The Wheel Room FAQ's
1. Alloy spoke nipples are light, and anodised coloured ones look cool don't they?
Yes they are light, and look cool, however, in some cases they do not allow enough tension to be created in the wheel to give it longevity. We recommend brass nipples on all our rear wheel builds. Sapim CX Ray spokes come supplied with alloy nipples, we will offer you brass on rear wheels as a more durable alternative after you have placed your order.
2. Loctite, nipple crimping and nyloc nipples are a popular choice for some people to help wheels stay together?
Yes they are, but the main reason most wheels slacken off is because they were not built well enough in the first place. Chose components well, use skill and time and you will not need loctite, nyloc nipples or nipple crimping. If you do use these things you will encounter problems in trueing and tensioning later on - something all wheels will need eventually.
3. I am quite heavy so I have been told to use 36 hole wheels. Is this true?
No, you can pick a stronger rim and spokes, have a lower spoke count than 36. There is nothing magic about the number 36!
4. Mavic make the best rims for hand built wheels don't they?
Mavic make great rims and they are able to offer them at a superb price due to the size of the factory. The open pro is a nice safe family car rim, with no vices. The IRD cadence rim offers lighter weight without sacrificing strength, and the IRD cadence aero rim offers superior strength and aerodynamics.
5. Why should I buy some hand built wheels over the factory built options on offer?
Maybe you shouldn't! If your priority is low price for budget reasons then they are probably your only option. If you want wheels that are reliable, perfectly true, round, in dish, are unlikely to let you down and are easily repairable while able to perform to the best factory made wheels, then maybe you should!
6. Should I get deep section rims?
These rims are intrinsically stronger and heavier than low-profile rims. Their shape makes them more rigid, and the extra material they are contructed with makes them flex less. As a result of this extra strength they can be laced up with far fewer spokes giving a more aero wheel. They are ideal for events where aerodynamics is more important than low weight. Heavier or more powerful riders may want these for their strength characteristics whatever the discipline.
7. Why do you see so many radial wheels these days, is radial spoking better?
Well, it depends. You cannot built a rear wheel radial both sides, you can build radial on the non-drive side. Both sides on the front can compromise your hub, distorting the shape of the bearing housing, and/or flanges. Many hub manufacturers will not warranty a hub built with a radial spoking pattern, it is paramount to check before building. A radial laced wheel with a broken spoke becomes much more unstable than a crossed lacing pattern. Lacing up a radial wheel takes less time and that is why factories use it.
8. Sealed bearings are great, why are some hubs still cup and cone?
Because cup and cone is a good all round system. It is adjustable, it can transmit radial and lateral loads equally well, and spare bearings are obtainable. Having said that, for people who do not want to own or use cone spanners, then the sealed bearings usually work faultlessly, however, when they do develop play the only way to eliminate it is to replace them. They also need quite precise and careful removal and replacement.
9. I have been told that hand built wheels are like Italian motorbikes, nice to look at, but always in the workshop for attention.
Not true! Badly built wheels, factory or hand, will need attention. Properly chosen, skillfully built wheels will rarely see a workshop. Heavier riders or aggressive styles might need more maintenance, trueing and tensioning.
10. Why do you see so many wheels with 16 or 20 spokes now, when the norm used to be 32+?
Wheels before generally had lighter rims and more spokes. Science discovered that spokes create a lot of wind resistance so factory wheels now come with fewer spokes and a much heavier rim, so, wheels still weigh about the same as they did before. They have just moved the weight out to the rim. It is quicker for factories to put 16 spokes in a wheel rather than 32.
11. Are hand built wheels stiffer/stronger?
They can be. Since they are usually built tighter, they tend to flex less when under strain.
12. Sealed bearings are so smooth, they are faster than cup and cone!
Not so! A properly adjusted cup and cone bearing has less resistance than a sealed cartridge bearing.
13. I am taking my Mavic Ksyrium SLs abroad for a training camp, as they are lighter and look far better than ordinary hand built wheels.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. We can build you lighter wheels than your Ksyriums. Better hope you do not get a broken spoke in transit, as the L.B.S. there will likely only have standard spokes!
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