Since I started building wheels professionally 5 and a half years ago, I’ve seen A LOT of wheels come through for repairs and wheel builds, and a few patterns have emerged:
Alloy nipples in carbon rims is a big NO-NO.
Alloy corrodes really fast when in contact with carbon, and results in nipples which seize to the spokes, making truing impossible. When you try and turn the nipples, they simply crumble.
Use brass nipples in carbon rims.
If you’ve broken more than 2 spokes, or even a single nipple, it’s time for a rebuild.
Metal spokes fatigue and break – like a paperclip when you bend it repeatedly. If more than 2 spokes have broken in one wheel within a few hundred kilometres, they’ll all eventually need replacing.
Save yourself the hassle, and get the wheels professionally rebuilt.
If you’re on an entry to mid-range bike, new rims and a professional wheel build is the best upgrade there is!
Stock rims (and wheel build quality) leave a lot to be desired. It’s the easiest place for OEM’s to save money.
Stock alloy mountain bike rims are most often still narrow (less than 25mm wide internal), often don’t work well when set up for tubeless, and are typically weak and heavy.
Yes, you’ve paid good money for a new bike, but don’t let the wheels let down the experience.
My favorite thing in the world is building wheels, my second favorite is talking about it to other riders – don’t hesitate to get in touch!
