Cheap nsource for rims, hubs, and spokes?

[eolson]

I'm thinking of beginning to build and sell wheels on the side, and am wondering if anyone knows of a good source to get rims and hubs at a good price? I'm not looking to get cheap parts, I want decent stuff like Shimano, Mavic, etc., I just can't seem to find them cheap enough to make it worth my while. Is there some ridiculously cheap source I'm just not aware of?

Erik

[nigel]

Not to rain on your parade but you do realize you'd be in direct competition with bike shops and mail order. Of the 2 mail order is already hurting shop prices, and you will be hard pressed to get any type of pricing without being a shop. In order to get "shop" pricing you need a supplier, which in order to get one you often are required to submit your business tax numbers, pix of your location and all of your business financials, and other random materials. You can do it, but it would more or less have to be a full on situation with a store front, for at least the government and supplier needs.

D

[soupboy]

but you'll be hard pressed to access QBP, BTI or other wholesale sources w/o owning a real shop per DH's comments.

I doubt you could make it a commercially viable enterprise anyway. If you're doing it just for fun/friends its one thing. Trying to make money at it is a whole nutha' matter.

Even "successful" bike shops aren't dens of excessive profits. It is really a lifestyle/passion biz.

This winter I plan to finally learn how to build a decent wheel myself.

[eolson]

I'm not looking to get rich or anything, just make a few bucks here and a few there for something that doesn't take that long. Personally I enjoy building wheels, so there is some of aspect of a hobby in all of this as well, but if I can sell them once I'm done, why not?

[The Hammer]

I'm not looking to get rich or anything, just make a few bucks here and a few there for something that doesn't take that long. Personally I enjoy building wheels, so there is some of aspect of a hobby in all of this as well, but if I can sell them once I'm done, why not?
You should get a part time job at a bike shop. I hear that it doesn't pay much and you get to work on bikes all you want. As a benefit you might learn alot and get a discount on parts.

[bigwheel]

I'm not looking to get rich or anything, just make a few bucks here and a few there for something that doesn't take that long. Personally I enjoy building wheels, so there is some of aspect of a hobby in all of this as well, but if I can sell them once I'm done, why not?

Erik, Go for it. Every shop is in direct competition with every other shop. (my brilliant insight of the day) If you can carve out a niche as a top-notch wheel builder, you might have an opportunity. I think the going rate is for about 20 bucks labor to build a wheel.

I don't know about "ridiculously cheap", but there are a few sources around where you can buy spokes for about $7.50 per pack of 20. You can get them cheaper by buying packs of 100. One place is lickbike.com, although they seem a bit disorganized, and are not the place to buy if you need the materials right away.

Good luck. But be prepared to become a republican once you become the person writing the checks for federal and state taxes, social security, mandatory workman's comp insurance, federal and state unemployment, health care, etc. All of this, while at the same time being called all kinds of names for charging too much.

[eolson]

Thanks Bob, you paint a pretty picture, but, probably the most realistic.

The major dilemma is that I have actually moved to Germany, so I figured this was the sort of thing I would throw on Ebay here and there. That way, I get to practice building wheels, and maybe make a little when I finish a set.

[eolson]

You should get a part time job at a bike shop. I hear that it doesn't pay much and you get to work on bikes all you want. As a benefit you might learn alot and get a discount on parts.

I did that for a while, and it's only half true. You do get paid very little, but you don't really get time to work on your own stuff. However, you learn a lot, and get a decent discount.

[steef]

The best way I've found to get cheap materials is to wait for things to go on closeout at either mail order or an LBS. I like building my own wheels, and would do it for a friend for a case of good beer. :D I have a ton of Spokes that I bought in the early '90s for 3.99 a 20 pack. Hopefully I won't need any for a while.

[Rocky Mountain]

For pricing search engine then use www.qbike.com (http://www.qbike.com)

[manual63]

The best thing to do is just build wheels for a charge. Basically, have people bring the parts to you or you can order them for them at retail, since you will need to know what spoke length you will need and all that. You won't make money on parts, but you can charge people to build them.

Being that this is a competitive town full of really good wheelbuilders, it's going to be tough to get a reputation and business. Reed at One On One is the wheelbuilding mack in my opinion. I don't think there are many people in this country who can build a wheel as good as him.

[The Hammer]

If you can build bicycle wheels you can probably build moto wheels. I do it for local moto shops because moto mechanics don't want to bother with it. The shop gets the parts in and calls me, I pick the parts up, lace the wheel, then I bring it back and get paid. I get $30 labor from shops and $40 from direct customers. Buchanan's spoke in California charges $85 labor to lace a moto wheel. The moto wheels are easier to build than bicycle wheels in my opinion and there is not much competition in TC metro. That might be another avenue for you to check out Erik.

[Primo Tiki]

Hey rabbit, know where I can get a cheap rim job?

[Wolfchimp]

Reed at One On One is the wheelbuilding mack in my opinion. I don't think there are many people in this country who can build a wheel as good as him.

That guy is amazing. I had a conversation with him once when he was building a wheel. The guy didnt even look at the wheel other than to start and he was done with it in a flash. Insane!

[stoneage]

What Shad and Porter said...........
Reed built three sets of wheels for me (road, mountain, cross) and the only time one went out of true was when I pinch flatted the cross tire in a rock garden and dented the rim. After taking a set of pliers to the rim, I trued it and didn't touch it for 7 years. The three rims have a total of 20 years on them with no failures. Nobody better.

[tedsti]

The lowest prices I have found for spokes is at

www.oddsandendos.com (http://www.oddsandendos.com)