First, it'd be nice if the moderators can make some of the most popular threads--i.e. threads that come up frequently, not threads about whether or not you carry a gun when cycling--stickies. Alas, with the rich and full feature set of the forum's "software", making stickies may not be possible.
The question of whether or not custom wheels are necessary or better than machine built wheels came up in the "Custom Wheel Builder" thread. Instead of polluting that thread, this thread is intended to discuss that. Here's how I started the other thread:
Quoted post said:There've been, as usual, a number of questions about appropriate wheels for a given rider or type of riding, and as usual a lot of us have responded that custom wheel builders are great source of wheels, providing wheels that are quite often cheaper than, as light or lighter than, and arguably better built than many boutique wheels. What haven't had in a long time, though, is a thread that lists such wheel builders.
Careful reading shows that I said custom wheels are quite often cheaper, as light or lighter than, and arguably better built than many boutique wheels. Note the "arguably" and the lack of absolute statements.
I stand by the idea that custom built wheels are quite often cheaper. Quite often, though, is not always. The gent who was quoted the high 300 dollar price for a wheel provides an example wherein a custom wheel is not cheaper than other wheels. After all, the gent goes on to say that a nearby shop can build essentially the same wheel for 100 payolas less. Just as with cost, custom wheels may not be as light or lighter than some machine built wheels or boutique wheels. Obviously, that can be the case. It's also possible for a custom wheel builder to build a crappy wheel. It is a fact that no process can be perfect. So, why go custom?
- Hand built wheels tend to have better spoke tension distribution than machine built wheels. Wheel lacing machines are getting better, but they are obviously not perfect. The biggest complaint about machine built wheels seems to be broken spokes or out of true wheels. Both can be the result of uneven spoke tensions. Some boutique wheels are hand built and can avoid the uneven spoke tension thing, but in places where less experienced workers are used to build those wheels, the same issue can be found. You'll note that I've not said "always".
- With a custom builder you can get in almost all cases wheels built to you specific spoke count needs. Some rims are only available in comparatively few drillings, as are some hubs. For example, right now unless you pay to get them custom drilled, you'll not find a Zipp 303 Firecrest or 404 Firecrest drilled with 28 spoke holes. Why would you want to have a specific spoke count? It makes sense to have as much if you're not going to own four wheel sets and you want to optimize the wheel set you do get. How you characterize that optimization is going to depend on your needs and wants, as well as advice from your wheel builder. Just because a company offers a very common spoke count--20/24 is popular right now--doesn't mean that count is right for you. Companies offer limited variations on wheel sets because of the expense involved in offering more variations, the time required to stock many variations, and the manpower required to stock or offer so many variations....as well as other reasons.
- With a custom wheel builder, you can get the parts you want in a given wheel. If you like WI, Phil Wood, DT, or Royce hubs for example, you can find a custom wheel builder to get such hubs for you. The same goes for most rims and for spokes. Obviously, assembly line or boutique wheels don't offer that option or as many options. You don't have a real choice about what rear hub you get in a Ksyrium SL wheel set. The hub offerings from companies may not be to your liking, and given that it's you paying for the wheel or wheel set, you should be able to get what you want.
- Want specific colors? You'll have to go to a custom wheel builder. A custom wheel builder quite often will have not only the standard spoke color options, but will also have nipple color options, rim color options, and in a lot of cases, hub color options.
- As mentioned earlier, custom wheel builders can build wheels that are quite often lighter than comparable factory built wheels and cheaper for a given weight. My last custom built wheel set was $550 (that price included shipping across the country) and came in at 1380g. At the time, there were no machine built wheels available at that price and weight.
- You get advice from a custom wheel builder. Instead of directing to a wheel that they don't have, a company that mass produces wheels will, in most cases, direct you to one of their limited offerings. A custom wheel builder will listen to you describe what sort of riding you do, the conditions in which you ride, the loads your wheels can be expected to handle, and your specific wants and will then make a recommendation or set of recommendations based on that information.
- The follow-up service from a custom wheel builder will arguably be at least as good, if not better, than service from a company that mass produces wheels.
Now, it was asked why anyone would need more than the name of just one wheel builder. The answer should be obvious: with more wheel builders, you're likely to have greater price and build options. It allows you to shop around more.
Why wouldn't you want to buy what works for some racers? Pros get paid to ride what their sponsors give them. Amateurs get what they can afford and can make choices the same way that non-racers make choices: via investigation and study, via marketing hooks, or via recommendation of friends or others. With that in mind, what racers use is not necessarily indication of anything.
If nothing else, talking to a custom wheel builder or two or three can at least give you more information from which to make a decision.