How to Build Strong Bicycle Wheels

A strong wheel consists of a reliable rim, multiple spokes and proper breaks.

Bicycle building has become significantly more popular since people started becoming more eco-conscious. City dwellers are riding their homemade bikes to school and work, and the parts to put the bike together are becoming simpler and less expensive. Building a strong wheel is essential to a successful bike, and to make the most durable and sturdy wheels possible for your ride, you must remember a few pointers.

Things You'll Need

• Spoke wrench
• Forged hub
• Aluminum rim
• Brass nipples
• Double-butted spokes
• Grease

Instructions

1. Build with a forged hub at the center. Forged hubs may not look as fancy as sculpted machined ones, but they will last longer and keep their shape better than most other hubs.

2. Lay out a sturdy aluminum rim. Aluminum rims are lightweight, cheap and they will withstand breaking longer than steel rims. Take into consideration the type of biking that you normally do. For example, most mountain biking wheels are much wider and heavier than street bikes, but riding in the city doesn't necessarily mean that buying the thinnest rims possible is the best option. Buying a moderately sized, aluminum rim will make for a stronger, longer lasting bike wheel.

3. Buy rims with a ceramic coating and the proper accommodating break pads. The ceramic coating will drastically reduce the heat of break friction and prevent any warping of the rim. This will not only strengthen your wheel but allow it to last much longer. The heat that would normally be pressed into the aluminum will end up staying in the break blocks; buy special break pads that are made to work with ceramic coatings. Regular break blocks will melt from the break friction.

4. Twist brass nipples onto the end of your spokes. Brass nipples may be slightly heavier than steel or aluminum ones, but they lubricate the threads of the spoke much better and therefore last significantly longer. Dab a bit of grease onto the threads of the spoke and twist it through to lubricate throughout the entire nipple. Keep screwing the nipple onto the spokes until the threads disappear inside.

5. Lace double-butted steel spokes into the hub flanges and twist the spoke nipples into place on the rims. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for the proper lacing style for your hub. Double-butted spokes are thinner in the middle, which allows them to stretch and spread the load of the wheel to neighboring spokes. You should lace at least 28 spokes onto your rim to supply the proper amount of tension around the circumference of the wheel.

6. True the spokes with the spoke wrench. High, even tension overall is the best way to go because rims tend to warp or fold when the pressure of the spokes is distributed unevenly. Once all of the spokes are set, squeeze two neighboring spokes to determine which one needs to be tightened. Continue this throughout until all spokes have even tension.

References

• Strong Durable Bike Wheels
• Jim Langley: Bycycle Repair Wheelbuilding