Wheel Help!!!

Simonzine

Hello people - I've been thinking about it for a while, and I've decided to build myself up a cheap fixie to get a taste for it before I bite the bullet and build/purchase something a little more permanent.

I've bought an old steel Raleigh which I've stripped down, and am now at the point where I need to sort out wheels. I don't really fancy building them myself, so I've found someone reputable locally who can do it for me so long as I provide all the parts. I've got some cheap on-one hubs which fit perfectly, I've got some Mavic rims on the way, but now I've come to the tricky bit - spokes.

I need to get them before I hand the whole lot over to him to build up, but I haven't got a clue where to start. How do I work out what size I need? I know it depends upon how they're going to be laced, but is there anything else I need to take into account? Any advice from people who've been through this already? Also, anywhere online with a decent selection? What should I be looking for in a good spoke?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help!

Simon

Monty Dog

The DT Swiss website has an online spoke calculator, but you need to enter some data from your own parts. Your need to know the ERD- effective rim diameter for your rims, and then the hub spoke hole diameter, the pitch circle diameter for the spoke holes as well as the distance of the flange from the centreline of the hub. Track hubs are symmetric, so spokes on both sides are the same length. FWIW your hubs are also marketed by Formula/System EX and Ambrosio if you're looking for the above data.

s.frisby

If you are confused by any of this, then try entering 'sheldon brown' into your search thingy. n.b. NOT the american football player.

you will find some excellent advice on wheels and building etc and aso on fixed / singlespeed bikes

enjoy

peejay78

why don't you give the wheelbuilder the parts and ask him to source the spokes - he'll know what to do.

Simonzine

Cheers for all the help so far - I planned to use the DTSwiss spoke calculator, but it doesn't seem to have the on-one/system ex/ambrosia/whatever hubs on the database. They're the small flange version, 100mm front 120mm rear, 32 hole.

Am I being thick? Am I looking straight past them on the database? Are they there under another name? Any help appreciated!

Simon

custom-freak

i've just bought a pair of those hubs so will be interested in the outcome of this whole thing, it will be a while before i get to try them out as i am still short a frame............ and the rims,chainset, saddle ..... ok all i have is a pair of hubs and some tyres (although i'm not too sure about them), but my fiance bought me the hubs as a present to start the build so i am happy anyway

Cf

pravrao

http://www.damonrinard.com/spocalc.ht

it is amazing for an excel spreadsheet!

Good luck - I built up my first wheel using an on-one flip-flop with Sapim laser black spokes onto a fat planet-x mtb rim. 2X twist lacing!! ..only for the bike to be stolen days later. grrr.

Simonzine

Thanks for the help - I'll give the Excel spreadsheet a go!