The WheelRoom CARE OF WHEELS

Your bike needs looking after and maintained, handbuilt wheels are no exception.

Weekly
Check the bearings for play.  This involves lifting up the front of the bike by the handlebars with one hand, and with the other try and rock the rim from side to side.  Do the same with the rear by holding up the seatpost and rocking the rear rim.
If you find play: adjustable bearings need adjusting, sealed bearings need replacing.

Monthly
Feel the spoke tension.  Grab a bunch of 4 spokes if it is a crossed wheel, 2 if it is a radial, and squeeze them together.  They should be pretty tight.  If not, then it is time for a re-tension (easy on RoadAce wheels because we do not use loctite).
Look for buckles.  If the wheel looks to be more than 3 mm out of true they will need a true-up.  The tension can be adjusted at a true-up if neccessary.  Spin the wheel and look at the brake block (not the tyre!), look at the gap between the rim and brake block to assess truth of the wheel.

Yearly
If you have cup and cone hubs, get them stripped and re-greased every year.

Caution
Don't use a jet wash near the hubs, you will strip the grease out.

With enough use, all hand built wheels will start to lose tension.  This is not because the nipples have started to unwind, or the wheel builder did a bad job (though it could be that).  Over time, the spoke holes in the hub start to turn oval and elongate in the process.  When this happens, a retention will sort it, and it is a normal process in the life of spoked wheels.  Stainless steel spokes V soft aluminium hub - there is only one winner every time!
Potholes, avoid them!  They destroy even the most skillfully built wheels and hurt your ...um...bits!

Use and enjoy!

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