[Note: this is #4 in a series of 20 wheel building tips to be published during 2009.]

Wheel builders often try to “pre stress” their wheels as a last step in the building process. All builders, especially novice, are nervous, wanting the new wheel to be as good and stable as possible. Like the rituals that preceded hunting in earlier times, we want to stack the cards in our favor. After all, hunting was important, uncertain, required skill and luck, and was potentially dangerous. Sounds like bike riding. Consequently most wheel building methods involve some sort of stressing routine. Read more →