How to Build a Bicycle Wheel

Wheel building is an art as much as it is a skill in the bicycle industry. Taking spokes, nipples, and rims and turning that into a finished wheel is nothing short of extraordinary. Good wheel builders take years to learn their trade either working as a mechanic or having been trained by a bike manufacturer. Luckily, building bicycle wheels is an acquired skill that you can learn at home with a few tools.

Things You'll Need

  • 36 spokes
  • 36 nipples
  • 2 rims
  • 1 rear hub
  • 1 front hub
  • tires
  • tubes
  • screwdriver
  • spoke wrench
  • rim tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase all of the materials from a reputable cycling retailer. Make sure that all of the components are compatible with one another. Explain to the company you are purchasing the wheel building supplies from that you are a first time wheel builder and the type of riding style you have. They then can match you up with the appropriate supplies.

    • 2

      String, or "lace", all of the spokes through the holes in the lip of the hub you are working with. Lay the rim on a table with the valve hole located at 12 o'clock and lay the hub in the middle of the rim. Slide a spoke through the hole next to the valve hole and tighten a nipple down on it. Count four holes away from the first spoke and place another spoke in this hole. Continue this pattern until you return to the valve hole.

    • 3

      Move to the hole directly to the right of the first spoke you installed and install a spoke here. Count four holes, included installed spokes, to the right of this spoke and install another spoke. Continue this pattern until you again reach the valve hole. Count three holes from the valve hole and place a spoke in it, count four holes to the right and install the spoke. Continue this pattern until you reach the valve hole again. Count four holes to the right of the valve hole and install a spoke. Count four holes to the right of this spoke and install a spoke there as well, continuing the pattern until the valve hole is reached.

    • 4

      Tighten down all of the spokes evenly using the screwdriver to tighten the nipples from the top. Use the spoke wrench to make fine tuning adjustments to the spokes to pull the rim into true. Install the rim tape by stretching it over the inside of the rim.

    • 5

      Install the tube and tire by stretching one lip of the tire over the rim, sliding the tube inside the tire and then stretching the second lip of the tire onto the rim. Repeat Steps 2-4 for the second wheel and go riding.