Building a bicycle wheel is an art. Sadly, it is not as easy as it seems. There are technicalities that are involved and every step should be given thorough attention, increasing the likelihood of coming up with the right output. With this, if you are wondering how to build a bicycle wheel, this post will definitely be helpful. We will provide you with a comprehensive guide on how this can be done, and also some tips on how to achieve the results that are anticipated. By the time that you are finished, you will realize that it is indeed a task that you can do, provided that you are patient and you find the time to accomplish such.
HereÔÇÖs How to Build a Bicycle Wheel
In this part of this post, we will provide you with some quick tips on how you can complete the process of building your own wheel. Gather all of the materials that will be required, including the hub, spokes, wrench, nipples, rim, linseed oil, and screw driver. Once you have them by your side, you are now ready to get started:
- Once you have the wheel ready, the first thing that you have to do is to oil the spokes. You can use different types of oil to do this, but one of the best would be linseed oil. You can use cotton buds with oil on the tip to lubricate the holes on the rim. On the other hand, you can dip the end of the spokes on the oil.
- After oiling, you are now ready to have the spokes inserted on the rim. Doing this will depend on the specific type of wheel that you are building, the number of spokes, and the pattern. Assuming that you are building a wheel with 36 spokes, it can be done in four groups with nine spokes each. From the hub, drop nine of the spokes on one side. Do this on alternate holes and see to it that the heads will be inserted in an outward-facing position.
- Have the spokes attached on the wheel. Grab any spoke and have it attached to one of the holes in the valve. Take a look at the rim as the holes are not positioned in a straight line. They can be offset on the right or left side. If they are on the right-hand flange, the spokeÔÇÖs threaded end should be positioned on a hole that is directly aligned to the right of the rim. Have the nipple dropped in the hole and have it screwed.
- Have the remaining eight spokes inserted on the rim. Three holes should be skipped between each one. Do the same procedure on the hubÔÇÖs other end. Make sure that they are placed on the right hole. Careful attention is required as this is often where most people commit a mistake.
- Work on the other side of the hub and attach nine more spokes. This time, the spokes should be in an inward position. Have them laced properly, seeing to it that they will be crossing the other set of spokes. Lastly, connect the remaining set of spokes. At this point, it is almost impossible for you to commit a mistake since you are already almost finish.
- Using a screwdriver, make sure that the spokes are tightened. All of them should not be wiggly. After this, another fun part of the procedure deals with mounting the wheel in the back forks. Using the brake pad, look for the wobbles. Proceed with truing the biggest wobble that is apparent. If it is moving too far to your right, have the rim pulled on the left. You can do this by tightening the spokes from the left side and loosening it from the right side.
From the steps that have been mentioned above, there are also some things that you should remember, making it easier to achieve the outcome that is desired. For instance, choosing the proper lacing pattern will be a critical consideration. There is no definite answer with regards to which one is the best. The weight of the rider, the number of holes, the design of the rim, and the specifications of the hub are just some things that will affect the choice of the lacing pattern.
The use of a mild threading locking compound is another useful tip. This can help to effectively tighten the spokes and to make sure that they will not easily loosen up.
In sum, if you want to learn how to build a bicycle wheel, the steps mentioned above will be a big help. It may not be a simple three-step process, but with an understanding of how to do it and with a little patience, you can come up with your very own wheelset.
