• Log in
  • Cart (0)
  • Checkout
  • SHOP
  • BLOG
  • LIBRARY 
    • View All
    • Gallery
    • Events & Media
    • Wheel Building
    • Wheel Fanatyk Products
    • Tech
    • Reflections
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
Blog
Home   Blog   Triumphs, Tools, and Tricks

Triumphs, Tools, and Tricks

April 06, 2017 1 Comment

Triumph of Collaboration
PBMA continues to gain members, supporters and influence. So great to see mechanics network like never before, debate important issues, and clearly begin to gain in stature and resources. Both the FB page and the organization are open for applications and eager to share the growing list of benefits.

Another great mechanic story hails from Rwanda where the National Cycling Center is taking shape.

 

From ashes to elite cycling in a decade.

 

 

Serious support for an ambitious program.

 

Huge kudo's to mentor-in-chief, Jock Boyer, and a small army of selfless contributors. It's really looking good. Maybe you'll meet a traveling Rwandan National Team Member in the near future!

Tidbits
Trinkets are so rare in wheel  building, unlike the riding, camping, fishing, photography, etc., worlds. It's great to find and share them and here are three worth checking.

Cyclus's best wrench is a unique cast, stainless steel key with 3-corner drive jaws for 3.25 and 3.45 square nipples. We offer this indestructible gem for $19.00.

 

2.5mm thin in the center, 4.5mm thick at edges. Laser etched logo.

 

 

Jaw detail, lucky clover piercing!

 

 

What a unique profile. 40g of steel!

 

Also from the Cyclus world is their excellent aero spoke holder. Featuring 6 blade thickness sizes (from o.8mm to 1.9mm), this easy to handle wrench will stop aero spokes from twisting as you build. It sells for $12.00.

 

6 sizes, 25mm thick, 75mm total diameter.

 

 

Another angle of this well formed Geganhalter für Aero-Speichen.

 

Last and most unusual tool tidbit is Icetoolz nipple holder, designed for use with a drill. It's a thin spring steel sleeve that holds to the driver bit. At the end, the sleeve is slotted and shaped to grip a nipple while the driver head tightens it.

 

3 springy tabs hold the nipple head.

 

 

 

Ice inserter

 

Tricks
A special reward for those who persevered to the end of this post! Behold a solo builder on a Shanghai street with no apparent tool besides his spoke wrench. But wait, the hub is hanging from a red cord! When did you last lace a wheel with no support from below?

I've got my inspiration for April!

 

Image courtesy of Jonathon Lee.

 



Tweet Share Pin It Email

1 Response

Mike Tierney
Mike Tierney

November 02, 2021

That’s interesting – a hanging hub. I’ve got to think about that and maybe try it.

Leave a comment

Comments will be approved before showing up.

+Search the Library

+Library Categories

  • View All Library Archive
  • Gallery
  • Events & Media
  • Wheel Building
  • Wheel Fanatyk Products
  • Tech
  • Reflections

+Shop the Store

  • Lacing
  • Measuring
  • Threading
  • Truing
  • Useful Bits
  • Manuals
Quick Links
  • Shop
  • About
  • Library
  • Blog
  • Contact
Sign up for our newsletter

Sign up to get the latest on sales, new releases and more…

Wheel Fanatyk

Wheel Fanatyk is an opportunity to share about how bicycles and wheels work—what makes them last longer and ride better, and what tools help us build them finer and faster. 


© 2023 Wheel Fanatyk. Website Design & Development by Tumbleweed Creative

American Express Apple Pay Diners Club Discover Meta Pay Google Pay Mastercard PayPal Shop Pay Venmo Visa