Custom made wheelsets

[The Ghost]

I have been looking at plenty of wheelsets for a while now, and yesterday I spoke to Johan Bornman yesterday who has cleared certain things up for me and was very helpful.

But I still have something that is working on my mind.

 

A custom built set costs upward of R4 000 for something pretty basic (but decent), and a little less can get you a Fulcrum Red Metal 3 wheelset (or similar) while a bit more gets you a set of Easton EA90's.

 

So what are the benefits of getting a basic custom built set or an already made set of say Fulcrums?

 

One thing that does get me is the hub issue, on these ready made sets, very little if any description is given for the hub, and when it is I cant find much info.

[CAAD4]

Did you chat to Johan about serviceability and price of parts and spokes? I remember seeing a thread not too long ago where he mentioned the very high cost of some of the Fulcrum replacement parts, if I remember correctly. Those bladed spokes are not cheap.

[The Ghost]

Thanks, we did chat about some service aspects, comparing hub types, how often they need servicing etc, I cant say Im too worried about spoke costs; and I dont think replacements will be happening too often as I dont ride as much as some, or as hard. Crash costs are covered.

[Bat-ass]

I have bit of a wheels fetish!.. just cant help myself. So i'v been through a few sets and can say the classic custom 32 spoke with box section rims (ie. MAvic open pro's) definetly warm my heart!! BUT, unless someone like Johan builds them they can also be a head ache. If they are poorly built they will keep going out of true. Upside to them is they are easy and cheap to maintain, But in saying that, i'v been riding some Mavic Ksyrium Elites for a year or so and they are fit and forget wheels.

[The Ghost]

So is custom built better than already built, and how so?

 

Johan, feel free to add your knowledge if you're online.

Edited June 26, 2012 by Richard Best

[Hairy]

With a custom build you have far more choice as to what and how your wheelset will look and perform as you are choosing the components, and selecting these with the solid advice of a good wheel builder you will get a wheelset that would perform very well for your intended purpose and a wheelset that is, hopefully, an extension of yourself.

 

It might cost a little more, but is really worth it.

 

A test case was a few years back where I had a rear wheel on my new bike that was constantly out of true or breaking spokes. I took the wheel to a very reputable wheel builder who used the same hub and rim with new spokes and built me a wheel that was far more responsive and stiffer than it was before and this wheelset in the following years did not require one slight adjustment to the spoke tension.

 

If you can layout the cash for a handbuilt wheelset, by a master wheel-smith then do it.

[divernick]

You must consider that with a custom hand-built wheelset you're paying for the time, skill and experience of the wheelbuilder.

 

If a set is built properly, you'll have a reliable, worry-free wheelset that will stay true and have less risk of spokes breaking etc.

[divernick]

With a custom build you have far more choice as to what and how your wheelset will look and perform as you are choosing the components, and selecting these with the solid advice of a good wheel builder you will get a wheelset that would perform very well for your intended purpose and a wheelset that is, hopefully, an extension of yourself.

 

It might cost a little more, but is really worth it.

 

A test case was a few years back where I had a rear wheel on my new bike that was constantly out of true or breaking spokes. I took the wheel to a very reputable wheel builder who used the same hub and rim with new spokes and built me a wheel that was far more responsive and stiffer than it was before and this wheelset in the following years did not require one slight adjustment to the spoke tension.

 

If you can layout the cash for a handbuilt wheelset, by a master wheel-smith then do it.

 

+1

[The Ghost]

Mmmmm.

Let me put it like this.

 

Im not an expert rider so do I shell out lots of money for custom built with "lower" quality or "budget friendly" parts, or lots of money on a super sexy wheelset, and then if and when It has trouble get it re-built by said expert using those parts?

 

Can anybody comment on the quality of the hubs in the Eastons for eg?

[Hairy]

I think you need to first honestly answer a couple of questions to yourself before going further:

• Are you a rider who does not ride often and if so would you really appreciate the feel of a good wheelset
  
• Are you after pimp or a ft and forget wheelset
  
• If you do not know what kind of a rider you are, then you seriously can't go and spec a custom wheelset for yourself from scratch without and experts advice .... sitting face to face with the person.
  
• How much do you weigh and how do you ride as this will also determine your wheelset selection
  

Based on your general comments, buying an off the shelf wheelset might just be right for you and your intended purposes ... .remember the off the shelf wheelsets on the whole are really also not bad at all.

[Chro Mo]

+1 for divernick!

 

A true wheelsmith cuts through the crap and will tell you that you do not need "x" hub, when "y" hub does the job just as well.

He or she stands by their work and will guarantee the build - going so far as to re-true at no cost - if there were to be a problem (which will be unlikely for someone like JB)

Something as basic as correct spoke tension, can only be achieved by hand. This is a very under-appreciated facet of wheelbuilding.

Machine-built wheels cannot attain the same level of accuracy.

As a big guy, i only felt comfortable on my hand-built wheels, because I was confident they could withstand the abuse, purely because that was what they were designed to do. Net result: they have been in true for 3 years and thousands of hard kms.

My 2c...

[eddy]

Mmmmm.

Let me put it like this.

 

Im not an expert rider so do I shell out lots of money for custom built with "lower" quality or "budget friendly" parts, or lots of money on a super sexy wheel set

 

 

 

Why would you build a custom set with "lower" quality parts?

 

Figure out your budget and build the most suitable set of wheels you can for that price.

To paraphrase Keith Bontrager "reliable, cheap, super sexy, pick any two."

[Chro Mo]

and zero re-trues at cyclelab @ R100 a hit!!!!

[covie]

Mmmmm.

Let me put it like this.

 

Im not an expert rider so do I shell out lots of money for custom built with "lower" quality or "budget friendly" parts, or lots of money on a super sexy wheelset, and then if and when It has trouble get it re-built by said expert using those parts?

 

Can anybody comment on the quality of the hubs in the Eastons for eg?

 

My opinion on a custom set you can get a couple of things.

 

1. the hubset that you want not the hubs that the manufacturer decided they wil put in.

2. the custom choice of spokes, i.e. light or something thats seriously strong/

3. obviously choice of rims, and what you want from a rim, once again super light XC, stronger XC, light Trail. etc.

4. if you have "not run of the mill setups" I have 142 x 12mm rear, and 20mm maxle front its just simpler having one made up.

[The Ghost]

I think you need to first honestly answer a couple of questions to yourself before going further:

• Are you a rider who does not ride often and if so would you really appreciate the feel of a good wheelset
  
• Are you after pimp or a ft and forget wheelset
  
• If you do not know what kind of a rider you are, then you seriously can't go and spec a custom wheelset for yourself from scratch without and experts advice .... sitting face to face with the person.
  
• How much do you weigh and how do you ride as this will also determine your wheelset selection
  

Based on your general comments, buying an off the shelf wheelset might just be right for you and your intended purposes ... .remember the off the shelf wheelsets on the whole are really also not bad at all.

 

Probably not yet, but hopefully one day.

Both would be nice.

Im about 86kg's and I sometimes ride into obstacles and not around them (XC)

[covie]

Probably not yet, but hopefully one day.

Both would be nice.

Im about 86kg's and I sometimes ride into obstacles and not around them (XC)

 

My choice in wheelset

 

ZTR Arch EX just as light as the ZTR but much much tougher,

Woodman butted spokes

Hope 2 hubs (not only do they rule, you can switch easily between 20mm 15mm and QR

 

Depending on where you have them built it will be in the 6k price range.