Wheel building, wheelset options

Ian_

Just jump in and build the wheels yourself.

It's a lot easier than it looks. I followed Sheldon Brown's instructions and they worked beautifully. Once you get to the point that spokes overlap, it'll all just 'click' and make a whole lot more sense.

I used Mavic Open Pro's with DT double-butted spokes, 32 up front, 36 on the rear (I wanted 36 on the front, but couldn't get the hub in time). The whole wheelset came in at about 1.7kg, IIRC. They feels a lot smoother than the original wheels (AT450 rims, 32x straight-gauge spokes, 2.1kg!) - presumably due to the double-butted spokes providing a little elasticity. They're still solid down hills. I also have a set of Velomax Ascent II's (1.4kg) which feel downright soft - but they go up hills nicely!

I ordered everything from www.universalcycles.com - despite international shipping, it worked out a lot cheaper than buying locally. I used a commercial truing stand, but it wouldn't have been much different using the bike frame and an elastic band on the brake levers. I also had a dish stick, but found it useless - I could eyeball the dish with more accuracy than the stick.

I don't weigh a lot, but I'm pretty rough on my road bike (and my mountain bike, but it's designed for that). With these wheels, I'm confident that the frame will break before the wheels buckle. The original wheelset needed to be trued every month or so. I trued my wheels once after about 100km, and never again (2000km-ish).

thomas_cho

Ian,
Already jumped in. Already committed to a 32 spoked design, as the rims I got were 32 holed. Just looking around for hubs, but not willing to spend heaps on them at the moment. Shimano 105 hubs would do me just fine.

I am going to go with DT 14g straight spokes. Cant wait to get all the parts, and start building my first wheelset.

Thanks for the link, if you dont mind me asking, what was the shipping costs like?

Rgds

11ring

Hi i just sent you an e-mail regarding wheelsets.

Prive for the 105 hubs is $135.00
Also we have R-560 complete wheelsets on special for $299

see

http://www.cellbikes.com.au/product.php?id=126

geoffs

You would be better off with double butted spokes. just as strong, lighter and more reliable. Aluminium nipples are lighter also but they are more prone to breaking. Depends how hard your are on parts.

Cheers

Geoff

thomas_cho

Hi Geoff,
Just got my rims today. I am tempted to go double butted, but they are more than 2x the price.

Worth it?

Still contemplating what to do from here on.

geoffs

Definitely worth using DB spokes it. Because I am over 90kg I only use 14/15 and not the 14/17 that are on my wifes bike.
What size do you need?
I have a bundle of them from when I used to build wheels and may be able to help you out.
My Dura ace hubs have just arrived but Ashfield bikes say it will be a couple of weeks before the Velocity Aerohead rims arrive.

Cheers

Geoff

thomas_cho

Hi there Geoff,
Thanks for your offer. I have measured my rim ERD to 606. And I understand that I need to measure my hubs to work out the spoke length. I am still trying to find out the dimensions of the 105 hubs that I am getting.

Any idea if the 5510 are the same as the 5500?

So bottom line is that i still do not know the spoke length that I require.

Also ... what are the benefits of 2 cross and 3 cross patterns?

Thanks

geoffs

If you download Damon Rinard's full strength Spoke Calc you will be able to work out your spoke length for what ever hub/rim/crossing you choose. There's an old saying about not reinventing the wheel.
For a long lasting reliable wheel 3 cross.
Have a read of these:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/rinard/wheel/data.htm

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/rinard/wheel/index.htm

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/rinard/wheel/grignon.htm

Cheers

Geoff

thomas_cho

Hi Geoff
I have worked out the spoke lengths which I need.

They 294 for rear right, 296 for rear left, and 296 for the front wheel.

Have you got these lengths in your stash?

BTW I am easily over 90kg, so the 14/15 is ideal.

Cheers
Thomas Cho

geoffs

My apologies Thomas, I wrote to soon.
I dug out my box of spokes and sorted them out. I've got loads of spokes between 266 and 272 for MTB wheels.
I have 72 x 294mm x 14g spokes
and only bits and peices of other sizes such as 27 x 302 15g bladed.

Cheers

Geoff

thomas_cho

No worries, thanks Geoff. What kind of spoke wrench do u use? I have an ice toolz one, and have managed to round 2 nipples now. So I dont think I will rely on that to build the wheels.

geoffs

I have a few of the Park Tools spoke wrenchs but my favorite is the "Spokey"
I am sure if you phoned a couple of bike shops someone would have one or know where to get one from.

Cheers

Geoff

11ring

Try the American classics. They are very very good. and light. and cheap.

thomas_cho

Just completed my wheelbuild, followed the instructions. It was a lot of fun, and I derived a lot of satisfaction.

While it wasnt rocket science, a lot of patience was needed.

I built the wheelset around the Shimano 105 hubs, Ambrosio Excursion rims, and DTswiss spokes. The wheelset is coming in at aprox 1.9kg. Its not light, but I was not aiming for light, but for reliability. So far, just on the truing stand, the Shimano hubs seem awesome, very smooth.

Unfortunately, its not good weather here at the moment, so have not test ridden the wheels yet.

Thanks everyone for your help and assistance.