Wheel Build Component Selection

Our mechanics have been building specialty wheels for over two decades. Bicycle wheel technology has evolved, resulting in a tremendous range of low cost machine-built wheels as well as premium performance wheels available off-the-shelf. Despite the range of choices, the chief limitation of pre-built wheels is that —regardless of price— they are generic, and not customized to your specific needs.

Online building tools offer apparent convenience and personalization in ordering your custom set of wheels. In reality, they are somewhat antithetical to a true custom-built experience. There is simply a staggering number of choices of components and build styles, and the way they can be put together results in combinatorial explosion. Online wheel builders must necessarily rely on a pre-selection (decisions made for you without any prior consultation), or they would explode the internet.

Our approach is different

As a professional bicycle repair shop, we have access to literally thousands of wheel components. But the minute you begin to describe your particular needs, that list of components narrows quite a bit, making choices both more informed and far easier.

Of course there are some customers who have a passion for research, and take the time to put together their own dream wheel set-up. But the vast majority of riders simply want a certain set of results and benefits, and they turn to us for guidance in selecting components that will produce those results. Therefore, rather than presenting you with a list of our favorite options to choose from online, we invite you for a personal consultation, so that we can use our knowledge and understanding of wheel components to help you assemble a wheelset to give you the real-world benefits you desire.

We will select the hubs, rims, spokes and nipples, and recommend a lacing pattern for your wheel taking into account your personal criteria (weight, strength, power, riding style), type of use (commuting, touring, cross country, trail riding, bikepacking, bike delivery, e-bike, cargo, etc), and —of course— your budget. It’s worth noting that while performance custom wheels can run into hundreds, and even thousands, of dollars, it is entirely possible to build a premium utilitarian set of wheels for urban use on a modest budget.

Because we work with you one-on-one, we can accommodate unique projects, such as wheels for Brompton folding bikes, cargo bikes, recumbent trikes, rebuilds for e-bikes and internally geared bikes, vintage bikes, dynamo systems and more.

We work with a wide range of major component makers, including: