Ask the experts

[forty]

Can o worms?!

I've been looking for a wheel set for my old fat bike for years and I'm close to giving up on a plug and play set and am thinking about sourcing hubs and rims to build my own.

I'm barely savvy enough to understand hub sizes, spoke count, bolt pattern hub spacing etc so I think I can hopefully source the correct parts but I've never built a wheel. Is this something a complete newb can do with out a truing stand or should I pass it to the LBS?

you can build wheels without a stand easy enough, ive never used a stand during initial lacing and have built a dozen or so wheels

figuring out correct spoke length can be a pain depending on hub/rim
putting spokes into pattern correctly can be frustrating but isnt actually hard
bringing up to tension while keeping true isnt difficult but will test your patience

if you have the time and interest give it a go, probably a local who can help out if needed, and lbs can do the final tension and true if you dont feel confident

[forty]

a couple Q's for the spandex experts in here...

1. i have a 1989 allez epic dura ace, like this


finally managed to wear out the stock drivetrain using it on the trainer in mostly a single gear
thus it needs new ring/cassette/chain

initial research is telling me this isnt a normal 7spd cassette style, and the rings are biopace...

what am i looking for in replacement parts?

2. my old sidi dominator IIIs are about dead
ive replaced buckles/velcro but the traction lugs have all fallen off and the sole just isnt as stiff as it used to be so im getting foot cramps on the trainer, which is my only use for these shoes

what are some good shoes for the trainer?
spd pedals, narrow low volume foot, cheaper the better, or should i just bite the bullet and get a new pair of sidis?

[simple]

Get a Peloton

[XXX-er]

I picked up a park wheel truing stand pretty cheap 20 yars go when a bike store went under and never used it much

i think you can find stands pretty cheap on line, shop bro said to make sure it will also handle 27.5/ 29/ FAT rims

[jm2e]

Wheelbuilding? Lots and lots of discussions in here about it. Everyone's got their take. It's definitely doable.
It's one of the most gratifying things you can do wrenching bikes. More hobby than practicality though. It'll take you many many more hours to do than a shop, or you could put in a few hours of overtime at work to offset the price of paying a shop and still come out ahead financially and time wise. But then you wouldn't get the experience.
Get the Roger Musson eBook for like $15 bucks and follow it like you'd follow the instructions building a model plane. It's not art, it's not wizardry. It's just a straight forward, easy to follow process.
Buddy of mine used an old trainer as a stand and a shelf bracket as a truing guide. Cardboard or plywood as dishing guide.
Don't buy a stand until you're convinced it'll be a hobby.

[joetron]

a couple Q's for the spandex experts in here...

1. i have a 1989 allez epic dura ace, like this


finally managed to wear out the stock drivetrain using it on the trainer in mostly a single gear
thus it needs new ring/cassette/chain

initial research is telling me this isnt a normal 7spd cassette style, and the rings are biopace...

what am i looking for in replacement parts?

2. my old sidi dominator IIIs are about dead
ive replaced buckles/velcro but the traction lugs have all fallen off and the sole just isnt as stiff as it used to be so im getting foot cramps on the trainer, which is my only use for these shoes

what are some good shoes for the trainer?
spd pedals, narrow low volume foot, cheaper the better, or should i just bite the bullet and get a new pair of sidis?

Chainrings will be 5 bolt 130bcd, just get 53/39.
Any 7spd old school road cassette you can find.
EDIT: oops, missed the UG chain. Teledad is right, but maybe double check if the freehub has internal threads - then I think you could get a regular 7 spd cassette on it.
I’ll see if we’ve got any UG cassettes in the stash tmrw.

7sp chain = 6/7/8sp chain

Email me joeATDurangocycleryDOTCOm if ya want. We’ve probably got some lightly used stuff that’ll work. At least the cassette, but probably rings too.



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[teledad]

finally managed to wear out the stock drivetrain using it on the trainer in mostly a single gear
thus it needs new ring/cassette/chain

initial research is telling me this isnt a normal 7spd cassette style, and the rings are biopace...

what am i looking for in replacement parts?

Yeah, Dura-Ace 7-speed cassettes are incompatible with pretty much everything (including other Shimano 7-speed cassettes) and are basically impossible to find.

Some options:
- Depending on how worn the cogs are, you might get a little more life by opening up the cassette and rotating the cogs. These use Uniglide cogs which are symmetric.
- Find/buy a cheap rear wheel with 126mm spacing that takes a freewheel. Get a new 7-speed Sunrace freewheel and you're set.
- Get a wheel with an 8-speed cassette and put the shifters in friction mode or swap them out for 8-speed SIS. You'll need to spread the chainstays 4mm to fit the hub - that might be a problem with CF chainstays though.
- Try to find replacement Uniglide cogs - but these are basically impossible to find or silly expensive if you can.

I'd probably pick the first or second option for a trainer bike, particularly with an 80's CF frame.

For the chainrings, do you really want Biopace? Regular (round) 130 BCD rings will work fine on the same cranks. But there are Biopace rings on ebay if you really want one.

For chains, any 8 speed chain will work even with a 7 speed cassette or freewheel.

[XXX-er]

Wheelbuilding? Don't buy a stand until you're convinced it'll be a hobby.

yeah this ^^ I got one sitting unused for yars

i don't know what wheels it would accomadate

[Thaleia]

Heh, thanks guys. You have more faith in me than I did lol. I think I'll take this on. I sincerely appreciate the encouragement and advice.

[EWG]

I love building wheels. It’s like waxing skis. Get a stand. I always used Brandt’s book. It’s a great hobby.

I actually have a 7 speed dura ace cassette but unfortunately I’m saving it for a 1986 Clio rebuild.

[Falcon3]

Here’s what good old Sheldon Brown had to say about your Dura Ace Uniglide Cassette.

“What To Do With An Old Dura-Ace 7- or 8-speed Uniglide Hub

Uniglide cassettes are no longer available. If you've got a Dura-Ace Uniglide hub and need a new cassette, these are your options:

Cheapest: Uniglide sprockets are basically symmetrical, so if you have a worn-out cassette, you can flip the individual sprockets over. This will let you use the un-worn sides of the teeth.
This doesn't work for the smallest (threaded) sprocket, but does work for all of the others.”

Moderate: Hyperglide sprockets have one wider spline where they fit onto the Freehub body, as you can see above. If you grind this wide spline off, you can use any current Hyperglide sprockets or complete cassette, except, again for the smallest sprocket, which must be the special Dura-Ace threaded type.
Best:You can replace the Freehub body with an 8-9-10 speed Hyperglide unit as described below.

[teledad]

I actually have a 7 speed dura ace cassette but unfortunately I’m saving it for a 1986 Clio rebuild.

Not using Campy? Sacrilege.

[Rossymcg]

anyone else suffered tennis elbow and struggled to ride. mines murder

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[XXX-er]

I don't play tennis but i've had tennis elbow 5 times from paddling, carpenters who swing hammers or drywallers also get it, when its bad try one of those bands that wrap just below the elbow & take IBU , other wise it would just go away in the off season but just google treatment


I duno how it might pertain to your situation but what seemed to cause tennis elbow for me was having to constantly grip the paddle shaft as opposed to it just being in my hand , ever since I went smaller blade/ small shaft/ shorter paddle 15 yars ago I havent had an issue

[BigHerm]

I have been dealing with tennis elbow from riding for the last few years, always seemed to creep in mid July and fade away in late November. Moved to year round biking and it got real bad by the first week of January.

Stretching and KT tape gave minimal relief. Best results came from using Theraband Flexbars daily, and doing forearm strength exercises. It got way better although I'm still taking it easy for rotator cuff reasons...

[XXX-er]

If you got small hands try using a small diameter grip to help with tennis elbow

according to the following info I am right on the cusp of either size at 6.5"

" Shaft Diameter: Choosing the proper shaft size (diameter of the shaft) for your hands assures a more comfortable experience on the water. You'll maintain a lighter grip for better technique, allowing better control and reduced fatigue. Measure your hand size by placing a ruler at the base of your hand (at the joint of your wrist) and measuring to the tip of your middle finger. If you measure longer than 6.5" Werner suggests the standard shaft. Smaller, go to Werner's small diameter shaft. If you are on the line, it is suggested that you come into the Paddle Sports Center and try both to see for yourself. Paddlers with shorter, thicker fingers also gravitate to small shaft. "

from Werner ^^ again its paddling related but some info to consider and it did work for me,

Werner make simply ze best kayak paddles IME

[grinch]

Ive gone back to thin push on grips and its made a big difference in forearm pump. Long downhills use to get scary near the end and not fun. No plaumying on the bike at all just survival. Glued on renthal push ons. Less than half the price of lock ons. No idea why i stayed with lock ons for so long. Ultra thin oakley bmx grips were my faves for years. Probably impossible to find those though

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[J. Barron DeJong]

Shaft Diameter: Choosing the proper shaft size…

Wait… we’re able to choose our shaft size now? I thought we were stuck with what god gave us. Why does it seem like I’m always the last one to learn these sort of things.

[XXX-er]

No idea why i stayed with lock ons for so long. Ultra thin oakley bmx grips were my faves for years. Probably impossible to find those though]

cuz if you need to mess with handlebars such as bleeding brakes lock-on grips are handy

its possible to find thin lock ons, yeti and SC came with thin branded lock-ons

[criscam]

Wait… we’re able to choose our shaft size now? I thought we were stuck with what god gave us. Why does it seem like I’m always the last one to learn these sort of things.

yes and no. remember, the size of your shaft should correspond to the size of your hand "for a more comfortable experience". don't get greedy.

[XXX-er]

somebody could probably write an app where you chose grip size by just taking a picture of your penis

which you probably already have

[skaredshtles]

cuz if you need to mess with handlebars such as bleeding brakes lock-on grips are handy

What brakes require you to remove the grips to bleed them? Am I missing something?

[grinch]

cuz if you need to mess with handlebars such as bleeding brakes lock-on grips are handy

its possible to find thin lock ons, yeti and SC came with thin branded lock-ons

Push ons are still thinner. A little bit goes a long way for comfort. Lock ons do offer that convenience but the push ons are so cheap that i can just throw another one or 2 on if for some reason i have to pull a lever or shifter. The push ons are still cheaper but if for some reason i have to do multiple swaps and tgey end up more than lock ons its still a small price to pay. Besides, ive come to the conclusion that the thinnest possible is a necessity. Anyone has a thinner grippy push on thats thinner thsn the renthals im all ears
Worth a try if you think they may work for you. If not you still have the lock ons. I used tge renthat grip glue, $7 a tube will do multiple pairs. I put them on both bikes and still lots left but not sure on shrlf life. Every order i throw in grips, brake pads , maybe a chsin etc

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[XXX-er]

What brakes require you to remove the grips to bleed them? Am I missing something?

you mean about grips or just in general ?

maybe you wana take them off the bar and rap on them to dislodge bubbles ?

fucking with the seat dropper or whatever ?

whatever reason you might want to take a grip off

[skaredshtles]

you mean about grips or just in general ?

maybe you wana take them off the bar and rap on them to dislodge bubbles ?

fucking with the seat dropper or whatever ?

whatever reason you might want to take a grip off

I guess I'm just used to everything being removable from the bar without removing the grips... I guess if I needed to remove grips with any regularity, lock-ons might be handy.

I always thought they were kind of a solution looking for a problem, though.