Good wheel builder

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potnoodle

Likes bikes and cars.
Location
Bickley
Can someone please recomend me a good wheel builder that will deliver. Need a new wheel for a sirrus comp because the standard ones go throuh spokes like no tomorrow. I weigh in at 17 stone and am 6"4 so need some thing strong too. What should I get and fro where?
 
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potnoodle

potnoodle

Likes bikes and cars.
Location
Bickley
Just had a quote from Evans for a the following
mavic a319 £28.99
shmano 10s e407b £58.99
building £35

now I run 23 tires. Have been told I will need to go up to 28s if
I get these. Can I get away with a small size wheel or should I go bigger with large tires?
 

Slim

Über Member
Location
Plough Lane
Potnoodle.

Is there something in the bike set up that may be causing your wheel prob's. I'm around the same weight ( a bit shorter mind) and have ridden a Sirrus Comp regularly for a couple of years over South London's pot-holes without even a single spoke breaking.

Anyway, I'm sure someone will be along in a bit with more techie advice.


Good luck.
 

Crankarm

Guru
Location
Nr Cambridge
When my Sirrus Sport was new spokes kept breaking in the original factory built Alesia rear wheel. I only weigh 12st. The 3rd time it happened Evans (Holborn) rebuilt the whole wheel foc with Sapim spokes. I was running 28C tyres at the time on that wheel. This was a few years ago but the wheel has been true and strong ever since with no breakages :eek:. I also run a Mavic Open Pro CD rim with a 23 or 25C tyre depending on where I am riding or what I am carrying on the bike.
 

Renard

Guest
Alistair Gow has a shop in Milton of Campsie called Wheelcraft. He is a local legend in these parts. I don't know where you live but might be worth a phone call.
 
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potnoodle

potnoodle

Likes bikes and cars.
Location
Bickley
Slim said:
Potnoodle.

Is there something in the bike set up that may be causing your wheel prob's. I'm around the same weight ( a bit shorter mind) and have ridden a Sirrus Comp regularly for a couple of years over South London's pot-holes without even a single spoke breaking.

Anyway, I'm sure someone will be along in a bit with more techie advice.


Good luck.

The bike is more or less as it was when i bought it last year. Have changed the brake leavers for better ones and have put a better saddle on it and that is about it.

My trip to work and back is about 30 miles and i do it what ever the weather.

Specailized did replace my first set of wheels for free as every other spoke ripped itself out of the rim. Now i dont think i am heavy handed on the bike but maybe i am.

I also have a Santa Cruz Chameleon which is running more or less everthing XTR and Chris King and i have never broken the wheels on that and i beat the hell out of that at times.
 

jimboalee

New Member
Location
Solihull
mickle said:
Speak to 'Box' at Bad Ass Bikes, Dundry, Bristol. A finer wheel builder would be hard to find.

Steve Thornhill. Ex Department Manager of 'Wheelbuilding' at Dawes, Wharf Lane, Tyseley.
Jean Smith. Ex Team Leader on 'Wheelbuilding' at Dawes, Wharf Lane, Tyseley, and my tutor.
 

Brains

Legendary Member
Location
Greenwich
Potnoodle - the best London option is Condor Cycles in Greys Inn road. Very good, but you pay for what you get.

Other slightly cheaper option but arguably as good is mail order from Spa Cycles of Harrogate

I got mine from Spa Cycles and 3,000 miles of SE London commuting and 4 weeks of loaded touring and they have not so much as requied the attention of a spoke key yet.

I'd also be inclined to get a pair, otherwise you get a nice back wheel and a crap front one, so you just move the problem from one end of the bike to the other.

Get the builder to add in a few spare spokes to the package - I have 6 and hopefully will never need them
 
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potnoodle

potnoodle

Likes bikes and cars.
Location
Bickley
Right have just ordered a Mavic Open Pro rim and a Shimano 105 hub.... Hope i have made a good choice with this wheel. Have never had any problems with the front wheel so will have to sort that out when funds are better. Got the MOT and Tax next month so will have to wait for the front.

Will i notice a lot of differance between the old Shimano RS and the new Mavic?
 
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