I finished the build of a new front wheel a couple of weeks ago (my first; a Mavic A719 rim, Campag Centaur hub, DT Swiss competition spokes) and nervously (very nervously!) went out for a ride on it last week. I told the wife to keep her mobile on and beside her just in case. Every bump or click had me looking down to see if the wheel was still round! It was with some relief that I got home and it was still true! Done around 200km on it now so I guess it's going to be ok. Chuffed I am! Like a new dad!!
Riding your own hand built wheels
- Thread starter yello
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
2Loose
Guru
- Location
- Loughborough, Leicestershire.
Good job, I am impressed. I would love to give wheel building a go one day, it sounds very satisfying...one day...
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
Nice one :-) by all accounts hand built wheels will be stronger than factory but I'd still be nervous at first too 
GrumpyGregry
Here for rides.
If you've done the job right and de stressed everything and got even tensions, etc., no need to be nervous at all. You don't get twitchy with the front wheel, undoubtedly machine built, on an otp shop bought bike and your home brew is going to be much better quality than that.
PpPete
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chandler's Ford
Know that feeling !
Although I must say I utterly failed to be cautious on my first ride out with my own home builts. They felt so good I hit 62 kph on a hill where I'd not previously been over 50 kph. They've done a good few thousand km since.
Davidc
Guru
- Location
- Somerset UK
Well done. You'll find it's better than a mass produced one.
It's a very very long time since I built a wheel, but I can remember how pleased I was with my first one.
You've done better than I did. My first one needed trueing after its first outing, which I remember was school and back - 14 miles. I hadn't understood what my book meant by destressing, but the ride did it OK with no real damage except to my pride.
I must get back into doing them myself, next time I need a new or refurbished wheel.
It's a very very long time since I built a wheel, but I can remember how pleased I was with my first one.
You've done better than I did. My first one needed trueing after its first outing, which I remember was school and back - 14 miles. I hadn't understood what my book meant by destressing, but the ride did it OK with no real damage except to my pride.
I must get back into doing them myself, next time I need a new or refurbished wheel.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
I fully intend to re-rim my handbuilt CXP33's on the fixed when they wear out - sometime this year. Even getting a jig, it will be cheaper, and it's the only thing I haven't done yet.
I suppose the only tricky bit, is getting the correct length spokes when doing a new build.
I suppose the only tricky bit, is getting the correct length spokes when doing a new build.
Howard
Senior Member
Gerry Attrick
Lincolnshire Mountain Rescue Consultant
My 'local' LBS is 60km away... and it took them 3 weeks to build a wheel for me! They also fitted a new cassette to a club mate's bike.... and it fell apart some 30km later! They'd jammed a SRAM cassette on a Shimano freewheel (or vice versa) and then held it all together with the QR! He had problems shifting, we undid the QR and (quite literally) the cogs all tumbled off!
lowerstill
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Shropshire
Its a great sensation, though slightly addictive. I spent a lot of time tinkering with different lacing patterns, quite interesting (if a lot geeky) trying to feel the difference between radial, double & triple cross lacing mixes. Have fun
Christopher
Über Member
Nice one yello! You have really good components there.
I've just finished truing up a front disc wheel. Next thing is to ride it a bit, then check it again, then put the disc on. Oddly, it builds exactly like a rear wheel with freehub i.e. it has quite a bit of dish and the spoking pattern has to resist the twisting force from the disc brake.
I've just finished truing up a front disc wheel. Next thing is to ride it a bit, then check it again, then put the disc on. Oddly, it builds exactly like a rear wheel with freehub i.e. it has quite a bit of dish and the spoking pattern has to resist the twisting force from the disc brake.
