Mr. Beanz

Wow, I am always amazed at how sweet it is to roll your own! Meaning to build and ride your own wheels. I built this rear wheel a couple months back and haven't had a chance to ride it. I finally go it out of the second time since then and man was it sweet. Not sure if it's the climbing I've done the last 3 weeks that really made this Sunday's flat ride feel like my bike wanted to fly away.

I built it for my 98 Cannondale CAD3 and did it perform! Such a sweet smooth ride. I usually ride the Madone full carbon but I have to say, I don't see much of a difference in the ride (both have equal wheels). Maybe its the wheels but either way it was a sweet ride. I'm almost tempted to park the Madone and use it for climbing only rides.

The bike, the wheel and the spare front hub. I have to figure out what to do with it as far as a build.



DSC00107A by gulpxtreme, on Flickr


DSC00107 by gulpxtreme, on Flickr


IMG_6810 by gulpxtreme, on Flickr


As an added feature, Gina just finished crocheting a little poncho for one of our grand daughters. Second one, second grand daughter poncho in 3 weeks. Now she will start working on a third for the daughter. Gina's rolling her own too! I really should teach her how to make wheels instead.


DSC00106 by gulpxtreme, on Flickr

Bill Kapaun

I started building my own this Winter while recovering from my broken Tib & Fib with "Intermedullary nailing of the Tibia". (titanium rod through the knee into the tibia).
My miles have been pretty limited this year due to recovery, and then when I started to do a few higher mileage days (in July) back to back (30+) I started getting knee stiffness. I had to back off for about 10 days, doing <5/day.
I finally said enough's enough, I'll worry about stiffness in Aug., and on the 3ist, I rode my hybrid 70.3 miles. That beat my personal best of 50.1 set exactly 2 years before.
Since I'm now 65 instead of 63, I have to think the wheels helped to some extent.
My "training" miles for the month were only 270 vs 550 the previous time and I was much better shape when I finished this time than 2 years ago. Back then I was "rummy" for the last couple miles, weaving all over the place.
I did have more favorable wind conditions this time. When it did pick up, it tended to be 90 degrees to me for the most part. I've also learned to turn the wick back a bit more in head winds and save myself for later. With my emphysema, I think that helped a lot. Thank God for my inhalers and bananas!

I find building wheels to be quite therapeutic too.
I'm even truing/tensioning the wheels on my CL flippers. It makes using NEW parts seem so much nicer!

Chitown_Mike

I have been thinking about doing this since rims go for cheap around here it seems, and I could source good hubs pretty readily as well.

And I would love to do something goofy and colorful just because. Been thinking about powder coating my mountain bike this winter and then powder coating the spokes in several different colors and make it a single speed. We will see....

Mr. Beanz

Yeah, rims can be had for cheap on line, $60 shipped if you go with 30 mm rims like those on prowheelbuilder. I've found Deep V's on clearance box at a local shop for $25. If I had known then, I would have bought the entire box.

The front and rear Ultegra hubs I got at RibbleCycles for $136 shipped, Sheesh, the front alone on line or a local shop is $80 after tax.

Notgrownup

I would like to attempt this also... i might after a certain point but i will buy a better one built for the first one because my stock wheel is not that tough...What i would like to do is build my own carbon frame...that really interests me alot...

PhotoJoe 

Beanz, how do you measure tension? Do you have the dishing tool? Those are the parts that scare me.

TrojanHorse

Measuring the spokes is what concerns me... I have a set of rims and hubs sitting in my shed waiting for spokes.

Mr. Beanz

I have a dishing tool. I l was lucky, bought it when it was on sale for $15 at Performance. I also use a cheap Spin Doctor $30 stand. I tried to buy a tension meter from my friend through his shop., He said don't waste my money ($69), he'll loan me his any time. So I build my wheels then use his meter to check the tension. You just clip the sucker on the spoke sand it has a scale that shows the value. He also has a data base,big list of values he's collected over time.

I get spokes though him also. I tell him what rim, spokes and he calculates it for me. I believe you can do the same through some wheel sites and online calculators. Verify it or even ask for the length in the mechanics forum, they are always happy to throw around a few numbers.

This was a couple years ago when I bought a Deep V rim from Jenson $50, I drove over to the place to pick it up. Then to his shop (back then) for some calculatin' !


Check out :35 into the video, we also talk about his nipples.

Mr. Beanz

When you start with a new rm and spokes and take even turns around the wheel in an organized pattern and system, the wheel usually comes out pretty close to proper dish. If not exact then loosen one side a bit and tighten the other till the dish is right. Then go back and worry about tension.

herbm

Gotta agree with Mr B...nothing like homebuilt wheels...you get exactly what you want. And they last a long time!!!

Mr. Beanz

You know what I'm talkin' 'bout!

RichardGlover

I want Beanz to make my next set of wheels.

CommuteCommando

On my bucket list. I'm currently eyeing a 56 CM Lamond steel frame. May or may not buy the wheels built.

CraigB

I have to agree. I had great fun building mine, and even more riding them. 23mm-wide HED Belgiums, 32h, Shimano Ultegra hubs, DT Comp DB spokes.

herbm

I have the same stand...and looks like we did the same mods to the feelers!