MTB Wheels

[Gooby]

I want to build some superb XC wheels. The only thing I have decided on is the hubs, Chris Kings. What do I build the rest with?

[BadgerBenji]

Rims and spokes would be a good idea

Depends what you are wanting them for. Can't fault your choice of hubs though, they are very nicely made.

[dudleybloke]

budget?

[Gooby]

dudleybloke said:

budget?

Short of carbon fibre rims. Other than that strength and lightness rule. The rear hub is going to be approx £350. I am not going to spend bizarre money when good money will do the same thing. The rims have to be UST or tubeless.

I also want to buy a wheel building rig and build them myself. Any tips on building would be appreciated.

Edited by Gooby on Sunday 7th October 23:34

[R.P.M]

No tubes ZTR Arch rims and Sapim CX ray spokes.

[Sway]

Gooby said:

Short of carbon fibre rims. Other than that strength and lightness rule. The rear hub is going to be approx £350. I am not going to spend bizarre money when good money will do the same thing. The rims have to be UST or tubeless.

I also want to buy a wheel building rig and build them myself. Any tips on building would be appreciated.

Edited by Gooby on Sunday 7th October 23:34

With regards building them yourself, my recommendation would be to get a cheap set of hubs and rims, plus a couple of boxes of spokes.

Practice, practice and practice some more on those. Wheel building is not simple in the slightest, and I would imagine is virtually impossible to learn well remotely. I was trained by an ex pro team mechanic, and it took several goes to get it right, even with constant supervision.

It's the little things - alignment of valve hole, even tensioning without stretching the hubs or rims, dishing it correctly and stressing/destressing the rim during the build.

Seeing as you're getting pretty much the nicest hubs out there, but the build is everything. I wouldn't build my own wheels now, even though I've built hundreds - I haven't done it in ten years and they wouldn't be any good at all without that practice.

Don't want to put you off - I loved building wheels, probably the only truly handcrafted element of a bike. Bloody theraputic when you know what you're doing, bloody stressful and expensive when you dont!

[HowMuchLonger]

R.P.M said:

No tubes ZTR Arch rims and Sapim CX ray spokes.

I am out of date with rim knowledge but agree with the spokes.

[MadDad]

Depending on what you are using them for I would go with ZTR rims, guide here; http://www.notubes.com/ZTR-Rims-C18.aspx

I have a set of ZTR flows and Hope hubs, bombproof!

[budgie smuggler]

This book is regarded highly over on STW:

http://www.wheelpro.co.uk/wheelbuilding/book.php

BTW don't forget to factor in the cost of spokes, they ain't cheap!

[R.P.M]

Maddad, Ztr flows would be my choice but maybe a bit overkill for OP?

[anonymous-user]

are you sure you want to use Chris King hubs for your first ever wheel build? have to say, I admire your confidence!