Determining Spoke Length for Wheel Building

The procedure for determining spoke length when building a bicycle wheel.

#wheelbuilding

Questions or comments? Leave them below!

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Video contents:
00:00 Video Start
00:25 Preliminary Info
01:21 Typical Tools
01:51 The Spoke
03:49 The Rim
07:11 Rim Offset
09:01 Hub Dimensions
12:01 Lacing Pattern
13:01 Differential vs. Non-Differential Spoke Lengths
15:02 Online Spoke Calculators

➤ Related Text Articles:

➤ Tools & materials used:
• Any Two Spokes and Two Nipples

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[mplsmark]

Professor Calvin requires us to show our work!
I have attended a few events where Calvin demonstrated Park Tools and had a repair tent. He was so generous with his time and encouraging for us to learn how to fix and maintain our bikes. I won a deluxe spoke wrench in his little raffle, it’s my favorite.
He is sort of a living legend, and a great ambassador for Park tool and bicycling in general.

[woodmt.]

This summer, I made two 27.5-inch wheels by learning from your video. Front and rear wheels. It was my first time, but I was able to make it well. Thank you for the very easy-to-understand explanation. The rims were tubeless ready, so I made the tires tubeless as well. My bike has a 135mm rear end, so I can't find any finished wheels that can be put on 12 gears. However, Shimano sells 135mm hubs, so I made the wheels originally. Thanks, my Merida 3×8 hardtail is now 1×12. With that in mind, the front suspension has also been upgraded. Now I enjoy riding that bike very comfortably. I live in the suburbs of Tokyo, so I usually run along rice paddy roads instead of mountains.

P.S.
I received PCS-10.3 today. I'm thinking about how to put it in my small room.

[MrJx]

All the ParkTool videos are the best anywhere. Visuals are so important and you guys are the gold standard.

[sabamacx]

Roger Musson's Professional Guide to Wheelbuilding. The only PDF I've ever bought in my life, and thoroughly worth it. Following it will hold your hand from zero to your first few sets of wheels.

[shortnamecycling]

The worksheet is a fantastic idea! I've built plenty of wheels but have never been systematic about recording the measurements, that's going to change now! Thanks!

[gergoolle]

17 min video with Calvin. Is it my birthday?

[LucaCottaRamusino]

I love these parktool videos it's like learning bicycle mechanics from Fank Zappa 🎸

[КонстантинРогочий]

Не забувайте ставити лайки, відео саме найкраще на світі! Нехай у всіх все складеться! Дякую авторам!

[clayjohnson]

Thanks Park Tool company! Love your tools as well as your videos! Happy cycling!

[kentcruse]

I would happily pay Calvin to build me a set of wheels just for the bragging rights! "Why yes, my wheels were built by Calvin from Park Tool!" 😁👍

[FOEChico]

I'm building a IGH (internal gear hub) wheel set for rear, a dynamo wheel set for front. This video helps me to figure out a lot. Thank you so much!

[johnhanley]

Great video, this is really the hard part about building a wheel, in my opinion.

[tlukins]

Calvin, a very good explanation. Thank you

[mikebikercanada]

Another great video Calvin. You're the best at making things easy to follow. You always bestow great confidence in me :)

[gonetoearth]

Fantastic video! The best explanation I’ve seen on this topic! Great resource as I build. Thx!!

[Rbnsssll]

Thanks to this video I was able to find out what spokes does my carbon road rims needed easily. Thank you so much!😁

[jeffreykennedy]

Hey C., You rock! Thankyou for sharing your knowledge.

[falfield]

Outstandingly clear - congratulations!

[rupedog]

Brilliant- i am about to do my CyTech wheel building next week - but wanted to get ahead (or more likely, to not fall behind in class!), this is just well explained. Great Video Calvin👏

[julianomarrecker]

Great explanation and very well detailed too, thanks!