[Closed] Going rate for building up LB carbon rims & DT Swiss 350 hubs?

Whereabouts are you?

Kent, happy to post if needed though.

Cheers.

Hourly rate, got a good lbs? You want  a 're true in the price too after a couple of weeks

Did you import the rims yourself granny-ring?

Considering a similar build myself but also spotted blueflow and sixthsense, sixsense quite a bit more pricey but local.

I suspect the OP has his rims already in UK, but if not get a quote from Light Bicycle to supply complete wheels.

I just had a pair of their 36mm carbon road rims supplied on DT350 CL hubs with CX-Ray spokes and polyax nipples for £714 all in, which was barely more than the component cost I was looking at.

A lot of bike shops seem to charge £40-£50 a wheel in labour I’ve found. You might get a better deal by finding a good local pure wheel builder, and probably a better build.

Ok thanks, yes I got the rims a while ago.

I'm going to a lbs later so will see what they say.

Cheers

For reference I charge £45 (hour labour) per wheel plus whatever spokes/nipples you want to buy or bring. Measure rim ERD/hub, spoke length calc, build wheel. Drive side rear and disc side front tensioned to 120kgf, other side to required tension for dish.

I have done a few LB rims, some customers said other shops/builders had refused to build them, I saw no issues with the rim or build. The ones I have built are still going strong a couple of years later.

The rims should come with build specs, worth noting the spoke max thickness 2/1.8/2 (round) and tension 120-130kgf (130 max). I use carbon safe grease on the nipple-rim contact.

https://us.lightbicycle.com/lb-wheel-building-tips-instructions/

Any decent lbs/wheel builder should be able to build them, I would try and politely ascertain whether they will use a spoke tension meter or just build them "good and tight".

Depend where in Kent but there is a good wheel builder near Margate.

tension 120-130kgf (130 max)

I have to wonder how this works out on 20 spokes wheels...

Also worth bearing in mind LBS’s usually and understandably price wheel building differently if you rick up with a bag of bits vs buy bits and the service from them with one being far more favourable than the other.

Just putting out there, but properly detensioned builds shouldn’t need attention after a couple of weeks sort of riding.  Wheelbuilding isn’t mechanically hard to learn but it is something that improves with practice and something that some people are just unsuited to. A good cycle mechanic isn’t necessarily a good wheel builder.  Unless there’s a shop locally with someone who has pedigree, I’d be looking at other options and be prepared to deal with people elsewhere.

@bigyan My light bicycle rims on my commuter that i built myself have done 17,000 miles and look as good as new.

Blazin-saddles - I just had a pair of their 36mm carbon road rims supplied on DT350 CL hubs with CX-Ray spokes and polyax nipples for £714 all in, which was barely more than the component cost I was looking at.

Was that with customs and vat? The LB wheelset I'm looking at arrives in the UK at £640, but then I'm at the mercy of the vat man etc.

OP, find out about difference in costs for building if you do the initial lacing - that's ded easy

Thanks all.

I did visit one LBS today and it didn't sound too promising, but to be fair I wasn't giving him much to go on so I might try again when I have more info on the rims.

Cheers for the link and info bigyan I might be in touch. I see they have a spoke calculator on the site, are the rims accurate enough to trust the ERD figures? If not how do you measure them?

bluearsedfly factor in 4% import duty I think + VAT + Cash fee £10 aprox? Think that's about right anyway.

cchris2lou I've been in touch with him so will get more info etc

scaredypants That's what I inially wanted to do but don't know if I'll be able to this time around.

Cheers for the link and info bigyan I might be in touch. I see they have a spoke calculator on the site, are the rims accurate enough to trust the ERD figures? If not how do you measure them?

Published ERD matched my measurements for the ones I have done. I use the DT swiss tools but you can check ERD with 2 nipples, 2 spokes and something to measure between them. Google "measure erd" and you will get loads of pictures/info.

bluearsedfly factor in 4% import duty I think + VAT + Cash fee £10 aprox? Think that’s about right anyway.

Thanks (and sorry for the hijack!) Is that VAT on the 4%?

Was that with customs and vat? The LB wheelset I’m looking at arrives in the UK at £640, but then I’m at the mercy of the vat man etc.

I think there was a £40 fee at import, from memory, mostly handling charge and VAT.  LB will, ahem, make them cost whatever you need them to, if you know what I mean?

Vat on the whole lot apart from the handling fee I think

For 2 rims was nearer £50 I think

Time flies my rims are 2 years old so I've emailed LB for rim info so will wait to see.

Will look up ERD measuring stuff cheers.

I've just picked my LB wheel up from the bike shop tonight.

Removing old LB rim and building the new one onto my hub with new spokes and nipples cost £78.88. £38 of that was labour, the rest was 32 spokes and nipples.