The MADE Show was fantastic. So glad to see so many inspired builders of frames and wheels!
We’re still around and, as you are reading this, so are you. Pause and give thanks.
With crisis comes change so let’s strive for better outcomes. In the meantime, support each other and don’t stop sharing. In that vein, here’s an update on Wheel Fanatyk.
We attended two CABDA Shows in San Diego and Chicago. Great encounters and exchanges throughout. It was especially heartwarming to hear:
So sorry to miss all of you at CABDA's 3rd show in NY.
We have new products in the store. Check for Cyclus Dishing Tools, Minoura Truing Stands, and more Wera hex-plus wrench options. A number of fresh P&K Lie truing stands and tensiometers arrived this month, and our drought of threading dies (holding up spoke machines) is over.
Check this new blog post on Dishing Tools. At recent Shows I led clinics starring a bunch of dishing tools. Thought they have been overlooked, taken for granted lately. Judging from student feedback, it’s true. While they all do the same job and the cheapest is as accurate as the most elaborate, there is quite a range of options.
Meanwhile, spokes continue to generate plenty of questions and discussions. Here is a message from Mark Pilder (cycling poet and philosopher in Seattle) who's doing commercial delivery via electric cargo bikes:
“My coworkers have destroyed a few wheels. The front hub motor in the 20” wheel doesn’t leave many choices in the way of lacing spokes. On our cargo trailers there were 16” wheels with radial laced spokes, which would be fine on a jogging stroller toting a small child. But we’re loading these trailers up with hundreds of pounds of mail and packages. The trailer wheels have been rebuilt with a 2-cross. Which helps a lot. I’m just writing to ask if you’ve already addressed the unique challenges in hub-motor wheel builds in one of your blog posts that I’ve overlooked?”
That’s a growing topic needing regular revisits. Some links to related posts:
The blessings of thicker spoke elbows.
About single butted spokes for heavy duty.
Prepare for huge disk brake forces.
Look for my next post on heavy duty wheels (electric, cargo, fat, trekking). Bike manufacturers are lagging with good wheel design and, as usual, the challenge is falling to wheel builders on the ground.
This week we made contact with a local cycling creative, Gabriel Chrisman of Victorian Cycles in Port Townsend. He and his wife reenact the Victorian period in a town tailor-made for it. They are 24/7, never out of character and that includes building turn-of-the-century replica bikes. Gabriel needed length adjustments on some 13G spokes for pre-pneumatic (solid tire) wheels—needing longer spokes. In his case, these were 332mm. The bike in question is for an upcoming (well, certain to be delayed) HBO mini-series set in NYC in the 1890's. Later we'll share more on it and his custom bike. Here is a stock option:
We appreciate any business you can afford. Remember that things will become good again and will return to a "new" normal.
Hope you will all be safe and no matter how bad it becomes for you that a bright future awaits!
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James Thurber
November 02, 2021
Yes, a change is afoot. Bicycling is, as usual, a perfect solution to many problems.
No contamination from other riders. You’re Amish? Never a problem. You might put your cardiologist out of business – but that’s not your fault. You will live long and likely prosper.
And if you’ve lowered yourself to the point where you’re making your own wheels, more power to you.