The best wheelbuilders in Europe, who are they?

Wheels, Tires, Tubes, Tubeless, Tubs, Spokes, Hookless, Hubs, and more!

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The spirit of this board is to compile and organize wheels and tires related discussions.

If a new wheel tech is released, (say for example, TPU tubes, a brand new tire, or a new rim standard), feel free to start the discussion in the popular "Road". Your topic will eventually be moved here!
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LouisN
Posts: 3590
Joined: Mon Feb 19, 2007 3:44 am
Location: Canada

by LouisN

You need an experienced mechanic, not specifically a wheel builder.
Try your wheel on another bike first, to see if it's really the problem.
Then address from there...

Louis :)

by Weenie


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Raimundo
Posts: 373
Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2020 4:55 pm
Location: Flanders

by Raimundo

LouisN wrote:
Sat Oct 05, 2024 1:33 pm
There are a few ways to check for defects in the rear hub, not just the build.
Install the cassette and rotor,and see if all the gears shift right where they should. Also check if the rotor comes right in the center of the caliper.
I also build my own wheels and have a problem with two different rear wheels. They are both centered, shift perfectly well when changing from one to the other. But one of them has the rotor just a tiny bit off center in the rear caliper. I sent the rear hub to a machinist to shave the small difference.
What I'm trying to say is if your new wheel shifts are perfectly aligned with you Bontrager, and also the rotor is centered with the caliper, then something else is off.
Is the length the same 142 mm exactly ? Maybe some different end caps would correct this, if shifting is off...
Do you have the same big tires on the Bontrager wheel ? Same thru axle ?
I once had a friend/client come with your problem on an old Cervelo R5. After trying to solve it, I came to the sad but obvious conclusion that her bike rear dropouts were out of alignment (on a rim brake QR bike, your tire looks like your rear wheel is out of alignment, it's way closer to the chain stay than the seat stay). So she went to a bike shop specialist that corrected this difference, so the wheel would sit straight, so she could install a bigger, more comfortable tire on her R5.

Louis :)
I kind of omitted that part too to avoid a too long of a post.

I did tried the MCFK rear wheel in question on my other 142mm disc brake frame, it also sits offset like in the other frame. The tyres i have on my rear Bontrager are also quite fat at 31mm WAM.
With the exception of my ENVE/Chris King wheelset, all of my other disc brake wheelsets (FFWD 44, RSL 62, MCFK 35)can be interchanged without needing rotor or cassette adjustment, on both frames, they are all DT SWISS based after all... They all share the same thru axle and i measured them all at 142mm.

Anecdotally, the wheelset (DT SWISS R23 BD) on my commuter is severely dished, 3mm IRC. But considering the price it costs, and the amount of kms it has covered, i really couldn't care less...

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Raimundo
Posts: 373
Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2020 4:55 pm
Location: Flanders

by Raimundo

Mr.Gib wrote:
Sat Oct 05, 2024 4:39 pm
So no hidden nipple? Then a super easy fix - just get in there with a spoke key and tight each of the non-drive side spokes a bit. It's good that the error is toward the drive side. Pulling the rim toward the non-drive side is facilitated by the generous non-drive side spoke angle. Going the other way can be tricky.
Yeah, even only using my hand to "squeeze" the NDS spokes, they seem a lot less tensioned than the DS spokes. And yet the rim has no discernable run out while spinning. The wheel is true.

Apparently different builders at r2bike and at MCFK, considered this a successful build. :noidea:

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Mr.Gib
Posts: 5829
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2005 4:12 pm
Location: eh?

by Mr.Gib

Raimundo wrote:
Sat Oct 05, 2024 8:35 pm
Mr.Gib wrote:
Sat Oct 05, 2024 4:39 pm
So no hidden nipple? Then a super easy fix - just get in there with a spoke key and tight each of the non-drive side spokes a bit. It's good that the error is toward the drive side. Pulling the rim toward the non-drive side is facilitated by the generous non-drive side spoke angle. Going the other way can be tricky.
Yeah, even only using my hand to "squeeze" the NDS spokes, they seem a lot less tensioned than the DS spokes. And yet the rim has no discernable run out while spinning. The wheel is true.
Yes, some carbon rims will stay true with uneven spoke tension. That's why it's important to have an ear or get a tensiometer.
wheelsONfire wrote: When we ride disc brakes the whole deal of braking is just like a leaving a fart. It happens and then it's over. Nothing planned and nothing to get nervous for.

TidyDinosaur
Posts: 98
Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2022 6:48 pm
Location: Central EU

by TidyDinosaur

If you have never built a wheel I would not attempt this yourself... When dishing the wheel chances are that the wheel will go untrue again and you have to adjust some more.

A 2 mm gap is definitely not acceptable. When I build wheels I allow for MAX 1mm. This means 0,5 mm on both sides of the wheel.

Greeners
Posts: 68
Joined: Fri Apr 26, 2024 10:13 am

by Greeners

If the shop/builder says the dishing is correct you could verify this by installing the wheel both ways within the frame. If it is dished properly there ought to be no difference from side to side. If the dish is off, the offset gap between stays will switch from side to side within the stays. As said above, adjusting the dish to suit your frame is only a matter of tweaking the spoke tension on a particular side/set of spokes.
The dishing tool doesn't lie, if it shows 2mm difference then that is what you are seeing between your stays.

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Raimundo
Posts: 373
Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2020 4:55 pm
Location: Flanders

by Raimundo

Requiem84 wrote:
Sat Oct 05, 2024 11:17 am
Raimundo wrote:
Sat Oct 05, 2024 9:47 am
Requiem84 wrote:
Fri Oct 04, 2024 5:00 pm
I bought my hand spoked wheels here in NL from a very thorough wheelbuilder. You can contact him at https://www.vanspeykwheels.nl/.
Thanks! I came across this website while googling for a wheelbuilder. He seems to have very good ratings.
I'll put Him my short list...
Yeah he's very detailed. Are you Dutch speaking Belgium? If so, you can listen to him being the guest on a quite famous Dutch Cycling (on Granfondo's) podcast.

https://www.cycloworld.cc/article/five- ... ilder/2456
Thanks, cool listen, gives insight on the builder himself.
Haven't realized until now that they also had a podcast.

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Raimundo
Posts: 373
Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2020 4:55 pm
Location: Flanders

by Raimundo

TidyDinosaur wrote:
Mon Oct 07, 2024 8:48 am
If you have never built a wheel I would not attempt this yourself... When dishing the wheel chances are that the wheel will go untrue again and you have to adjust some more.

A 2 mm gap is definitely not acceptable. When I build wheels I allow for MAX 1mm. This means 0,5 mm on both sides of the wheel.
I must admit that I got inspired to learn weelbuilding. But i think, this time I will leave it to the professionals.

One of my riding buddies works at the local Trek shop, and he told me they could dish it correctly.

Now its on to decide if i ship the wheel to the builder that @Requiem84 advised, or if i drop it off at the Trek LBS.

Valuable to have your opinion on whether the gap is acceptable or not.

Requiem84
Posts: 463
Joined: Sat Oct 17, 2020 5:07 pm

by Requiem84

Raimundo wrote:
Tue Oct 08, 2024 5:57 am
Requiem84 wrote:
Sat Oct 05, 2024 11:17 am
Raimundo wrote:
Sat Oct 05, 2024 9:47 am
Requiem84 wrote:
Fri Oct 04, 2024 5:00 pm
I bought my hand spoked wheels here in NL from a very thorough wheelbuilder. You can contact him at https://www.vanspeykwheels.nl/.
Thanks! I came across this website while googling for a wheelbuilder. He seems to have very good ratings.
I'll put Him my short list...
Yeah he's very detailed. Are you Dutch speaking Belgium? If so, you can listen to him being the guest on a quite famous Dutch Cycling (on Granfondo's) podcast.

https://www.cycloworld.cc/article/five- ... ilder/2456
Thanks, cool listen, gives insight on the builder himself.
Haven't realized until now that they also had a podcast.
Yeah, it's a pretty good podcast. Lots of interesting info on Gran Fondo's, and some interesting guests as well.

So even if Van Speyk doesn't fix your wheel you got to know an interesting podcast.

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wheelbuilder
Posts: 1442
Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2017 2:10 am

by wheelbuilder

Raimundo wrote:
TidyDinosaur wrote:
Mon Oct 07, 2024 8:48 am
If you have never built a wheel I would not attempt this yourself... When dishing the wheel chances are that the wheel will go untrue again and you have to adjust some more.

A 2 mm gap is definitely not acceptable. When I build wheels I allow for MAX 1mm. This means 0,5 mm on both sides of the wheel.
I must admit that I got inspired to learn weelbuilding. But i think, this time I will leave it to the professionals.

One of my riding buddies works at the local Trek shop, and he told me they could dish it correctly.

Now its on to decide if i ship the wheel to the builder that @Requiem84 advised, or if i drop it off at the Trek LBS.

Valuable to have your opinion on whether the gap is acceptable or not.
Let your buddy at the Trek shop have a look. They can do it. Don't worry so much.
Never cheer before you know who is winning

TidyDinosaur
Posts: 98
Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2022 6:48 pm
Location: Central EU

by TidyDinosaur

wheelbuilder wrote:
Wed Oct 09, 2024 5:25 am
Raimundo wrote:
TidyDinosaur wrote:
Mon Oct 07, 2024 8:48 am
If you have never built a wheel I would not attempt this yourself... When dishing the wheel chances are that the wheel will go untrue again and you have to adjust some more.

A 2 mm gap is definitely not acceptable. When I build wheels I allow for MAX 1mm. This means 0,5 mm on both sides of the wheel.
I must admit that I got inspired to learn weelbuilding. But i think, this time I will leave it to the professionals.

One of my riding buddies works at the local Trek shop, and he told me they could dish it correctly.

Now its on to decide if i ship the wheel to the builder that @Requiem84 advised, or if i drop it off at the Trek LBS.

Valuable to have your opinion on whether the gap is acceptable or not.
Let your buddy at the Trek shop have a look. They can do it. Don't worry so much.
Yeah, it's no rocket science. I don't understand why the other parties involved could not solve this...

User avatar
Raimundo
Posts: 373
Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2020 4:55 pm
Location: Flanders

by Raimundo

Requiem84 wrote:
Tue Oct 08, 2024 6:42 am
Raimundo wrote:
Tue Oct 08, 2024 5:57 am
Requiem84 wrote:
Sat Oct 05, 2024 11:17 am
Raimundo wrote:
Sat Oct 05, 2024 9:47 am


Thanks! I came across this website while googling for a wheelbuilder. He seems to have very good ratings.
I'll put Him my short list...
Yeah he's very detailed. Are you Dutch speaking Belgium? If so, you can listen to him being the guest on a quite famous Dutch Cycling (on Granfondo's) podcast.

https://www.cycloworld.cc/article/five- ... ilder/2456
Thanks, cool listen, gives insight on the builder himself.
Haven't realized until now that they also had a podcast.
Yeah, it's a pretty good podcast. Lots of interesting info on Gran Fondo's, and some interesting guests as well.

So even if Van Speyk doesn't fix your wheel you got to know an interesting podcast.
I've been using their website to organize my "seasons" for a long time. I actually got surprised that they had a podcast...

About the wheel, I have the feeling I am not yet out of the woods. It might happen that I still have to reach him.

Let's see how it goes at the Trek LBS.

User avatar
Raimundo
Posts: 373
Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2020 4:55 pm
Location: Flanders

by Raimundo

wheelbuilder wrote:
Wed Oct 09, 2024 5:25 am
Raimundo wrote:
TidyDinosaur wrote:
Mon Oct 07, 2024 8:48 am
If you have never built a wheel I would not attempt this yourself... When dishing the wheel chances are that the wheel will go untrue again and you have to adjust some more.

A 2 mm gap is definitely not acceptable. When I build wheels I allow for MAX 1mm. This means 0,5 mm on both sides of the wheel.
I must admit that I got inspired to learn weelbuilding. But i think, this time I will leave it to the professionals.

One of my riding buddies works at the local Trek shop, and he told me they could dish it correctly.

Now its on to decide if i ship the wheel to the builder that @Requiem84 advised, or if i drop it off at the Trek LBS.

Valuable to have your opinion on whether the gap is acceptable or not.
Let your buddy at the Trek shop have a look. They can do it. Don't worry so much.
Going to Trek today after work with the wheel. Already made an appointment with them.
Trying to worry less about gear...

User avatar
Raimundo
Posts: 373
Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2020 4:55 pm
Location: Flanders

by Raimundo

TidyDinosaur wrote:
Wed Oct 09, 2024 10:07 am
wheelbuilder wrote:
Wed Oct 09, 2024 5:25 am
Raimundo wrote:
TidyDinosaur wrote:
Mon Oct 07, 2024 8:48 am
If you have never built a wheel I would not attempt this yourself... When dishing the wheel chances are that the wheel will go untrue again and you have to adjust some more.

A 2 mm gap is definitely not acceptable. When I build wheels I allow for MAX 1mm. This means 0,5 mm on both sides of the wheel.
I must admit that I got inspired to learn weelbuilding. But i think, this time I will leave it to the professionals.

One of my riding buddies works at the local Trek shop, and he told me they could dish it correctly.

Now its on to decide if i ship the wheel to the builder that @Requiem84 advised, or if i drop it off at the Trek LBS.

Valuable to have your opinion on whether the gap is acceptable or not.
Let your buddy at the Trek shop have a look. They can do it. Don't worry so much.
Yeah, it's no rocket science. I don't understand why the other parties involved could not solve this...
Exactly! Hence my overachieving thread title :D
If they didn't got it right, who would?

Have to admit that for a moment it crossed my mind to ask if somebody a weightweenies was up to it. Don't doubt that some members here would fix this with ease...

MarcFaFo
Posts: 93
Joined: Fri Sep 14, 2018 4:58 pm

by MarcFaFo

Raimundo wrote:
Sat Oct 05, 2024 9:47 am
Requiem84 wrote:
Fri Oct 04, 2024 5:00 pm
I bought my hand spoked wheels here in NL from a very thorough wheelbuilder. You can contact him at https://www.vanspeykwheels.nl/.
Thanks! I came across this website while googling for a wheelbuilder. He seems to have very good ratings.
I'll put Him my short list...

When I was looking for handmade wheels I approached Wheeltec as well. Had discussions on the phone with both, Wheeltec and van Speyk both are well regarded here in NL.

M: info@wheel-tec.nl
W: www.wheel-tec.nl
T: +31 (0)23 700 97 85 (di-vr: 13:00-17:00)

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



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