General
- Where are you located?
- We are located in Southern California at 1291 Mountain View Circle, Azusa CA 91702.
- What are your hours?
- We are open 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST Monday through Friday.
- Can I pick up/drop off my wheel in person?
- Yes, you can pickup and/or drop off your wheels in person from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday-Friday by appointment only.
- What is your shipping method?
- We ship all orders by FedEx Ground or Express based on customer preference. We offer USPS to Military APO/FPO addresses.
- What forms of payment do you accept?
- We accept all major credit cards issued by MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover. We also accept payments via PayPal Verified accounts.
- Do you take PayPal?
- Yes, however the account must be Verified by PayPal.
Components
- Should I pick a carbon or aluminum rim?
- This is a deep and often loaded question. If you are agonizing over the decision to go with either a carbon or aluminum rim, here are some pro and cons that should be helpful. As always, please feel free to call or e-mail us directly since each application and athlete have unique demands.
Durability and replacement cost:
Carbon rims are typically very durable, however they do not generally respond well to extremely sharp impacts (such as potholes). While most carbon rims can handle relatively harsh environments pretty well, the cost of replacement is significantly higher than aluminum.
Aluminum rims will often bend when subjected to sharp impacts. This may require the rim to be replaced, however it can typically be ridden (cautiously) until it can be rebuilt.
Typical replacement costs of carbon rims $450+. Typical cost of aluminum rims $65-$125.
Carbon rims will rarely fail catastrophically. Older (pre 2011) carbon rims and rims from suspect manufacturers can sustain damage through excessive braking heat.
Aluminum rims rarely fail under braking.
Aerodynamic & Weight Performance:
Carbon rims will generally outperform aluminum rims in the wind tunnel due to their aerodynamically efficient cross-sectional designs.
Deeper section rims can be significantly more difficult to handle in strong cross wind conditions, so don't always assume that the deepest possible wheel will be your best choice for all riding conditions. Improving aerodynamic performance will almost always deliver better results than reducing weight. There are exceptions to this rule, such as hill-climb specific wheels.
Racing vs. Training:
If you plan to use your wheels for race-day use only, the carbon wheels make a lot of sense since they will probably be used for far fewer daily miles on tough city roads.
If you use your wheels for both training and racing, be sure to select a carbon or aluminum wheel with the appropriate spoke count to handle the additional stress of daily riding. Most off-the-shelf carbon wheels have minimal spoke counts that may not be appropriate for daily riding.
Braking Performance:
Aluminum braking surfaces generally stop in all weather conditions and do not require special brake pads. Carbon braking surfaces require special brake pads, do not stop as well in wet weather, and are more sensitive to overheating under heavy braking conditions.
Aesthetics and coolness factor:
Beauty is in the eye of the... , however we all agree those carbon wheels look cool on your bike.
Quick Summary:
Carbon rims can be a nice addition to your ride for both training and racing use, however they will generally cost more than aluminum and require a bit more care during use. If you need significant aerodynamic improvements, or just admire the aesthetics of your wheels, carbon wheels can deliver the goods. Aluminum wheels generally offer excellent ride comfort, solid cornering performance, and ease of repair at a lower price point than carbon. Aluminum wheels make a sense if you are looking for a single set of wheels that can be used in all weather and road conditions for training or racing.
- What are the differences between alloy and brass nipples?
- Brass nipples are stronger and more corrosion resistant than alloy nipples. Alloy nipples are lighter (by approximately 35g per wheelset) and available in a variety of anodized colors. For MTB, CX and disc brake applications brass nipples are recommended for strength and durability. For most road applications, alloy nipples will suffice. Choose brass nipples for durability and strength, choose alloy nipples for bling and weight savings.
Wheelbuilding
- What is the turnaround time to build a wheelset?
- Most wheel builds take 1-2 weeks to complete. We offer a 48hr RUSH service charge for an additional charge of $75 per wheel.
- How much do you charge to build a wheel?
- Our standard assembly fee is $70 for aluminum wheels, and $80 for carbon wheels. We charge an additional $20 disassembly fee for fully assembled wheels sent in for rebuilds or for builds with customer supplied parts.
- My wheel keeps breaking spokes, can you fix it?
- Spoke failure can occur due to several key factors, however the most common reason is fatigue. Every 1300 miles ridden equates to approximately 1 million fatigue cycles on each spoke. After many millions of fatigue cycles have been applied, spokes will ultimately began to fail within a short period of each other. For this reason it is not a great idea to simply replace the broken spoke since the likelihood of a failure in a neighboring spoke is quite high. We recommend replacing all the spokes or the entire wheel (if the rim and hub are also worn out).
High quality handbuilt wheels have the appropriate spoke tension applied based on the rim and hub configuration. Ultimate spoke tension combined with high uniformity, measured between spokes, will significantly extend fatigue life of a wheel.
- What's so special about Wheelbuilder handbuilt wheels?
- Check out The Wheelbuilder Difference to learn more
B2B & Coaching Partners
- How do I become a Coaching Partner?
- e-mail us at info@wheelbuilder.com.
- Do you work with bike shops?
- Yes please call or e-mail us to setup your account.
AeroJacket Disc Covers
- Where can I get help troubleshooting or installing my Wheelbuilder.com Aero Jacket Aero Disc Cover?
- Please see our installation guide and e-mail any questions to info@wheelbuilder.com