How To Build Bicycle Wheels THE EASY WAY!
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- Опубликовано: 5 июл 2024
- This video helps anyone learn how to build bike wheels - a super fun and satisfying skill. I'm pro wheelsmith & RoadBikeRider tech editor, Jim Langley. In this step-by-step bicycle wheel building video, I teach lacing, truing & tensioning with my top tips & tricks to make it easier. #bikerepair #bikewheel #jimlangley #bicycleaficionado
Subscribe here: ruclips.net/user/JimLangley1...
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Timecodes
0:00 - Intro
0:26 - Parts I'm Using
1:29 - Tip: Learn with a Used Wheel
2:22 - Wheel Spoke Lacing Tools
3:00 - Wheel Components Basics
3:26 - Nipples Getting Lost in Deep Rims
3:41 - Tools to Prevent Losing Nipples in Rims
3:58 - About Crossed-Spoke Pattern
4:48 - Simple Wheel Building Math
6:01 - 5 Tips for Wheel Build Success
6:39 - About Bicycle Rim Types
7:41 - About Offset/Asymmetrical Rims
8:53 - Spoke Prep Lube
9:27 - Wheel Spoke Lacing
22:00 - Seating Spokes in Hub
23:14 - Seating Nipples in Rim
24:25 - Set All Nipples the Same Depth
25:06 - Tools for Setting Nipple Depth
26:25 - Intro to Wheel Truing
27:22 - Use a Good Spoke Wrench
28:02 - Truing is Trial and Error
28:42 - Most Common Truing Mistakes
31:14 - Wheel Truing Process Overview
33:01 - Building A Good Wheel
33:37 - Truing Wobbles and Hops Overview
34:58 - Fixing Wheel Wobbles Chart
36:12 - Fixing Wheel Hops Chart
36:28 - Ways to Hold Wheels for Truing
38:11 - Wheel Truing Wobbles
43:36 - Wheel Truing Hops High Spots
47:06 - Wheel Truing Dips Low Spots
50:52 - Final Wheel Truing
51:10 - Rim Centering Dishing
53:40 - How To Center Dish the Wheel
54:30 - Stress Relieving the Wheel
56:05 - Tensioning the Wheel
57:55 - The Right Spoke Tightness
58:30 - Now You Know How to Build Wheels
My other wheel-building related videos
● Basic bicycle wheel terminology explained:
• Bicycle-Wheel Spoke Te...
● How to find or calculate the right spoke lengths
• 5 Ways to FIND THE RIG...
● Ways to keep spokes tight so your wheels stay true
• Bicycle Wheel Building...
● All about spoke tensiometers and if you need one
• Do You Need A SPOKE TE...
● My new wheel truing stand, Park Tool's TS-4.2
• Park Tool's Easy to Us...
● How to fix aero spokes that were twisted during building
• Fixing Bladed Spoke Tw...
● Pro-tip: how to align hub labels with the valve:
• Wheel Building Pro Tip...
● How to build wheels faster with a driver bit
• Build Bicycle Wheels F...
● Shimano's lacing pattern for disc brake bike wheels:
• How to Lace Disc Bicyc...
● How to inspect a pair of new wheels:
• ICAN Chinese Carbon Bi...
☼ The wheel building tools I show, use and mention. I put links below. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases (there's no added cost to you).
► Efficient Velo Tool's Mulfinger nipple holder
amzn.to/3exQqz7
► Park Tool's Nipple Driver
amzn.to/2L2z9VI
► Park Tool's TS-2.2 Truing Stand
amzn.to/2AoOhqt
► Park Tool's Tilting Base for the TS-2.2 Truing Stand
amzn.to/3ozWf3O
► Park Tool's 3.2mm Square Socket Internal Nipple Spoke Wrench (Driver)
amzn.to/31IJlpm
► Park Tool's Four-Sided Spoke Wrench Black 0.127in
amzn.to/34QSAFU
► Park Tool's SW-9 Spoke Wrench for use with aero spoke holder
amzn.to/3ulXKbD
► Park Tool's Portable Dishing Gauge
amzn.to/2Aid4Nd
► Park Tool's Spoke Tension Meter
amzn.to/36mEn6d
► Park Tool's Aero Spoke Holder (anti-twist tool)
amzn.to/2KYlDlP
► For hubs, rims & spokes, I use
wheelbuilder.com
☼ Read my free weekly Jim's Tech Talk column:
● www.roadbikerider.com/author/...
☼ My bicycle wheelbuilding articles that complement this video:
● jimlangley.net/wrench/wheelbu...
● jimlangley.net/wrench/buildwh...
☼ My Elephant Tough Custom Wheels & Jim Langley Bicycle Aficionado logo T's, caps, mugs, pint glasses and stickers:
● www.cafepress.com/jimlangleys...
☼ My famous Bicycle Aficionado website - online since 1999!
● www.jimlangley.net
☼ My Bicycle Beat blog
● jimlangley.blogspot.com/ 
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Isnt this just one of the most sincere, straightforward, thorough videos on all of RUclips?
Thank You Mr. Langley.
You're very welcome and thank you for watching and the great comment, much appreciated!
@@JimLangley1😊😊😂
It's a very satisfying video because we know we are encouraged to do it ourselves! 😂❤
@dda
Sorry, but that's not exactly true. There are plenty of bad, poorly made but encouraging videos on RUclips. Mr. Langley's video is extremely professional, accurate & communicated in such a way as to really have someone pay attention & listen, be very focused.
I have always worked around bikes, adjusting spokes, taking out hops, dealing with dips etc., but never really built a wheel. Your video, enabled me to go 'back to school' and learn how to build a wheel and also another one of your videos helped me learn how to calculate spoke measurements. I cannot thank you enough for not making '3 minute videos' and providing such a thorough video on the subject that 'no one' else comes close to. Thank you and don't change your style.
I'm really happy to hear you're getting so much out of my videos Velo. Thanks so much for watching and the great comment, you made my day.
No nonsense, everything relevant. Thank you.
Thanks for the great comment, toOnybrain, appreciate you watching!
Thanks Jim...very well done. You have the heart of a teacher...This is very likely the best "wheel lacing" video out there...comprehensive and methodical. Jim makes it easy to understand.
You're very welcome, glad you found it helpful! Thanks for watching and the kind words.
This is as close I can get to having a very patient and understanding friend helping me along. Thanks so much for doing this.
Thanks a lot for watching and the really nice comment, Colin - made my day. Enjoy your wheel building and let me know how it goes.
Thank you so much Jim. My goodness, watched atleast 5 how to wheel build videos and really didnt get any urge to build a wheel myself. Then I watched this video, I have fully decided that I will do it. Like u said I will practice with an old wheel and go from there. Your attention to detail, the “why” are we doing this step and the actual steps in FOCUS shows how much of not only an expert you sre but a great mentor. A true genius is someone like you who explain things that are complicated and made it simple. Thank you so much.
I'm so pleased you found my video so helpful and easy to follow, Hansel. And even more pleased that you've decided to give building your own wheels a go. I know you can do it and if you need any help along the way let me know and I'll reply as soon as I can. Have fun and thanks again for the wonderful comment and for watching my video!
I agree Hansel. Subscribed!!!
@@allocke9446 Thanks for watching and subscribing, Al, appreciate it!
@@JimLangley1 Admirable job. Going to have a go at this now. Gave me faith. Love the way you emphasise patience and the recoverability of errors. Good work.
@@kevinmcinerney1959 Thanks for watching and the nice comment, Kevin. You can do it. Take your time and do one step at a time. Have fun and good luck!
One of the most patient best wheel building videos I have seen, Thank YOU!
You’re welcome Scott! I’m really happy you like the video. Thanks for the great comment!
Agreed. Very good video. Very good.
Agreed. Great video, really great.
Agree 100%
I love the level of detail that you teach, not just the facts but general advice, like "Take your time! There's no need to rush."
Thanks for watching and the kind words, Nowthen! Appreciate it very much.
O9 I
Concentration & patience, one of the best youtube videos I've seen, brilliantly done.
A master & great teacher... 👍
Thanks for the most kind words, Graham - I'm very happy you like the video so much. I appreciate you watching and commenting!
I don't often comment on videos, but I just wanted to say a huge thank you. I've done so much research on building my own wheels, and nothing gave me the confidence like this video. My wheels are perfect and it's all down to your guidance..... THANK YOU!
Thanks so much for the great comment, Daniel. I'm so happy to hear my video helped you successfully build perfect wheels. Congratulations and great job! Really appreciate you watching and commenting, thank you!
Update: With this video, I was able to true a bicycle wheel for the first time in my life at age 60. I feel like I can conquer the world! THANK YOU!
Thanks so much for the wonderful comment deltafour, you made my day! So happy to hear you now can true wheels, congratulations! 👏❤
Just wow a lot of people saying I’m not going to be able to do it blah blah blah and this angel came to save the day .. made me appreciate the wheel even more ! Thank you maestro 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Thanks for watching and for the awesome comment, Dat Tepo. Really appreciate it!
You’re a great teacher. Calm and patient. Thank you!
You’re very welcome, Nicole! Thanks for watching and the great comment, appreciate it a lot!
I had downloaded a set of wheel building instructions, but they were so confusing I ended up taking the spoked out and referred to this. Your way is SO much easier to do and understand. Thank you.
Thanks so much for commenting, fosterdl1. One of the main reasons I made this video was to show that wheel lacing and building is a relatively easy process if you approach it in a simple & what I have found - is an easy way for people to understand it. I’m very happy to hear it helped you succeed. Thanks a lot for watching and for the great comment.
Been building and repairing bikes since I was a kid, got a job in a bike shop a few weeks after leaving school and was taught how to true and build wheels, opened my own bike repair shop a few years later in a different town, long retired from it as a business but still love it as a hobby, it evolved into building motorbike wheels when I restored a motorbike. It has to be one of the most satisfying areas of doing a build, that and rebuilding the old 3 and 5speed hubs. I loved doing those. I remember as a kid I always trued my wheels with them in a old front fork that I'd drilled a hole into it to accept the fork stem, I think that's up in my attic somewhere, but that was my jig, with brake pads attached to a cable I'd pull through a tightened down clamp (which sorta replaced the brake lever in it's function). Thanks for the video, was nice to watch...
Thanks for watching and sharing your story, maffysdad - I enjoyed hearing about you building motobike wheels and your homemade fork truing jig. Well done!
Congratulations you have just taught me to build a wheel . My old cross bike needed a new rim on the back wheel it has 36 spokes I used the old spokes and hub and bought a new rim . I really enjoyed the process . Thank you Mr Langley 👍
Congratulations to you Bardzo! I’m so happy to hear my video helped you replace that rim for your cross bike - great job. Thank you for watching and sharing your success story!🙏❤️
I can't thank you enough for the amazing amount of patience, detail, and thoroughness in this video. Without a doubt, this is one of the best tutorials ever made.
Thanks so much for the kind words, pitochoto. I appreciate you watching my videos and am delighted you found this one so helpful.
Thanks so much! I was able to ride my bike today, and I definitely need to true the wheel and tension it a little more, but it works beautifully :) You saved me a fortune!
BJ Jongejan you’re very welcome. Awesome job getting that wheel built! Congrats!!
JIM, GREETINGS FROM AUSTRALIA. I FELT I NEEDED TO LET U KNOW HOW LEGENDARY YOUR VIDEOS ARE. YOUR STYLE OF TEACHING IS SO WELL EXPLAINED THAT I FEEL YOU ARE COMPLETELY UNDER APPRECIATED AND RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU SINCERELY FOR THE WELL THOUGHT OUT TUTORIALS. YOUR TUITION IS ALLOWING ME TO SAVE PRECIOUS MONEY AND KEEP MY BIKE FLYING WITH ZERO FRICTION NOISE DUE TO FOLLOWING YOUR MAINTENENCE . I DONT JUST CYCLE, I LIVE ROAD BIKES. I SUBSCRIBED 2DAY. KEEP SHARING YOUR KNOWLEDGE AS ITS MY GO TO AND ALL MY CYCLING CLUB.
Thanks so much for subscribing and the great comment Jules, you made my day! 🙏❤
Nothing more satisfying in bicycling than understanding the principles of spoke tensioning and fixing a wobble out on the bike trail.
Yes, C, I completely agree. Once you can fix wheels you don't have to worry any more about not getting home just because a wheel came out of true and you can fix anyone's wheels who is riding with you too if it happens to them. But they have to buy the coffee at the end of the ride! Thanks for watching and the great comment!
As many have already said, one of the best, clear, useful and patient videos on how to lace and tune your bicycle wheels.
Thanks Jim, this video will serve me well.
Mac Cat thanks a lot for the great comment! Happy wheel building!
This video took the fear out of doing this at home instead of paying $60 and waiting 2 weeks for the LBS to do it. Thank you very much for the thorough explanation and for going all the way through the truing process. It made the video longer but it helped to see that you have to keep at it in small increments to get it where it needs to be. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
You're very welcome, David and thank YOU for watching and commenting. I'm glad you appreciated the explanation of truing out wobbles and hops/dips. It definitely takes a lot of small turns of the spoke nipples and patience. It's one of the most satisfying parts of building wheels because you're actually taking something imperfect and making it as perfect as you can get it. Anybody with patience and awareness of what's happening (what I explain in the video) can do this. And in the end you get even more satisfaction and outright delight in riding on wheels that you built yourself. Have fun! Thanks again.
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hi Jim, so I gave the wheel truing a second run after watching your video: Started at 9pm with with more wobbles than straight bits! Even with the brake caliper de-tensioned and wide open the wheel was knocking on the pads left and right every few centimeters. I worked through knock by knock and by 10 I had it spinning cleanly through a tight set caliper - pretty amazing to see the progress. Then I realized it was way off center! 2 rounds of spoke tightening on the opposite side and the wheel was back in center. Couple more rounds of truing followed by your last tips on getting it round. 11:30 PM job done. Amazing. I can still see a slight imperfection but Its within a mm or so and rides perfect. To anyone reading this: this is the only video you need :)
Thanks for the great comment, David - I'm so happy you found my video helpful and that you got your wheel done and ready to ride. Nice work!! I really appreciate you watching and the nice comment.
Thanks Jim, this is by far the very best guide/instructions for building wheels, Its very clear to me how much thought and groundwork you put into this superb video, it must have taken you hours! This has now given me the confidence to build my own custom set - and im now really looking forward to it. You have filled in the mystery areas for me. Im very grateful and only wished i could buy you a few beers! Best wishes from the UK.
Thanks for watching, Mark. I'm happy to hear you appreciate the video so much and that it's given you the confidence to build your own wheelset. I think you'll enjoy the building just as much as riding your new custom hoops! Instead of buying me some beers you can help my channel simply by sharing this video with any friends interested in wheel building. Thanks for the great comment, you made my day!
@@JimLangley1 Your welcome Jim, time is valuable, and to use it to help others achieve goals is a wonderful thing. I can appreciate the groundwork you put into this. Im looking forward to watching more of your videos to when im next off from work. I will share & take care Jim!
@@markc1844 thanks a lot, Marc!
Wow, just wow. I wanted to update my wheel to use a cassette system, so I got a replacement hub, that needed close enough spokes to reuse my old ones. This video helped me by showing the actual steps to it. I didn’t know it was this simple, otherwise I wouldn’t have put this off so long. Super easy to follow guide mate.
Thanks for watching and the great comment, Drago! I'm very happy to hear that my video made it super easy for you to update your wheel with a new hub! And congrats on mastering wheel building!
Jim this was a top quality video,You can't get any better than this in such a short time and certainly beats a paid lesson. Informative,easy to follow and puts a rookie like me at ease about building the vintage wheel for my Raleigh courier.
Thanks a lot for watching and for the nice comment, too, Rhodri. I'm happy to hear you like my video so much. Have fun building that wheel for your vintage Raleigh (great bikes!).
First of all Thanks a lot for such an informative video. Couple of weeks ago my bike started to make a noise from front hub area. When I check it I found a crack inside the hub body. I already had a spare hub in my house but didn't know how to lase it. 😫
Yesterday I saw your video and felt confident about replacing the hub by myself. It fu*kin worked✨️. Your explanation is so clear and on point. I used my bicycle frame as a trueing stand. My bike had double wall rims but I managed not to lose any nipples inside.
Thanks to your video now I'm not afraid to lase the wheels again.💯
You're very welcome, Charuka! Congratulations on swapping out that broken hub and building your wheel, great job👍Thanks a lot for watching and and the great comment!
I just watched this 4 times as I built my first wheelset. Thank you for taking the time to make this.
Thanks a lot for all that watching, Casey 🙂and congratulations on building your first set of wheels - well done!!
Amazing content! This deserves to be seen by many more!
Luke Mendoza Thanks so much for the great comment. I’m so happy you found my video helpful. I hope it helps lots of people who want to learn, to try wheel building. Please share it however you like. Thanks again! Jim
I've been truing wheels since childhood, never got hold on how to remove low/high spots. Thanks!!
You’re very welcome, Joao - I’m happy I could show you how to fix flat spots in wheels. Now that you know, you can make perfect wheels! Have fun. Thanks a lot for watching and commenting.
Another happy student! Thank you so much Jim, just finished building my first wheel, a PowerTap hub in a carbon rim. Your clear and patient video laid everything out perfectly. The build was seamless.
Thanks for commenting Mark! I’m psyched to hear your new PowerTap wheel build is complete. Great job. Congrats!! Now, you’ve mastered the process you can build any custom wheels you want!
Posted this video to several Facebook bicycle related groups I am in.
Highly POSITIVE comments. Many, many thanks Jim.
Thanks very much, Howard, that's nice of you and much appreciated. My goal with this video is to help as many people as possible who are interested in doing so, to finally build their own bicycle wheel(s). Because I know how satisfying it is to build your own wheels and how hard it can seem to do it (when in reality, it's not really all that difficult). Thanks for sharing it to those groups so more people see it.
Jim, thanks for your outstanding videos- so educational and instantly useful!
Thanks for the nice comment, Chris. I'm glad to hear my video was helpful - and useful, too. Thank you!
Amazing video. I learned how to true my wheels. Thank you!
Thanks for watching the video, Jez and congratulations on truing your wheels! Appreciate you letting me know.
Love this :-)
Before carbon rims, online spoke calculators and spoke tension Apps, there were blokes in sheds drinking cups of tea😂
Respect you’re passion for you’re craft brother. Keep on peddling.
Thanks so much for watching and the awesome comment, Stuart!
Thanks Jim, I watched this video a few weeks ago and it gave me the confidence to strip & build an old wheel today, as you mention it takes lots of patience, you're absolutely right about concentrating and making time for the job, I usually work with music but not today! I was pretty happy with the result and watched your video again afterwards to check that I was doing everything in the right order. Keep up your great work Jim, you are by far the most relaxed bike mechanic tutor on RUclips
Thanks for watching and letting me know my video helped you rebuild an old wheel, Noel - that's great to hear. Congratulations! With a little practice you'll be able to build your next one with tunes playing ;-)
finally someone on youtube that knows what hes talking about. Nice video bro !
Hey, thanks for the kind words, TAMADrumsLover - glad you liked the video!
Amazing tutorial. Thank you !
Thanks for watching and the nice comment, Yoni!
This is actually helping. I do appreciate your patience and very clear explanation. I have been struggling with truing the rear wheel of a bike I got from my friend for free. Now I cannot wait get my hands on it as soon as I have some time to work on it. Thanks!
You're welcome, Yonggon. Thanks for watching and for commenting and have fun truing that wheel!
Fantastic.
Just ordered parts to build a wheel, and have been second guessing myself about doing it. Having seen this tutorial, I'm definitely comfortable that I'll be able to a build a strong, true, and round wheel!.
Thank you, Jim
You're welcome, Sean. Have fun building that wheel!
thank you so much i just built my first wheel a 1965 moulton speed front so easy to follow thanks again
ade lewis congratulations! And what a magnificent bicycle to build a wheel for!! I interviewed Sir Alex at his home and he has visited me here in California where we rode Moultons together. Such wonderful bicycles and such an amazingly inventive person. Enjoy that new wheel and your Speed! If you’re interested, here’s a story of my Moulton visit jimlangley.net/ride/amvisit.html
@@JimLangley1 tha was a great read my friend
and yes i will enjoy it
I'm building my first wheel, and I used zinc-based anti-seize on the spoke threads and the "seating part" of the nipple holes in the rim. I read that zinc anti-seize would work well with my aluminum rim and brass nipples, while other kinds of anti-seize might have caused problems with one or both kinds of metals. BTW for any newbies -- you can also buy a "spoke tension meter" for checking spoke tension. Thanks a lot for the video!!!
Thanks for your comment with tips and for the kind words about my video, JohnSmithZen - very nice of you. I'm glad to hear you're building a wheel and doing your homework learning more, too! Yes, for checking the tension of the spokes and getting them right every time, a spoke tension meter is very helpful. I've found that most people who start building wheels like doing it and build more. Once you are building multiple wheels for yourself and/or friends, then it's definitely worth the expense to have a nice tool to measure spoke tension. A quality tool that's reasonably priced is Park Tool's TM-1 Tension Meter amzn.to/35hmLY6 One of the most helpful parts of using Park's Tension Meter is that they provide an app for use with it. The app allows analyzing/mapping your wheel tension to understand and balance tension in wheels even more accurately. Here's a link to their page about their app: www.parktool.com/wta in case it's of interest. Thanks again for the comment!
You have no idea how happy I am that I came across this video. I bought a new bike frame that turned out to have 150mm rear spacing which my wheel didn’t fit. I decided to buy myself a used hub and built myself my first wheel using this video. I was surprised at how easy it actually was. It ended up taking me around 2.5 - 3 hours. Thank again! (I’m not going to lie, I was quite nervous since most people on forums recommended not to build your own wheel)
I'm so happy to hear you didn't listen to those forums and decided to try wheel building, Natality. Congratulations on building your first wheel. Enjoy your new skill! Thanks for watching and the great comment!
One of the best bicycle maintenance videos ever.
Thanks so much for the kind words, Alan - and for watching my video. I'm really happy you liked it so much. Thank you.
This is seriously so well done. Really clearly explained the process. Great camera work and attention to detail with lighting and backdrops. Made it so much easier to see. Looking forward to starting to work towards scratch builds. Gonna practice the fine tuning more first though.
Thanks very much for the great comment, Bryan. I'm happy you like my video and that it's inspiring you to practice and get ready to build some wheels! Thanks for watching and have fun!
Very informative. I envy your proficiency. Thank you!
Thanks, Denis, I'm glad you liked the video!
I laced up an old rim last weekend and I've watched this video half a dozen times. Just wanted to say thanks! I've learned so much already.
You're most welcome, Brad. I'm happy to hear my video has helped you start lacing and building wheels - that's great, congratulations! I appreciate you watching, too, and the nice comment - thank you!
This is a great video. You saved me £100s, the rear rim of my ebike had worn through. Instead of buying a new wheel (and motor) i just built a new wheel. Total cost = 1no. 20inch rim. Many thanks!
I'm delighted to hear my video helped you rebuild your ebike wheel, Simon - great job! Enjoy your new wheel!!!
If this video helped you with your wheel building, the best way to help me out is by clicking the red SUBSCRIBE button. It doesn't cost anything and it'll help my channel and keep the camera rolling! Thanks!
Hello I'm trying to change a bike I got from a friend that was kinda messed up it's a mountain bike I'm trying to change it to disk brakes I believe it's standard rims it's 29 spoke is it possible to change it I have all the parts but I need to remove the spokes from the hub to change the hub for the disk brakes
@@wrmartinez it’s always possible. In order to use the same parts the hub has to have the same number of holes and be the same width and flange dimensions. If the hub measures differently it means you will need new spokes in most cases. Okay? I hope this helps.
Spoke twist-When I'm nearing the final stages of truing, I'll place an alligator clip on the spoke I'm working on. If the spoke is twisting as I'm tightening, I can easily see it if the end of the clip starts turning. It also gives me a good reference for the neutral point. If the spoke is twisting, I can turn a bit past my intended point, when back off until the end of the clip is turned back to it's starting position.
Thanks for sharing your tip UnivegaSuperSport (nice bikes those Univegas!) That's a clever way to be able to see spoke twist and ensure you remove it. Appreciate you commenting with this cool tip to help everyone with their wheel building. Thanks for watching and the great tip!
@@JimLangley1 I also use the clip as a placeholder in case I get pulled away from the job or drop the spoke wrench. That wheel WILL revolve if you let it go and you'll have no clue which spoke you left off on. I grew to prefer the Spokey or the round DT Swiss wrenches with plastic bodies. Heavy metal wrenches seem to slip out of my hands scratch up the rim if you drop them.
@@UnivegaSuperSport thanks a lot UnivegaSuperSport! Those are very helpful tips. I appreciate you sharing them with everyone. Thank you!!
Many thanks for this video, you've taken some of the mysteries away from building a wheel and the correct tensions of spokes. Great
You're most welcome, Pete! Happy my video helped you out. Thank you for watching and the comment!
I was apprenticed during my teen years at a bicycle shop in Los Angeles, in the mid 1970s and '80s. The art of wheel building was learned. and ART it truly was. Back then, we didn't have internet websites with user-friendly number crunchers that calculated the spoke sizes for various hubsets and rim combinations. Instead, we had to calculate the spoke length manually. It was a small bicycle shop and we got good results by laying the rim on the floor with the hub standing on its axle at the center, the floor of which consisted of 12 x 12 inch parquet tiles. Spoke length was easily measured with a tape measure. I've built countless numbers of custom wheelsets using this method, many of which were high-flange Campagnolo hubs laced to 20-inch alloy BMX rims, for the very popular BMX events of the period. Tough as heck, but finicky with the oil lube required prior to each ride. Those were magical days of yore. Great memories.
Thanks for sharing your great story, Roy. That’s an ingenious spoke length calculation technique- I love it! I worked in NorCal shops in the 80’s where the BMX scene existed but nothing like LA. Still, I fondly recall lacing Campy hubs to 20” rims. And anodization! I really appreciate you watching and your wonderful comment. Thank you.
I watched all 3 videos... I don't even have a bike..
😁👍
Get one! Start with the wheels...
Thanks for watching all 3 videos! Appreciate it a lot!
O
THATS SO AWESOME DUDE.
Excellent tutorial. I've now built my first two, seemingly solid wheels with your help. Proud of myself and grateful to you.
Thanks a lot for watching and congratulations on building your first wheelset, Morten- well done!! I’m happy to hear my video helped you out!
Jim, I watched your video last night and finally decided to try my luck at wheel truing. I'm very happy I did! The old wheels are not perfect, but they are so much better than they were 24h ago. Thank you for creating such useful content! Thanks to your advice, I'll be building my first wheel over the holidays!
Congratulations on truing those old wheels and improving them so much, Loic - good for you! I'm delighted to hear that my video gave you to courage to learn a new skill and I look forward to hearing how you're wheel build goes. I really appreciate you watching my video and the great comment. Thank you!
You’re awesome! Thank you for taking the time to make this video. Very informational.
You're welcome, David! Thanks for the great comment.
Wonderful video. Just did a rim swap but now I know what I need to go back and check. I'll now be building more wheels to keep my old bikes on the road. Thanks from the UK
You're welcome, Vegeek! Thank you for watching and commenting and I'm pleased to hear you're going to be building more wheels and my video helped.
Wow! I’ve watched a lot of bike videos but this is the first one I’ve watched where I now believe I can do something well that before the video I had no idea how to do at all. AND you make the learning process and experience interesting, not seem too difficult and actually make it look enjoyable to do. Awesome job, you are a great teacher with a brilliant attitude. Cannot praise this enough.
Thanks so much for watching and commenting, Steven. I'm really happy you found my video so helpful. Thanks for making my day!
Followed your build process to the letter. On my 6th ride on these beautiful wheels. Straight. True. Round. Holding spoke tension. Super fun! Thanks again for sharing the knowledge. I’ll be building more wheels in the future.
Thanks a lot for letting me know you’re now riding on a set of wheels you built yourself, Joseph. You made my day. Congratulations, well done!! Thanks for watching my video and the great comment!
I love the way you teach bike mechanics!! Thank you!
Thanks for the great comment, David - I'm happy to hear it. Thanks for watching and supporting my channel!
Thanks to this video I feel confident to tackle my first wheel build.
I'm happy to hear that, slimeone. Thanks for watching and commenting and have fun building that wheel!
i just built my first wheel with great results after watching this video. you made it easy. thank you.
Congratulations on your first wheel build, fairly functional, well done! Thanks a lot for letting me know my video helped you out, happy to hear it!
Thank you..... Very much. It was a little tricky at first, but thanks to your help I can now lace and true my wheels.
Niger Mcgauley congratulations on getting past the tricky parts and learning how to lace and true wheels. Well done!! Thanks for watching my video and the great comment. Jim
Thank you for being so thorough!
You're very welcome, Casey. Have fun building your wheels. Thank you for watching my video and commenting!
I've built 4 bike wheels following this video. Thanks!
That's awesome DanTheManIAm! Great job!! I'm so happy my video helped you with those wheels, enjoy them!
Thanks for sharing your knowledge! I cleaned up some old Araya RM-20 rims and laced them up yesterday for a project I’m working on. It’s definitely more intimidating to think about the process than actually doing it with the right information. Going to run through the second half of the video again soon to get them dialed in.
You're welcome, Zachary - happy to hear your Araya wheels are coming along fine and my video helped. Have fun riding them and thank you for watching and commenting!
Most comprehensive explanation I've seen so far, thanks a lot!
You're very welcome, Lorenz9314. I'm glad you liked my video and thank you for watching and commenting!
Thank you, sir, for a very informative tutorial. I have been wanting to build wheels for years and your video is the first one that demystifies this dark art and makes it seem more accessible to someone who generally considers himself a competent amateur mechanic.
You're welcome, allworkandnoplay. Thank you for watching and the great comment. As a competent amateur mechanic you will be able to build bicycle wheels and hopefully have fun doing it, too.
Many thanks Jim for your excellent advice. I was going to bin my old hub from my 21 year old Specialized Rockhopper which had developed a crack in the rim, but having seen your video I decided to purchase a cheap truing stand and some good quality spokes and a new rim. I took my time and ended up with a perfectly trued wheel, that has remained so after many miles.
I must say I found building the rear wheel quite therapeutic and surprised myself with the results. A testament to your skills. Thanks again.
Thanks for watching and the kind words, Steve. Congratulations on rebuilding your classic Rockhopper's rear wheel! I'm happy to hear it came out perfect and has remained that way. Well done!!
Great video. Thank you. You answered many questions & concerns I had just by the detailed instructions.
Appreciate you watching and commenting, Kendog. I'm happy to hear it helped you out. Thanks!
Great video... brings back a lot of memories of when I used to do this as a living in the 90's. If I remember correctly, I always took a slightly different approach. I always started with the head out spokes on the drive side and then the head out spokes on the other side. After that the head in spokes on the drive side and then the head in spokes on the final side. That method especially works better on things like moped or motorcycle wheels that have less flexible spokes or shorter spokes.
Thanks for watching and the kind words, speedphreax - appreciate it! Yes, there are lots of different ways to lace wheels. Once they've mastered the basic technique, I encourage newer builders to experiment with the different methods to determine which they like best. And, it's true that when you work with inflexible spokes such as on motorized vehicles (and some carts), that you want to choose a pattern that doesn't require flexing the spokes to fit them into the wheel because those spokes can't be flexed much if at all in some cases. Thanks for making that excellent point!
Thank you sir, that was one of the best, most thorough wheel building lessons I’ve watched. I’ve been riding bikes my whole life and now I’m tempted to start building my own wheels. Thank you for contributing to the community.
Thanks a lot for watching Racr. I'm happy to hear you liked the video enough to consider building your own wheels. You can do it!
Watched this a while ago and built my first wheel. Recently wanted to do another in a cross 4 pattern and so watched another youtubers video last week. Absolutely confusing, I should have photographed my wheel, it was a mess. Went straight back to this one and this is just so clear and easy to understand! Thanks.
You're very welcome, Elliot, thank you for watching and for the great comment! Congrats on your new cross 4 wheels!!
Hi Jim, first of all, many thanks for your video. My dad has build/repair wheels (bike, motorbike, moped,...) for about 60 years, but once he left us, I regretted not spending some time with him to learn some of his skills ! As all his whole stock of parts is now in my garage, and as a way to think about him, I decided to begin building wheels, helped with your video. I started by de-lace/re-lace old wheels, and now I'm building wheel for my race bike and my gravel bike, each time discovering this endless learning. I try different combinations, facing obviously difficulties, but that's the best way to progress ! Thanks again for your great work !
Thanks for watching and for the great comment! What a wonderful way to honor your dad. I’m so happy my video is helping you!!
It's nice watching someone good at this teaching it, I first learned the basics about age 12 from a book, we didn't have internet way back over 40 years back. I had an especially satisfying time after my first wheel rebuild, the first bike shop I visited refused to sell me a new rim unless I paid more than I could afford for them to build it on... because "You'll never be able to set it up", I really enjoyed going back after visiting the town's other bike shop buying a rim & fitting it.. "You know that rim you wouldn't sell me? Your loss, I bought it from , guess where I'll be going again in future!" Look on the store owner's face was priceless.
I sorta forgave them a year or two later & did use them, they were about two miles closer to home & more convenient to use, but they never questioned my purchases of anything again after.
Great story, David! Thanks for sharing it and watching my video!
The best wheel building instructions i have seen yet. I have always had questions about correct tension. Now I am clear. You're a great teacher. Thank you
Thanks very much for the kind words, Jeff! I'm very happy you like my video. Thanks for watching and commenting and have fun building wheels!
Jim this video is fantastic!!! I am a first time Wheel Builder, and I used this video to lace my first two wheels. I looked through numerous videos and websites, and your suggestion to make the last set of spokes Spoke Head-in was a game saver for me. I used a video from a professional wheel builder site, and I, of course, mangled the fourth set of spokes when I tried to make then Head-out spokes. Professionals may be able to flex spokes extensively without permanently bending them, but 1st time novices are probably never going to be able to do it
I intend to use your site extensively for my bicycle maintenance learning!!! I will consider your book when I have enough tools to consider a Bike Workshop. Thank You Very Much!
Thanks so much for watching and for the nice words, Tim - very happy my video helped you build your wheels! Please let me know if you have any bicycle maintenance learning or tools & workshop questions. Always happy to help people learn how to work on their own bike - nothing's more fun or satisfying than doing it yourself!
Great video! Thank you for making it so detailed and easy to understand by explaining everything mentioned and even giving tips and tricks for people who don´t own a truing stand. We surely need more great mentors like you! Thank you very much!
I really appreciate the super nice comment, Karol and thank you for watching and commenting! Enjoy your wheel building and let me know if you have any questions. Thanks again!!
By far the best video about the topic. Thanks for explaining and encouraging
I appreciate you watching and the great comment, Dirk, thank you!
Thank you for this video.
Just today I build my first 28” wheel with a Rohloff speedhub
I’m quite pleased with the result. It was an enjoyable process.
Thanks for watching and congrats on your Rohloff Speedhub build - nice one! I’m happy my video was helpful. Enjoy your custom wheel!!
I've watched many wheel building videos, but this one is by far the best one! Thanks Jim! I actually managed to lace my first set of wheels after watching other video's (not this one). The truing yet needs to be done so hopefully this video will still help ;-)
Thanks a lot for watching and for the great comment, Marc - very happy to hear you like my video so much. Take your time with the truing and you'll get the hang of it. I go over the most common mistakes in the video. If you can avoid making those mistakes you'll master the skill relatively quickly I think. Have fun with it!
I have struggled with this technic for a long time and always been worried about the process. This is by far the best video on wheel truing and the art involved. Patience and perseverance is the key. Thank you so much for posting this video.
I'm very happy to hear you like my video, Stephen. My goal with it is to take the worry and fear out of wheel building and try to make it fun for anyone who wants to do it. Thanks so much for watching and the really nice comment!
Great video!. Just yesterday I've finished building a new set of wheels and this video helped me a lot, it took me a day and a half but I achieved greatness.
Thank you Jim.
Thanks for watching and the great comment, Gonzalo, appreciate it. Nice job building your first wheelset, congrats!! Enjoy them!!
I used your video to help rebuild a set of wheels I had built in the 1970"s using the Campy Low flag hubs from that era. At 17:02 you showed bending the spoke to fit it through the large opening. When I tried this I got the spoke stuck and could not push it through. Instead I pushed the spoke through the triangular area below your finger until the spoke was totally inserted, then worked it out from between the spokes on the opposite side by bending it slightly. For me it was easier and quicker. By the way, I started building my own wheels for racing in the early 1970's. I used the trial and error method and made a lot of mistakes along the way. I wish I had your video back then. Very helpful. Thanks.
Thanks for watching and sharing your wheel build tips, Bill - nice of you! Yes, Campagnolo hubs back then had slightly smaller spoke holes, which was great for bedding and supporting the elbows but it did mean having to tweak the spokes to lace them sometimes. Good job figuring out the best way to do it.
Some builders would deal with the issue by putting the spoke sets in loose (multiple) sets at a time so not have to to avoid having to weave spokes through others. Happy to hear my video helped you build those lovely classic hubs and get them back on the road. Enjoy them!
Thank you 👍, Jim. Just ordered two rims and can't wait to put them together. I'll come back here and see it again. The wheels I bought are for disc brakes. Thank you for the video.
You’re very welcome, MARIN, thanks for watching! You’ll enjoy putting those disc wheels together. Let me know how it goes😀
Thank god for skilful people like this who take the time to upload their knowledge! Cheers Jim
Thanks for watching and the nice words, Bazza, appreciate it!
Got to be the best wheel building tutorial I have ever seen or heard.
Thanks a lot for watching and commenting, Mark. I'm happy to hear you liked the video so much!!
The best and the most informative wheel-building video on the whole youtube (or maybe on the whole internet). I really appreciate your effort to share this knowledge with us. Thank you very much in the name of all amateur bike mechanics!
Thanks for the kind words, Gilbert. I'm very happy you like the video so much and you're most welcome!
Most satisfying video ever.Ty!!🙌
Thanks for watching and the great comment, Don, appreciate it!
This is the very best wheel building tutorial I have ever seen. Jim is a natural teacher, the instructions are clear and the wheel comes naturally together almost magically. There are no pushy attempts to recommend specific tools, so wonderful results can be gained with or without having very sophisticated resources. If you want to build good wheels - this is the perfect video. Kind Regards Argentina David.
Thanks so much for the awesome comment, David, you made my day! I'm so happy you like the video so much. Thank you for watching!
Thanks so much for this!!!!! Very kind of you to share.
You're most welcome, Simon. Thanks for watching and the nice comment.
Wow, You showed the most terryfting chapter of bike mechanics (for me) as the most satysfying part of the job. Even with some art in it. Many thanks for this video.
You're welcome, Luki. Thanks for watching and the nice comment. My hope with my video is that no one is terrified of bicycle wheel building any more ;-)
I have a 1960 JC Higgins flightliner bicycle that needs to be respoked. With this video, I will have all the skills necessary to perform the task! Thank you! :-)
Wow, cool bike, Philip! I am so happy my video will help you respoke those wheels. Have fun!!
i came back to give a "thumbs up"and a "thank you very much for the tips!"
i can't believe how straight i got my mtb wheel after following your advice.
it had 2 huge dips after hitting a few things while riding the bike, and 3 major wobbles (2 wobbles to the left, 1 to the right)
the 2 dips are more or less still there,. but they are actual dents in the rim, so i didn't pay to much attention to them, but i managed to remove the wobbles entirely 😃
the 3 wobbles kept rubbing my brakepads,. making it impossible to adjust my brakes properly.
but now it all works perfectly again!
thank you very much!, and greetings from the Netherlands!
Thanks a lot for the thumbs up and thanks, Pres. It's great to hear my tips helped you get your mtb wheel nice and straight again. Way to to! Appreciate you letting me know very much.
jim langley thanks for your help.everything is very well explained
You're very welcome, S T N. Thank you for watching and the kind words!
Thanks Jim that's the best explanation I have seen so far.
Bigginger61 you’re welcome!
Complete and methodical. First explanation I actually understood! I appreciated the enthusiasm - seeing wheel building as fun if one is patient.
Thanks a lot for watching and the nice comment, Bart. I’m happy to hear my instructions were easy to understand. Like you said, I too think wheel building is fun if you take your time to enjoy the process. Thanks again!
Thank you very much to teach me wheel building lacing and truing and tips I am not a mechanic but in this lockdown just make me entrace to learn some thing in cycling. much appreciated. now i am going to wait course to open for enrolment.
I'm happy I could teach you something useful during this lockdown, yunus! Thanks for watching my video and for the kind words.
After many years of working on bike wheels to make them true, i find this video very useful ... its like revealing what i have in my mind when i make thouse spokes tightened equally ... thanks
Thanks for the nice comment, Mihai. I appreciate it.
really appreciated your video, especially the sections on correcting technique for roundness and centering (w/o a dishing tool). I've bookmarked your video for ease of finding it again when needed.
I'm happy to hear my video helped you, Dan. Thanks a lot for watching and the nice comment!