Wheel building

I've got an old front wheel lying around that needs truing. The rim and hub are fine. Seeing as it's not needed for anything, I'm thinking I might rebuild it myself as a learning experience (can't believe I just used that phrase).

Anyone got any good tips, suggestions for books, guides, resources, etc?

there's another thread on here somewhere, with loads of info.

So there is. I looked by didn't initially find that one. That's still more geared towards sourcing spokes and nipples. I'm looking more for info on how to do it, besides Sheldon's rather confusing article. I like pictures, see.

Our very own Arup
http://www.yogarup.com/wheels/

This one is a bit of a massive bible not linked to the first page as it can be hard to find stuff on this site butit is full of usefull stuff
http://www.geocities.com/spokeanwheel/lacingsr.htm

More Background info
http://www.myra-simon.com/bike/wheels.html

One more

http://www.terminalvelocity.demon.co.uk/WheelBuild/

I use Sheldon page and found that ok but I took a full afternoon to do my first wheel, I am not much quicker now.:)

Do it Radial, that is piss-easy.

Found that the "Art of Wheelbuilding" by Gerd Schraner has by far one of the easiest guides to lacing a wheel (standard 32h, 3 cross). Rest of the book is ok, but the wheel build guide is really easy to follow. Much clearer than Sheldon's site (blasphemy I know).

Only wish I hadn't been nice and leant it to someone at Herne Hill. Never bloody saw them again.

fixedpip Found that the "Art of Wheelbuilding" by Gerd Schraner has by far one of the easiest guides to lacing a wheel (standard 32h, 3 cross). Rest of the book is ok, but the wheel build guide is really easy to follow.

I think the whole book is really great, he seems to be really passionate about his job! You will look at wheels in a different way after reading the book...

"The bicycle wheel" by J. Brandt is excellent. Most public libraries have it, if not on their shelves in their depots/stacks/achives.

MA3K Do it Radial, that is piss-easy.

Unless it's got more than 28 spokes, in which case there's not really enough material on the flanges to withstand radial stresses. Apparently.

I've seen 36 and 48 spoke BMX front wheels done radialy. Maybe you just need a nice haigh flage hub?

You'll need a truing stand to finish off the wheel. But a bit of an expense if you are just doing one wheel. You can get it fairly true using the front forks of your bike. Are you just going to loosen all the spokes and then re-tension and true it or will you be getting new spokes? Do you want to go for new lacing pattern. You have to decide on that before you get the spokes. If you're going to do radial lacing remember not to lube the threads or use spoke prep. The old skool wheelbuilders swear by linseed oil. You're very welcome to pop round for a lesson sometime when I'm not too busy.

BringMeMyFix [quote]MA3K Do it Radial, that is piss-easy.

Unless it's got more than 28 spokes, in which case there's not really enough material on the flanges to withstand radial stresses. Apparently.[/quote]

Really? OMFG I've got 36's and I'm gonna die!

MA3K [quote]BringMeMyFix [quote]MA3K Do it Radial, that is piss-easy.

Unless it's got more than 28 spokes, in which case there's not really enough material on the flanges to withstand radial stresses. Apparently.[/quote]

Really? OMFG I've got 36's and I'm gonna die![/quote]

Heck, cruiser bikes come with 144 spoke radials... It must be possible!
http://fantasytoyslowriders.tripod.com/Bikes_Beach%20Cruisers.htm

Surely that wheel could have caused the universe to collapse in on itself because the radial stresses applied to the flange.

LOL

If you ever see someone riding a bike with wheels like that, scream and run away as fast as possible, the earth may open up and swallow them at any moment.

Mmm, nice (but not built by me):

Hmmm what circumstances did they break under though?

Maybe just under the weight of public opinion.

lols.

fat buggers smaking front wheels into cerbs

angry people with hammers

could be anything

angry bike thief breaking stuff because he's not smart enough to steal the bike?