How do you get a perfectly round and centered wheel? That’s the art of wheel building, a skill that combines patience and method.
Did you know? Contrary to popular belief, wheel performance isn’t just about weight. The quality of the spoke lacing is actually one of the key factors in achieving a dynamic and durable wheel. Insufficient tension results in a “soft” wheel and, more importantly, a significant risk of spokes coming loose and breaking. Too much tension leads to rapid fatigue and premature breakage of spokes or spoke nipples.
At Rayons et Manivelles, spoke tensions are individually adjusted and checked to guarantee optimal and, above all, perfectly even tension across each spoke plate, generally higher on the cassette side at the rear and the disc side at the front. A methodical approach and the right tools allow us to balance these tensions to +/- 10% on each plate, a level of performance that industrial builds simply can’t achieve.
You will find below a typical control report of a rear racing wheel – carbon rim laced with high end bladed spokes. You will note the exceptionally low spread of the spoke tension values on the drive side. Such a control report is available for the most demanding customers.
Interesting enough you can detect by yourself if your wheel is properly built by “playing” each spoke like a guitar string and comparing these notes. The higher the tension, the higher the note. If there is a significant note difference between two spokes on the same side of the wheel it means your wheel needs an adjustment.
In addition to the spoke tension I take great care to eliminate the lateral and vertical run-out and to perfectly center the wheel on the hub. My building standards are the following :
- a lateral runout (side-to-side deviation) of less than ±0.2 mm
- a radial runout (up-and-down deviation) of less than ±0.25 mm
- a centering error of the rim relative to the hub center of less than 0.3 mm
These tolerances are more demanding than the ISO 4210-2 international standard.
You may of course customize your wheel build (rim, spokes, hubs) to suit your riding style and budget. I am available to advise you and answer your questions.
Park Tool Trueing Stand customized with analog calipers for vertical & lateral runout adjustment
DT Swiss Spoke Tensiometer
