Rear wheel - almost dishless

GaryGkn

I have read on the Rivendell site that it is possible to build a dishless 6 speed rear wheel and a an almost dishless 7 speed. Using Velocity rims, Phill Wood hub and IRD freewheels. Does any body over here have any experience of dishless rear wheels? Or alternatives to the US components? Or know of a wheel builder who has been building almost dishless rear wheels?

Much appreciated!

Icicle19

The last issue of the Rivendell Reader magazine covered this topic, with photos etc. I don't know if the article is reproduced in full on their website or not - I haven't searched for it. But if you'd like a copy of the article, email me direct.

I don't know of anyone who's built an almost dishless rear wheel, but I guess it's no more difficult than a normal wheel. I too would be interested to know of a UK source for the appropriate (asymmetric?) rims, as I'd like to have a go at building such a wheel.

Unknown

Sorry to interupt the tread.. but what is dishless? i thought that dishing was making sure that the rim was equi-distant from the hub and level all the way around?

Unknown

Iron man, I tried to explain in writing but then realised it was like trying to explain the offside rule without visuals!

So clicky this http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_da-o.html scroll down to "Dish" and let Sheldon explain.

Icicle19

Gary

If you're still interested in this topic, Velocity do asymmetric rims, Aerohead O/C and Synergy O/C in 700C, and Synergy O/C in 26".

http://www.velocitywheels.com/

For a UK source try Ed at 53-12

http://www.53-12.com/bike/bike_index.htm

or alternatively Velocity in Australia offered to supply me direct, so would do the same for you I expect.

Tom753

You can build a near dishless rear wheel using any screw on hub where you can swap the spacers/washers around, you need to use a narrow freewheel eg 5 speed and 130 or 135 width. You arrange the washers on the axle so that you move the hub shell towards the right leaving just enough space for the freewheel and refit the washers on the left hand side.

I don't think this can be done with a cassette hub or hubs with cartridge bearings though.

Hugh A

Thanks for the tip about 53-12. I've been looking for ages for a uk distributor/seller of Velocity or Ritchey (the other asymmetrical ones) rims.

IanTrcp

GaryGkn wrote:

I have read on the Rivendell site that it is possible to build a dishless 6 speed rear wheel and a an almost dishless 7 speed. Using Velocity rims, Phill Wood hub and IRD freewheels. Does any body over here have any experience of dishless rear wheels? Or alternatives to the US components? Or know of a wheel builder who has been building almost dishless rear wheels?

Much appreciated!

What would be the purpose / advantage of a dishless rear wheel?

Icicle19

As I understand it, an ideal wheel has similar spoke tension for the left spokes as for the right spokes, as this results in a wheel as strong and robust as possible (given the limits of the materials used to build it). Front wheels are usually not dished - cos they don't need to be - and usually cause few problems/have few faults/go out of true less often. Rear wheels are dished to ensure the rim stays in line with the frame and yet the wheel has to have room on one side for a cassette. Increased nos of cogs need more room, even tho they are thinner and the spacers thinner than they used to be. So rear wheels are perhaps more dished than they used to be. A dished wheel has very different spoke tensions for the left spokes compared to the right spokes, and the greater the difference the more likely it is to have problems with the wheel. So a wheel with reduced dish has more similar spoke tensions between left and right spokes, so in theory is less liable to problems.