REASONS TO WORK WITH US

Jake and Hayley bring the wider technical and business experience that comes from having experience outside of the “bike bubble.” We’re true wheel experts - but that’s not all that we’ve done in technics and in our professional lives, and that’s not all that defines us. Far from it (see our personal bios in “About Hogtown”). Wider experience equals worldliness equals a more professional technical and customer-service approach.

We don’t let brand pretensions interfere with our advice and honesty about products. We’re a premium wheelbuilding brand for sure, but we also aim for value for the customer wherever possible. Rather than just taking the industry’s word for things on what’s good parts wise and what’s not, we find out for ourselves with a critical eye and meticulous technical standards. We don’t put down that which we haven’t personally experienced for ourselves - and we aim to try and experience far and wide. Curiosity is a strength of ours. There are numerous tremendously high-quality original Asian hubs, for example, and we routinely build with these brands, informed by expert knowledge and positive experiences in terms of the products’ performance and reliability.

We have access to a wide range of parts companies through our global supply network, yet we take pride in being, for the most part, brand agnostic. “Brand agnosticism” - being free of inherent bias about parts - leads to better customer solutions and demonstrates our integrity. Brand agnosticism is far from a given in the world of handbuilt wheels, unfortunately.

We’re possibly the only skilled handbuilders around (or any builders) offering CURATED WHEELSETS. We think it’s silly that wheels are typically only sold with hubs, rims, spokes, tubeless tape, and possibly some valves - you need a heck of a lot more to actually ride your wheels! And so, from the very beginning of our company, one of our niches in the marketplace has been selling carefully curated wheelsets from top to bottom: inclusive of everything needed to ride, from tires to inserts to brake adapters. The specs on these wheelsets are truly special. Our curated offerings provide one-stop shopping for elite handbuilt wheel products. See them by clicking here.

We have a legitimate, easily verifiable business structure, and we observe all relevant legalities as a Canadian and Ontario small business. We will tell you who we are in full - Jake Brennand and Hayley Damecour - and where we came from. We encourage you to check us out on LinkedIn. We have an HST account and Ontario business license and number, and Jake has put his legal training to use in our enforceable and honoured Legal & Privacy Terms and Conditions. We issue complete and accurate invoices for all transactions, using QuickBooks Online.

We believe in scientific, accountable wheel professionalism, delivering complete wheel metrics (Metrics Sheets) with all new builds. Many - perhaps most - builders fail to supply this data. We document everything for our clients and give them an e-copy for each new wheel.

We’re influencers (for lack of a better word). The truth is that a lot of even the handbuilding world happily tinkers away while doing nothing more. This likely just isn’t enough; anyone who has a basic level of skill and obsessiveness can build quality wheels and even perhaps sell them, but simply building wheels often doesn’t a successful, enduring business make. (And if it does, one becomes a more volume-oriented seller, with inherent compromises in the key standards involved.) Jake is extremely active on social media and in publishing insightful, witty, and original long-form blog articles on his trade and the industry overall. Don’t be surprised if our business one day takes on additional, content-focused elements that serve to reinforce and improve our expertise even further. We view Hogtown Spokes as a technical think tank about wheels as much as we do a commercial craft business. When you buy from us, you’re truly buying from leaders and outside-the-box thinkers with permanent ambitions in the industry.

We’re prompt, punctual, highly professional to deal with, and always enthusiastic. Clear, detailed, and respectful communication from us is a customer right!

Inquiries about Full Custom

Please note that all full-custom wheels are sourced on-demand, after receiving a non-refundable deposit covering initial reliance builds costs (typically 50%). We don’t stock most custom parts. Typically, full-custom wheels or wheelsets take (4-6) business weeks to complete and will START at $949.99-$1049.99 CDN (hubs, rims, spokes, labour, valves, tape, and sealant; all of these items are provided without any exclusions). MOST WHEELSETS WILL BE NOTABLY MORE EXPENSIVE - you get what you pay for with professionally handbuilt wheels that include service terms and limited warranties. Carbon wheelsets will typically price for over $2000 CDN plus taxes. Please factor the build timeline and our typical pricing into your inquiry. We run a premium, handbuilt brand and look for clients who will mesh with our brand philosophy. Hogtown Spokes pursues long-term client relationships - we’re not a volume retailer seeking anonymous transactional sales.

For customers who need wheels within a faster timeline and/or with more components included, we encourage you to check out our curated lineup of pre-built wheelsets - which also offer superior value for the money, and intentionally so. See all of our curated (and custom curated) wheelset options HERE.

In proceeding with an information request about custom, please be AS SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE. We can be of limited service in response to vague, general inquiries (“Hey, what are my options?” “My buddy says carbon rims will improve the bike, what do you recommend?” etc). Instead, descriptively state your:

1. Exact model of bike, with an accurate link to the webpage for your model; this information affects hub spacing, freehub type, aggressiveness of the parts spec, etc;

2. Your approximate weight in riding gear, as this affects reliable spoke choice and sometimes nipple type as well;

3. Your realistic budget, having read the above information on pricing start points;

4. Your brand preferences, if applicable (NOTE that we don’t build with Onyx hubs, Chris King hubs, Project321 hubs, or BERD spokes);

5. Your key goals for the wheelset project and where you usually ride, being specific;

6. Your past history with spoke, nipple, and/or hub breakage, if applicable, being specific;

7. And your preference for colour of nipples (if requesting alloy), hubs, and custom decals (if desired, for alloy rims only).

We require complete answers to all of these essential interview questions before replying to any custom inquiries. Thank you for your cooperation.

WE DON’T SELL INDIVIDUAL PARTS - INCLUDING SPOKES. WE’RE ASSEMBLERS OF COMPLETE WHEELS ONLY.

FUTHER NOTE THAT IF ASKING ABOUT A BUILD WITH YOUR OWN RIMS AND HUBS (WE EXCLUSIVELY SUPPLY SPOKES, NIPPLES, WASHERS, AND TUBELESS SUPPLIES INCLUDING VALVES AND SEALANT FOR BUILDS) OUR FIRM POLICY IS THAT WE WILL ONLY PERFORM SUCH BUILDS IF:

a.) The rims and hubs are brand new and never ridden before

b.) From brands that we’re comfortable working on, with, and servicing, and the specs in question are sensible for the proposal - as determined by us.

This is a liability-focused policy intended to protect our business and rider-consumers.

What Real Customers Have to Say About Hogtown Wheels