La Vie Velominatus: Building Wheels
Self-awareness is a non-optional ingredient of leading a fulfilling life; while we should always push ourselves to explore new things, we should also be aware of our limitations and weigh expectations against them. This is why I avoid any activities involving intelligence or a blow torch, and take particular care to avoid those involving an intersection of the two.
Learning to work on our machines is a path any Pedalwan must learn to walk, starting with simple tasks – perhaps to tune a derailleur or brake – and progressing gradually to building the bike up from a bare frame, seeking out a Cycling Sensei wherever new skills required suggest the need of one. A bicycle is a paradox; though it is a simple machine where one can plainly see the workings of most components, it is nevertheless deceptively difficult to maintain properly. Cables and chains are things of tension and their proper adjustment requires a delicate touch.
Bicycle maintenance today is easier than it was in the past as some tasks that used to take care and skill – such as adjusting bearings in a bottom bracket or hub – have all but been eradicated from the skills needed to maintain a bicycle as loose balls, cones, and races have been replaced by sealed cartridge bearings that are pressed into place and secured with a bolt. Adjusting these old bits required a mechanical sensibility that one seems either born with or without and is not easily taught to those who lack them; adjusting modern bearings requires little more subtlety than setting the dial on a torque wrench.
Wheel truing and building is a skill that goes back to the origins of Cycling and one which continues to live on, at least for the time being. Wheels are a marvel of engineering, one made more miraculous when, like me, you don’t really understand how they work: thin, flexible spokes leave the hub at various angles, some leading and some trailing the rotational direction as they either push or pull the wheel as we force it around using a system of chain, gears, and pulleys optimistically attached to our feet.
The wheel is kept straight and round by a delicate balance as spokes are matched in opposite pairs and tensioned to distribute forces not only laterally, but also vertically. Furthermore, spokes really only have strength in tension; on compression, they fold like a Schleck in a time trial. A well-built wheel depends on a precise balance of 3-dimensionally opposing forces in tension; should the builder fail to take this into account and a critical mass of spokes fail to do the single task assigned to them, I imagine the rider will explore a sharp learning curve as they discover the subtleties of riding a bicycle which goes abruptly from two to one or zero functioning wheels.
I have no delusions of being particularly gifted in a mechanical sense. When I was a kid, my dad called me “Threads” due to my penchant for over-tightening the nuts and bolts on his cherished Campagnolo components, leaving the poor dears stripped and useless. On the plus side, I learned how to operate a tap and die. But I somehow have never been terrible at truing and building wheels; whether its my methodical approach to tasks or my love for symmetry and balance that rescue me from myself when wielding a spoke wrench, the wheels I touch leave the stand true and round – and tend to stay that way.
Wheel building is perhaps the most pure form of the art of bicycle maintenance, apart from actually building the frame yourself; it had been a long time since I’d built a wheel, so I took it upon myself to build my own set for Keepers Tour: Cobbled Classics 2012. In keeping with my appreciation of my own shortcomings, I knew I was going to need a Sensei, and there was none better to turn to than our own Oli who happens to be a world-class wheel builder. Oli unhesitatingly and generously offered answers to my many questions as I collected the parts I would need, and even went so far as to study photographs I sent him when things went awry. That, together with the wealth of information that seems to flow freely on these pages, safely led me through the process, although there were some bumps along the way, assuming you consider needing to build the rear wheel twice and front thrice to be a “bump”.
Iteration 1:
The first round saw a flawless execution apart from one significant fact: when determining on which side of the rim the spoke holes are drilled, it matters which way you’ve got the wheel oriented, and whether you’re looking up at the wheel or down at it. Keeper Jim’s two-year-old son consistently demonstrates that he understands this fact, but still it somehow escaped me.
Iteration 2:
I cleverly determined that I could just move all spokes one hole down and correct the problem from Iteration 1. I performed this task on both wheels before realizing I’d gone the wrong way and buggered the whole thing to the point where sending a photo to Oli resulted in the following remark:
Yes, something has gone wrong. There’s no way that you should end up with that situation no matter what rim or instructions you have.
Right, then. Moving on.
Iteration 3:
Rather than go back round and move the spokes a further two holes the other way, I decided to disassemble the wheels and start over. This didn’t bother me in the least because, as it turns out, building wheels is quite a lot of fun. You start with a pile of floppy spokes and dismembered rim and hub, go through a phase where spokes are poking out every which way, to a moment when suddenly it looks like a wheel and you feel like a genius (until you look more closely and discover you’ve balled the whole thing up). Each time through, I started with the front wheel as it is slightly less complicated owing to the fact that it uses all the same length spokes.
Experienced wheel-builders orient the rim such that the labels are readable when viewed from the right side; not wanting to upset any critical eyes, I naturally took care to follow suit. I also carefully oriented the front hub so that the “R” (Royce’s emblem) was oriented such that it, too, was readable from the right side (in addition to being visible through the valve hole).
Moving on to the rear wheel, I noticed that for some reason, Royce has the “R” inverted so it’s readable from the left side. I let out a slow sigh of resignation as I realized there was no way to avoid rebuilding the front wheel (again) such that the “R” on both hubs faced the same way.
The next day I tensioned the spokes and now the wheels sit in the basement awaiting a pair of tubulars so I can set about mounting them and start riding to ensure that any further lapses in my wheel building skills are discovered now, and not as we enter the Trouée d’Arenberg in April.
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@frank
Hell! With that logic, it’s almost like I’m making money!! I’ll have to try that on Mrs. Steampunk. Love it!
@Steampunk
Ha! I can see the raised eyebrow already and I haven’t even MET Mrs. Steampunk!
@frank
Lovely wheels! Can’t wait to hear about the first ride.
@Dr C
Got a mate with a Phd in politics/IR and he loves coming across crashes (not too serious) on the local MTB trails, with ‘make way, I’m a doctor… Unfortunately it’s in the liberal arts, but I’m a doctor’.
Frohnk, dunno about the vintage, but a quick look at the bronze badge gives up b/86 – which would tally with the guy I bought them from (strong prominent junior rider BITD, now in his mid to late thirties, and given New Zealand occupies a time zone known as the fucken dark ages, they would have arrived here in the early nineties) I haven’t seen any reports in variance of quality over the years like Mavic have had. They’re sitting in my spare rom now, I’ve got a few months of student loan to pay off then I’ll build them as a reward when that’s done.
BTW I noticed Hope Pro3 hubs seem to occupy the middle ground price wise between ultegra and Dura Ace, which makes them quite enticing, and only a smidge heavier (20 grams or so all up?) than DA. Def. need hubs a bit nicer than Ultegra, but balking at DA prices.
@Minion
Just had my sensei tell me to avoid Mavic hubs like the plague and recommended Ultegra. Why aren’t you high on the Ultegras?
@ Frank
IIRC Nemesis Day label was used on the rims in production from mid to late 80’s.Decals however suggest late 80’s rims.I believe Durex logo had different color on mid 80’s models.Look at the rims and check if you have stainless eyelets.Ambrosio moved to stainless eyelets in late 80’s.Regular mid 80’s eyelets suffer discolouration overtime but stainless don’t.The rims on the photos below I first saw in early 90’s but they also might be a bit earlier,not sure.
La reine du nord decal was later production.Ambrosio first used stickers and not proper decals and it was easy to relabel them.On the new La reine du nord Nemesis model Ambrosio decided to make relabelling a bit more difficult and Nemesis,the crown and La reine du nord are actually etched into the rim.Also AMBROSIO lettering goes all the way around the rim.
All rims feature grey Durex anodization that hardens them for durability.
The extra photo below shows earlier 80’s model with different Durex logo plus eyelets look to be discoloured suggesting earlier rim.
@Minion
I get a lot of kilometrage out of that line, too. “Trust me: I’m a doctor,” etc. There’s an old New Yorker cartoon of the maitre d’ taking a reservation over the phone; the caption reads something like: “Yes, Dr. Steampunk: a table for two at 7:30 on Tuesday. Now is that a medical doctor or just a Ph.D.?” Which hurts me in the feelings every time.
I know one of the only wheel builders offers Hope III hubs as an option. Been lusting after them for a while.
@Steampunk
I know, I know – I can get Ultegra for 200 bones, DA for around 500. 130 gram difference. FA in the hub and my fat ass. Really I’m holding out because I don’t wanna get Ultegra and still want DA: But fuck it I think you’re right. I’m gonna be working all weekend and have OT from before Xmas. Ultegra might be it.
You get hurt in the feelings a lot don’t you. Poor little Steampunk!
Tommy Tubolare – awesome info. The ones I have are stainless eyelets, newer durex decal. Do you know what the batch numbers on the badge mean? I have been assuming they’re like saddles’ date stamps.
@all vinyl junkies. Nice to see more lovers of the grooves. My first turntable was a Technics SL220 (bought new in 1979) and I still have it and it still works as well as ever. Once I seen this SOTA I had to have it even if I did end up with 2 grand in the damn thing. The sound is out of this world, it looks fantastic and the bonus it is handmade right here in the USA. I don’t regret for a second paying that much for it. Oh and it was the only bit of audio kit I’ve had to use tools to get it out of the box. This thing weighs a ton. The patter alone is 3.58kgm (11lbs).
As far as the system goes I’ve got a Harmon Kardon pre amp linked up to an Anthem power amp pushing to some, older when they were still handmade in Canda, Paradigm Monitor 9 speakers. Two channel baby and we don’t need no stinkin’ sub. I can shake the house just fine thank you!
@Frank Johnny Cash is king! I would love to find a pressing of that album. I’ve got two version of that on CD, one US release and one UK release which has a couple of extra tracks. I’ve got a few 180 gram albums and it’s hard to imagine such a thing could make such a difference in the sound but it sure does. I’ve got many prized pieces but probably my most prized is Led Zeppelin’s original 45 of the Immigrant Song that has Hey Hey What Can I Do on the flips side which until the box sets was the way it was released. I’ve also got a version pressed on Japanese vinyl which, like the 180 stuff, sounds amazing. All my friends know to buy whatever they find at garage sales and I’ll buy it from them. You can find some real gems doing that. I’ve stopped counting years ago but I’ve probably got over 800 pieces in the collection now.
Anyway back to the subject of wheels. Remember the Cannondale MTB you helped with shipping I bought? It’s turned out real nice except the front wheel needs either trued or possibly replaced. With your encouragement I think I’ll embark on my first wheel fixing/building adventure. This thing is a blast to ride in the snow and dirt BTW!
fasthair
@TommyTubolare
Cool info. I’ve heard the alloy is shot peened as well which is why the rims are so frikken hard.
@Steampunk
That’s a lot of money to save weight at the hub, I reckon the weight would matter a lot more if it was in the rim. I have some Open Pros laced to Ultegra on my rain bike and they are bulletproof. Also, the freehub pawls are basically silent, which takes some getting used to but is pretty cool.
Nothing of real substance to add, other than I enjoyed the article, the photos of Frank building, and all of the great comments, of course.
Regarding records, I have my dad’s original Kraftwerk Autobahn vinyl from the 70s, as well as some of his other albums. Nothing to play them on, though (my mom got rid of his record player at some point, which sort of bums me out). I might get some of those record frames and make art out of them.
@Souleur
Not an unwritten rule…Rule 25. But I think I’m generally in the “relatively more expensive” category…but it is truly something that bothers me quite a lot. Guess I’ll just have to find a more expensive bike.
@TommyTubolare
WOW!! What a wealth of information. My nipples are steel by the looks of it – none of that discoloration is visible anywhere. I actually feel kinda hardass that mine are that old. Very cool. Picked up my tubbies today, I’ll be mounting them soon…
@LA Dave
One of the best side-effects of upgrading our TVs to HDTV is that I ended up with a spare LCD (low-def) TV in the basement mounted on the wall above my workbench. I don’t set foot down there without one of my old cycling vids spinning. So awesome!
@roadslave
Boy did I ever deliberate over what skewers to get. I wanted the old Royce ones, but couldn’t find them and my emails to Cliff went unanswered. And old Campa skewers go for a fortune these days…Do I get Zipp skewers? What do I do? But I found these from a guy on eBay who sold ’em to me for steal at $40 including shipping.
Here are pics of the Royce ones (I’d collected pics of Royce bits over the years and kept them around…)
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By the way, I’d like to thank Royce for making the thread on their lockring the old 9-Speed Campa CS102’s. Fuckin’ell, it sure would be great if I could ride the wheels, lads, but I’ll be without our fucking special little lockring for an age before it gets mailed to me.
@frank how can grown men get so emotional about such small things? those photos, god…. that guy on ebay has no understanding of ‘markets’ or other such capitalist nonsense.
I have to say, I find this entire article both zen, and humiliating. Zen, in that my wheels are the same as yours, but different. Humiliating, in that you built your own (I had mine built by my wheelbuilder), you’ll probably use glue (I’ve used tape), and that you’ve got the heritage link to Campagnolo through the skewers (whereas I’ve kept my Carbon-Ti modern abominations). Yours ooze class, mine just ooze (an overlubrication problem on the rear hub, I’m hoping)… SO excited. Really. Bring on April. Let it rain.
@Nate @Minion
The Ultegra recommendation over Mavic had to do with durability rather than weight.
@Steampunk
Re weight I was talking about Ultegra vs. DA.
@Spearfish
Thetford eh? I see from your profile your in Cambridge. I’m just up on the other side of Huntingdon. Who do you race with?
@Nate
I figured (just after I clicked on “submit post”). But the long and the short of it: you like the Ultegra hubs?
Do Mavic even make aftermarket hubs these days? They wanna flog wheels we need to toss when the rims wear out or a spoke breaks, I know shops can get replacement parts for wheels and are pretty well serviced, but I don’t think they sell hubs as an aftermarket part anymore. Ultegra is definietly more durable, I totted up how much OT I’ve got coming my way and it’s enough to get the Ultegras.
When I go pro I’ll get Dura Ace. Till then Ultegra is the best bang for buck going.
@minion
I’ve just built an ultegra rear hub into a wheel and it was better than my expectations, which I think were reasonable ultegra-level ones, if that makes sense. The finishing around the bearings/cones is very good and the whole thing feels silky smooth and solid. I know it’s a bit heavier than the current DA hub but it was about 15g lighter than the old (9speed) DA hub it replaced. Even quite impressed with the QR skewer, although it’s obviously not as nice as Franks.
@Steampunk
Yes, no complaints at all. Great value, indestructible, and mine at least (not sure of their vintage) are Shiny Bits, not black or anodized or the like.
@roadslave
Don’t go hard on yourself for the tape or having a wheel builder – what is it you say, “Every man needs to have a tailor and a wheel builder?” You ride hand-built wheels and had the nerve to dive head-first into tubbies. Tape seems easy and even Rouleur’s two-section piece on mounting tubulars says tape is fine. After I learn to glue, I may well move to tape if it is a massive hassle.
I picked up my tubbies and I picked up my tub of conti wheel glue. Is it wrong how much I like the smell of that stuff? Probably. But I don’t want to know.
For the record: I resent the bastard who has the Royce skewers from whom I pinched those pics. Dare I say more sexiful than Campa? Possibly, even if they are a knock-off in terms of design. But then, really, what QR isn’t?
@Nate, @Steampunk, @minion
I’ve found the middle range of Shimano to be much better than the top end. I have much more trouble with my DA than I do my VMH’s Ultegra and my old 105. Nothing formal, just experience. Seems to be a bit more durable and less finicky. If I want finicky, I’ll load it up with some gorgeous Italian bits or, apparently, experiment with the English idea of a lockring design.
Yar I just ordered a pair of 6700 hubs online – for the price of a DA front hub. Common sense is a curse sometimes, but I should thank my merry band of cycling enablers, Frohnk, Steampunk, Simon and Nate. Where’s Oli? Student loan be damned.
@frank
That’s why old men still use glue. The fact I glue inside, in a small room with no ventilation probably explains alot.
@Nate, @Steampunk, @minionI’ve found the middle range of Shimano to be much better than the top end. I have much more trouble with my DA than I do my VMH’s Ultegra and my old 105. Nothing formal, just experience. Seems to be a bit more durable and less finicky. If I want finicky, I’ll load it up with some gorgeous Italian bits or, apparently, experiment with the English idea of a lockring design.
Yeah I struggle to justify going up to DA. I have pair of 15 year old 105 hubs, on my favourite wheels, have four years of abuse on a 6700 groupset and only replaced the cassette and chain. There’s just no compelling reason for me to go to DA at 2.5 times the price, and with 430 gram rims with 32 spokes, like you said they’re not lightweights, but I’ve got other wheels for that. And the value for money is close to unbeatable. I’ve spent 200 bones on the nose for rims and hubs, and when Oli pops up I’ll snaffle him to build them.
@Chris
The team name is MTFU, a slight regional variation on the theme of Rule #5. Just some guys from work that go and ride anything that sounds like fun, mostly big event stuff like Mountain Mayhem and Dusk ’til Dawn.
Are you a winter series racer yourself?
@frank: oh..forgot about it.
pentance paid, pls forgive, what the foul filth was i thinking
Of course its all good, afterall, its an LR3. Be proud man and your right, a custom fit R5 one of a kind, decked with custom Lightweights and goods may well take you over the rover. good luck getting it.
all I gotta do is ride a high dollar huffy. preferred in 7-eleven and dura ace adorn 7speed downshifters
are you gonna let us know about the virginal voyage?
@minion
So, if I was doing similarly (6700 hubs) and was looking to build a fastish, sexyish, but mostly durable and not obscenely expensive wheel (or even two; I understand most bikes require a pair), where would I turn next? What rims? Mainly for everyday riding, rolling hills.
Just to add to the hub options, today’s arrival. White Industries H3, 32h, 248 gm on the kitchen scale:
@Steampunk
DT Swiss, R415 or 465 (double eyeletted, bit heavier) both machined joints and quality control is very good – plus a bit of bling. Lets face it none of us are ugly so why should we suffer ugly things. I’d go R415, 32 hole 2 cross front 3 rear at 85 kilos. These rims have IMO replaced open pros as the standard for a high quality rim.
@frank
By the way, I’d like to thank Royce for making the thread on their lockring the old 9-Speed Campa CS102″²s. Fuckin’ell, it sure would be great if I could ride the wheels, lads, but I’ll be without our fucking special little lockring for an age before it gets mailed to me.
I’ll look in the old stuff and see if I have one of those (I just might). Let you know tomorrow.
@Spearfish
Mop The Fuck Up? A team of hardcore house cleaners? Awesome. Focused on the college crowd focusing on cleaning up after good parties?
@Souleur
And the way cars go, its worth less than my bikes now anyway. Rule #25 says nothing of what you paid for it…
I pains me that the R3 California is a $10k bike with a geometry for a recreational cyclist…all the Pros – all of them that I’ve seen – have a 17deg stem slammed down.
For a good laugh, by the way, check out Slam That Stem. Class stuff that serves as the Universal Balance to Oli’s Spacer Under Stem Society. Gold standard stuff- both of them.
@xyxax
Oh, that is a beauty. My Merckx. Not the traditional sweep of a Campa hub, but that is clearly hand made and unmercifully sexy. Its wrong – I know it is – to find such a thing so beautiful so nearly after I’ve just built my own. Merkcx help me.
@scaler911
You’re a saint for even trying. I did manage to scrounge one up that works, but I’m putting an 11-23 on the bastard and all the 9 speed rings are 12 and up. This really makes you wonder about standards. But if you track something down, I’ll gladly take a look at it!
@frank
This is Britain, yeah? Surely: Mod
@The Oracle
I forgot to mention that yesterday we went to see Joshua Bell play with the Seattle Symphonic…The conductor was incredible…pulling everything from everyone. One of the greatest performances I’ve seen Remarkable.
@Steampunk
nah -its what I say to my kids when the argue – Make the Fuck Up
@Spearfish
I haven’t done any winter racing in the past. Those are mtb races I think, most of my mtb career was gravity based. Now that I’m not afraid of pedalling, I should get back over to Thetford.
I’m planning on doing some road racing this summer though, Rockingham and Milton Keynes seem to be the ones round here. There’s also a crit in Spalding but thats the weekend after I disappear to the Keepers Tour which might be a bit hard to justify given that I’m warming up for the Tour with a Century sportive, the Cheshire Cat.
@All @Frank a bit late to this one, just finished re-location to Istanbul, Turkey but what a fantastic article to read and great story board also. Chapeau
@huffalotpuffalot
Good to see you back. How’s the riding in Istanbul?
Man, this thread is killing me. I came to the US in 1990. My folks moved in 1993. Several things got “lost” in the move: my Brian Rourke-framed winter bike and my Royce hubbed/Mavis rimmed, 24 spoke with Clement Criterium tubulars TT wheels. They were sweet. I still pine for them and the parents feign complete ignorance as to where they could have gone . . I mean, how do you lose an entire bike and extra set of wheels?
@frank
Ah, the pretty bridesmaid.
The choice was heavily inspired by your Royce hubs (and those on the Bianchi), right down to the palm-of-the-hand display photo. A lesser pedigree to be sure, but durable, easy to service, and relatively affordable. Or so I’ve read.
@Chris Thanks mate, its going really well actually although perhaps you woudln’t think that it would. There are loads of cobbled roads and hills throughout Istanbul. There is a purpose build 150km cycle road which runs right a long the coast.
I am really looking forward to getting properly stuck into the cycling here and will be uploading some pictures in the future.
@frahnk
this is what I see everyday. it’s cryptic enough to make a point yet reinforces what Mies Van Der Rohe says: ‘less is more’. As for the sweetest looking hubs, checkout PMP. bitchin’
Sent to me by windsurfing legend and badass cyclist, David Ezzy:
Talk about porn.
@xyxax:
that’s exactly right on the White bros.
Mine are stealth black, bombproof
@minion: i have also ran these as well, a couple years ago, zipp csc 101, very much the same, and were phenomenal!
@zalamanda
Less is demonstrably less. It might be better (as in this case, obviously””that is beautiful), but it is not, by definition, less.
@Steampunk
dewd, that’s deep. you should be a philosopher!
@zalamanda
Not really. Pedant semanticist, maybe. But not a philosopher.
I’d love to get that Paris Roubaix label as a stamp and impress it on all my tires.