Wheels - what to buy!?

Hey all,

By my own admission I'm a bit clueless when it comes to bikes - I got really into cycling last year with a road bike, and then went and had the bugger nicked. Can't afford a new one but getting back on the tube is killing me, especially in the summer!

So I've bought myself a frame and decided to try and make my own single speed bike. Obviously I want the best bike I can get, but I'm on a really tight budget.

I've set aside £100 for wheels - I'd love a set of Velocity Deep Vs or something, but my wallet won't allow, unfortunately.

Could you recommend me a decent set of wheels for around the £100 mark? Something that's a good mix between strong and looking pretty sweet?

Much appreciated if you can help.

Matt

Dude, i suggest you just trawl the classifieds here. Something will defo come up within a week i'm sure. As to whether they're good/bargain, you can usually tell by the comments received from the other members.

Oh, and if you likes then Dibs!

Yeah definately have a look here..there are velocity deep v's which go for like £130 here quite often...Cheapest way, try to get everything at once - sprocket, built wheels, tubes, tyres, bolts
I bought a Miche set, but seems there's a lot of hate for miche on the forum.

http://www.lfgss.com/thread41982.html

Rigida DP18's are a good mix between being strong and looking sweet. Post a wanted thread. Someone will help you out or point you in the right direction I'm sure.

They must be circular.

I understand you wanted the deep v because of how it's look and the choice of colour?

if so, have you take in consideration that your new singlespeed bicycle will be more likely get nicked the next time if you have some deep colourful wheels?

my recommendation is to get some decent rims like Mavic Open Pro (or Open Sport for budget), laced to typical formula/system ex/condor etc. hubs and you got yourself a pretty solid and reasonably lightweight wheelset.

glasso, you said that you had your road bike stolen, and that you wanted to build a singlespeed bike.
Therefore here is a list of singlespeed wheels/wheelsets. Those who were suggesting dished road wheels
seem to have misunderstood your post.

http://www.lfgss.com/thread39040.html

But that is for new wheels; secondhand would obviously be cheaper, but last much less time, due to rim wear.

Might be worth finding a thread by Kingcutter, he was selling DP18 wheels on silver or black for £90 a pair I think!

Edit: this thread https://www.lfgss.com/thread44444.html

Hey all, amazing - thanks for your help. Edscoble, I see your point. I guess it's the eternal battle between not wanting to ride around on something that looks like a clapped out rustbucket, and not getting the bugger nicked!

I guess looks etc. are only a minor factor for me. Most importantly, I don't want to fall into the trap of buying some decent-looking, cheapish wheels and then finding out they're absolutely rubbish!

I nearly took the plunge with some Omega wheels or something on eBay, and then came here to find everyone saying they fell apart within a matter of months y'see....!

You don't need to ride around on something that look like a clapped out rustbucket, in fact it's easier to make the bike look classic under budget than a colourful set of play doh.

OP: build them! on-one hubs (30,-), aci spokes (15-30 depending dbutted or not), rigida dp18 (44,- a set) should give you a set of good, strong and serviceable wheels for around your budget. for an extra 10er, forumengers might help truing them to perfection.

that stuff is new, handbuild and hard to beat for that money - and you'll learn something in the process to be a better [STRIKE]cyclist[/STRIKE] mechanic.

Not everyone has the time in their lives, nor the wish to build wheels. I would never build them, and would rather my LBS did it, or I'd buy a pre-built set.

I mean, he did say this....

***Hey all, ***
[/B]
[B]*By my own admission I'm a bit clueless when it comes to bikes*

He just may not want to, or feel competent to try wheelbuilding.

Ha! Yeah, I'm definitely a newbie when it comes to these bike things. Did a massive bike ride last summer so learnt bits and bobs for that, but I don't reckon I'd trust myself to build by own wheels...

If you want them 'sweet looking', a good tip is to smear the spokes with honey.

I don't have mudguards though - I'd end up with sticky jeans, and that's not a good look.

Are these first pair any good? http://www.kiwicycles.com/wheels.htm

a friend got em, think they're the same rims as dp18's? he's happy with them. I've had a similar set too (formula / dp18) and they were great. perfectly fine I'd say

Ace! Thanks mate. Looks like they're currently my front runners, I reckon...

what about these:
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/WPOOPOMP/on-one-120mm-clincher-wheels-(pair)
best value in my opinion....

looks good too

I'd keep an eye on classifieds though, especially if you're not in a rush

Not everyone has the time in their lives, nor the wish to build wheels. I would never build them, and would rather my LBS did it, or I'd buy a pre-built set.

I mean, he did say this....

He just may not want to, or feel competent to try wheelbuilding.

i was well aware of this, but as is my nature to try figure and build things myself, i encourage folks to try and do that as well. it is often well easier than anticipated, especially with a resource as this forum at hand. honestly, everything to know about it is out there, and wheels are basically a few nuts and bolts (spokes) on some rings.

it takes a weekend of reading, humming and huffing, a cuppla beers to chill and you'll have your first wheelset done up good enough for a wheel tinkerer to get it true and lasting for you, if you feel the need.

all i did, was to encourage self service to give another option to consider and maybe awake a fellow bike tinkerer to life. nothing wrong in that, and as lurkers read this thread as well and make their minds, it might as well be their way to go instead.