match the front or would it be a better idea to get a whole new set of cheaper, more rugged wheels for my commute? I do want to have a set of nice wheels for longer, exercise-oriented rides, but that can wait until it gets warm again.

Also, would I need professional help building and truing a wheel? I'm pretty handy and can follow directions such as the ones found at http://www.sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html but don't know if it's just a better idea to have a shop do it. (Anyone know of any good shops in Chicago? Hyde Park only has really bad ones.)

I suppose I'll also keep an eye out on various classifieds for wheels as well.

It's such a bad feeling to have something stolen from you. What is kind of upsetting about the whole thing is that I paid $475 for the bike but it's looking like I'll have to pay more than 1/5 of that to replace one wheel (no small sum for a college student!). Live and learn. Hopefully if any of you don't lock up both of your wheels you will now!