Originally Posted by Michel Gagnon
... However, I have built all my wheels on the bike turned upside down. If the bike has tight-fitting brakes, it's very easy to use them as wheel guides; otherwise, a small screwdriver is a fairly efficient feeler. Not as nice as a real truing stand, but it works.
My first wheel built (it was a complete built, not a transfer) took me about 2.5 or 3 hours... spread on 3 nights.
Also, if you use the inverted bike as a truing stand, you can rig up simple "wheel guides" by taping something onto the seat stays or fork, like a playing card.
I recall doing my first wheel set over a few nights too.
Wheel building could be a form of therapy.