The wheel (handbuilt) is dead-long live the wheel (factory)

[Jon H]

And for the advanced class...

[img]http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2008/tech/shows/nahmbs08/nahmbs086/Grognard_fixie_front_wheel.jpg[/img]

[-Adam-]

Imagine what happens when you break a spoke!

Seriously though, I want one. Who needs carbon rims when you have a spoke pattern like that!?

[Grahame]

ah, a double version of the snowflake spoking pattern.

It offers no practical advantage over a conventional double- or triple-cross pattern, but to some eyes it looks prettier.

I have to say that the only time I've ever built a snowflake wheel is when I was on a weekend youth hostel trip in the lakes and a guy turned up with a worn out back rim and a spare rim to replace it. Unfortunately, the new rim had a smaller effective eyelet diameter (the distance across the wheel to opposite eyelets) than the old one, and only the spokes in the old wheel were available. By using the snowflake pattern I was able to reduce the effective length of the spokes by about 2mm which made the wheelbuild possible.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

[quote](from a guru called Roger Musson who builds wheels for a living)

[-Adam-]

[quote="mrP(Boonen)VT"]I also have built many of my own wheels, but cannot see the justification any longer with the low cost of factory built (Campag) wheels

[Dombo]

Handbuilts seem heavier though. Open Pros on D/A hubs even with 28 spokes come in at 1600-1700 gms the pair vs for example 1450-1500gms for some DT Swiss or Easton factory built, although my Eastons claim to have been handbuilt...in a factory.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

[quote]Since I have been converted to hand builts, I love them! I think they ride much better than a similar cost factory built wheel and therefore offer better value for money, no?

[quote="mrP(Boonen)VT"][quote]Since I have been converted to hand builts, I love them! I think they ride much better than a similar cost factory built wheel and therefore offer better value for money, no?

[-Adam-]

[quote="Dombo"]Handbuilts seem heavier though. Open Pros on D/A hubs even with 28 spokes come in at 1600-1700 gms the pair vs for example 1450-1500gms for some DT Swiss or Easton factory built, although my Eastons claim to have been handbuilt...in a factory.

[Elliot M]

Indeed -- which is why I bought DT Swiss wheels, all standard interchangeable components. In the end though I went for a handbuilt version of the DT1450 with 32 spokes rather than 28 at the rear and one degree heavier spokes on the driveside. Oh and black, not white! They are 1550g. The hubs will outlast many sets of rims.

[Elliot M]

Forgot to say -- that is about the same weight as a Ksyrium ES, Fulcrum 1 or Eurus, while being cheaper than all of them.

I considered Tune MIG 70 front 28h, Tune MAG 190 rear 32h, DT RR 1.1 rim, DT Rev/Comp spokes

Would have been a conventional build with 28/32 spokes at 1400g, £385 delivered, but wasn't sure of the long-term weatherproofing of the Tune hubs.

[Andrew G]

[quote="-Adam-"]Perhaps, but handbuilts can be done lighter, much lighter than that. I think one of the things that also appeals to me is the 'bomb-proof' nature of handbuilts and their subsequent serviceability if required...

[EdO]

heh Grahame,
Have you got a date for a wheel building / repair masterclass?

I would like to come along with some cake and a few broken wheels.

Partly out of ignorance, laziness and lack of time doing repairs, I've spent loads of money by getting through several pairs of commuter wheels.
It tends to be the back wheel - maybe from the extra weight in my rucksack - change of clothes, keys, laptop, lunchbox blah blah loads of stuff blah blah.

During my 5 month career break in 2003, I worked at Evans for 2 months in Ludgate circus. Part of me was hoping I'd be up to speed with the black art of wheel building after a few weeks working at Evans so I could do all my own repairs.

Instead I was cashing up, cleaning the shopfloor, shifting bikes, mending punctures, changing the displays or justifying to a customer that really do need to spend £800 on a pair suspension forks

[quote="Andrew G"][quote="-Adam-"]Perhaps, but handbuilts can be done lighter, much lighter than that. I think one of the things that also appeals to me is the 'bomb-proof' nature of handbuilts and their subsequent serviceability if required...

[Andrew G]

[quote="-Adam-"]But never, ever, will you see me riding a bike fitted with racks/paniers and probably never even mud guards. Nor will I ever grow a beard!