True wheels

"Dan Sheppard" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi

I've just bought a heavily discounted Minoura wheel truing
jig so I can

keep

Quoted message said:

my wheels in top notch condition. This isn't something I
have any

experience

Quoted message said:

of using but have found some very helpful websites (e.g.
Sheldon Brown)

and

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think I'm ready to have a go at some wheel truing.
However, I'm also considering fixing up one of the stock
wheels (partly to learn how, partly to have a spare) that
originally came with my Trek 4500. This wheel (Alloy F,
Shimano C201 R hub; Matrix 750 rim - yes, I know its not
very good!)

has

Quoted message said:

a broken spoke which I need to replace.

Its possible that I'm being incredibly stupid, but I can't
figure out what size replacement spoke I need. End to end
it measures anout 265mm - is

this

Quoted message said:

a standard size? What about the width? Will a new one fit
the old nipple?

Am

Quoted message said:

I best replacing all the spokes? Are all the spokes on a
wheel the same length? Can anyone recommend somewhere to
buy spokes from (in the UK)?

Sorry if I come over like an idiot but I new to all this
and keen to

learn.

Quoted message said:

Dan

parktool.comSBC 1.shtmlOpen ↗

End to end it measures about 265mm - is this a
standard size? Yes

What about the width?
sheldonbrown.comwheelbuild.htmlOpen ↗

Will a new one fit the old nipple? Yes, but get a new one.

Am I best replacing all the spokes? Not necessary, but it
would be a good learning experiance.

Are all the spokes on a wheel the same length? - not on
the rear. The front depends on if its a disk (no) or rim
(yes) brake.

All of your questions are answered on Sheldons site. It
takes a while to absorb it all. Get some, tools, spokes,
nipples and dig in.

The vendor you buy from can confirm what size spokes and
nips you should be using.

--
DTW .../\.../\.../\...

I've spent most of my money on mountain biking and windsurfing.
The rest I've just wasted.

Dan Sheppard said:

Hi

I've just bought a heavily discounted Minoura wheel truing
jig so I can keep my wheels in top notch condition. This
isn't something I have any experience of using but have
found some very helpful websites (e.g. Sheldon Brown) and
think I'm ready to have a go at some wheel truing. However,
I'm also considering fixing up one of the stock wheels
(partly to learn how, partly to have a spare) that
originally came with my Trek 4500. This wheel (Alloy F,
Shimano C201 R hub; Matrix 750 rim - yes, I know its not
very good!) has a broken spoke which I need to replace.

Its possible that I'm being incredibly stupid, but I can't
figure out what size replacement spoke I need. End to end
it measures anout 265mm - is this a standard size? What
about the width? Will a new one fit the old nipple? Am I
best replacing all the spokes? Are all the spokes on a
wheel the same length? Can anyone recommend somewhere to
buy spokes from (in the UK)?

Sorry if I come over like an idiot but I new to all this
and keen to learn.

Dan

Dan, none of these are stupid questions....live and learn.

There is no "standard" spoke length. The spoke length must
be matched to the specific hub and hoop (rim). There is a
link on Sheldon's site to something called "spoke calc". I'd
give you the link but then you wouldn't read Sheldon's site.
Please go back and check it out.

Spoke width is explained there also in pretty good detail.

Don't forget Sheldon is only one source there are many
others. Do a search for "Wheel Building"

With that said after you've read up on this, pay your LBS a
visit and tell them what you're trying to do. They'll gladly
help you learn this stuff.

I predict in a year or less you'll be building your own
wheels. There's not much besides riding that is more
satisfying.

Peace, Bill

The mind serves properly as a window glass rather than as a
reflector, that is, the mind should give an immediate view
instead of an interpretation of the world.
:-]

On Fri, 12 Mar 2004 00:13:52 GMT, "D T W .../\\..."
<[email hidden]> wrote:

[snip]

Quoted message said:

End to end it measures about 265mm - is this a standard
size? Yes

I must respectfully disagree with you on this point. Your
spokes need to be matched to the hub and the hoop. Even for
his particular hub/hoop combo depending on wheel building
techniques one may use a longer or shorter spoke. So I
really must again respectfully disagree with your "Yes"
answer to the standard size question.

[snip rest]

Peace, Bill

The mind serves properly as a window glass rather than as a
reflector, that is, the mind should give an immediate view
instead of an interpretation of the world.
:-]

Quoted message said:

I predict in a year or less you'll be building your own
wheels. There's not much besides riding that is more
satisfying.

Yep, there sure is... it's called having multiple gears :-P

Phil, bustin' ya

"D T W .../\..." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Dan Sheppard" <[email hidden]>
wrote in message news:9ecb278283200a15fe84073018f70688@ne-
ws.teranews.com...

[Snip]

Quoted message said:

parktool.comSBC 1.shtmlOpen ↗

That looks like a very useful tool. I might invest in one.

Quoted message said:

End to end it measures about 265mm - is this a standard
size? Yes

Okay, so from what you and other people are saying, this is
one of a number of standard sizes.

Quoted message said:

What about the width?
sheldonbrown.comwheelbuild.htmlOpen ↗

My best guess (this is using a steel ruler you understand)
is 2mm which seems to be 14 gauge.

Quoted message said:

Will a new one fit the old nipple? Yes, but get a new one.

Okay - as a matter of interest why is that?

Quoted message said:

Am I best replacing all the spokes? Not necessary, but it
would be a

good

Quoted message said:

learning experiance.

Sure - again as a matter of interest, if one spoke has
failed might this suggest failure among others is likely?
(It failed at the hub end, just wear it bends over, on the
drive side of the rear wheel.)

Quoted message said:

Are all the spokes on a wheel the same length? - not on
the rear. The front depends on if its a disk (no) or rim
(yes) brake.

Ah, hence the spoke length calculators. I can't find my rim
or hub dimensions on any of the online calculators so I
guess I need to start measuring. Any tips for the best way
to do this? Will I need to take the wheel apart to measure
up the hub?

Quoted message said:

All of your questions are answered on Sheldons site. It
takes a while to absorb it all. Get some, tools, spokes,
nipples and dig in.

The vendor you buy from can confirm what size spokes
and nips you

should

Quoted message said:

be using.

Are spokes and nipples things which are commonly sold at
bike shops? My LBS looked at me like I was mad when I asked
and told me I should just buy a stock wheel or have one
built up for me. I can see the point they are making but my
aim is to improve my skill level and become pretty
independent in the longer term.

All the best and thanks for your help,

Dan

"Bill Wheeler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Thu, 11 Mar 2004 22:03:58 GMT, "Dan Sheppard"
<[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

Dan, none of these are stupid questions....live and learn.

There is no "standard" spoke length. The spoke length must
be matched to the specific hub and hoop (rim). There is a
link on Sheldon's site to something called "spoke calc".
I'd give you the link but then you wouldn't read Sheldon's
site. Please go back and check it out.

Okay, from those spoke calculators I get the impression I
need some pretty accurate measurements for my hub and rim. I
currently own a steel ruler (for measuring chain "stretch"😉
and thats it. Do you think I need to go shopping for some
callipers or something?

Quoted message said:

Spoke width is explained there also in pretty good detail.

I think I've figured that part out - my spokes seem to be
2mm (14 gauge).

Quoted message said:

I predict in a year or less you'll be building your own
wheels. There's not much besides riding that is more
satisfying.

Well my approach is that I may only be able to afford a Trek
4500 but at least it can be the best maintained Trek 4500.

Thanks for your help, all the best,

Dan

"Dan Sheppard" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"D T W .../\..." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Dan Sheppard" <[email hidden]>
wrote in message news:9ecb278283200a15fe84073018f70688@-
news.teranews.com...

[Snip]

Quoted message said:

parktool.comSBC 1.shtmlOpen ↗

That looks like a very useful tool. I might invest in one.

Quoted message said:

End to end it measures about 265mm - is this a standard
size? Yes

Okay, so from what you and other people are saying, this
is one of a

number

Quoted message said:

of standard sizes.

Quoted message said:

What about the width?

sheldonbrown.comwheelbuild.htmlOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

My best guess (this is using a steel ruler you understand)
is 2mm which seems to be 14 gauge.

Quoted message said:

Will a new one fit the old nipple? Yes, but get a
new one.

Okay - as a matter of interest why is that?

Quoted message said:

Am I best replacing all the spokes? Not necessary, but
it would be a

good

Quoted message said:

learning experiance.

Sure - again as a matter of interest, if one spoke has
failed might this suggest failure among others is likely?
(It failed at the hub end, just

wear

Quoted message said:

it bends over, on the drive side of the rear wheel.)

Quoted message said:

Are all the spokes on a wheel the same length? - not on
the rear. The front depends on if its a disk (no) or rim
(yes) brake.

Ah, hence the spoke length calculators. I can't find my
rim or hub dimensions on any of the online calculators so
I guess I need to start measuring. Any tips for the best
way to do this? Will I need to take the wheel apart to
measure up the hub?

Quoted message said:

All of your questions are answered on Sheldons site. It
takes a while

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

absorb it all. Get some, tools, spokes, nipples and
dig in.

The vendor you buy from can confirm what size spokes
and nips you

should

Quoted message said:

be using.

Are spokes and nipples things which are commonly sold at
bike shops? My

LBS

Quoted message said:

looked at me like I was mad when I asked and told me I
should just buy a stock wheel or have one built up for me.
I can see the point they are

making

Quoted message said:

but my aim is to improve my skill level and become pretty
independent in

the

Quoted message said:

longer term.

All the best and thanks for your help,

Dan

The nipples square corners are easily rounded off. A new one
will cost < $.15 cents US. I buy them from website vendors.

Is this a front or rear wheel, rim brakes?

--
DTW .../\.../\.../\...

I've spent most of my money on mountain biking and windsurfing.
The rest I've just wasted.

"D T W .../\..." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

The nipples square corners are easily rounded off. A new
one will cost

<

Quoted message said:

$.15 cents US. I buy them from website vendors.

Is this a front or rear wheel, rim brakes

Rear wheel with V brakes.

Dan

"Dan Sheppard" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"D T W .../\..." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

The nipples square corners are easily rounded off. A new
one will cost

<

Quoted message said:

$.15 cents US. I buy them from website vendors.

Is this a front or rear wheel, rim brakes

Rear wheel with V brakes.

Dan

If you look down from the top of the wheel to the hub,
you'll see that the right, drive side spokes are at a
different angle into the hub. These spokes are probably
about 1mm shorter than the other side. You said your broken
spoke measured 265mm, They are measured from the threaded
end, back to the inside of the bend.

--
DTW .../\.../\.../\...

I've spent most of my money on mountain biking and windsurfing.
The rest I've just wasted.