Submitted by
hughtmccullough
a Weekend Warrior
from Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2011
Strengths: Easy to follow, clear, logical, ALL you need to build a wheel if you are any way competent at bike maintenance. An idiot's guide AND thorough details that would be good enough for a professional. Low cost.
Weaknesses: None that I can think of.
Bottom Line:
I first used this when the bearing cups in my front wheel were worn. I bought new wheels but was able to get a replacement hub at a good price and thought I would have a go at fixing the old one. I worked at it steadily and everything just worked as the book said. Since then I have rebuilt another wheel, this time because I had a rim burst. Again I ended up with an excellent wheel and have never had to re-true either. I made some of the tools suggested but I found that a good enough wheel stand is the bike itself, using the brake blocks to measure the out-of-true as you go along. The book is, in a word, perfect!
Bike Setup: Condor Fratello, standard except for a change to cross forks.
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Submitted by
stubs
a Cross Country Rider
from Liverpool, England
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2011
Strengths: Easy to read and understand. No Dark art or blackmagic bull that some wheelbuilders and magazines tell you is required to build wheels. Excellent plans to build your own wheel jig mine cost me £3.50 for the bolts and the wood was recycled from an old wardrobe.
Weaknesses: The lacing diagrams could be in colour to make it slightly more obvious when you have a part built wheel in one hand and a spoke in the other. Make sure you have plenty of ink and paper when you print it off. Or print it off at work whilst the boss isnt looking.
Bottom Line:
Originally bought this just to help me repair and maintain my wheels. It seemed so easy I decided to have a go at a full build started with a second hand XT rear hub and Mavic XM317 rim plus some cheap plain gauge spokes off ebay. Made a boob first time I laced it but that was me trying to rush and not counting the spoke holes properly. Went off and had a cup of tea and came back and it all fell into place took me about 3 hours total build time. The wheel is still going strong on my commuter bike shrugging off all the potholes and has never had so much as a turn with the spoke key in 10 months and over 2,000 miles. I have now built a set of wheels for my sisters bike and 2 front wheels 1 for my bike and 1 for a friend plus I have trued and repaired 6 other wheels.
If you like looking after your bike and want to save money get this book build the wheel jig and have a go.
Similar Products Used: watched some videos on youtube that were universally unenlightening.
Bike Setup: Commencal Super 4, XM719 rims XT rear hub, Superstar Evo 20mm front hub, Avid Elixir brakes, Easton EA 50 bars stem post, XT drivetrain, Maxxis Ardent 2.25 front Maxxis Larsen 2.0 rear.
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Submitted by
FGEP
a Weekend Warrior
from Natchez, MS USA
Date Reviewed: November 3, 2010
Strengths: Very understandable and very complete
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
I can understand this book easily. It is written in such a way that anyone with mechanical ability can build a good wheel using just this book. The other books that I have read are unnecessarily complicated. The section on spoke length is over the top. Glad I found it on the BROL forum. It also bebunks a lot of info on what it takes to build a strong wheel. YAHOO !!!!
Similar Products Used: book Jobst Brandt(?sp) and Shelton Brown's article
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Submitted by
actonblue
a Weekend Warrior
from London England
Date Reviewed: January 19, 2010
Strengths: Written in a straight forward way that sets out to de-mystify the art of wheelbuilding. Much easier to read than any other on the subject including the Barnett Manual and Jobst Brandt.
If you want learn how to build a wheel and the associated tools this is the only publication that you need.
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
Its clearly written you will not need any other manual.
I have been building and maintaining most of my own wheels since the late 70's. I am almost completely self taught but have built up a fair bit of experience. Nevertheless, Roger's book gave me quite a few valuable tips to solve problems more easily, as well as confirming some things I already believed (like there is no "black art", it just uses straightforward engineering principles and needs procedure and practice to become competent).
I built his wheel jig and was amazed at the improvement over my basic bought one. (Also made his cardboard dishing tool - will make a wooden one later, and then his nipple screwdriver). It was worth buying the book for this alone!
Great value for money.
Similar Products Used: Book from 1980s - can't remember title. Various online and magazine articles
Bike Setup: Various road race, tt, mountain, and utility bikes.
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Submitted by
Battsen
a Weekend Warrior
from Denmark
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2009
Strengths: Argumentation
Illustrations
images
good for both pros and beginners
Weaknesses: None really
Bottom Line:
Mr. Musson has written an excellent book, all steps of wheel building is perfectly described for beginners but also usage of pro gear is described very well. The illustrations are another big plus.
Submitted by
dougmurray
a Cross Country Rider
from Missoula, MT, US
Date Reviewed: November 7, 2009
Strengths: Very clear, concise, and useful information. I recently switched computers and rather than hunting through files on the old, I was able to download a new copy of the updated version using the link in the email I received when I first purchased the book in Feb 08 (thanks to gmail's searchable archives). And I see from his website yet another improvement is coming soon, with online videos!
Weaknesses: Not necessarily a weakness; it's worthwhile to print and have it spiral-bound. Double-sided, I think it was less than $5 at the university printshop.
Bottom Line:
will certainly improve your wheelbuilding skills. Indispensable resource.
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from West Moors, Dorset, England
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2009
Strengths: Accurate, easily understood, well written, excellent diagrams!
Weaknesses: Not a bound book.
Bottom Line:
Excellent, the only fault will be made by the reader (me on my first attempt, I didn't read it thoroughly). Follow Roger's advice and your first attempt will be faultless. Finally, if you don't understand somthing you have read. Somewhere else in the text will be an explination to help you. The best advice given in the book is TAKE YOUR TIME.
Strengths: I m a wheelbuilder and spent a few years to produce the strongest MTB wheels. I luckily met the Roger's Book.
Rogger wheel building book is the best one among other books for me even though I read a number of books. his book is very much of practical use, for not only beginner but also even specialist. He can give you the best approach as for wheelbuilding, also kind & quick communication, I think His book never hide his skill and knowhow, his thorough knowledge.
Weaknesses: None, not found yet.
Bottom Line:
I strongly recommend Roger Musson Wheel Building book for novice and even expert like me. He wil give you his mystery straightforwardly & openly regarding how to build the best & strongest wheel. His book is great wheelbuilding guide book, to be sure!!
Similar Products Used: The Bicycle wheel,Barnett's Manual, The art of wheel building and some other books
Bike Setup: all the mountain bike wheels
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Submitted by
MK_
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: April 13, 2009
Strengths: Great step by step instructions; theory; how tos for making your own wheel building tools; spoke length calculation formulas
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
This is a top notch manual and reference. I bought the 3rd edition when Roger got back into wheelpro.co.uk back in 2005; I originally used his old website for a reference in some of my builds; when the book was published I immediately purchased the PDF and went to Kinkos to get it printed and bound. I've used the book a lot for a reference in my various builds and periodically, when I get rusty, I use it to remind myself the proper initial steps in lacing up the wheel to get the valve stem in the correct spot. I haven't made any tools Roger speaks about as I have various Park tools to do the job, nevertheless, if they work for the author they should work for you. Great book!
Submitted by
Dennis Hoff
a Weekend Warrior
from Fargo, ND
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2009
Strengths: Very good introduction to wheel building. This should be the very first thing someone interested in wheel building or repair purchases, even before a spoke wrench.
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
Great value in teaching wheel building and repair.
Submitted by
Speshpaul
a Cross Country Rider
from UK
Date Reviewed: March 22, 2009
Strengths: Very clear, very detailed. The DIY wheel jig and tools are great, i brought the book and assembled the tools i need for less than £15. Many many wheels later i'm still using Rogers methods and tools. Recommended.
Weaknesses: Not having a laptop i had to print the book off to have a workshop copy, hardly the end of the world;-)
Bottom Line:
If you want to build wheels this book will teach you how, and you have to spend a fortune by kit to get started.
Highly recommended.
Strengths: All you need to know to build brilliant wheels with no prior wheel building knowledge, in an easy to read, clear and concise guide. Is the simplest and most logical step-by-step guide I have read, yet covers every building detail for both road and mountain bike wheel builds.
Weaknesses: None - although I was slightly dissappointed at how easy it was to make 'perfect' wheels - no 'black art' as often stated in mags etc, just a few simple logical steps - was hoping for a bigger challenge !!
Bottom Line:
Was truly amazed that my first set of wheels were so easily built following this guide, are still well within stated tolerances after 300 miles, and are only 65g a pair heavier than my Ksyrium SLs (mavic open pro, record hubs, dt revolution spokes, velox tape) yet cost me half the price and ride every bit as well. I'm also sure they will be more reliable and will cost me £1 and 10 minutes if I bust a spoke, rather than mavics £145,and four weeks, to replace the spokes and rim in the eventuality of a snapped ksyrium spoke ( the rim needs replacing as on each of the three occasions this has happened I have been sprinting and the ksyrium rims go into complete collapse - you'll need a lift home also !).
Submitted by
street_rider
a Cross Country Rider
from Lexington, MA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2009
Strengths: Clearest wheelbuilding book I've read, great hints for beginner and more advanced wheelbuilders as well. And Roger responds to e-mail questions - that's priceless!
Weaknesses: None.
Bottom Line:
Roger takes you carefully through the wheelbuilding process - you can follow his instructions to the letter and come up with a decent wheel from the start. Keep on building and you see new things in the book all the time, and he'll clarify by e-mail if you need it - he's even most gracious about dumb mistakes!
Similar Products Used: Jobst Brandt and Gerd Schraner wheelbuilding books.
Bike Setup: Bianchi Road bike, Gary Fisher hybrid
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Submitted by
James
a Weekend Warrior
from Manchester
Date Reviewed: March 13, 2009
Strengths: Sensibly written book which debunks myths and encourages good practice.
Weaknesses: It doesn't help someone looking for more advanced knowledge about building on carbon rims, low spoke counts, carbon damage diagnosis, hub maintenance etc
Bottom Line:
Its an excellent low cost way of learning building for those with an interest, but given the retail cost of spokes/rims/hubs etc, I think that mostly it will appeal to those wanting to repair or respoke damaged wheels.
Just doing the front wheel
Wheel
[url=http://www.cyclingcloseouts.com/Products/Stans-No-Tube-ZTR-Flow-650b-Rim-wValve-Stem__ZTR36788218M.aspx]Stan's No Tube ZTR Flow 650b Rim w Read More »
how much would a shop charge, on average, to build a set of 26" UST wheels, if i brought them all the parts (rims, spokes, hubs, tires, etc)
thanks Read More »
Hi,
As certains might know, I'm pretty light (sub 120) and I would like to start building my own wheel for 3 reasons : I could really use lightweight wheels as I'm super light, Read More »
first off a little aboot me. I live in Winipeg, canada, which in the last couple years has become a hot spot for fat bikes. The shop i work for [url=http://www.olympiacycle.com]Oly Read More »
In wheel building which is the more important, even tension between all the spokes on a give side or absolute truness.
I just got finished building a new wheel. I tensioned i Read More »
