Any Master Wheel Builders
 

I was browsing through various wheelbuilding links and came across the home page of an impressively reumed wheel builder (guy who invented OCRs, forget his name just now...) who offers to build personalised wheels based on the riders weight, riding style, and the obvious other componentry elements. Anybody got any ideas/links about different builds for different weights and styles, as I have never seen it mentioned before other than maybe more spokes for heavier riders. Maybe I'm missing something obvious...

Look up the articles by santana president Bill McCready. He has wheels rated for 650 lbs 700c and 1050 lbs 26 inch. There are some on Http://www.bikelist.org

See:

http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/

Peter has a great site and guarantees any wheels he builds. There is a link on the home page for "wheelbuilding" in the text. Lot's of interesting reading here.

Also, Sheldon Brown will build wheels for you.

There is also some guy in Texas, but I can't remember who he is. Maybe someone else knows him.

I'm sure these folks will tailor wheels for you to suit physique, riding style, etc, etc.

This is the guy www.youngwheels.com

"These wheelsets are designed for competitive riding, either USCF pay rides or for informal, halfwheel hell rides with your "friends". I design fast, durable wheelsets for the individual - based on your personal physical dimensions, riding style, bicycle frame, and the road/trail conditions you will be facing."

If you look at his ordering form - http://www.youngwheels.com/info_form.html - you see he asks for height, weight, pedalling style etc. Maybe what he means is he'll recommend components based on this, and I'm trying to find some wizardry that isn't there. BTW I can build my own wheels, and am looking on ways to improve my techniques.

Charles Ramsey - got a link for that bikelist article?

Yup, he's the one I was thinking of. Thanks, Seaners. This time I bookmarked him ;)
I find it interesting that tensioning is an additional charge for his builds. That right there gives him points in my book, as at least he's being up front and honest about what is the hardest and most time consuming part of a good build.

Joe Brown

Wheelbuilding rules of thumb for us fat guys:

1. "More spokes is better spokes" (36 is a good choice)
2. More crosses are better than fewer
3. TIE THE SPOKES at the outermost cross from the hub
4. Use all the tension your rim and hub will stand (this distributes the load between more spokes and minimizes rim deformation)
5. Use the deepest "V" rim you can find.
6. Use heavy spokes (double butted is OK, but don't go light)
7. Use brass nipples
8. Use brass washers at the spoke head to minimize play and SET THE HEADS and washers with a hammer and punch.
9. If possible, get offset drilling for the rear rim to equalize spoke tension between sides as much as possible
10. Treat the wheels with respect - keep the tire pressure up and avoid beating the wheels on curbs, potholes, and rocks if possible.

Another good wheel builders is

www.speeddream.com I have had mine for almost 2 years and have always been true. Great wheelset he uses velocity rims and sapim bladed spokes atleast for my build. Check out reviews on roadbikereview also. He insists and discussing the wheelset with you first so he can build it to you're specification and needs.

Great link! Thanks, Kev :D

I suggest learning how to build your own wheels. the lace pattern isn't hard, plenty of info online for that. if you can't true them, or don't want to spend money on a trueing stand, you can always take them to the shop for that part.

the more you know about your bike the better, I think. front wheels are easier then rear wheels, as there is no dish involved.....give it a shot sometime.

It is fun to build you're own wheels I have done two so far. But you really don't save much money. It seems when I build mine planning one for my mtb right now.. Seems like I lose more money then anything :) hahaha It is partialy since I dont' skimp on the parts though.. I tore one set down to do the crow foot pattern just for fun was a good experience.

Drop Martin O a PM if you're interested in wheelbuilding. He's a well known wheelbuilder from Sweden (Martin Olsson). He recently joined the forums.

Koffee

I agree that front wheels are easier, but your statement that "there is no dish involved" is incorrect.
You still have to dish a front wheel as part of the build. The whole idea of dishing is to get the rim centered between the stays and a front wheel has a good chance to be off center. You can't just assume that a front wheel is going to be dished properly. You still have to check it and in most cases you'll need some amount of correction to get it dead on.

Having built a few thousand wheels in the era before "boutique" wheels, building wheels was like building a frame. They were specific to the rider. As a general guideline, always lighter and fewer spokes in the front (because theres no torque and half the weight), and stronger/heavier in the back. Lower tension and lighter spokes in the front is no problem but rock 'em up in the back for max power transfer. Major dilemma for modern builders is that there isnt half the component selection. Try finding 24 hole hubs or rims, or 36, 40, 48. They used to be prevalent offering a huge variety of options. But since the majority of stores lacks a truly experienced builder, the market has gone to prebuilt. That leaves an interesting niche for those who choose to market themselves as master wheelbuilders.

Front wheel doesn't get a lot of stress compared to the rear (it also doesn't have the "dish" problem the rear wheel has).

If you are lowering spoke count for aerodynamics, put the spokes where they do the most good (the rear wheel)

There is no such person as a 'master' wheel builder. There are wheelbuilders known for building wheels, these are people who market themselves as 'master builders' to keep the $$ flowing. Many builders such as myself have thousands of custom builds and we can build wheels just as wheel as any person listed in the above links. Magic isnt involved in a wheel build but a certain amount of skill is. It literally takes hundreds upon hundreds of wheel spec'ing and builds to become a skilled builder. I can, and I'm sure one or two others on the forum can tension wheels by sound.

The market hasnt gone to prebuilt wheels because of a lack of good wheel builders, its gone to prebuilts because they've gotten better due to technology and companies desining systems.

What Miamijim said. I do consider myself a master builder in much the sense that a guy that lays brick or plumbs houses half his life considers himself a master of their field. Some of us are better at promoting it as very, very limited talent than others.

Does anyone make deep "V" rims with offset drilling?

I dont know, but i think with Deep V you can run rather high tensions as is so you wont have to deal with loose spokes as much on the non drive side.

Agreed.


Building wheels is not as easy as Baiting hooks but it it dosent take that long to Master it.

Most of the deep section rims are offset drilled. it is not always obvious because the hole comes out of the center of the rim, but it is drilled at an angle. Check closely, thread a loose nipple and spoke into the rim if needed, to make sure as building it off is hard on the spokes and nipples.

I think it takes a while to really "master" wheel building. I know now, since when i started it in early November i have improved. I can make a high quality wheel but i take forever. Some folks on this forum who i highly respect with their skills regarding wheel building can probably do it in 1/4 the time. I think just about anybody with a somewhat mechanical but "artsy" mind can get the wheel true and all with a little practice, but to really do it fast, in a fluid sort of way. Without constant references to the tensiometer (like me), thats a master at it.

Best I've seen is Velocity Aerohead OC (off-center). I woudn't call these "deep V" by any shot, but they're definitely better than flat rims.

Getting a wheel 'true' is one of the easiest componemts of wheel building. Getting a wheel true with proper tension that wont break spokes is the challenge.