Does anyone here build their own wheels?

[Ashley Burton]

There’s nothing wrong with using the original spokes - provided you have not suffered breakages ( weak point is the radius near the hub).

I have reused spokes in the past & not had an issue!

Even did a snowflake lacing pattern once as my spokes were too long

 

[graffian]

Do you want the wheelbuilding books?

 

[Tangledfeet]

I've built several pairs over the years but not in a while; all mountain and disc brake gravel/cx wheelsets - where being absolutely true isn't critical. But I am fussy about spoke tension and have the Park tension meter.

This served me well:

https://www.wheelpro.co.uk/wheelbuilding/book.php

 

[ronan]

I have built motorcycle wheels, get the bits from Central wheel in Birmingham. Never done a pushbike wheel, but i presume its the same.

 

[Maker]

Do you want the wheelbuilding books?

No thanks, I'm sure all the information is online. Maybe I'll come back crying in a week when I've cocked it up.

 

[premmington]

I have done loads of 700C cycle wheels.

I welded up a jig to do them in years ago.

Never done any small wheels - motorbike wheels or mountain bike wheels

Used to do allot of cycle touring years ago - only problems I had was with cheap hubs and spokes. Never had a problem with wheel rims - never had really expensive rims - middle of the road stuff.

Also I am the full 100kg (which really tests a bicycle rear wheel with panniers and camping gear).

My Dad showed me how to do it - he was really into cycling in his youth.

 

[armalites]

It's something I've always fancied having a go at. It's one of those skills that is killed by the cost of labour and price of complete wheels. Once upon a time there was probably someone who built wheel in every town.

 

[ronan]

It's something I've always fancied having a go at. It's one of those skills that is killed by the cost of labour and price of complete wheels. Once upon a time there was probably someone who built wheel in every town.

Get the bits and have a bash. I find its like truing up a workpiece in a four jaw chuck, a bit fiddily but do-able and worth persevering with.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

It's something I've always fancied having a go at. It's one of those skills that is killed by the cost of labour and price of complete wheels. Once upon a time there was probably someone who built wheel in every town.

That post made me think.

When I was laid up, with a duff neck, I got curious what the yard were a MIS is located. What the history of it was.

It was a part of a steam engine manufactures where they made the brass fittings.
This led on to what else was spread out.
It was amazing what even a small town had.
There was even a bicycle wheel lacer. His shop is still in existence, as a private house. But the frontage is still clearly a shop of some sorts.

 

[armalites]

Get the bits and have a bash. I find its like truing up a workpiece in a four jaw chuck, a bit fiddily but do-able and worth persevering with.

The problem is it's on a never ending list of things I'd like to have a go at that often involves me buying more stuff so I can make something I could just buy.

I built a fishing rod when I was kid, fitted the cork and whpped all the rings, something else I'd like to do again but I don't get to fish often enough these days.

I think people have lost the joy of making and using things purely because it's cheaper to buy.

 

[ronan]

The problem is it's on a never ending list of things I'd like to have a go at that often involves me buying more stuff so I can make something I could just buy.

I built a fishing rod when I was kid, fitted the cork and whpped all the rings, something else I'd like to do again but I don't get to fish often enough these days.

I think people have lost the joy of making and using things purely because it's cheaper to buy.

You could put that to music and write a song. But i was able to do motorcycle wheels with very little kit, i make a simple fork out of 2"x 2" wood, and used a tiny adjustable spanner i have.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

I think people have lost the joy of making and using things purely because it's cheaper to buy.

A lot have, a lot can't.

I like to make stuff as I can.
I like to have a go at something, just to say I tried.

 

[fixedfixer]

This is a good book on the subject https://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Wheelb...heel+building&qid=1565034797&s=gateway&sr=8-1

 

[premmington]

It's something I've always fancied having a go at. It's one of those skills that is killed by the cost of labour and price of complete wheels. Once upon a time there was probably someone who built wheel in every town.

+1 for the above.

Normally on touring bikes - when the rear wheel is shot - loose spokes and the rim is untrue - and you are getting broken spokes - the spoke holes in the hub - all thou they look ok - they are worn and soon kill another set of spokes.

I bought a 700C hand built rear tandem 48 spoke wheel from SJS cycles in Bridgwater. This has lasted several Dawes Galaxy bikes with no problems at all.

 

[graffian]

The bicycle wheel by brandt
A practical guide to wheel building by musson
The art of wheel building by schraner

Are three books with wheel in the title, they were in a file of pdfs of treader stuff I was sent.
If anyone wants a copy..

 

[Sean]

how much is a cheap wheel? sometimes you have to weigh up time verses cost.

Decathlon, Mavic Askiums in a box, wasn't much more than £100.
That's a day in the saddle rather than a day getting frustrated at the wheel stand.

* £140 at moment

 

[armalites]

That's a day in the saddle rather than a day getting frustrated at the wheel stand.

That is where the difference is, if building a wheel is a means to an end and is just a job that needs to get done then buying a wheel is the way forward. If building a wheel is enjoyable then potentially you can end up with a better wheel for less as you won't include your time plus you can build a wheel at a time where you wouldn't be riding.

 

[lchris21]

I've built a few ...both motorcycle and bicycle. All self taught with the help of a few pre-internet guidebooks. Built my own motorcycle jig out of some Bosch Rexroth that was ermmm lying about, and recently acquired a dirt cheap second hand Park Tool TS2 for the bicycle stuff.
Still do it regularly for a local bike restorer and tune up my own bicycle wheels and repairs for mates.
Try get some offset measurements and take some pictures before disassembly.
Be careful buying second hand bicycle wheels, especially random carbon ones....when they fail...........they fail!!!
Quality spoke spanners and keys are also a must........nothing worse than rounding off a nipple during the final tightening sequence. I always pre oil the nipples and spokes before lacing to make sure there no extra stiction.

 

[Brad93]

Had decent DT SWISS wheeks buckle and snap spokes in Lake District.

Can’t go wrong with cheap set of Mavics

FastForward make decent rims too.

Expensive hubs are just a bragging right. People would see better results, other than the placebo, from doing some proper training like standing starts and HIIT.

 

[Ashley Burton]

Had decent DT SWISS wheeks buckle and snap spokes in Lake District.

Can’t go wrong with cheap set of Mavics

FastForward make decent rims too.

Expensive hubs are just a bragging right. People would see better results, other than the placebo, from doing some proper training like standing starts and HIIT.

Sun Rims I've had for years or Mavics!