There are no templates for success with a craft like wheel building, each of us creates a personal system unique to our situation. Since we never finish honing the craft, it pays to study other builders who are willing to share.
Rich Lesnik, master builder at Rivendell.
This is the time of year when epic rides and races happen but not all the action is out of doors! Two weeks ago (June 24-25, 2019) we enjoyed a great wheel building session out here on the Olympic Peninsula.
I led a Wheel Building 2 class at the Boat Building School, thanks to their gracious hospitality. Our session lasted two full days and each student enjoyed the use of a P&K Lie truing stand. The school was on break and we had perfect sunny weather.
Students came from as far away as Arizona and Victoria, BC. We covered topics as varied as tension data output, truing in full 3D, spoke thread compounds, tying and soldering, field repair, and a host of questions like the use of washers, measuring hubs, using a spoke machine, and shop policies.
Boat model in the classroom.
Two days is not nearly enough for the subject but nearly too much time indoors! More classes are not yet scheduled but I hope to announce soon.
Hands on and up close!
Once again, I learned as much as attendees. Face to face and hands on is the best teacher and I hope those of you with experience find opportunities to teach (and learn) in spite of great weather!
Wire spokes for bicycles come in three main types—straight gauge, single-butted, and double-butted.
Straight gauge (DT Champion)
Single-butted (Sapim Strong)
Double-butted (DT Competition)
Of these three, single-butted have been sleepers, hanging around in the fringes, not much used or discussed. However, their role is growing and they will inevitably become the workhorses of the wheel world. Why? Read more →
Among excellent makers of allen wrenches (think: Bondus, Allen, PBSwiss, Pedro’s, Park, Wihus, and others) only one has addressed engagement geometry like external socket wrenches have.
Hex screw on left. Allen screw on right.
Historically, allen screws arose for embedded fasteners. The wrench inserts into a fastener rather than surrounding it. But the hexagonal interfaces have similar limits. In order to transmit maximum torque to a fastener without deformation drive shape was devised for external sockets, often known as “flank drive.” That name belongs to Snap-On, a socket drive pioneer but you’ll find such drive geometry everywhere today. Read more →
Two exciting classes are on offer at PT Cycle School. June 24-25 is Wheel Building 2. June 26-30 is Bike Mechanics 1. Hard to imagine a more beautiful place (Port Townsend) or a better class offering.
Mechanics 1 is taught by Tori Bortman, author, experienced teacher and mechanic from Portland. Class is limited to 12 students who enjoy wonderful workstations (including EVT lift stands), full tool kits, and plenty of hands-on. It’s a fast paced program, not for the casual. Elevate and make current your bike mechanical skills. The course is $1,000 and scholarships are available.
In the Cotton Bldg on the PT waterfront.
PT Cycle School is a Washington licensed workforce training and education school. This curriculum is a match for that offered at other fine bike schools across North America.
Wheel Building 2 is my project. We ran a similar, advanced session at UBI in 2018. It was very successful but this time will be much more hands-on. Each attendee (limited to six) will build a wheel that’s not hugely distracting (I supply parts or not) and we’ll discuss all aspects of the process—thread compounds, lacing setups, alternative stands (P&K stands for all), tension output and graphing. stressing the structure, etc.
Me and co-presenter, Jude Gerace, at UBI.
Design and physics, the main focus of our Portland session, is valuable (material science, rim stiffness, nipple interface, tire fit and dynamics, tension and fatigue, MOI, calibration, etc) and we will cover that too. You’ll also get an in-depth, hands-on with spoke cutting and threading. Suggestions welcome as each of you brings unique perspective and career objectives.
Two full days, $300. I am not aware of any commercial offering of this level of wheel building. Such knowledge is usually only shared in one-on-one mentorships within workshops and manufacturers. It’s not generally available.
There are still spots available for both. If this late timing works for you, don’t pass it up!
Torque—the rotational equivalent of linear force—enhances the integrity of mechanical assemblies when applied correctly. Torque values are integral to engineering design as they apply to fasteners at joints which can be a structure’s weak points. Knowing the intended torque makes us smarter, safer mechancis.
This is the motto of iGaging, one of the largest makers of measuring tools (who incidentally have no monopoly on accuracy). They’re one of many top companies doing great work in this very important field. Bicycle mechanics are in the most technical era of our industry but accuracy has never been optional.
Going back to the 19th century, bicycles were among the first widely used machines with precision. Ball bearings and tensioned wheels depend on tolerances that were tighter than engineering of the past. Ever since that time, mechanics are accustomed to frequent measuring while building and repairing bikes.
A rule in measurement—whenever possible use tools that are more accurate than you strictly need. Granted, much bike work can be done without measurement, experienced eyes can judge, compare, and test without knowing the precise numbers. Today, however, mechanics want to understand quantified guidelines, follow (and sometimes bend) them, keep records, and perform useful testing. Read more →
Much talk of rim washers these days. When to use them? Which are best? While seasoned builders have questions beyond this post, for the rest of us, here are some considerations about washers to keep in mind.
Washers are often invoked to prevent galvanic corrosion between nipples and carbon fiber. The materials of nipples (brass and aluminum) wants to exchange electrons with carbon fiber. Direct contact makes it easy for corrosion to occur.
Simply for the purpose of discouraging corrosion, are washers sometimes overkill? Some points on this topic: Read more →
We are changing indicators and dropping the price of our digital tensiometers. No reduction in accuracy! This change is an opportunity but necessary as the previous indicator was discontinued, replaced with one unsuitable to our tool.
The answer was to go with a lighter more compact indicator without a rotating bezel. Now (Jan 2019) our digital tool with EVA case is $248 (from $310) and with Nanuk case, $278 (from $340).
Rugged, compact, handsome.
The battery is still a longlasting 2032. For tensiometer nerds, here are 2 big advantages besides price.
For data output, besides manually transferring readings, a dedicated cable with foot pedal is available. The new system is entirely compatible the spokeservice.ca tension utility.
Meanwhile, please enjoy the savings and do your level best to be a true Tension Detective!
Top Velo, 1998
Fortunate are artisans who love what they make. This is certainly true for Marcel Borthayre, one of the most important names in France’s tradition of great wheel building. Thanks to the generous efforts of his daughter, Maryse, we can share some details of his cycling life. The clipping above, attests to his devotion to wheel building. Read more →
