Classic & Vintage - wheelbuilding trap - build new or upgrade existing

I have fell in this trap before and want opinions if you have had the same question facing you.

Nelli's HANS LUTZ
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f394/rivieraproject/Childrens%20Racing%20Bicycles/IMG_6696.jpg


now I have been slowly changing out parts on her bike to shimano 600 stuff.
currently
-Arabesque headset,deraileurs and shifters,
-ultegra 600 brakes.

and now the wheels-
NISI 36h aluminum tubulars, galvanized 2.0 spokes, Atom matching hubs
the atom hubs are just that-hubs
they are ok but not silky smooth high-end stuff-
she just cant roll down the hills like me with the campy S.R. hubs
so.....
I kind of found a set of ultegra 600 hubs
-front NOS for 15€ (plenty more avail)
and used rear for 15usd
(need a rear matching skewer!!! anyone??)

Now the original galvanized spokes I would like to swap for
1.8 stainless
or should I go for 2.0/1.8/2.0
I have 2.0 stainless I can take out of a wheelchair for free

or to fall in the trap again
- and just find new nisi rims and build a new wheelset??

I really dont need another wheelset as it will mean I will buy another set of tyres also, followed by a frame........

Personally, I don't re-lace a wheel with old spokes unless I'm just switching over the rim. I'd start with hubs you have and new rims and spokes. I'm kinda over butted spokes myself, but they're good.

I'd suggest she's not rolling down the hill as fast as you because she's much lighter.

If the hubs are in good shape, new spokes (I like butted stainless) and rims are the way to go. However, inspect the hub flanges carefully for distortion around the spoke holes, which can lead to spoke breakage. You may do best matching the old lacing pattern, even if you favor a different one.

the objective is to replace the hubs
the spoke pattern will be the same
- and as they have higher flange then the atom hubs the spokes must be replaced.

these little butted spokes are not that easy to find either- around 255ish in length.

2.0 is just looks so heavy.
1.8 stainless would be fine-anybody know who sells them?

the kid has a nicer bike than me! you get no advice!

I'd suggest she's not rolling down the hill as fast as you because she's much lighter.
Agreed. Unless there's something seriously wrong with the Atom hubs I doubt you'll notice any performance advantage in changing them out.

If it were me, I'd use the Ultegra hubs to build a spare set of wheels with clincher rims and keep the current wheels the way they are. That would give a nice choice of wheels depending on the type of ride - and it's sometimes nice to have the spare wheels when you're already running a bit late and discover a flat tire.

I definitely wouldn't bother building new wheels around those hubs, she still won't roll down the hill as fast as you do. Save the hubs for her next bike.... and if you really want to build the new hubs into wheels at least use the free spokes, DB spokes would be overbuilding the wheel, imho.

One Dad to another with some 2 cent advice. It's a trap. Relax and let her have some fun.

Nelli's bike is more than just adequate and if she's a normal girl, she'll outgrow her junior racer so fast your hair will turn grey. :)
While she rides this one, you collect the parts for her next "grown up" bike. My 13 year old daughter grew 7 inches in the last 2 years and I'm just about to finish her first full size road bike. Pics soon.

Cute kid.........:thumb:

Nelli's bike is more than just adequate and if she's a normal girl, she'll outgrow her junior racer so fast your hair will turn grey. :)
She may outgrow her present bike(s) but she is far from "normal"! She's awesome!

I'm with prathmann. Don't rebuild the wheels. Keep them as-is. Different hubs aren't going to make much difference. Build up some new wheels, something different.

I just remembered reading this Bicycling article in the 70s. They took some lesser hubs, repacked with polishing compound instead of grease, rode for a while and then cleaned and repacked with grease. They claimed improvement... I never tried myself, cause I don't mess with lesser hubs.

repacked with polishing compound instead of grease, rode for a while and then cleaned and repacked with grease.

I actually have done this on many of my hubs.

I put new balls in a campy SR and after polishing it was silky smooth.
I did the rear atom hub and again a big improvement.

I have not got to the front.

I guess Im also interested in swapping all the components out for shimano 600/ultegra stuff as the ultegra hubs were cheap, and I just hate the look of the galvanized 2.0mm spokes.

-maybe im just bored!-

point is if I replace 2 of 3 wheel components it kind of is easy to just fall in the trap and build another wheelset!

its a very good thing I cant find NOS NISI 24" tubular rims!!





Nelli's bike is more than just adequate and if she's a normal girl, she'll outgrow her junior racer so fast your hair will turn grey. http://www.bikeforums.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

She loves her Hans Lutz- the Masini is half a kilo lighter and she says "no-no! I love Baby!!" (she names her bike)
in a few weeks the F. Mozer will come
- I will try to get her on that one but I doubt it!

(there is a junior alan aluminum avail for 170€-somebody buy it!!)



mike