My front wheel is a gonna.

Now the question is,

do I buy a Rim + Hub + Spokes and build it myself?
do I buy a Rim + Hub + Spokes and pay someone to build it for me?
do I buy a new wheel?
do I buy a used wheel?

Regardless of method used I want to not spend a load of money on this, I want it cheap and cheerful to get me back on that bike asap.

My problem is, wiggle doesnt give actual rim sizings, so they say 700c but they dont say if the largest tyre you can fit on the damn thing is 23mm.

I have perfectly good 37mm slicks and 38mm semi slicks here, so need a wheel that will allow me to use them.

According to sheldons site I need a 19mm internal width rim, and thatll fit 40 down to 28mm tyres which is fine for my purposes.

Only I cant find any!

Your LBS should stock or be able to order a cheap replacement wheel for far less than the sum of what the parts would cost. Tighten up a bit from the factory tension and ride. Around here a cheapie hybrid front wheel would set ya back $40.

Used would be the best option. Its usually the rear that goes first as the dishing makes it weak, so this world contains far more used fronts than rears. I got a Mavic MA3 36H on a Shimano hub in the garage, its yours for the taking, though the cones have mild pitting. Too bad the postage would make that stoopit.

Cant save up really for a £200 bike.

Even if I could Id have no chance of justifying the purchase to my parents, and the major expediture of my life when not in uni, is train fares. Having a bike would technically halve those instantly.

Think a wheel is the way to go.

How much would shipping be on that wheel mate? and how much would you want for it??

All I really want to do at the moment is get back on my bike.

Mudguards are fitted everything is fitted, and Ive figured out what to do when its raining... so I just want to ride!!!

Something like that would be fine. 700c...front...as long as its not some super narrow esoteric race thing, you can fit the tire on it.

Id try to get 100 pounds of pin money and sit on your hands till you find something used in excellent condition. Youd be amazed at the amount of folks that buy bikes for garage jewelry and never use them.

I mean, check out my local boards:

http://nashville.craigslist.org/bik/194041623.html
http://nashville.craigslist.org/bik/194026005.html
http://nashville.craigslist.org/bik/193729332.html
http://nashville.craigslist.org/bik/193636684.html

Nut wrong with any of those, and mostly going for a mere fraction of what new was.

I bought my bike for £80 from halfords.

It has.

Hi-Tensile Steel frame
Shimano freewheel (TZ-20 I think)
V-Brakes
SRAM Gripshift
Alloy rims and resin pedals & brake levers.

Ive just looked on a hell of a lot of shops (for wheels.. but looked at bikes too). If I doubled my initial, Id buy EXACTLY the same stuff only with "Raleigh" written on it, and with tektro brake levers.

Or.. I could buy the same but with GIANT written on it and tektro levers, or one with OPTIMA written on it and with tektro levers.

So doubling my bikes purchase price, gets me tektro v brake levers, which are £10.

Glad I only paid £80 for it now.

The only way Ill get a new bike (to me), is if its custom made (or made from components I choose like ribble), or if I buy second hand. Just realised that bikes under £400 are rediculously overpriced!!

Even for £250 I get a Giant with tektro levers, and alvio gears, and revoshift. Its just not worth paying for it! I could buy that gear with the £170 I saved and probably get it fitted.

My folks threatened me with "break new bike" nuts, but backed off when they saw me get the nitromors from the garage and stand next to my dads new car.

No bicycles were harmed in the making of this thread.

Thats the thing, on cheap bikes they spend the money on bits you can see.

Fair enough but with a nice front wheel coming I think a full replace of the bearings in the rear is required, and a truing.

I have the tools to do the job, while the bike is f**ked I think it may as well be done now rather than 6 months down the line when I have pitted cones and my wheels are wobbling like a biatch.

Your right, all of you, Id love a nice bike, but I just dont have the immediate income to spend on one, Id get garrotted by the brake cable if I did buy one, and for the sake of £12 (inc del) and £5 on bearings and using the grease I already found in the shed (my dad uses it for his hinges and stuff, quite nice stuff, softer than the automotive grease my dad has up there too, seems more "silky" ) and the fact I cant ride at the moment with my damn arm trussed up in bandages (STILL not ready to come off! Grrrrr) may as well spend the time fixing my bike up.