How easy is it to build your own wheels?
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novocaine
Old School Grand Master
Yer, use the search luuuuuke. 
www.retrobike.co.uk
How easy is it to build your own wheels?
For a new build I have the chance to build my own wheels. Never done it before. I know I need a bit of kit to do this, but is this best left to the professionals? I don’t want to build a clown bike and like to Keep myself in one piece. Any advice?
www.retrobike.co.uk
fettler
Senior Retro Guru
Take an old but straight (ish) wheel of no value, work your way around the wheel gradually slackening off each spoke a turn at a time until it is rattly. Watch a few videos on youtube and read plenty of advice online. Now try to re tension the wheel and get it straight and true. You can do this in the frame or fork with a little allen key or piece of wire held on with some blu tak. The result will decide whether you want to persevere with expensive or hard to find parts. If it all goes wrong then gradually de tension and start again. De tension and start again. De tension and start again. etc......
A bit of a knack and patience is required
A bit of a knack and patience is required
Fatguyonabike
Dirt Disciple
Take a poke around here. I built my first wheelset using Sheldon Brown's site. I have to assume there are more modern resources out there, but this is pretty comprehensive. https://www.sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html
novocaine
Old School Grand Master
God damn it. Sorry wrong link.
truing / lacing a bike wheel advice
I have managed to find NOS araya rims for my 1990 MT build and period correct DX hubs (well just the front hub at the moment) but i will need to lace them together and true the wheels, how many of you do this yourself? And can you recommend a cheaper version on the Part tools TS-4.2? I've...
www.retrobike.co.uk
novocaine
Old School Grand Master
Might be more modern but this is still the best.
Takingabreak
Dave Yates Fan
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what's the new build and what type of wheels would you go for?
eric_james
Senior Retro Guru
lads on here been so helpful answering questions and helping out. I would say that I'm not too shabby now at doing it. Just keep on practising and ask any questions if you are stuck
watch videos and don't give up
I got a wheel from facebook marketplace local and took it apart and put it back together a few times to start with while truing it also
watch videos and don't give up
I got a wheel from facebook marketplace local and took it apart and put it back together a few times to start with while truing it also
Takingabreak
Dave Yates Fan
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I asked because jumping straight in with your dream wheelset might not be the best idea. As Eric has said, learning on a cheap wheel first is what most people do. Maybe build the bike with whichever wheels you have to hand and then build the dream wheels after you have had some practice wheelbuilding
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