Strengths: Good weight, well built, great look. The man knows his wheels
Weaknesses: None that I can find
Bottom Line:
I've been riding a set of Arch Ex rims with Chris King hubs for about 15 months now. Dave and I probably spoke 3 or 4 times before we decided on this setup. Dave was always patient and took the time to answer all my questions.
Originally we were going with Hadley Hubs but had to rethink things as Hadley seemed to be having some production problems. Dave did not push the more expense CK hub and gave me options with different price points.
I ride in Nova Scotia on the east coast of Canada where it is very rocky, rooty and often wet. I'm also not the most experienced rider in the world so I'm sure my (ride) line-choices have often been less than optimal and more punishing then a more experienced rider might choose. Through it all the wheels have held up wonderfully, no issues what-so-ever.
In fact, when I recently took the wheels in for truing, after a brief assessment the tech handed the wheels right back to me and said the wheels are spectacular and it would be a waste of money to try and do any better.
Very happy with my choice!
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Submitted by
C Dewar
a Cross Country Rider
Date Reviewed: March 7, 2013
Strengths: Customer service, attention to details, weight, perceived strength and function - NOTE I have not ridden these wheels yet
Weaknesses: Will post again once tested thoroughly.
Bottom Line:
I wanted to post a quick review pre-testing these wheels to state the excellent customer service I received from daves wheels. There was a problem with my payment (my money order was lost by Canada Post or USPS) and tight timelines for me to pick up these wheels in the USA while I was visiting on vacation. Dave made some excellent accomodations due to my predicament and rush shipped the wheels to me so I would be able to pick them up on time. He was very pleasant to deal with as well.
I ordered hope hubs laced to stand rims - lightweight in the front and midweight in the back with red nipples and black everything else. They look great and seem to be well built, despite not having the chance to test them yet. They are also quite light and Daves technique of mixing the spoke patterns seemed to be a valuable service that was worth a few extra dollars.
I will be sure to post again once I have ridden them several times.
Strengths: Can't beat the price, craftsmanship, and turnaround time for these wheels. Personalized attention to detail for your unique weight and ride style.
Weaknesses: Dave's Speed Dream decals not as good looking as OEM decals.
Bottom Line:
I called Dave up and he talked me through my purchase by determining my ride style and weight. We decided on Stan's ZTR Crest 29er rims with Chris King hubs for my carbon HT. The turnaround time was less than a week. Wheels were shipped next day and came professionally packed. I ordered the wrong axle with my front hub and he had the correct one in the mail right away. Kind of wish I could go ride with this dude- he's very personable and knows his stuff. Just finished my first season on these wheels and they are still true. Thanks Dave!
Called Dave from Sweden ón my summerholliday 2008 I am a Danish guy .Dave and I discussed the setup, caused CK hibs ZTR 355 my weight is 205 Dave was sure that these wedels World dó the job. And yes man they are GREAT incredibly streng and Nice.Paid him from Denmark and I travelled to New York a Monte latter, and the wheelset was at my hotel A's promised!! Great service from the man himself.
Everything is still Great !
Bike Setup: Trek fuel 9 ex Thomson x4stem Thomson elite seatpost Easton cnc70 Carbon hi riser handlbar SRAM XO front/Rear Fizik Gobi saddle Chris King BB and Headset Rotor 3D Crankset 40/27 Juciy Carbon Hydraulic brakes Continental Race King 2.0 Rear Maxiis Crossmax 2.1 front ust Stans no tube fluid
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Submitted by
Raymond
a All Mountain Rider
Date Reviewed: May 25, 2012
Strengths: Stays true
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
I've had this wheelset since 2006. I never had to true it once. They're still going strong after all these years. Call him, and you won't be disappointed. Also, they are much cheaper than the factory or boutique wheels out there, but built so much better.
Submitted by
rocketron
a Cross Country Rider
from napa,ca
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2011
Strengths: light and strong, price was right, service if I need it will be there but I doubt if I ever well. Great guy, very smart, knows everything about wheels and how to build them. Easy to get ahold of, always within 24 hrs or less.
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
Great guy? great service? You can't go wrong with him. We spent 1 hr on the phone and then another half hr. He built the wheelset to my weight,bike,riding style and they are a great set of wheels....I'm going to have him build another set for my other bike. Everything the 148 reviews that were written are very true....Everyone who wants a great set of wheels and light and strong should buy Dream Works wheelsets from Dave Thomas....trust me you won't go wrong.
Similar Products Used: I had him build a set of stans' crest wheels with stans ztr hubs
Bike Setup: santa cruz blur lt carbon, xtr build kit with fox 140 rlc fit f32, avid xx brakes. bike weighs 24.5 lbs. with pedals
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Submitted by
Jekylljt
a Weekend Warrior
from Windsor, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: July 12, 2011
Strengths: Strong, durable, reliable. The King hubs are bullet proof and look great too!
Weaknesses: None.
Bottom Line:
I have had these for about 4 years now and *I think* the rear has been trued once. They are the CK hub/Velocity Aeroheat combo. I originally had them on a Kona Dawg Primo and moved them over to the Tracer when I aquired it. I've hit some stuff pretty hard and gone off about 4' drops, but I'm not a hucker. The wheels have been bomb proof and Dave did a great job of matching them up to my riding. Weight is respectable at 1820g for the pair. Now on the Tracer, my only problem is that I'm over-riding the tire/tubes and am getting rear pinch flats.
Similar Products Used: Mavic 317's & Cannondale Coda junk
Bike Setup: Intense Tracer - TALAS, XT/XTR mix, Gravity Dropper, and some FSA bits
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Submitted by
Mudpimp
a Cross Country Rider
from New York , NY
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2011
Strengths: Lightweight, Strong
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
Dave has built wheelsets for all of my rigs and they are by far the best money spent on any wheelsets I've purchased anywhere. I'm still riding a wheelset that is 4 years old, that has run the 24hrs of Moab, Shenendoah 101, Vermont 50, SSUSA. my local race series and more and are still running strong. These are my everyday wheelsets. They are light as you can get without going with carbon rims. They've all weighed in at 1600grams or less, Thats for 29ers. The feel and windup of a handmade wheel made by the best is something to be felt. Tell him how you ride and out it in Dave's hands
Submitted by
Steve Johnson
a Cross Country Rider
from Incline Village, NV
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2011
Strengths: Dealing with Dave is a pleasure. The wheels he builds are the most reliable component of your bike, and custom built to your specs and a lower price than a factory wheel. After two years of hard riding and racing, the wheels are still true.
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
If you need a new wheel set, or simply want to upgrade your ride, call Dave. You won't be disappointed.
Similar Products Used: Mavics. My experience with them matches the bad reviews everyone else has.
Bike Setup: Intense Spider, Fox RLC100, Shimano XTR.
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Submitted by
Single Speed
a Weekend Warrior
from Brighton
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2011
Strengths: Light, durable, great customer service, easy to work with, fair prices (shop around and you will see)
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
These wheels are awesome! I used to break spokes and pull eyelets in the rim all the time. My riding buddy had a set of these hoops and now I am on my fourth set from Dave at Speed Dreams. I have had a set for the road bike now for four years no issues, cross, XC and now a 29er set I haven't ridden yet. He uses different spokes to keep the weight down but the durability up! Suggests different options for your set up and riding style. Send in your hubs and have him do the rest or order the whole shooting match from him. Freaking awesome
Similar Products Used: Mavic Cross Max, Velocity built wheels, XTR
Bike Setup: XC steel hardtail Hairy Gary bicycles, Hippie tech suspension fork 120mm travel.
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Submitted by
Michael07FSR
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles, CA USA
Date Reviewed: December 10, 2010
Strengths: Unstoppable
Weaknesses: NONE
Bottom Line:
Between the incredible, hand built wheels and the customer service, you can NOT go wrong.
I am 220 when I get out of the shower probably 250 with my backpack, NY FU Chain, 100 Oz of water and snack foods (fat guys have to eat). I hit curbs, potholes, bums and dirty rocky SoCal trails and I have never had to true the rims.
I just cracked a rim and Dave is hooking me up for a great price and great turnaround time. Its not his fault I can't put down the ice-cream and thus cracked a rim.
Please support the people in the industry that do it because they love it. Dave is an asset to us all.
Submitted by
attaboy
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2010
Strengths: Light, stiff, durable
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
After making a taco out of my front last year, began looking for a quality set of wheels. I went with CK ISO hubs with Stan's Arch wheels. I run tubeless now which is another significant upgrade. I read many of the reviews here and had high expectations. I have not been disappointed. It has been a significant improvement in the bike. I had no idea how much flex I had in my wheels until the upgrade. Have been rock solid and I'm 220 and pound them on centex rocks.
Similar Products Used: WTB speedisc with DT Swiss hubs -- factory set that came with bike --
Bike Setup: Giant Trance1
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Submitted by
schingleschpeed
a Cross Country Rider
from Roseville, CA
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2009
Strengths: Light, True, Responsive, Standard Technology
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
I'm writing the review for both sets of wheels that Dave Thomas built for me. Both sets were per Dave's expert recommendations based on a lengthy conversation with me. Dave spends the time to understand what kind of riding you like to do, the type of bike on which you plan to run the wheels and your riding weight. He is a really nice guy too and just loves to talk biking over the phone. If you've ever had questions about wheel building, queue them up and fire away at Dave on the phone, he will educate you beyond what you probably will be able to understand. At least it was more than I could understand. As far as I'm concerned, Dave is the guru of wheels.
Back to the wheels. I ordered my second set of wheels from Dave within two weeks of receiving the first set. Both sets are 29" No Tubes ZTR355 laced up on King Iso hubs (one set is a SS specific set). If you ride 29er's, don't mess around any longer with heavy wheels. When I got my wheels, I replaced a set of WTB laser discs with heavy tires and put Dave's wheels on with medium weight tires and dropped 2.2 pounds off my ride. That's 2.2 lbs that you feel. This was the most ride changing investment that I've ever made. But Dave didn't just build them light, they have held up to the trail also. I've been riding the first set almost a year including 3 solid all mountain days in Oakridge OR and the wheels are still as true as the day they came out of the box. The Stan's rim is an easy tubeless set up and can be run with most non-UST tires. Dave even weighs the wheels for you and tells you what they weigh, I'm 190lbs and my 29" wheels came in at Ft 767g and R 929g. In addition to the benefits of the obvious weight savings, I believe that the way Dave builds the wheel makes it more lively than other factor wheels that I've ridden. The standard technology of the King hubs (life time product in my opinion) standard spokes/nipples and rims make it easy for any bike shop to work on.
Being that you will easily drop 900 bones on a set of light factory high tech wheels, I highly recommend that Dave Thomas be consulted prior to making the investment. I'm convinced that this is the single best biking investment that I've made.
