Union Cycle wheel rims

[e3steve]

Well, I eventually got around to lacing a wheel -- 2 years after obtaining the bits to do so. I don't think the spoke angles are too bad, although there is a slight bend in the a/c/w outside spokes now that I've trued the wheel. I think it's my fault, as it looks like I need to let some slack off the c/w spokes.

Every nipple went into place without binding at all, so I'm optimistic!

[G-Man]

Nice work!

I find it really satisfying building and truing my own wheels. It's one of those rare jobs which if you mess it up you can simply dismantle and start over again.

Good photos too.

G

[e3steve]

Thanks for the comments, G. Yes, I found the entire operation quite therapeutic, considering it's my first wheel-build!

I did the rear today; in view of the slight bending encountered with the a/c/w spokes -- looking from the hub side (right of the bike when riding) -- with the front wheel, I spent a bit more time with the rim completely slack and monitored the effects of tensioning 'sets' of spokes at-a-time: c/w right (hub side) then c/w left (brake side but still viewed from the hub side), followed by taking up slack with the a/c/w sets before centring the rim (eccentricity scope) with the hub and then the truing. Final operation was to check the tightness of each nipple with the 5mm spaniard, offering just a 'nip' with my thumb no more than an inch or so along the spanner's length, away from the nipple. Today took me about 2½hrs to be satisfied with the result; yesterday I was an hour less on the front.

I let all the spokes off on the front wheel again today, after the rear was completed; I'm starting again with the setup tomorrow, better informed!

As a precaution, I drenched both wheels with WD40 before screwing the nipples further than a couple of turns, allowing the liquid to run the spiral of each thread and to penetrate the spoke holes in both rim and hub. That will get lightly buffed before finishing and tyre-fitting.