Wheels

[byrt]

Hi Everyone
Slowing buying a few bits and pieces to build my 29er.

How many of you have build the wheels? Do you buy just the carbon rim and pay someone to build it??
Do you buy another brand wheels set that is already made??

Thanks

[MTNRCKT]

I would say very few people actually build their own wheels. The vendor that you purchase the carbon rims from will actually build the wheels for you. They can use a generic brand of hubs called Novatech that people seem to have pretty good experience with, or they have a few name brands available, or if you want a certain hub they don't carry you can mail them to the vendor and they'll build the wheel with those hubs; of course that has added shipping costs.

The most popular trends are having the vendor build your carbon hoops up with Novatech or DT Swiss hubs that they have in stock. The Dt Swiss 350 hubs would be my choice and I think most vendors keep them in stock, but they will be a bit more expensive than the Novatech option.

[Carbon_Dude]

Hope Pro Evo 2 hubs are also usually offered by the Chinese vendors as an upgrade to the Novatech hubs.

[Patrick C.]

I built my own, thanks to a bit of luck.  Thread on that here-
http://chinertown.com/index.php/topic,206.msg1767.html#msg1767

I originally bought wheels, because I wasn't sure I could build them.  Getting free rims gave me the confidence to try it out, and it really is fairly easy if you study all the information beforehand and take your time.  It will take a long time to build your first set, but I think it's worth it.  I doubt that I saved any money compared to just buying a wheelset, but I think it is worth it to have the knowledge and experience in case I need to repair a wheel or want to build more in the future. And I got exactly what I wanted in hubs, spokes, etc. 

Plus, all the ladies swoon when I tell them that I built the bike AND the wheels

[Patrick C.]

Great page on wheel building here- http://sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html

And there are plenty of other tutorials, YouTube videos, etc., to help as well.

[carbonazza]

If you live in Europe, a laced wheel fall in an anti-dumping category, and you may get a 48.5% importation tax.
While if you import just the rims, you get the usual 4%.

[byrt]

after reading and reviewing some tutorial I think it is much cheaper to buy a set of wheels
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/au/en/shimano-mt66-mtb-wheelset/rp-prod92359

they will be a good starting point, i think?

[Oolak]

after reading and reviewing some tutorial I think it is much cheaper to buy a set of wheels
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/au/en/shimano-mt66-mtb-wheelset/rp-prod92359

they will be a good starting point, i think?

Those are a decent start if you're trying to keep the price of your build down. Obviously, most here (myself included) would prefer the custom built carbon option over these pre-built aluminum rimmed wheels but for the price it's a decent start.

[Sitar_Ned]

These are the wheels I bought: http://www.bikewagon.com/sun-ringle-charger-expert-29er-mountain-bike-wheelset-15mm-black-red

I think I paid $250 for them but $280 is still a good price considering they usually sell for about $450: http://www.bikebling.com/SunRingle-Charger-Expert-29-Disc-Wheelset-p/sunringle-charger-expert29.htm

Be sure to get the rear 12x142 adapter if that's what you need: http://www.bikebling.com/SunRingle-Charger-Expert-29-Disc-Wheelset-p/sunringle-charger-expert29.htm

For $50 more than the Shimano wheels you linked I think you get quite a bit better wheels for minimal increase in cost. But like Oolak said, I'd much prefer and eventually plan on having some carbon ones built up. Most likely with the DT 350s. One day.