First wheel build - spokes & nipples

Hey - i'm going to attempt a wheel build for the first time. I'm just doing it on the cheap as it's my first try, just wondered if anyone could recomend somewhere or a website to get cheap spokes and nipples from?

I've read that cheap spokes are okay but it's worth getting more expensive nipples as cheap ones shear off easier, dunno if this is true?

ANy advice is much appreciated.

Thanks

Try http://www.cyclebasket.com and/or http://www.sjscycles.co.uk

Not sure about cheap nipples, someone will be along in a minute to advise I'm sure.

your probably already sorted for spokes length, but this website is really useful if you dont already know http://lenni.info/edd/

Thanks Sam & Louis,

Cycle basket do these ones which look good value: ACI Stainless Steel DB: http://www.cyclebasket.com/products.php?plid=m9b87s454p991

Probably go for these and they come with brass nipples.
tried a few spoke size calculators and i'm pretty sure i need 294.

Will let you know how it goes.

Chris

Best to round down once you've used a calculator to assess what length you need, or so I gather ... so probably best use 292 if your calcs come to 294.

The calculators come out at 293.3. Sheldon thinks you should round up, let me know if you disagree
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html

It's 28h, if this affects whether its worth rounding up or down?

292 or 294 will work. just keep it consistent because truing the wheel will be easier if you don't mix and match spoke lengths.

also remember that if you've got a flip-flop, you won't need to worry about dishing, but if it's one side only, you may need to make sure that the wheel sits in the middle of the frame. the links in this thread: http://www.lfgss.com/thread19840.html will give you all the help you need.

good luck!

Thanks, very useful thread.

Sorry another question, thought i'd check this out...

Just got the rim i'll be using, a 28h Velocity Aerohead. I measured from inside to opposite inside hole to get the ERD, which is 590mm.

Just checking online for the ERD and it say's it's 602:
http://www.velocityusa.com/default.asp?contentID=610

Am is measuring incorrectly?

Sorry if these are stupid questions, any advice is much appreciated.

Thanks again

not stupid questions at all. we all start somewhere.

i'd go with the manufacturer's measurements. everything i've come across has had an ERD of 602, so i say go with that.

one of the first wheels i built were on a set of Velocity Aeroheads and i used 602.

hope that helps.

i'm running a pair of aeroheads at the moment too, good choice!

Well hopefully i can build it all okay.

Thanks guys, great help!

Built my first pair of wheels this summer using those spokes - they are great, and cheap, which is important I think for a first try. Might be worth getting a few more than you need, just in case you ever do break one.

Good luck - it really is a lovely skill to learn :)

As for nipples stick to brass. A lot of people go to great lengths to have black nipples - if you can find black brass nipples then go for it, but i'd steer clear of alloy nipples at all costs. Just my tuppence based on personal experiences. If you want to save 10grams by using alloy nipples just got for a shit before you ride your bike, there's better places to save weight IMO.

ERD isn't the inner diameter of the rim its the distance between the seats the nipples sit in. So with a 12mm nipple that is showing 6mm or so of flats you have another 6mm of nipple inside the rim so 6mm x 2 = 12mm + 590mm rim diameter = 602mm ERD

As for nipples stick to brass. A lot of people go to great lengths to have black nipples - if you can find black brass nipples then go for it, but i'd steer clear of alloy nipples at all costs. Just my tuppence based on personal experiences. If you want to save 10grams by using alloy nipples just got for a shit before you ride your bike, there's better places to save weight IMO.

Ha Ha - yeah i'm not too worried about weight or asthetics, just to get a good build together. Brass nipples it is :)

ERD isn't the inner diameter of the rim its the distance between the seats the nipples sit in. So with a 12mm nipple that is showing 6mm or so of flats you have another 6mm of nipple inside the rim so 6mm x 2 = 12mm + 590mm rim diameter = 602mm ERD

Thanks man - this makes a lot of sense and measurements tally up right.

Looking forward to getting my spokes in the post now!

What adoubletap said.

ERD stands for Effective rim diameter. To measure it yourself, you need to push spokes through opposite holes, fully thread a nipple onto each, pull them together, note how much they overlap, and calculate ERD as 2x(length of spoke used) - (length of overlap).

I'd round down from 293.3 to 292 personally. But 294 is fine too TBH.

ACI DB spokes are quality spokes, and very well priced.

Velocity aerohead rims are very nice, although as they dont have eyelets, you need to be a bit more vigilant at avioding wind-up. Basically the spoke twists with the nipple when you try and tension the spoke. If it twists itself back without taking the nipple with it. The wheel will go out of true. So a bit of lube on the nipple shoulder, and a counter twist at the end of each tension turn, is a good idea.

Basically take your time, and you'll be fine.

Bumping an old thread because I'm going to build some wheels and want to idiot check my assumptions.

I have Phil Wood low-flange track hubs 32h, fixed/fixed rear. I'm going to use Mavic CXP33 rims and 3x lacing for front and rear.

I've used this spoke calculator and it's telling me that the ERD is 291mm + 3mm for nipples. I think this means that I need to subtract that 3mm and get 288mm spokes. Is this correct?

If that's all correct, then will these spokes suit me as it comes with 12mm nipples?