Wheel builder/Rims

[ktmdad]

I'm gonna have some new wheels built up and need some suggestions for a good builder to do it. I live in the eastern MA area but am open to other options so if you have a real good one let me know.

Also tubeless UST rim ideas for XC/AM riding with drops 3-4' max.

Thanks

[Mongoose]

I recently had a nice set of wheels built by Dave at Rockland Cycle. He did a great job and really stands by his work. I would totally talk to him if you're thinking of doing anything with wheels.

[PutAwayWet]

I build my own wheels. I've had great luck with the Mavic 819's both front and rear on rigid SS bikes. If weight isn't an issue, or you'd like a wider rim profile or even beefier rims, go withthe 823's. Really, the rim is secondary to the build. Get someone who is really good, tell them what you want to do with the wheel, and they'll select a rim they're comfortable working with (which will enhance the final build product) and you'll be all set.

Have you considered building your own? Wheelbuilding is by far the most rewarding part of riding bikes (other than the actual riding) to me. It's like meditation. There's tons of good resources out there on how to do it (I started with Sheldon Brown's). All you need is a little patience, a couple of basic tools, and enough time to turn that patience into one heck of a well built wheel :D

[ktmdad]

Had a nice little pow wow with Dave Letorneau of Rockland Cycle. Super nice guy with plenty of free flowing knowledge and who obviously loves this sport. Nice little wheel building education for me and a decision made.

Hadley 32H hubs (my choice) with 72POE rear hub. 9mm thru axle front, 10mm thru axle rear. Blue annodized.

Black Bontrager Duster UST standard rims (his recommendation and research shows a good one). Lighter, wider and cheaper than the Mavic 819's. No sealant needed with optional Bontrager rim strip. Nice!

Sapim Force triple butted spokes in black (his recommended spoke)

Aluminum nips (Dave again) in undecided color.

Now the wait for everything to be ordered and arrive. Early X-Mas present to me hopefully:-)

[PutAwayWet]

Sounds like a nice set of wheels. I'm building a Hadley/819 front wheel in the next week or so. Did you get the convertible front hub (you can swap axles from 9 mm - 15 mm - 20 mm)? That was one of the things I liked most about the Hadley - I got the 15 mm version, but will probably end up getting a 9 mm QR axle too so I can swap the wheel between forks. I've also got a Hadley SS / 819 rear wheel I built up a couple of years ago that has been awesome. I've read some good stuff about Sapim spokes, but never used them myself. Congrats on the new wheels!

[ktmdad]

Thanks and I hope so! Almost anything will be better and lighter than the porky HD freeride wheels wheels that came on my used Prophet.

The front hub was their XC hub. Not sure if that can take the 20mm axle but pretty sure it can handle the 15mm. I may have to call them again and have her explain everything to me once more (since there is no web site). She told me there was only 1 rear hub choice (36 or 72 POE) but I've seen 2 listed on the web. I need the 135 width so perhaps the other was a HD 150 width?

Nobody stocks the Hadley blue annodized hubs with the 9mm/10mm thru axles and Hadley is also out (of everything). In the next few weeks they will have a new batch of shells ready to be sent out to the annodizer so I need to get everything nailed down now.

What I found interesting was CK does not offer a front 9mm thru axle option and has no intention of doing so. Not that I really wanted King's (I didn't) but how hard can fabbing up that option be? Plenty of conventional drop out forks out there still that could use it.