So about a year ago, I built myself a bike from a '94 Cannondale frame I found locally. When you build something from the ground up, you get attached to it. And after the initial blush of first love passes, you want to build on the relationship because it's worth it. For me and my bike, this meant slowly, but surely, tweak things here and there to give my baby what she needs. (Yeah, I know, I'm talking about my bike. It's a metaphor. Deal with it. And knock it off with the jokes...this isn't junior high school.)
Last spring, out of curiosity, I asked Kelsey and Joey what they could build up that would work well for commuting and joy-riding (on road, sadly...my knees no longer love the chop.) They provided a quote which was quite reasonable, but out of my budget at the time. I told myself that it would happen at some point, but worried that I'd put them to a bunch of research that would come to nothing. But both were extremely cool about it, and told me they'd be there when I decided to go forward.
Cut to COVID, and every bike shop on the planet going nuts with massive amounts of work. My bike got more use than ever, and my venerable, but used, wheelset began succumbing to age. And no one and their grandmother had 26" wheels that I would have dared put on my bike and trusted to not kill me. So I went back to Kelsey and Joey, and told them I was ready to pull the trigger. Unfortunately, manufacturers and suppliers were and are having trouble keeping up with increased demand. But rather than proceed with lower end parts, or worse for me, higher end parts, they recommended patience.
And then the parts started becoming available, first the hubs, then rims, then spokes. And then, the most beautiful set of wheels I've ever touched. I picked them up a couple of days ago. My only regret? Not having my tires already here so I could mount these up. Everything thing about them screams quality, and looks sexy while doing so.
There is a science to wheel-building. Hubs and rims need to be matched. Spokes need to be measured properly. Getting the axle length right. Assembling the parts, then truing and dishing the well. Tensioning the spokes, then putting the wheels through a stress test and tweaking things until they're perfect. Everything needs to be just right. When I picked the wheels up, Kelsey ran me through the checklist of things they did to build these masterpieces. Because they are: they are beyond the science and into the art of the build as well. Look at the pictures, and you'll see that these perfectly trued, smooth spinning wheels are also drop dead gorgeous.
Are they too much for this bike? Maybe...I don't think so, because these will last way longer than an off-the-rack set. Are they too much for me? Probably...I'm not Lance Armstrong, in that I'm not an elite athlete who has legs the size of tree trunks and can ride nonstop all day. (Also, I'm not into blood doping.) Am I going to enjoy these for many years to come? Damn straight. When I decide to add to my cycle stable, my first serious upgrade will be a wheelset that will be another Kelsey and Joey masterpiece. Thank you again, a million times over! read more