Good wheel builder in Melbourne

what side of town are you?

I'll probably get howled down by the purists -- and I know this isn't what you're suggesting -- but I think it's a bit of a myth that a wheel must be built by some 70 year old dude who's built a million wheels, including several for Danny Clark and Garry Neiwand. 🙂

Max Rainsford is working part-time at Sid Patterson in East Bentleigh
-- 9579 5699. He's a 'no [censored]' kinda guy, so he'll tell it to you straight, but he'll also, no doubt, recommend Mark, the guy who runs the shop and does the repairs and wheel builds.

I reckon it ain't rocket science: as long as the tension is correct an even, then there can be much more to it. I've even built a couple of front wheels myself without any problems. Granted, front wheels don't need dishing, nor do they cop the same loads as a rear.

Walrus said:

Looking to have some road wheels built. Does anyone have any recomendations (or warnings) for builders in Melbourne?

A vote for Russell at Spoke(n) in CBD
not the cheapest but the best wheels i have ever had built. Havent needed tweaking in 12 months

flyingdutch said:

A vote for Russell at Spoke(n) in CBD
not the cheapest but the best wheels i have ever had built. Havent needed tweaking in 12 months

yeah, not cheap: 55 bucks, labour only!! A mate of mine had one done, only coz he works just near there.

I think my guy at Sid Patterson charges $30, and $20 if you lace it yourself and leave the spokes loose

flyingdutch said:

A vote for Russell at Spoke(n) in CBD
not the cheapest but the best wheels i have ever had built. Havent needed tweaking in 12 months

Just spent half and hour at Spoken(n) - not sure if it was Russell - and had a good chat about wheel building. I'd be interested in your thoughts?

What my requirements are:

• Sturdy training wheel
  
• Fine to race on (albeit rarely)
  
• I like climbing, and do things like the Alpine Classic etc
  
• Price around $1,200 - $1,300
  

What he recomended:

• DT Swiss Road Elite, built by Dirt Works in Sydney (whom they feel make as good a wheel as anyone)
  
• He said that the Elite's would be lighter, stronger, cheaper and last longer than say a Ksyrium SL.
  
• Servicing would be less often and cheaper than a Ksyrium
  
• Replacement parts (eg spokes) are cheap
  

DT Swiss Road Elite specs
Rim: RR1.1 (22mm profile)
Hubs: 240s (he raved about these)
Spokes: 28 - Aerolite (said they were a very nice spoke, similar to Campy Neutron)
Nipples: Pro Lock Alloy
Weight: 1433g

I'm very interested in this setup indeed. They seem like a really solid wheelset, which would be easy to get serviced and should last for 10 years before needing major care. As a bonues, the red/white/black colour combo matches my LOOK perfectly 😎 .

Any comments

Walrus said:

lighter, stronger, cheaper and last longer than say a Ksyrium SL

Isnt everything? 😄

Walrus said:

Just spent half and hour at Spoken(n) - not sure if it was Russell - and had a good chat about wheel building. I'd be interested in your thoughts?

What my requirements are:

• Sturdy training wheel
  
• Fine to race on (albeit rarely)
  
• I like climbing, and do things like the Alpine Classic etc
  
• Price around $1,200 - $1,300
  

What he recomended:

• DT Swiss Road Elite, built by Dirt Works in Sydney (whom they feel make as good a wheel as anyone)
  
• He said that the Elite's would be lighter, stronger, cheaper and last longer than say a Ksyrium SL.
  
• Servicing would be less often and cheaper than a Ksyrium
  
• Replacement parts (eg spokes) are cheap
  

DT Swiss Road Elite specs
Rim: RR1.1 (22mm profile)
Hubs: 240s (he raved about these)
Spokes: 28 - Aerolite (said they were a very nice spoke, similar to Campy Neutron)
Nipples: Pro Lock Alloy
Weight: 1433g

I'm very interested in this setup indeed. They seem like a really solid wheelset, which would be easy to get serviced and should last for 10 years before needing major care. As a bonues, the red/white/black colour combo matches my LOOK perfectly 😎 .

Any comments

Sounds like a nice set up, but it won't last ten years. The rim will probably wear through first... the good news is that you can replace the rim with another of equivalent holes and ERD.

Ritch

Walrus said:

flyingdutch said:

A vote for Russell at Spoke(n) in CBD
not the cheapest but the best wheels i have ever had built. Havent
needed tweaking in 12 monthsJust spent half and hour at Spoken(n) - not sure if it was Russell - and

had a good chat about wheel building. I'd be interested in your
thoughts?

What my requirements are:

- Sturdy training wheel
- Fine to race on (albeit rarely)
- I like climbing, and do things like the Alpine Classic etc
- Price around $1,200 - $1,300

Expensive wheels!

Quoted message said:

What he recomended:

- DT Swiss Road Elite, built by Dirt Works in Sydney (whom they feel
make as good a wheel as anyone)
- He said that the Elite's would be lighter, stronger, cheaper and
last longer than say a Ksyrium SL.

When you buy a ksyrium, you are paying for a lot of marketing, not a
particularly special wheel.

Quoted message said:

- Servicing would be less often and cheaper than a Ksyrium
- Replacement parts (eg spokes) are cheap
*DT Swiss Road Elite specs*
_Rim:_ RR1.1 (22mm profile)

I've heard mixed stories about these rims. I have a front wheel
made with a RR1.1 rim, DT 14 guage spokes and a Hugi 240 hub. It's
a good wheel, but a friend also has one, and aparently the rim has
cracked. I haven't seen it yet to verify the story. It may have been
overtightened (it was radially laced). I don't know yet.

Quoted message said:

_Hubs:_ 240s (he raved about these)

Yes, these are great hubs, but the rears are *very* expensive and won't
last significantly longer than cheaper ones (eg ultegra or 105 hubs).
The flanges will wear.

Quoted message said:

_Spokes:_ 28 - Aerolite (said they were a very nice spoke, similar to
Campy Neutron)

Aero spokes are for racing only. They're weaker, harder to tighen
without
breaking and twist too easily. Round spokes are better for just about
everything - the aero advantage is really only useful when racing.

Quoted message said:

_Nipples:_ Pro Lock Alloy
_Weight:_ 1433g

I'm *very* interested in this setup indeed. They seem like a really
solid wheelset, which would be easy to get serviced and should last for
10 years before needing major care. As a bonues, the red/white/black
colour combo matches my LOOK perfectly 😎 .

Forget 10 years unless your idea of riding is less than 2,000km a year.
the rims will wear through in anywhere between 15-25 thousand km
(depending on how much wet weather riding you do).

For my money, if I was building a set tomorrow, I'd probably go similar
to what you're getting, but would save a few bucks and get a ultegra or
105 rear hub rather than the 240. Lots cheaper and the difference is
marginal. Certainly not enough that you'd notice when riding.

Any half decent LBS can build these wheels for you.