Wheel Building - I'm hooked!

[S.Giles]

Hello,

I have just finished my first wheel build (not having even trued a wheel before), and I'm hooked! I used Roger Musson's excellent e-book for guidance. I was expecting some sort of awful mishap on first riding with it, but that didn't happen, thank goodness! It did take some considerable bottle (stupidity?) to top 35mph descending Trundlegate in Yorkshire, however (the thought of me sitting at the k*****n table [why is that a banned word!!??] with a rim, hub, a collection of spokes and Mr Musson's book a few hours earlier did induce me to ease on the brakes, I have to admit!).

Having given it a go, I'd say "Don't do it!" - you'll be hooked too!

On a more general note, I have been riding bicycles for decades, but my enthusiasm has really piqued since I started to become interested in the technical aspects. The combination of trying my hand at making something, and being able to use the results to keep fit on the Yorkshire Wolds is irresistible.

Steve

 

[I like Skol]

Excellent post and I fully agree about it being a rewarding achievement.

There isn't any black magic to it, if you have reasonable manual ability, a dash of common sense and the ability to follow instructions then it can be done with good results.

I have been building my own wheels since I was a teenager. I worked it out for myself in my dads shed (I'm a totally self taught wheel builder) 25 years ago before the explosion of internet info and have never had a wheel fail in the years since despite using my wheels like this.... (click pic for vid clip)

 

[Saddle bum]

40 years of building wheels, still love it.

 

[numbnuts]

62 and never done it

 

[S.Giles]

I must admit to having accidentally left some spoke twist in there. The first couple of wheel rotations sounded as if I was riding over a load of tin cans! The wheel didn't go out of true though, and the noise stopped after a few seconds. Still, it's a sign that my wheel-building technique could improve somewhat.

Figuring it out for yourself is impressive. There are so many 'do's' and 'don'ts' that make the wheel build go smoothly. Once you've got those, though, I'd agree that common sense can carry you a long way.

Steve

 

[TeeQue]

Out of interest what sort of cost are you looking at for the bits required to put a wheel together and how does the end result stand up against commercial wheels?

 

[compo]

62 and never done it

I have, but never built a wheel.

 

[compo]

I would love to actually build a wheel myself. I would guess it best to start with a front wheel? I have read Roger Musson's book and what I find most confusing is calculating required spoke length. Also I have disk brakes so would need a specific lacing pattern. It is dishing that really confuses me. I know what it is but cannot get my head round actually making the measurements and transferring them to the wheel.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

It's those damned kitchen ads that these fora got spammed with last year I think it was, you just can't even discuss kitchens on these fora anymore . (and yes, I did type the word kitchen in full...)
I'm about to try a wheel-build myself soon: I have all the parts and tools, just haven't found time to do it .

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Or is it the phrase kitchen table that gets redacted?

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Aha! I know, you need a certain minimum number of posts in these fora, before you're permitted to utter the k-word!

 

[I like Skol]

So I can fettle my bike in my real-wood-kitchen (my kitchen made of real wood) with impunity?

 

[goo_mason]

Built a set at the Edinburgh Bike Co-Op's wheel-building course a few years ago and felt immensely proud of myself. I was going to get myself a jig and build another set shortly afterwards so I wouldn't forget what I had learned, but stupidly didn't and now would likely need a refresher course. Might buy Musson's guide sometime and have a go with that.

What're you all using for trueing jigs? I remember looking to buy one at the time and being stunned at how expensive they were.

 

[I like Skol]

Personally I build my wheels in the frame with a piece of tape across the stays to mark a guide line on. the wheel just has to be flipped around to check the rim is central. Even on the dished rear wheel if you put the wheel in the wrong way (freehub on the wrong side) the rim should still be central.

 

[Spoked Wheels]

Hello,

I have just finished my first wheel build (not having even trued a wheel before), and I'm hooked! I used Roger Musson's excellent e-book for guidance. I was expecting some sort of awful mishap on first riding with it, but that didn't happen, thank goodness! It did take some considerable bottle (stupidity?) to top 35mph descending Trundlegate in Yorkshire, however (the thought of me sitting at the k*****n table [why is that a banned word!!??] with a rim, hub, a collection of spokes and Mr Musson's book a few hours earlier did induce me to ease on the brakes, I have to admit!).

Having given it a go, I'd say "Don't do it!" - you'll be hooked too!

On a more general note, I have been riding bicycles for decades, but my enthusiasm has really piqued since I started to become interested in the technical aspects. The combination of trying my hand at making something, and being able to use the results to keep fit on the Yorkshire Wolds is irresistible.

Steve

I think I know exactly how you feel. Building wheels has been a hobby for more than a year now. I still build wheels every week as a hobby, I find that I can relax, focus on what I'm doing and leave the important decisions for another time

I have always found difficult to switch off from work matters and having a hobby help take my mind off work. In the past I have used activities like playing the guitar or running to do what I do now with wheel building. For some reason cycling doesn't help, no idea why.

it's always gratifying to ride your own wheels I think and also when other people do too.

I'm glad I'm not the only bloke to get hooked on wheel building I guess I'm a normal chap after all