Can we talk about upgrading wheels?

[jdubble]

I absolutely LOVE my custom built HED Belgium C2 wheels laced to Chris King R45 hubs. They are bombproof...which I need given the crappy roads that I ride in my area.

I just got the same wheels and hubs in May as an anniversary gift, handbuilt by Jude at Sugar Wheel Works and I love love love them. I was skeptical that new wheels would make a noticeable difference, but wow, do they ever!

I also was contemplating a bicycle upgrade, but I love my Torelli, even if it's 11 years old and heavy. I don't road race, and it's comfy and fits me perfectly. But hills were a drag. The new wheels have given my bike new zip and have really made climbing (slightly) more fun.

[Becky]

I built myself a set. Dura Ace hubs, Aerohead rims, DT Swiss double-butted spokes. They're fantastic. If I did it again, I'd look at Velocity's wider A23 rim.

[Hi Ho Silver]

Check out www.prowheelbuilder.com . They offer semi-custom wheel sets at good prices. I've spec'ed out (as in "dream on, Christmas is coming up!") a set of Velocity A23 rims, White Industries hubs, DT double-butted spokes - at an affordable price of ~$500.

[Eden]

Yeah customs aren't necessarily super expensive. I think it costs me 200-250 or so a wheel to have my commuter wheels rebuilt every couple of years (cause I ride them in all sorts of crappy weather and wear out the rims...).

If you want some super light, but comfy wheels (they may be a bit over your price point.... but search around for the best deal and it is entirely possible you could find them under $1,000) I love, love my Dura Ace C-24 carbon wheels. Light as a feather, but handle and feel like a dream - they really damp down chip seal vibration. I have the tubular version, as I use them for racing and thus have someone following me around that can give me a new wheel if I flat..... but there is a clincher version too.

[Wahine]

Hmmmm, I always feel a bit weird about posting this because it feels like advertising in the wrong place. Having said that, I agree with those above who recommend a custom wheel build. It really is superior and often can cost significantly less than an equivilant quality production wheel.

So here's the advertising bit, my BF, Tom, owns a mail order/boutique bike shop and custom wheels are a huge part of what he does. He has built thousands of wheels. He's built all of my wheels and none of them have failed. I had a spoke break once and the wheel stayed true enough for me to ride 30 miles home in spite of it. I'm not saying you should buy from Tom, but it really is worth it to buy from an experienced wheel builder.

Tom loves Mavic rims, especially open pros, for their durability and performance and he leans towards sapim spokes. What hubs you get is highly dependent on your budget, how important weight is etc. He often recommends White industries and Shimano dura ace. But what a good wheel builder will do is talk to you and help you decide what will work best for you depending on your goals. You shouldn't feel like someone it trying to sell you something without considering what your needs are.

I think that Tom is the best wheel builder on the planet, but then again I'm very biased. An added bonus is that he loves working with women and manages to make you feel comfortable when asking questions. It's part of why I fell in love with him.

[Owlie]

Eeeenteresting.

Sort of threadjacking: I don't need a really aerodynamic wheel. I am looking for lighter ones. Of course, anything would be an upgrade from my current wheels (the stock ones). I'm not regularly going fast enough for aerodynamic wheels to make a difference. I realize that I'll have to compromise performance and comfort.

[indysteel]

I'm glad you weighed in, Wahine, to sing Tom's praises. Wahine's bias is well deserved as GVH has long enjoyed a great reputation.

I can honestly say that having wheels custom built for myself was a great pleasure. It's one of my favorite gifts to myself. It was both incredibly functional and indulgent. I highly recommend it.

[Veronica]

I'm also glad you weighed in Wahine. You're a long established presence here and what you say has merit. Other people post about their experiences with various shops and wheel builders, so why shouldn't you? You're up front that you may be a little biased and you should be biased.

Veronica

[indysteel]

I built myself a set. Dura Ace hubs, Aerohead rims, DT Swiss double-butted spokes. They're fantastic. If I did it again, I'd look at Velocity's wider A23 rim.

That's impressive, Becky. Was it hard to do?

[Becky]

That's impressive, Becky. Was it hard to do?

Not really. For me, it requires a great deal of focus and patience. It's almost meditative, especially once I've got the wheel laced and in the stand.

This was my third or fourth wheelset, so I felt more comfortable attempting it with expensive hubs and using a lacing pattern (2x) that I hadn't tried before. I use Roger Musson's book each time and go step by step. As long as you're careful about even spoke tensions and consistently checking round vs. true. vs. dish, it's pretty straightfoward.

Props to LPH for convincing me to try to build the first wheelset! I think the next set will be for my carbon roadie: black White Industries hubs, double-butted spokes, and black Aeroheads or A23s. I might even radially-lace the front wheel! Indy, how did Ron lace your 20/24 set?

[indysteel]

Actually Troy Ligero built my wheels. I don't even know if he's still building these days. Mine are laced 2x front and 3x driveside, 2x nondriveside rear.

[Becky]

Actually Troy Ligero built my wheels. I don't even know if he's still building these days. Mine are laced 2x front and 3x driveside, 2x nondriveside rear.

Oops, that's what I get for not reading more closely!

[indysteel]

Oops, that's what I get for not reading more closely!

No worries. I didn't mention who built my wheels in my original post because Troy's business went through some ups and down and some changes after he built my wheels. I could be wrong, I think he eventually started building wheels only with his own proprietary parts. He also got really overwhelmed with orders and was criticized repeatedly on some other forums. I never had a problem with him though....

[geaux]

Thanks for posting this! I'm still getting the knack of truing wheels, but you've encouraged me to make the leap once I feel like I've really got it.

Not really. For me, it requires a great deal of focus and patience. It's almost meditative, especially once I've got the wheel laced and in the stand.

This was my third or fourth wheelset, so I felt more comfortable attempting it with expensive hubs and using a lacing pattern (2x) that I hadn't tried before. I use Roger Musson's book each time and go step by step. As long as you're careful about even spoke tensions and consistently checking round vs. true. vs. dish, it's pretty straightfoward.

Props to LPH for convincing me to try to build the first wheelset! I think the next set will be for my carbon roadie: black White Industries hubs, double-butted spokes, and black Aeroheads or A23s. I might even radially-lace the front wheel! Indy, how did Ron lace your 20/24 set?

[Becky]

Thanks for posting this! I'm still getting the knack of truing wheels, but you've encouraged me to make the leap once I feel like I've really got it.

Geaux, I highly recommend Roger's book even for wheel truing. I learned some things from it that have made my truing more efficient and effective, and gave me the confidence to tackle my first build.

You can do this!