How To Build A Bicycle Wheel | Maintenance Monday

Thanks to DT Swiss for inviting us to their factory. Ex pro cyclist Simon Richardson is tutored by Marcel Waldmann to learn exactly how to build a wheel.

Simon is joined by Master Wheel Builder Marcel Waldmann - AKA Masters Downhill World Champion - at DT Swiss to learn how to build his first wheel.

Lace it, pretension it, dish it, destress it, true it and then tension it fully...

Step 1 - What you'll need

Spokes, nipples, hub and rim make a wheel, with Marcel explaining what you'll need for your build and the handy DT Swiss tool online to help you.

Step 2 - Lacing

Using the Schraner method, now Simon starts to lace the spokes from hub to rim. Drive side first!

Step 3 - Tensioning

Now laced, we move to the truing stand to tension the spokes. Firstly we pre-tension the wheel to make sure each spoke is threaded into the nipple by the same amount. Thankfully now with a drill, not by hand!

With spokes adjusted to true the wheel, next the spoke tension is checked.

Voila! A downhill wheel, shame Si doesn't have a DH bike...

Have you ever built a wheel? Let us know in the comments 👇

Watch more on GCN...

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Leave us a comment below!

[gcn]

Do you build your own wheels or leave it to the master wheelbuilders like Marcel? Let us know here! 🚲

[Ferreal]

After witnessing this level of precision I am beginning to question the quality of every wheel in my garage.

[cantinasongband]

@10:23 Literally right when he said "you can hear the sound from the spokes" the music came on and you couldn't hear anything! thanks...

[pkelly]

building my own wheel is time consuming, uneconomical, mentally challenging, unnecessary, and difficult which is exactly why I want to do it.

[sergio]

I was lost on the second spoke, hahaha

[gstep]

Anyone attempting this should have this book. I build all my wheels and this book has been of untold value. Professional Guide to Wheel Building
By Roger Musson

[willian.direction]

I was listening to you Simon but also the other wheel builder on his cordless drill his motor timing was spot on every time . Thanks for showing .

[kryghyzho]

Building wheels is just so much fun, really adds another dimension to building up your own bike. Quite nice to just work on a wheel after a long day of work as well, just take time and go through the steps. It's highly addictive though, I now build all my own wheels + a lot for friends/family as well!

[thomasjbrablec]

All I got from this is to let someone who knows what they're doing build your wheels.

[AdamEronenPiper]

I literally built my front and rear wheels for the first time yesterday to replace worn out hubs. They are holding together well so far. Wish me luck on the trails tomorrow =S

[atdit]

Wow I can really hear his Swiss accent!

[maxpower]

I have ebike that I built myself and it came with an assembled wheel and hub motor.. Due to a horrible sidewalk now im forced to build a wheel.. I'm an accomplished auto mechanic with over 30yrs xp points, and during this little venture I've realized no matter how smart you are there's ALWAYS more to learn... 🤯

[jffydavy]

Thanks, I have been saying it for years, building and truing wheels is both an art and a science. Talk about tying and soldering spokes.

[dickroot]

old-school tradesmen type guys like Marcel are amazing to watch at what they do, I bet if they took away all that fancy tech he could still build up a brilliant set of wheels by feel and with the most simple tools. cool video.

[dennisd]

Wish this guy was working in the south burbs of Chicago. I'd be bringing over bmx wheels and hubs and asking him to build these for me, PLEASE. Awesome education.

[santiagobenites]

I've taught myself how to build wheels, and I've built 3 pair now in my living room. I was greatly inspired by Jobst Brandt's book 'The Bicycle Wheel'

[robertokeefe]

Great video, I have been meaning to get 'round' to building a wheel and after many years I may give it a try! Awesome instructions by Marcel :)

[wheelsrbest]

I always thought how to videos were meant to inspire you to do it !

[gaborvaradi]

Just built my first one yesterday - a tough job that requires a lot of time and thinking (=patience). To me it is not really an exact science: I was working with much less sophisticated tools, those in the video are pretty high tech and price range... This way I will have to get into an extensive testing period on the bike. But I know the logic now and what is required to do this. It is a great feeling to have built the wheel by myself against all odds and service staff advice (="buy a new wheel/bike"). I think every rider should try it on a cheaper construction bike to understand and get a feeling of it.

[brucelittle]

I build my first pair of wheels about 3 years ago and they are still rideable. Now I have so many now I have some pairs of wheels I don't what to do with them, lol It is very addictive.