SpeedVision Bikes? and/or xc wheel recs

[slcdawg]

I'm looking for a xc wheelset for my son, a high school racer. He had a great sophomore year (all top 10 finishes) but wants to improve. New bike is out of the question, so I am helping him look at wheelsets. I came across SpeedVision Bikes out of WV. The prices are pretty damn good....almost too good. They have an ebay presence, advertise on pinkbike and local store has 43 positive reviews. Wondering if anyone has experience ordering from them?

Also - would a Crest rim be decent for a 135-145 lb rider on a hardtail, for a dedicated race wheelset? Carbon is prob out of his price range.

[mntlion]

crest would be fine.

I've used an older podium (lighter crest) on hard tails and SS bikes at #160 pounds

[smmokan]

I was going to mention that I've got a set of carbon Roval Control SL's that will be for sale soon, but then I saw no carbon due to budget.

[rbciii]

I would suggesting saving up for a good set of carbon wheels that will last him for years. I don't know what your league is like, but in my son's league the places are generally not determined by a few seconds, they are often 45 seconds to a minute or more between each rider. At the boys' varsity state champs the winner had a minute on second place and three minutes on third. A nice, but not great, wheel set is not likely to make up the minutes needed to go from top 10 to podium. The #1 difference maker is of course fitness, followed by technique and race craft, then pedaling efficiency of the frame, then things like tires, wheels or suspension.
That isn't to say wheels are not important, but they are a marginal gain at the typical HS level, not a difference maker. I have a set of Nobl TR35s that I love and I offered them to my son to use in his races and he turned them down. He said that wasn't the difference for him.

[TCNROMPER]

I have had speed vision build me a wheelset and ship them across country. I had a great experience with them, wheels were well built and price was competitive. Wouldn’t hesitate to order from them again…

[slcdawg]

I have had speed vision build me a wheelset and ship them across country. I had a great experience with them, wheels were well built and price was competitive. Wouldn’t hesitate to order from them again…

Thank you, good to know.

[bagtagley]

Is a quality “off the shelf” wheelset that much more than a custom built AL one? I’ll take a WAO or Nobl factory build over custom AL every time.