Newbie Wheel Question
 

Is there a certain direction for the front wheel to rotate. I ask this because I just upgraded my stock Alex wheelset to Mavic Aksiums and I can't determine which way the front wheel goes if it has to go a certain way. My stock wheel always had the skewer in it so I never changed the direction even when I changed the tube for flats. Maybe there is no difference, like I said "newbie question"

Does the wheel have a QR on it? Usually the QR is on the same side as the drivetrain...

East Hill

I think you meant side opposite the drivetrain. The quick release levers go on the left side of the bike (though it does not really make a difference on the front wheel - it can go on either way).

D'oh! What I was trying to say was that both QRs would be on the same side of the bike. Don't ask me how my fingers typed what they did :p . I think I need some tea to wake up.

I think I was trying to say "the QR goes on the same side as the one on the drivetrain" (i.e., left side as you sit on the bike).

Thanks for correcting me, rmwkokomo :D .

East Hill

None of these (except maybe the first one) probably matter but, if you're picky, here are some things to look for.

1. Unless you have disc brakes it shouldn't matter which way your front wheel faces but sometimes they aren't perfectly centered. If the brakes rub with the wheel facing one way and don't with the wheel facing the other way, put it in so the brakes don't rub.

2. As has been already mentioned, put the QR lever on the left side.

3. Does your rim have stickers on it? Install the wheel so you can read the stickers right side up from the drive side.

4. Does your hub have a label? I read somewhere to make it readable from the saddle, but I don't think there's universal agreement on that.

5. Colored tire label goes on the right side.

6. Triangle shaped tire tread elements should point forward when viewed from the top.

This is true with the Aksium. The front wheel is radially laced and it won't make a difference, the rear wheel has the freehub and should be easy to tell which way it goes on.
On road bikes, the tread rarely matters. But for tread that it will matter, some say that the front and rear should be opposite. This is because the front wheel's tread should be stated above for better water removal, better rolling resistance. The back wheel should be the other way so that the drive wheel can grip into the soft dirt and push you along.

So it sounds like no matter for the front wheel. Good info all. Thanks!

Sometimes there will be a "direction of rotation" arrow on the tire.