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After some new wheels (hope hubs with 30mm ID rims such as Stans, DT Swiss etc).
Who would be your go to?
In the UK 18 Bikes wheel builds have been bombproof for us
It hard to see past the German guy on eBay for DT Swiss wheel builds for quality and price.
I've had a very good 18 months on my DT Swiss wheelset.
I like my Hope stuff, but I've got to say DT Swiss hubs are nicer.
I got a set of Hope/DT EX511 from Moonglu this year.
Well built, good service and reasonably priced - but they were a bit busy at the time and I had to wait for them to have time for my build.
Who is the German dt guy on eBay?
Never had issues with Merlin, although it has been a while since I used them.
Fitwheels.eu is the eBay guy.
+1 for fitwheels.eu. fast build time and well made
I'm currently looking for a custom build and think I'm going to use jra. Their stans builds are 460. Some decent discount on stans rims on crc currently if you can find a local wheelbuilder to use.
i'll second 18 bikes in hope. they're my lbs, however have had wheels built from numerous shops over the years and the couple of sets i've had from 18 have been among the best built, not needed retruing at any point and been bombproof - hope hubs on what ever stans rims suited best for usage
P-Jay: I thought that DT Swiss hubs had less engagement than Hope? (hence wanting Hope).
Plus i'm after a proper shop rather than online so that I can get them via our C2W scheme. But thanks for the replies.
Just checked - 18 Bikes are on our C2W 🙂
You could try Ryan Builds Wheels - I know of a few people who have wheelset from him that they’re very pleased with.
Hope hubs have plenty of engagement points - but a DT Swiss 350 with the 36t ratchet is also plenty. The lower down hubs (370) / 18t ratchets are a bit slower than Hope though.
If you want fast engagement then i9 Hydras are the ones to get but they’re pricey......
https://www.ryanbuildswheels.co.uk/
My stock responses are 18 Bikes and Moonglu, both good businesses run by good chaps who know what they're doing when it comes to wheel building.
Moonglu for me also. Superb. Had several sets over last ten years
You could try Ryan Builds Wheels – I know of a few people who have wheelset from him that they’re very pleased with.
Add me to that list! Plus he's a pleasure to deal with.
Had a JRA set before and they were bob on. I tend to go to a chap in Bewdley for all my wheel builds as they've always been awesome and easy to pop back to him if they ever need a true, which so far they haven't However, for the price I think I'll prob go for a fitwheels set next time.
My Blueflow wheelset is very good. Hope hubs on carbon rims.
Wheelsmith in Falkirk.
John Pagan, cannimore cycles in Wiltshire. Beautiful hand built, Fred in the shed cradmftsmanship wheels.
As has already been said, the Moonglu wheels I had were excellent and I hear good things about 18 as well. Last two sets of wheels I've bought have come from ActionSports.de (cheapest for DT stuff) and have also been really good.
+1 for Ryan Builds Wheels (based in Bristol), best hand built wheels i've had in 25 years of riding.
If you are in the South East or london Bromley Bike Co are pretty good. I've got two sets of road wheels from them and i've been very pleased.
I've had a set from JRA and not sure i'd use again - they were pretty mardy on the phone when i chased my (very late) set of wheels and i wasn't greatly impressed with the finished product, however i would concede this might have been down to my choice of rimes - H Plus Son, which appeared to be made of cheese.
Just curious, but with a hand built wheel, surely it's the individual builder who should be recommended rather than the company. However, I'm sure a lot of the shops being suggested have had the same person building the wheels for quite some time.
Isn't it Matt at 18 who does most of the wheel building, and didn't he learn that skill at JRA? Or did I imagine that?
Just curious, but with a hand built wheel, surely it’s the individual builder who should be recommended rather than the company.
True, but if im ordering them from the shop, then its the shop i need recommending.
Anyhoo, thanks for all the recommendations. Moonglu look good but can't seem to find them on the cyclesolutions website (our C2W provider) so it looks like 18 Bikes is the way to go.
Cheers you lovely people x
DCR Wheels in Sussex. Top notch build quality and lovely people to boot.
Sussex again Strada wheels by ford station get my vote that’s all they do Darren and Mike really know there stuff and will advice you what’s the best combo for you and your riding style and there builds are second to non. They’ve built for serious pro racers that have won the Tour de France so they must be ok lol.
https://www.stradawheels.co.uk
Agreed, Strada are excellent.
If you’re in the midlands, the fella who’s name escapes me at Two Wheels in Stourbridge builds great wheels.
The Two wheels guy is Baz
I’ve had many wheels built and repaired by him
Brilliant
Strada do look good - great pedigree but cant get them on the C2W.
Another one for Ryan, Aero Bombers (RS4 and A Force Rims) for me, absolutely sweet build and a pleasure to deal with. Hovering over the button to get another set.
Where are you based? My local when builder moves to Bristol today, he is fantastic
https://instagram.com/jonswheelbuilds?igshid=1gh0k5qpoelnn
Wheels aren't that complex to build, any half decent wheelbuilder will do the job for you well, the more local you go, the more you will get in aftersales service, such as retentioning and so on.
Work out what is local, look at what you're after and have a wander round and find someone who can do that and has some good recommendations.
Harry Rowlands....
Wheels aren’t that complex to build
That.
Buy Roger Mussons book.
Build or buy a wheelstand.
Shop around for the components you want - at whatever price you are prepared to pay.
You'll no longer be tied to looking at pre-built options or be worried about them going out of true.
bigG
Free Member
Big Al at wheelcraft surely,,,
> http://www.wheelcraft.net/
Used to be the go to place for me when i lived just down the road from wheelcraft, it's a well used phrase, but wheelcraft was an aladdins cave of bike bits, used to be the best prices for almost any wheel build as well.
+ another one for Ryanbuildswheels in Bristol, I have 2 pairs from him, they are superb.
You’ll no longer be tied to looking at pre-built options or be worried about them going out of true.
Has this ever been a problem for anyone? Buying a wheel built by someone else to your own requirements is no more tieing that buying all the bits and putting them together yourself. I'm quite capable to taking a bit of a wobble out of a wheel but learning to build a wheel as good as a professional just so I can feel a bit smug seems like a spectacular waste of time.
That.
Buy Roger Mussons book.
Build or buy a wheelstand.Shop around for the components you want – at whatever price you are prepared to pay.
You’ll no longer be tied to looking at pre-built options or be worried about them going out of true.
If you only need a single set of wheels, the cost of that kit (wheel stand, nipple tools) is more than a wheel builder will change - if you're a rim trasher or get through lots of wheels then it makes sense.
Still trying to decide whether to build own wheels for my next bike. Places like slam69 build for free with all parts bought from them, or £35 if you supply some parts.
Wheelcraft is great as long as you’re happy to accept whatever Big Al wants to build for you.
I buy my wheels from 18bikes and they just keep going.
I bought some from JRA this summer—their own TrailDogs https://www.justridingalong.com/product/traildog-alu-xc25sp-wheels/#single-or-pair-of-wheels
Look great, sound great(not as noisy as Hope either), customisable, UK build…all good and customer service. Time will tell but plenty of people on here recommend them.
Wheel project, Germany, got a great set of ex481 rims on DT 240 hubs. They have various hub options and every dt Swiss rim, pick your nipples, spokes.
Good price, good pretty fast service and the wheels were really well built when I got them. Done some pretty rough riding around hebden down hill tracks amongst others and still true and no spokes becoming baggy which is more than could be said from a few hope builds I’ve had from uk suppliers before.
If you’re in Yorkshire - Stiff and Moonglu,
If you’re in The Peaks/Nottingham way - 18 Bikes,
If you’re in Bristol - Ryan Builds Wheels.
If you’re mail order only - Just Riding Along or Ryan.
I build my own these days, the last ones were perfectly (within a couple of Microns) true and round with even (measured) spoke tension per side, hub logos lined up to the valve and all nipples at 45deg to the rim centre.
August Wheelworks. Best I’ve used by a long stretch.