Bicycle Mechanics - the basics of changing a wheelset

i'd like to upgrade my wheel set. i have ultegra and would like to carry that over. i was thinking of getting Velomax Circuit II's. i've never swapped wheels before, so if someone could give me the basics of the job i'd appreciate it. or a good link with infomation on what to expect, tools i'll need, etc.. would be great.

If I'm reading your post correctly you just want to change the rims? For that all your need really is a spoke wrench. Some things that make it easier are a truing stand, dishing guage, and tension guage. There are also some wheel building stands but if you just want to build one wheel you shouldn't bother.

I believe that sheldon brown's website has some infor on wheel building.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/wheels/index.html

Hope this helps..

Ray

actually the entire wheel - hubs, rims, spokes and all. i would be buying a whole new wheel (not building it myself) and putting that on my bike. so, i guess my questions are more geared toward swapping the cassette since the hub, spokes, and rim will all be intact from the factory. the shelton link is helpful though, so i may find what i need in there. thanks.

ahh i get it now
yeah sheldon's site should have a lot

sounds like all you'll need though is a freewheel/cassette removal tool and a chainwhip.

Ray

The cassette is held on by a threaded lock ring that has splines on the inside.
A splined tool is used to unscrew the lock ring, the tool held on with QR skewer and the cassette prevented from turning by the chainwhip as the unscrewing direction
is the same as the cassette turns freely. The cassette rings are loose with spacers
and there is a unique way to put the rings and spacers on, the spacers are (essentially) identical otherwise. Brief study of the splines on the hub will show
what I mean. The new wheels should come with rim tape, if not you HAVE to apply some. Instant blow out if you don't. Steve