where can you learn to build wheels?

[Twanger]

It's something I have always wanted to do. Who teaches this stuff?

 

[Archie]

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html

Have fun!

 

[HJ]

Edinburgh Cycle Co-Op runs courses...

 

[hackbike 666]

I built a front wheel years ago but I don't know how I did it.Obviously the rear is more difficult.

 

[simon_brooke]

Riding on wheels you built yourself is fun. You will not save money, and your wheels probably won't be as good as factory made wheels for the same price. Yes, the best hand built wheels are at least as good as factory ones, but yours (or mine) are not the best.

It isn't hard. Sheldon Browne is a great place to start (I have used his instructions for the last three wheels I've built). It also isn't very hard, it just takes patience and being systematic. My latest pair (i.e. wheels four and five I've ever built) are less than 0.5mm out side to side, and the front is less than 0.5mm out of round, which I consider a 'pass'. The rear is about 2mm out of round which is not so good - but you can't feel it in practice.

 

[hackbike 666]

Yeah but it's good for practice because one day you may be out with a knackered wheel so it may be useful to know hw to temporarily fix them so you can get home.Happened to me at Waterloo years back I had at least six loose spokes in the rear wheel but somehow I made it back.

*Just reminded me I need a spoke key.I gave my one to a cyclist at work who didn't have one.

 

[John the Monkey]

Roger Musson's book is pretty good - more accessible than the (admittedly incredibly comprehensive) "The Bicycle Wheel" by Jobst Brandt.

http://www.wheelpro.co.uk/wheelbuilding/book.php

Worth £9, in any case.

 

[Mr Pig]

You will not save money, and your wheels probably won't be as good as factory made wheels for the same price.

I looked at the Edinburgh course last year as I'd really like to do this too, I think it's the only thing on a bike I can't do. However, it just worked out too expensive and I bought a pair of Mavic wheels instead. Pity as I'd love to do it, bought a wheel truing stand and everything.

 

[jimboalee]

Riding on wheels you built yourself is fun. You will not save money, and your wheels probably won't be as good as factory made wheels for the same price. Yes, the best hand built wheels are at least as good as factory ones, but yours (or mine) are not the best.

It isn't hard. Sheldon Browne is a great place to start (I have used his instructions for the last three wheels I've built). It also isn't very hard, it just takes patience and being systematic. My latest pair (i.e. wheels four and five I've ever built) are less than 0.5mm out side to side, and the front is less than 0.5mm out of round, which I consider a 'pass'. The rear is about 2mm out of round which is not so good - but you can't feel it in practice.

Speak for yourself.

 

[Twanger]

Thank you. Sorry about the original misposting - I had forgotten there was more than commuting to this site!

Checking out Sheldon B.

 

[PpPete]

Roger Musson's book is pretty good - more accessible than the (admittedly incredibly comprehensive) "The Bicycle Wheel" by Jobst Brandt.

http://www.wheelpro.co.uk/wheelbuilding/book.php

Worth £9, in any case.

Roger Musson's book is a great place to start - easier to follow than Sheldon IMO.
Even my first wheel (built using that book) - using a old spare hub & rim I had kicking around, was better than a lot of factory wheels - and is still true and in use today.
My second & third wheels, Open Pro's on 105 hubs are the dog's danglies.

 

[hubgearfreak]

get a wheel, dismantle it, reassemble it with the help of SB. a few hours later you'll have a wheel that you've built yourself.
my first wheel lasted years and would still be good if a certain motorists bothered to look forward when driving forward at a crossing. i doubt that there's a bicycle wheel out there that would stand up to being pushed sideways at the hub by a silver ford escort
(the dozen subsequent ones are still perfect)

 

[andrew_s]

Generally, if you have any mechanical aptitude, you can build a better wheel at home than you can buy once you've got a grip on the basics - i.e. getting a feel for how tight is tight enough, and realising that you've got to stress relieve and release spoke wind-up.

Someone in a shop is going to be building to time, and will get a wheel good enough in half an hour or so.
Building at home, you can spend as much time as you need to get the wheel perfect. I once got a wheel good to 0.2mm radially, and better than 0.1mm laterally (apart from the rim joint), and it stayed like that until the end of its life. I've never bothered since: the wheel rim wore out just as fast as normal.

 

[Bodhbh]

Roger Musson's book is a great place to start - easier to follow than Sheldon IMO.

Well it's good to know. I have read the SB guide 3-4 times now and still can't quite get the drift. I guess it makes more sense when you get your hands dirty and have a go.

 

[PpPete]

Anyone checked their spoke tension against the table at the foot of this article?