question on building a wheel

[alia176]

Bike experts,

Is it worth building a wheel these days using a 9sp hub or just buy a built wheel? I ask because I just picked up an used Dura Ace 7700 series group and it came with 9 sp cassette. I currently own a set of Wolber TXPROFIL 700 wheels with a 7sp cassette and a Shimano Sante hub. I'm thinking that the 9 sp won't fit and I need a diff hub.

Thanks.

 

[alkarich]

You probably have a couple of options here.

If you have a new hub with the DA group rebuild your current rims.

Places like Nashbar.com are always selling complete wheel sets for good prices. If you go this route upgrade your current wheels as a training/extra set (see below).

Upgrade your current hub to accept the 9sp cassette. Shimano Cassettes & Freehubs, by Sheldon Brown
Part way down they describe how to upgrade from 6/7sp to 8/9sp.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Ali-I have built bunches of wheels and it's worth doing. You will learn more about wheels building 1 wheel than you would ever know otherwise.

If it's still in print, there is a great book called (ironically) "The Bicycle Wheel" by a guy named Jobst Brandt. I'll lend you my copy if you want it.

You will need to buy a truing stand and a centering tool. I have cheap ones of each, but have always wanted a Park mounted truing stand.

Use DT or Wheelsmith spokes 14/15/14 for a serious recreational bike and straight 14 ga for your commuter. I built a set of bladed spokes for my tri bike and thought it was cool but it didn't make me faster.

My commute bike has wheels that I built in 1995-still on the original spokes and rarely trued.

 

[alia176]

Hmm, interesting stuff, thanks guys. A local buddy has all the tools I need so I just need to source a DA hub or convert mine. I like the idea of "recycling" the rims.

Thanks.

 

[wxm]

Ali-I have built bunches of wheels and it's worth doing. You will learn more about wheels building 1 wheel than you would ever know otherwise.

If it's still in print, there is a great book called (ironically) "The Bicycle Wheel" by a guy named Jobst Brandt. I'll lend you my copy if you want it.

You will need to buy a truing stand and a centering tool. I have cheap ones of each, but have always wanted a Park mounted truing stand.

Use DT or Wheelsmith spokes 14/15/14 for a serious recreational bike and straight 14 ga for your commuter. I built a set of bladed spokes for my tri bike and thought it was cool but it didn't make me faster.

My commute bike has wheels that I built in 1995-still on the original spokes and rarely trued.

x2 on Brandt's "The Bicycle Wheel" - it is like the old time physics book. It is definitely fun to build wheels yourself, you get to choose to build exactly the way you want. Though, I have to say that it is not necessarily money saving.

 

[alia176]

Well, I bought a wheelset with the proper hubs from Craigslist for a decent price. When the time comes, I'd like to take these hubs and install them in my old rims for S&G. So, the only thing I'll need to buy are the spokes I guess.

 

[wxm]

Well, I bought a wheelset with the proper hubs from Craigslist for a decent price. When the time comes, I'd like to take these hubs and install them in my old rims for S&G. So, the only thing I'll need to buy are the spokes I guess.

and nipples. I won't re-cycle nipples either...

 

[edog's 80]

Another good resource is Sheldon Brown's website. That is where I learned how to build wheels. I built my front wheel and it's still holding up strong.

 

[scottm]

I loaned out my Brandts years ago, rats. I used my upside-down bike as a truing stand, worked well enough. I was in a remote location, minimal tools, and bent my wheel nearly every day, but I had my Brandts.

What's the preference for fluid in spoke nipple threads? I'd like to use low-strength threadlocker next time, it should seal out moisture and contaminants without really locking the threads.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

What's the preference for fluid in spoke nipple threads? I'd like to use low-strength threadlocker next time, it should seal out moisture and contaminants without really locking the threads.

I've always used grease, but theoretically, good anti-seize would be the bomb. You want to keep those threads free.

I crashed one year at the Davis Double Century and had to basically rebuild the front wheel at the next rest stop. I still finished.