Building 26" wheels - where to start ???

kinioo

OK,

Still looking for some upgrade to my stock 26" giant wheels on my Anthem X2 2013.

Missed few good deals here and there, so started to think about building them.

I know it will probably be more expensive but great experience...

Therefore, where should I start ???

1. Looking for an improvement to the existing wheels, so lighter, better quality etc. (better looking ??)
2. What rims ??
3. What hubs ??
4. What spokes ??

I am in no rush with this so can buy components gradually when 'a good deal' comes etc.

Been to few rims / hubs websites but there is so many choices/models - i.e. don't know what hubs I should look at - what will fit my bike etc ??

Style of riding: fast (at least it try to be), more aggressive etc. but nothing extreme

Thanks for any help.

Chris

Chunkers1980

If you don't know what hubs will fit then I'd say you'll be better off taking an old wheel apart and building it again before you start messing with anything you spend decent money on

kinioo

Chunkers1980 wrote:

If you don't know what hubs will fit then I'd say you'll be better off taking an old wheel apart and building it again before you start messing with anything you spend decent money on

Yes, I don't know 'by name/type/kind/model etc.' what hub will fit - that is true.

When shopping for hubs you get drop down list of all kinds of options which mean nothing to me - this is why I did ask what should I look for.

Its not about 'messing' - as I didn't say I can put them together, is about buying correct components.

Thanks anyway for your time.

C.

lpretro1

You'd not go far wrong with a combination of a Shimano XT rim and a Stan's Flow EX rims. There are plenty of caluclators which will tell you what spoke length to buy for the combination of hub/rim you have. That combination is pretty easy to build and quite forgiving. Download Roger Musson's wheelbuilding book - http://www.wheelpro.co.uk/wheelbuilding/book.php" target="_blank. Take yuor time over it - wheelbuilding can't be rushed when you are new to it

cooldad

So what are your current wheels, and what do they weigh?

Or how will you know what lighter/better/prettier is?

BigAl

Check out Roger Musson's wheel building webby thing.
(wheelpro.co.uk IIRC)

Also Sheldon Brown's website had some good info on wheel building.

kinioo

BigAl wrote:

Check out Roger Musson's wheel building webby thing.
(wheelpro.co.uk IIRC)

Also Sheldon Brown's website had some good info on wheel building.

Cheers

Monty Dog

If you want decent quality hubs that'll probably be lighter than your current ones, then Novatec are pretty robust and easy to service. Superstar hubs made by Novatec too.
As suggested, Stans rims are quite light, but not the stiffest.
Spokes - start with regular double butted - ACI are good value. Forget things like DT Revolutions and alloy spokes - flexy spokes and corroding nipples for the sake of a few grammes.
Re-rimming your existing wheel would be a good place to start about learning to use a spoke key before trying to lace a wheel from scratch - it's not difficult, but you do need to be methodical.
Sheldon Brown's guide is good for a beginner.

The Rookie

Novatech are a good option.

My first wheel build was re rimming a pair of wheels, I then built my own using Rogers excellent book, I have some Stans rims (super lightweight Alpines) with an A2Z front hub (bargain find on eBay) and a Novatech rear using DT Swiss bobble butted spokes and Sapim alloy nipples, all told they come in at 1430g (QR both ends) for just £180 (with more than a little luck), used regularly for 18 months and still giving good service.