Building a wheel from scratch

Panter

hypothetical question really but I've been pondering the idea of building some wheels.

Thing is, I know nothing about bike maintenance or repair so would be doing it all from books and t'interweb.

Is it a realistic target do you think?

My aim would pricipally be to build a strong wheel as I'm heavy and my commute involves rough roads at speed but obviously if I can incorporate some "bling" that would be a very welcome bonus 8)

I've seen rims and spokes etc on CRC, would I be making a large saving by self building, is it even a realsitic possibilty ?

I'd be interested in having a go for the sense of satisfaction as much as anything, as well as increasing my understanding of the mechanics of wheels.


As I say though, purely hypotheticall at the moment so just looking for peoples thoughts 8)


Cheers

Chris

tatanab

All you save over the shop built wheel is the shop charge for building (assuming you put no cost on your own time). For parts the shop built wheel may be cheaper because maybe they give a discount on a built wheel over selling you the parts.

So, yes, you probably save a small amount of money.

However, building your own wheels is very satisfying and is a logical "next step" for competent home mechanics. I built my first wheels 30 years ago, like you by following basic lacing instructions from a book. Believe me that rims are much easier to build with these days; they tend to be round straight from the shop which was not always the case years ago, and now we use box section rims there is no filing of spokes as a final step.

I see you claim to know nothing of bicyle maintenance or repair. This does not specifically matter if you are mechanically competent and have some sympathy and understanding of what you are doing. It is not as simple as putting the parts together like a Lego kit.

So the answer is that it is a fun job, but if you have no mechacal aptitude then you are probably better with wheel built by a shop.

Monty Dog

There's plenty of resources available to help you with wheel building - try the links from Sheldon Brown's site or the 'Bicycle Wheel' book by Jobst Brandt. You need a few basic tools - ideally a wheel building jig - but you can use an old fork clamped in a vice, or a frame for a rear wheel - a decent spoke key and a dishing stick (for rear wheels). Most importantly, selecting the right length of spokes is critical - fortunately there's plenty of online guides to help e.g. DT Spokes as different rim/hub/spoking patterns require different length spokes. Lacing the wheel is most difficult to master for beginners - best to copy an existing wheel rather than trying to work it out for yourself. I'm not sure you'll save a bundle of money over shop-bought wheels, but you will get a great deal of satisfaction and save yourself the inevitable trips to the LBS for having wheels trued / spokes replaced. Patience is the key, a little and often rather than trying to rush the job. Having the skills to do on-the-road repairs may save you a frustrating journey home one day should the inevitable happen. Choice of hubs, spokes and rims is dependant on what you plan to use the wheels for and how much you want to spend!

Pirahna

As usual Monty gives the best advice. I got a copy of Jobst Brandts book from my local library about 15 years ago and have been building eve since.

I'd recommend downloading a copy of the spocalc spreadsheet from here:

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

You'll also get a lot of inspiration for spoke patterns etc by searching on the Weight Weenies forums.

http://weightweenies.starbike.com/

dennisn

once you buld a pair you will probably get kind of hooked on it and at least try
another pair. A truing stand, while not an absolute must have, sure does make the
job go easier. Plus the fact that you have to make small adjustments to most every
wheel out there every once in a while. Nothing stays true forever.
Give it a shot. It's a bit frustrating at first, but hang in there.

Dennis Noward

Panter

Wow, many thanks for the comprehensive advice 8)

Thats me decided then, I'll give it a go.


Thanks for all the great links too.

I know nothing about bike mechanics but am resonably competent working on cars so I just need to learn the skills.
I have the Zinn mountain bike book and I assume its all pretty much the same for a road bike and I'm learning as I go.

Unfortunately, I lost a spoke on a club ride Saturday (first ever one) and felt really small having to ask what I should do.
So, enhancing my knowledge would be good motivation and I can well imagine it'd be immensely satisfying to be riding on a custome set of "Chris's"

Thanks again for taking the time to answer peeps, I'll probably ask again for some advice on choosing components when the time comes


Cheers

Chris

dennisn

You also might try Gerd Schraner's "The Art of Wheel Building". It was the one
that got me started.

Dennis Noward

crackle

when I was nowt but a lad, circumstances forced me to build my own wheel out of two duff ones.

I thought I'd done a splendid job, laced properly in a pattern and straight. That was until I came to ride it and discovered it wasn't round!

It wasn't out by much but it was definetly out. Nevertherless I had to ride it for a few weeks until I found another one in a skip which I salvaged.

This coincided with having broken a crank and having to fit another off another dead bike I'd found. Trouble was it wasn't the same length as the other crank.

For a while, it looked like I was a stunt rider in a Charlie Chaplain film but eventually I managed to get my hands on another crankset just after the wheel from the skip and blessed normality returned.

acorn_user

There's an onine book for a fiver, but I forget the url.

nicklouse

acorn_user wrote:

There's an onine book for a fiver, but I forget the url.

wheel pro wheel building guide.

re the knowing you way around a car and building wheels.

through it all out and either read everything and follow what it says or arrange a time at the bikeshop where tyou can watch learn......

I used to build and machine and spec race engines for fun. but it still took a lot of reading before i totally wrongly laced my first wheel. it then took a few sesions with a few wheel builders before i had another go. Now i am happy i can work out the correct spoke lengths. measure a hub and a rim ERD if not listed. and then lace and tension a wheel if i had to. and i do about one MTB set a year. but if i can i leave them to people who build more wheels than me and bild them better than me.

I am not saying it is hard or dificult just dont expect to get it right first time. If you can be in a stiuation where you have a set of wheels on the bike and either a set, or one, that you are practicing one you will find it easier as there is no time constraint as rushing the learning process does not help.

this might help out with some ideas and links http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12536562

Panter

Thanks again guys, I shall look into the recommended reading and soak up all the knowledge I can.

Nicklouise, I appreciate your comments. I'll have to see how it goes but I will be building the wheels in any sparetime I get in the evenings so there will be no pressure to rush it. If it all goes really wrong I'll take them to the LBS and chalk it up to experience. Even if it does I'll have learned a little more at least.

Thanks for the link to that other thread, some very informative reading in there 8)
I had no idea just how dynamic an environment a wheel was. Maybe I'm a bit of a closet anorak but I find it all pretty fascinating.

For a while, it looked like I was a stunt rider in a Charlie Chaplain film but eventually I managed to get my hands on another crankset just after the wheel from the skip and blessed normality returned.

I kind of think this is how I'll end up I'll keep you all posted anyway


Cheers

Chris

Eurostar

Nothing much to add really, but if anyone as mechanically inept as me reads this thread they might like to know about wheel building courses. I did a 3 day one at The Bike Inn. Perhaps a bit overkill but it was to City and Guilds standard. On day 3 I built a bootiful wheel. Very proud!

davecooper

Built my first pair about ten years ago using a pair of Campag rims I had acquired somehow and a pair of 105 hubs from a cycle jumble using new spokes. Just followed an article in a cycling mag. I used an old frame as a truing stand and enjoyed every minute of it. A bit of care ensured they were pretty true and evenly tensioned. Although I have long since parted with them I still have fond memories because not only was my handiwork spinning around under me but they were damn good to ride and I am not sure I have ridden anything much better since.

Panter

Thanks for the inspiration guys 8)


I must admit a wheel building course would a bit too much I think. I have no aspirations to work in a bike shop and hopefully, if all goes well and I do a proper job, I'll only be building the 1 set

Cheers

Chris

nom de plum

I bought this which is a good starting point
http://www.bike-inn.co.uk/training_videos.asp
and as mentioned...this is definitive
'Bicycle Wheel' by Jobst Brandt.

cyclerUK

Getting the wheel true from side to side is quite easy.
Getting it round (not egg shaped) isn't.
And finally the rear wheel rim has different tension spokes, or shorter, on one side due to the cassete (unless it's a single speed).
My first wheel was just a rim swap which I did by taping the new rim to the old. Then it was just a matter of swapping the spokes over to make sure I got the pattern right.
Since then I have built a few wheels using Sheldon Browns website as a guide.
My biggest problem is deciding on spoke length.
John