Our wheels come ready to ride out of the box. No break-in period is required.
Clean and inspect wheels often, keeping an eye on wear and checking for damage. Minor adjustments may need to be made throughout the wheel's life. These should be done by a professional mechanic or wheel builder using appropriate tools.
The Wheel Department stocks a large variety of spoke lengths.We use a Phil Wood spoke cutter to precisely size each spoke forevery unique build.
It is not enough for the spoke threads to be covered by the nipple. Full thread engagement is paramount; strength will be compromised if a spoke does not engage the threads near the bottom. This is even more critical with alloy nipples which require full engagement throughout the head.
We choose lacing patterns with three goals in mind:
Strength is provided by the bracing angles the spokes provide. A drive wheel or disc wheel must be able to transmit torque, which requires a crossing pattern. Adding more crosses does not make a wheel stronger.
We base each wheel's crossing pattern on hub flange size, rim ERD, and spoke count. Higher crossing patterns are used on higher spoke count wheels because of the geometry of the lacing pattern. Ideally, neighboring spokes exit the hub flange in parallel to reduce stress.
Front rim brake wheels and non-torque sides of disc and drive wheels can be laced radially to add lateral rigidity while also saving some weight. We often lace a wheel with a crossing pattern even though a radial spoke is sufficient to provide more uniform spoke lengths throughout the wheelset, making it easier to service.
This is a guide to match a rim to your selected tire. Refer to a qualified mechanic for best practices when selecting a tire.