I’m giving the world the opportunity to #AskAWheelBuilder. Any and all questions welcome. I’ll answer the questions here…..
Question 1 comes from an old school buddy of mine:
“As an amateur, what sort of benefit could I expect to see upgrading to custom wheel sets?”
This is definitely a question I’m used to answering, and there are certainly benefits to consider – some may be more pertinent to you than others. Here we go:
5 benefits of using custom wheels:
- Ease of tubeless. Aftermarket rims from big brands like Spank, WTB, Stan’s NoTubes and RaceFace are all designed to work with tubeless tyres. They seat easily, even with a normal track pump and don’t burp as easily as tyres on non-tubeless-ready rims.
- Aesthetics. Matching the colour of your new rims or hubs makes a significant difference to the look of your bike.
- Reliability. Most aftermarket rims are stronger than their “stock” or OEM counterparts, making for more reliable wheels and less time and money spent on repairs. Custom wheels are assembled by hand to very precise and even spoke tensions, ensuring long and reliable service.
- Weight. Many stock wheels use plain gauge spokes and heavy rims. Aftermarket, or custom, rims are available in lightweight versions and I recommend using double-butted spokes for a better strength-to-weight ratio. Afermarket hubs by companies like Hope Technology also weigh considerably less than less expensive hubs found on entry-level bikes.
- Ease of maintenance. Less expensive OEM wheels have hubs that use loose ball, cup and cone, bearings. These need regular maintenance to prevent terminal hub damage. More expensive hubs use sealed cartridge bearings which are much easier to maintain and will not damage the hub if neglected.
- Rim width: By matching the rim width to better suit the tyres you prefer, you can vastly improve comfort, traction and handling.
Have any questions? Ask on social media using #AskAWheelBuilder in your Facebook post, Instagram post or Tweet.
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