http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: CCE Wheel Building Course? en Fri, 17 Apr 2026 08:25:12 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5001&page=2#post-81482 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 20:03:58 +0000 Roibeard 81482@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Dave - Yes please, I'll make a special effort to get there earlier than you to stand you coffee &amp; pastry...</p> <p>Robert </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5001&page=2#post-81468 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 18:34:01 +0000 Dave 81468@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'll be there from a little after 7am until 8:30</p> <p>Let me know, as the Blue Beast doesn't have luggage space so I'll need to figure out some kind of bag. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5001&page=2#post-81460 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 16:59:18 +0000 Roibeard 81460@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Dave - <em>Will you be at PY tomorrow?</em></p> <p>I can be - what time slot will you be present? I can fit in, with only a little spousal eye rolling...</p> <p>Robert </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5001&page=2#post-81423 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 13:22:01 +0000 Dave 81423@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Will you be at PY tomorrow? I could bring up the stand (would fit on a rack or in a pannier, or I could bring it in a backpack. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5001&page=2#post-81368 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 09:32:39 +0000 Roibeard 81368@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks for the offer Dave - the spokes arrived yesterday and the lacing up went smoothly enough, so the offer is very timely.</p> <p>I resisted the urge to take an angle grinder to a screwdriver bit last night - self preservation kicked in as I was tired enough that the result would have been the bit being propelled at high speed through people or possessions...</p> <p>I'll see if my work's mechanical workshops can help today (much more sensible approach) - there are definitely days I miss having a farmer's workshop across the yard!</p> <p>Robert </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5001&page=2#post-81366 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 09:27:43 +0000 Grahamn 81366@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <br /> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5001&page=2#post-81359 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 08:12:47 +0000 Dave 81359@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Robert - missed this last week as on hol, but you're welcome to borrow my truing stand. </p> <p>I haven't used a dishing gauge although I'll take a look and see if I still have one lying around. If you swap around the wheel periodically you can tell whether or not it's centred properly.</p> <p>You want a better spoke key than the one I have, I think - worth picking one up from your local.</p> <p>For the first X turns (until the spoke heads come through the nipples) I just use a flat-bladed screwdriver. It's slightly more hassle than I imagine a tool being, but perfectly useable just to snug everything up. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5001&page=2#post-80592 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 15:08:39 +0000 Arellcat 80592@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>"what preparation is this?"</em></p> <p>I was thinking, not so much in terms of calculating the correct spoke lengths, but the post-purchase, pre-build and early-build prep. Jobst Brandt covered it in his seminal publication.</p> <p>i) Group your spokes by length, and keep them separate.<br /> ii) Apply light machine oil to all the spoke threads and all the rim holes/eyelets using cotton buds. Wipe off the excess.<br /> iii) Thread the spoke nipples on an equal amount, left and right, and keep them equal during the first couple of rounds of tensioning.<br /> iv) Forcibly manipulate the spoke bends at the hub flange to eliminate the bending stress that will otherwise bite you later on.<br /> v) Aim to get the rim centred, plus or minus a couple of millimetres, early on.<br /> vi) Watch radial trueness more than lateral trueness during the early tensioning.</p> <p>Then just go round and round and round, watching and listening to your trueness gauges, and stress relieving the spokes after every couple of rounds of tensioning.</p> <p>It will often be entirely possible, on a lightweight 26" or 700c wheel, to start pringling the wheel before you think the spokes are as tight as you can make them. That's a function of your rim's compressive strength, not the spokes. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5001&page=2#post-80591 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 14:36:05 +0000 Roibeard 80591@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Right, I've bitten the bullet, bought the <a href="http://www.wheelpro.co.uk/wheelbuilding/book.php">Musson book</a> (ta recombodna), ordered a hub, rim and Spokey, and will order up spokes to match using <a href="http://www.wheelpro.co.uk/spokecalc/">Musson's calculator</a>.</p> <p>All that will then be required is the truing stand, dishing gauge and nipple driver (stop sniggering at the back) - I think I can live without the tensiometer...</p> <p>Would any kind soul have any of the above that I could borrow once the spokes arrive?</p> <p>I did break a spoke on the Pino (Uphill! Not sure of the physics of that one!), so want to get to grips with a build to improve the efficiencies of future repairs. I'm not certain, but that's the third front spoke, or the third time for that spoke (first was probably crash damage from fooling around), so that wheel could do with some TLC.</p> <p>I'm happy to have company (experienced or otherwise) for the build, so we can share the experience/ignorance...</p> <p>Robert </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5001&page=2#post-63486 Fri, 30 Mar 2012 23:33:55 +0000 Instography 63486@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I rebuilt the rear wheel on an old Dutch bike last week and followed the instructions at <a href="http://sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html">Sheldon Brown</a>. Great step-by-step guide. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5001&page=2#post-63485 Fri, 30 Mar 2012 23:18:17 +0000 wingpig 63485@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I did a 32h rear one last year: Mavic CXP23 rim, 32h Tiagra rear hub and 292mm spokes, though I could have got away with 290mm. Peasy, except for having since twice found that one spoke (at a time - didn't notice if it was the same one) had completely slackened. If it does it again I'll label it and replace the nipple the next time I have to replace a worn tyre. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5001&page=2#post-63480 Fri, 30 Mar 2012 23:06:02 +0000 ExcitableBoy 63480@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Another broken spoke today - arghh!<br /> Back a month ago I tried taking the advice above to find a suitable combination of hub, rim and spokes for a 36 hole, 700c front wheel (I could more urgently do with a rear, but don't want to bite off too much). Unfortunately I didn't feel sure enough that I'd pick the right stuff, ie mainly get the spokes right, even though I looked at spoke length calculators.<br /> So broken spoke again today, I thought I'd see if anybody has made a similar wheel recently and has the details of what they used and I'd buy &amp; use the same. I guess this would work? Apologies if this is a little too presumptious. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5001&page=2#post-55510 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:00:50 +0000 Uberuce 55510@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've got System Ex in my racer and they're lovely and good at...um...turning. Not much more to it, really. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5001&page=2#post-55500 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:37:22 +0000 Darkerside 55500@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I quite enjoyed (if that's the right word) overhauling my deore hubs. There's something inherently satisfying about cleaning and greasing ball bearings - such a simple, efficient bit of kit.</p> <p>Maybe it's just me... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5001&page=2#post-55499 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:25:09 +0000 Dave 55499@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Exciteable Boy - I was quite impressed with <a href="http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b109s171p1133">System X track hubs</a> when I had them on my old commuter.</p> <p>I mainly have Deore hubs now, a popular choice but don't like them because they use traditional bearings. With hubs like the above that take cartridges, you never need to think about anything until the day comes when you want to spend £3 a pop buying replacements, that slot right in.</p> <p>Rims, Rigida Sputnik or similar have a good rep. I can't remember off the top of my head which sort I bought for my last build. I used the cheapest sort of double-butted spokes. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5001&page=2#post-55486 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:11:07 +0000 chdot 55486@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"<br /> While an experienced wheelbuilder can build a wheel in well under an hour, a beginner should expect to spend several hours on the task. It is best not to try to do this all at one sitting, because you are likely to get frustrated at the slowness of the truing and tensioning process. Better to put the job aside, even overnight, than to get careless and ruin a good wheel-in-progress.<br /> "</p> <p><a href="http://sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html#getting" rel="nofollow">http://sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html#getting</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5001&page=2#post-55485 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:07:43 +0000 chdot 55485@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"what preparation is this?"</p> <p>Making sure you've got all the bits (esp. spokes right length).</p> <p><a href="http://www.google.co.uk/search?&amp;rls=en&amp;q=spoke+length+calculator" rel="nofollow">http://www.google.co.uk/search?&amp;rls=en&amp;q=spoke+length+calculator</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5001&page=2#post-55484 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:02:54 +0000 recombodna 55484@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Seventy-odd quid or more for a bit of polystyrene..."</p> <p>I got a decent giro helmet online for £19.... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5001&page=2#post-55461 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:25:31 +0000 ExcitableBoy 55461@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>So, inspired by this thread I had been tentatively considering attempting to build a wheel using guesswork/logic, youtube and forum advice. Now further inspired (if I understood him correctly, on another thread) by DaveC suggesting he was considering the same - I have a couple of questions:<br /> I am contemplating a front, either 700c or 26", for v brakes.<br /> 1. Any recommended hub, rim, spokes?<br /> 2. Arellcat suggests "it's the preparation process that is most important" - what preparation is this? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5001&page=2#post-55402 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:39:11 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 55402@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Pondering the cost thing - I wonder if the next time there are calls for mandatory laws we start getting the bike shops and manufacturers onside by suggesting that all new bikes must be provided with a helmet just like cars are provided with seatbelts, and that the cost must NOT be passed on to the consumer...</p> <p>Scupper the argument from within... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5001&page=2#post-55400 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:27:02 +0000 minus six 55400@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Heh.. fortunately not, and i think on the whole it was meant to be construed as practical advice only, nothing subliminal in intent.</p> <p>But it did set me to thinking how much political lobbying the helmet manufacturers reps *might* be engaging in, to legislate for mandatory adoption.</p> <p>Seventy-odd quid or more for a bit of polystyrene... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5001&page=2#post-55399 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:04:50 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 55399@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Did the letter than conclude with, "And if you don't have a helmet why not browse our extensive selection in-store"? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5001&page=2#post-55393 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:42:48 +0000 minus six 55393@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>As it happens, i'm enrolled on this weekend's EBC wheelbuilding day class, which was a xmas gift purchase.</p> <p>Can't say I was impressed by the EBC's enrollment letter:</p> <p>"If you intend to cycle to and from the class, we would advise you to wear a helmet"</p> <p>Poor guy who wrote it got a real earful down the phone when I called to tell him what I thought of that. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5001#post-53352 Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:27:07 +0000 Arellcat 53352@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Pah, what's the worst that could happen?</p> <p>OMG, you could've been <em>killed</em>! :O </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5001#post-53332 Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:11:10 +0000 kaputnik 53332@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I also forgot to put my reflective tabard on. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5001#post-53329 Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:00:58 +0000 chdot 53329@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Last lightbulb I changed took me 2 hours "</p> <p>That's because you didn't have one or more people standing around watching you... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5001#post-53327 Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:58:21 +0000 kaputnik 53327@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I assume that building wheels will be easier than changing a lightbulb. Last lightbulb I changed took me 2 hours and required a hammer, two pairs of pliers, a plumber's adjustable wrench, screwdriver, 2 spanners and a small section of old inner tube. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5001#post-53317 Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:06:32 +0000 Dave 53317@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>For anyone else who likes this as a point of reference, I also find building wheels much easier than tying a bow tie (and I do have a bow tie, and wear it from time to time). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5001#post-53304 Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:20:16 +0000 Instography 53304@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I built two wheels on the EBC course a few years ago. I liked the course and not knowing anyone who could show me meant I had no choice but as Dave says, it's pretty straightforward. I had more trouble tying a bow tie. Neither of my wheels need more truing than any shop bought wheel I have. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5001#post-53138 Sun, 15 Jan 2012 19:21:08 +0000 Arellcat 53138@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>In my time I've built a bunch of wheels and if you're doing it from scratch, it's the preparation process that is most important; the actual build process is straightforward and iterative. If you get it spot on, you can then ride thousands of miles on your wheels without ever tweaking them.</p> <p>I use a Park spoke key, but next time around I'll try my Spokey. The Park is very ergonomic but it only grips on three sides which has led to a few 'rounding errors', particularly on high tension builds such as my Brompton; the Spokey grips fully on two sides and partly on the other two, which is supposed to be better.</p> <p>Roibeard, 'feel' does come into it somewhat, when aiming for the same tension from one spoke to the next as you gradually tighten the wheel, especially if you use thin spokes. But alignment is made obvious by the gauges on the truing stand, and forcibly stress relieving the spokes is an enjoyable diversion. </p>