Wheel building help

[SouthCoastRetro]

Hi guys,
I've a question to ask the more knowledgeable retrobike massive, my back wheel is currently in the shop and I've been told it needs a big tension/rebuild due to being a terrible machine built wheel (and me being a fat fella riding it). They've since said it'll cost me £80 to sort it, I understand this is a black art and a very involved process but is this right? Only it's nearly as much as buying a replacement wheel and sack off the damaged one?
How I wish I was a wheel building guru. Maybe I'll learn, it's an omen!

 

[cce]

£80? go somewhere else. even if they're replacing all the spokes that's a con.

a good builder can build a wheel from scratch in under an hour.

 

[FluffyChicken]

Far too much.

What's the wheel ?

Have a go at DIY, the worse that happens is you need to spend £80 on a shiney new wheel ;-)

 

[tintin40]

Agree. Even in the expensive South East/London a complete new build is £20-30 plus spokes.

 

[SouthCoastRetro]

Re:

I'm so glad the general concensus is that it's a rip, it's just a 29" wheel, SLX hub and Alex rim, nothing special. I'd like to get it running again as my bike is my transport as the wife uses the car for her job and mine isn't that far away. I will try and find an alternative shop/wheel guy whilst I put a bit away for a replacement Hope hubbed wheel each week.

 

[Sketchyxup]

Re:

If it was still going round when you took it in i.e. not folded in half or jamming against the frame with a massive twist then someone who knows how to operate a spoke key should get it back to at least reasonable without too much effort.

Is it a disc brake wheel too? because that allows even more room for error if you dont actually need the rim as a braking surface, if like you say its just for transport who cares if its got a slight wobble.

Do you have a local cycling club, I bet there is an old boy who would help you out for beer money if you ask nicely.

 

[ishaw]

Re:

I built some wheels myself and wanted them checked to make sure I'd done a good job. My lbs said that to them it wouldn't have mattered if I'd brought the wheel in with all spokes fitted but loose, the cost of checking/truing would have been the same, and a mere fraction of the £80 you've been quoted. I'd find somewhere else if I were you.

 

[bartsince1975]

Re:

That is a shitload of money to just get a wheel dished. Unless they will replace both spokes and rimd the price is very, VERY, unreassonable.