Wheels – what do you think?

[DTD]

My evil plan to get another bike through the door in bits is now up to wheels. A recap – it's (probably) a Burls titanium frame, it's definitely a Campagnolo Veloce triple group set. I'm tempted by hand built wheels, and have been in contact with DCR after reading some positive comments on here. The price they came back with is a bit more than I was budgeting for, but I can be persuaded. I was hoping to spend £500 – what I want will cost me nearer £600. So my question for the panel is, will what I've specified be a good set of wheels for me, and is there something factory built that will meet the desires and be nearer my budget? Please bare in mind the silver finish to hubs and rims is 'non-negotiable'. The spec:
What it’s for:
Sportives, longer rides and as a ‘best bike’. I really would like to get up hills easier too!it will look a little bit retro, but in the way a 21st Century VW Beetle does – inspired by, but not a copy of (if that makes sense).

About me:
I’m 6’ tall and weigh from 12 to 13 stone.

What I want
The wheels MUST be silver, rims, spokes and hubs.
I really, really like the H Plus Son rims. Probably the Archetypes
I understand you can’t get Campagnolo hubs in silver any more, but I do like the White Industries ones.

Aero spokes are fine aesthetically even though the bike will be a bit retro.

I’ve got tyres (Continental Grand Prix Classics 25mm), tubes and QR skewers.Thank you for reading and I welcome your thoughts.

 

[topcat1]

have a look at parker international hand built wheels, they've just built me a set of dura ace open pros for £495

 

[DTD]

Thanks. Had a snoop round, but they don't really seem to carry what I'm after. There's also Wills Wheels nearer where I live, but I don't want to get into "can you build this for £10 less than the other bloke has quoted me".

 

[Rob3rt]

Have a word with Devereux cycles (2 shops, 1 in Lyme and 1 in Ashton upon Mersey).

 

[jayonabike]

Have a chat with this bloke, he knows a thing or 2 about hand built wheels....
Harry Rowland

 

[Spoked Wheels]

Have a chat with this bloke, he knows a thing or 2 about hand built wheels....
Harry Rowland

I'm told that Harry Roland builds some very good wheels.

The last time I checked Harry would not build with Archetype rims, I think he felt they were too new for him to take a chance. That might have changed by now. I have built a few wheels with Archetype and they are fantastic rims, I'd rather build with Archetype than Open Pro.

Archetype H Plus Son makes silver rims which make really nice wheels. I built a rear wheel for @Bodhbh who fitted it to his 531 frame and it looks very nice. See Pic

Open Pro rims are a little lighter and they have a good track record over the years. Ambrosio also makes some very good silver rims.

 

[DTD]

They look very nice. Are the hubs Ambrosio? One option I was offered was NovoTech hubs instead of the White Industries – they make the wheels a lot cheaper, but I'm wondering if it would be a false economy, would I have forgotten about the extra couple of hundred quid by the time the Whites were knackered?Thanks everyone for your comments – I'm particularly interested in any other ideas on factory built alternatives as I mentioned in the original post?

 

[ianrauk]

They look very nice. Are the hubs Ambrosio? One option I was offered was NovoTech hubs instead of the White Industries – they make the wheels a lot cheaper, but I'm wondering if it would be a false economy, would I have forgotten about the extra couple of hundred quid by the time the Whites were knackered?Thanks everyone for your comments – I'm particularly interested in any other ideas on factory built alternatives as I mentioned in the original post?

I have Novatech hubs in a set of handbuilt wheels, have done 1000 odd miles so far in all weathers and roll very well. Very chuffed with them.

 

[Spoked Wheels]

They look very nice. Are the hubs Ambrosio? One option I was offered was NovoTech hubs instead of the White Industries – they make the wheels a lot cheaper, but I'm wondering if it would be a false economy, would I have forgotten about the extra couple of hundred quid by the time the Whites were knackered?Thanks everyone for your comments – I'm particularly interested in any other ideas on factory built alternatives as I mentioned in the original post?

They are Novatec which can also be found under the Ambrosio label and a bit more expensive.
Yes, they are very good and my understanding is that they are about the best Tawanesse hubs.

After I posted yesterday I remembered that you are looking for a retro look and for that the Open Pro would be perfect. Harry Roland builds Open Pro. Ambrosio also would give you that retro look
you are after.

The Archetype in silver, for some reason, come with lots of debris from the hole drilling. Something that I don't find with the other Archetype rims. I had been warned about that little issue. As long as your builder cleans the rim as best as he can you should not have anything to worry about.

 

[DTD]

Thanks. I'm having a look now.

 

[Bodhbh]

Archetype H Plus Son makes silver rims which make really nice wheels. I built a rear wheel for @Bodhbh who fitted it to his 531 frame and it looks very nice. See Pic.

Yep, I'm extremely happy how it looks and it goes with the chrome work on the frame perfectly (not gonna post a picture till I actually get the bike finished). I'll not comment apart from that as I've not had chance to ride it beyond a few runs into work when it's been dry.

 

[Spoked Wheels]

Yep, I'm extremely happy how it looks and it goes with the chrome work on the frame perfectly (not gonna post a picture till I actually get the bike finished). I'll not comment apart from that as I've not had chance to ride it beyond a few runs into work when it's been dry.

I did like how it turned out too.
Have you had any signs of problems with the wheel? Maybe it's just me but I thought your post doesn't seem to show much confidence in the future of the wheel. I'm not riding the wheel nor I have seen it since you took it but I'm confident that it wont let you down

 

[Bodhbh]

I did like how it turned out too.
Have you had any signs of problems with the wheel? Maybe it's just me but I thought your post doesn't seem to show much confidence in the future of the wheel. I'm not riding the wheel nor I have seen it since you took it but I'm confident that it wont let you down

No No, not at all ! If there was any tone of despondancy, it's just that I didn't get the bike sorted before the weather drew in...it's a summer ride. As I think I said, I can use it on my Roadrat too, and without discs will make a rear rack and guards much easier....it'll get good use!

 

[Spoked Wheels]

No No, not at all ! If there was any tone of despondancy, it's just that I didn't get the bike sorted before the weather drew in...it's a summer ride. As I think I said, I can use it on my Roadrat too, and without discs will make a rear rack and guards much easier....it'll get good use!

Good, good

 

[themosquitoking]

I'm told that Harry Roland builds some very good wheels.

The last time I checked Harry would not build with Archetype rims, I think he felt they were too new for him to take a chance. That might have changed by now. I have built a few wheels with Archetype and they are fantastic rims, I'd rather build with Archetype than Open Pro.

Archetype H Plus Son makes silver rims which make really nice wheels. I built a rear wheel for @Bodhbh who fitted it to his 531 frame and it looks very nice. See Pic

Open Pro rims are a little lighter and they have a good track record over the years. Ambrosio also makes some very good silver rims.

Sometimes looking at back wheels and trying to work out which spoke is on which side makes my brain cry.