View Poll Results: Why do you build your own wheels?
Voters: 71. You may not vote on this poll
Why did you learn to build a wheel?
03-09-16, 01:03 PM
#1
Bike Butcher of Portland
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Why did you learn to build a wheel?
As a follow up to the "How did you learn to build a wheel", for those of us who are wheelbuilders, why did you do it?
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03-09-16, 01:27 PM
#2
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I voted other, 'cause it wouldn't let me select both "enjoy it" and "save $". Although savings dollars over equivalent already built wheels is less frequent than expected.
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72 Frejus (for sale), Holdsworth Record (for sale), special CNC & Gitane Interclub / 74 Italvega NR (for sale) / c80 French / 82 Raleigh Intl MkII f&f (for sale)/ 83 Trek 620 (for sale)/ 84 Bruce Gordon Chinook (for sale)/ 85 Ron Cooper / 87 Centurion IM MV (for sale) / 03 Casati Dardo / 08 BF IRO / 09 Dogma FPX / 09 Giant TCX0 / 10 Vassago Fisticuff
03-09-16, 01:44 PM
#4
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To get around (necessity).
Last edited by joeyduck; 03-09-16 at 02:05 PM.
03-09-16, 01:51 PM
#5
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I picked Quality Control, but I also save money and get to build exactly what I want when I want it.
Glenn
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03-09-16, 01:57 PM
#6
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I chose 'enjoy it'. I suppose I save some money relative to having someone else build my wheels with the exact components I want, but honestly if it were about saving money I could find cheaper wheels pre-built.
I would also have voted 'self-sufficiency' if that were an option. I like the idea that if something goes wrong with my wheels I can fix it. I call it free lifetime ride-along support from the wheel builder.
I would also have voted 'self-sufficiency' if that were an option. I like the idea that if something goes wrong with my wheels I can fix it. I call it free lifetime ride-along support from the wheel builder.
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03-09-16, 02:13 PM
#8
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I can't say that I enjoyed it.
I learned at a shop and I was the only one that could do it other than the owner.
I had to build and fix some real junk.
Over the years, I couldn't bring myself to shell out money for wheelsets.
So I just built them.
Now that I can't build them, I don't miss it a bit.
The guys at the shop are fantastic wheel builders, so I just let them do their thing.
I learned at a shop and I was the only one that could do it other than the owner.
I had to build and fix some real junk.
Over the years, I couldn't bring myself to shell out money for wheelsets.
So I just built them.
Now that I can't build them, I don't miss it a bit.
The guys at the shop are fantastic wheel builders, so I just let them do their thing.
03-09-16, 02:21 PM
#9
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As I said in the other thread, I was able to fix/build anything on a bike but wheels and brazing/framebuilding. Now I can build wheels, brazing not yet...
03-09-16, 05:24 PM
#11
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all the above ... plus for every other benefit, in which there are many.
03-09-16, 05:40 PM
#12
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"Other."
I was building up a Fuji SJ-10 road bike for my young daughter. Its stock wheels were 26" (597), but since there are no decent road tires available in that size, the stock wheels were awful, and the stock tire size barely had any frame clearance at the brake bridge, I figured we could swap them for 650c wheels. I used it as an excuse -- er, opportunity -- to build my first set of wheels, especially since I wanted to use as much of the original drivetrain as possible and 650c freewheel wheelsets seem to be pretty much non-existent.
And here they are:
I was building up a Fuji SJ-10 road bike for my young daughter. Its stock wheels were 26" (597), but since there are no decent road tires available in that size, the stock wheels were awful, and the stock tire size barely had any frame clearance at the brake bridge, I figured we could swap them for 650c wheels. I used it as an excuse -- er, opportunity -- to build my first set of wheels, especially since I wanted to use as much of the original drivetrain as possible and 650c freewheel wheelsets seem to be pretty much non-existent.
And here they are:
03-09-16, 05:46 PM
#13
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To feel like a boss. Whether the case or not, before learning, wheelbuilding always seemed like an elusive skill only the really good, old school mechanics could master. I wanted to be in the club.
+all the other benefits, but that was probably the original motivating factor.
+all the other benefits, but that was probably the original motivating factor.
03-09-16, 06:01 PM
#14
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I chose other, because the reason for building wheel has usually been the desire to have a specific hub and rim assembled together, that isn,t readily available as an assembly. Other reasons are simply to refurbish an existing wheel, or to mate a new rim with an existing hub.
I do enjoy building wheels, and save money vs paying someone to build them for me. I won,t brag about quality, but I figure my results are adequate, and getting better with experience.
I do enjoy building wheels, and save money vs paying someone to build them for me. I won,t brag about quality, but I figure my results are adequate, and getting better with experience.
03-09-16, 06:21 PM
#15
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Originally to save money, then I had to cuz it was my job.
03-09-16, 07:02 PM
#16
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other.....seemed to me to be part of the whole being able to work on my bike thing.
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(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
03-09-16, 07:34 PM
#17
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It was there.
And the Russian chick in the video saying "neeples."
And the Russian chick in the video saying "neeples."
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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
03-09-16, 07:37 PM
#18
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For the same reason I learned to tie my shoes.
03-09-16, 07:38 PM
#19
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I bent a wheel and didn't think twice about ordering the exact matching rim and rebuilding it like nothing happened. They also don't make wheels with Nuovo Record high flange hubs anymore.
03-09-16, 07:40 PM
#20
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I received $/wheel. Learned the technique from some MIT guy.
03-09-16, 07:48 PM
#21
Bike Butcher of Portland
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Same here, bruddah. Then I went out and got a torch...
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
03-09-16, 07:50 PM
#22
Bike Butcher of Portland
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Next time I put together a poll I'll lead with a "what categories should I put in?"
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
03-09-16, 07:53 PM
#23
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Because I learned the hard way that the LBS couldn't even true a wheel, let alone build one.
So next, I was using a mail-order builder whose wheels would soon start cracking rims, and they refused to warranty their work. After buying a tension meter, I discovered they were cranking the tension up beyond what the meter could read.
That was when I realized if I wanted it done right, I needed to do it myself.
So next, I was using a mail-order builder whose wheels would soon start cracking rims, and they refused to warranty their work. After buying a tension meter, I discovered they were cranking the tension up beyond what the meter could read.
That was when I realized if I wanted it done right, I needed to do it myself.
Last edited by Shimagnolo; 03-09-16 at 07:56 PM.
03-09-16, 08:40 PM
#24
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I am a very curious, self reliant person who does not like to wait for someone to do something for me, especially when I'm perfectly capable of learning how to do it for myself - and do it well. I don't want to pay someone to do it for me, when I can do it myself. That's not to say that I won't ask for help or recognize when I need help.
I also feel accomplished, satisfied, creative and smart when I finish a wheel. I LOVE wheel building and wheel "stuff".
I also feel accomplished, satisfied, creative and smart when I finish a wheel. I LOVE wheel building and wheel "stuff".