Spoked Wheels
Legendary Member
- Location
- Bournemouth
Not too sure this is actually true. Most wheelbuilders would provide the components and undoubtedly they will make some on that too. I can't remember who includes the spokes in the cost of building a wheel which makes perfect sense. when they buy spokes in large quantities their cost per spoke is very small so if somebody says £60, £70 or even £80 for labour and spokes inclusive the customer is getting a good deal and the builder is also getting a good deal. However, when you include the hubs and rims then, in my experience, you can find 10% to 20% cheaper prices so the customer is not getting such a good deal.
I recently built a set where the rim cost £50 each. A well known builder that is well recommended on this forum charges £65 per rim.
Now, £20 I think is not enough to pay for a wheel build.
When I compare the prices some of the members pay for handbuild wheels to the price it cost me to build the same wheel then the difference is never £40 but more like £100 and in some cases even more.
I wonder what would one of the better known wheelbuilders would say if you turn up and say here are some hubs, rims and spokes... please build me the wheels. My guess is that you would not get the wheels built unless something changes.
You might get away by asking your LBS though.
