Workshop Archive
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FARSPORTS Wheel Work
A customer brought in a pair of FARSPORTS carbon spoke wheels—front and rear—for service. The front wheel had runout, and the rear wheel had dead bearings. For …
Bora One 35
A customer brought in the front wheel of a Bora One 35 for service. It's a bright label with WO (tubular) spec on a wide rim. The customer said they got it from…
I Rebuilt the Yamaha e-Bike's Rear Wheel (Part 2: The Rear Wheel)
Another wheel day (and so on...). This is a continuation from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel that came with the Yamaha e-bike. I decided to fully rebu…
Rebuilt a Yamaha e-bike wheel (front wheel, part one)
Another day, another wheel (you know the rest). A customer dropped off the front and rear wheels from their Yamaha e-bike. Since I'm working on the front wheel …
The Last VOLT6000
This is a CatEye Uno headlight, and here's what it weighs with a single AA battery installed. The VOLT6000 (also a discontinued model) has a battery pack that w…
Built the Rear Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8. Revo disc hub, 24H, semi-CX sprint Laced in 46-position JIS pattern with iridesce…
Picked Up a White Uno
Before I get to the main topic, let me reply to some comments. I got a comment asking for a wider shot of the CatEye Nano F that I matched to the color of my fe…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
Another wheel build today (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8. Revolution disc hub, 24H, semi-CX sprint Laced 64-cross reverse Ita…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9 (45mm)
Another wheel day (and so on...). I sourced the rim to build the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9 (45mm). It just so happened that it matched the distributor…
Added a Front Light Bracket to the Fender Stay
This is the front fender for the Niner that I customized earlier (→ here ) I'm using an aluminum spacer fitted into the slot of the stay component. This is an e…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #9 (45mm)
Another day, another wheel build (and so on...). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #9 (45mm). Revo disc hub with XDR freebody, 24H Half-CX sprint 46 JIS l…
Rebuilt the front wheel of a SHARQ57 with a dynamo hub
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer dropped off a front wheel from a Fulcrum SHARQ57. Fulcrum's wave carbon rim wheels come in the high-end SHARK model a…
The Zero, Move! The Zero, Why Won't You Move!
I mean, you've gotta read something like this as THE O (pronounced "The-Oh"), right?
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9 (45mm)
Wheels again today (and so on...). I sourced two Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9 (45mm) rims for building front and rear wheels. The manufacturer's stated weight is 319g p…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #9 (45mm)
Wheels again today (and so on...). Continuing from yesterday. I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #9. Revo disc hub, 24H, black semi CX sprint 46-hole JIS…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #9 (45mm)
Wheels again today (and so on). I sourced two Nomu Lab Wheel #9 (45mm) rims— the distributor lists them at 319g actual measured weight— to build both front and …
The WH-R9370 Has Been Announced
Shimano has announced the WH-R9370 as the wheel for the R9300-series Dura-Ace, ahead of the component release. As rumored from the prototypes supplied to pro te…
Bora Ultra 35
I received both front and rear wheels of a Bora Ultra 35 from a customer. Speaking in terms of model year, it's only been produced for one year— a narrow rim tu…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #9 (32mm)
Another wheel build today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #9 (32mm). This is the match to the rear wheel I built the other day. Revo…
Rebuilt the XR331 Rim Rear Wheel
Another wheel day (and so on...). A customer brought in a rear wheel built with a DT XR331 rim. It's one we built here years ago and had been used for cyclocros…
Built a rear wheel with a 50mm high tubular rim
Another wheel build today (and so on...). Built a rear wheel with a 50mm high tubular rim. Novatech FS522 straight-pull hub Freewheel side: black CX Sprint Non-…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #9 (32mm)
More wheel building today (and so on). I sourced two 32mm-high rims for building the front and rear wheels of Nomu Lab Wheel #9. Today I built the rear wheel. R…
Made the Fenders Cute
↑This is a limited edition simple rear fender that inserts into the saddle rails of an Ascenders. The distributor's stock is already sold out, but there might s…
I Converted the Record Hub to CULT Bearings
The front and rear wheels with the Record hub I built the other day This is the earliest hub compatible with CULT bearings, which didn't exist when this hub was…
Built a rear wheel with AL22W rim
Another wheel build today (and so on...). I built a rear wheel using an AL22W rim designed for rim brakes. 660 hub, 24H, half-comp four-cross lacing With tie-an…
Built a rear wheel with an AL22W rim
Another day, another wheel (you know the drill). Built up a rear wheel using an AL22W rim for rim brakes. 660 hub, 24-hole, semi-comp 4-cross lacing With end-to…
CADEX 50 Ultra Disk Tubeless
I took in the front and rear wheels from a CADEX 50 Ultra from a customer. They're in for an inspection. Starting with the rear wheel. Earlier, I wrote about an…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day with wheels (and so on)... but first. The 660 hub (that's what we call it on this blog) —the Tni Six60 hub— recently had a spec change. Just to note…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on). I had an order for Nomu Lab Wheel #5 that works with Campagnolo, but I had a tough time sourcing the hub. Novatech 482 hub, 24H …
It Was a 2A Track Stem
About that Rosssin stem I mentioned the other day, I got a comment saying that the track version of the Cinelli 1A stem is actually the 2A, not the 1A. And they…
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, July 24th (Friday), I'll be taking the day off due to an unavoidable matter. I apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you for your understanding.
The Curse of "Prioritizing Aesthetic Appeal"
A customer of mine—well, a regular for over twenty years now—recently acquired a Rossini classic frame. So I mentioned that somewhere in my house I had a stem w…
A Sound Out of the Ordinary
A customer dropped off a Dahon front wheel for me to work on. The hub bearings were clearly shot, and when I mounted the hub to the front fork, there was so muc…
Restocked (Sort Of) Campagnolo Zonda DB
So, out of nowhere, I sourced some Campagnolo Zonda DB wheelsets. Actually, the Zonda DB is officially discontinued as a global model— it's down to remaining st…
About the Red Cleat Box for SPD-SL
Shimano's SPD-SL cleats have had a problem for a while now— low-quality generic knock-offs and counterfeit products bearing Shimano markings (similar to what ha…
Rebuilt the front wheel on an Alpinist CL
Another wheel day today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the front wheel on an Alpinist CL II. Like the rear wheel, it uses a DT350 hub wi…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on an Alpinist CL
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). A customer brought in the rear wheel from a Roval Alpinist CL. They wanted it rebuilt. The hub is Roval-branded, b…
Rebuilt a GP4 Rim Wheel (Front Wheel, But It's the Sequel)
Wheels again today (and so on). The front and rear wheels have different rims, but since I use them as a pair, I'm splitting this into front and rear posts. The…
Rebuilt a Sigma Rim Wheel (Rear Wheel, Part 1)
Another wheel day (and so on...). A customer brought in a rear wheel that we'd built here some time ago. The hub is a G2-series hub body like PowerTap SL+ or El…
Recovered the bolt from a Shimano PRO PLT stem
The drill is whining! A customer rode in with a bike equipped with a Shimano PRO PLT stem where they'd stripped out the hex socket on one of the upper bolts on …
Built a rear wheel with a WH-R9100 rear hub and AL22W rim
Another day of wheel work (you know the drill). A customer handed me the rear hub from a Shimano Dura-Ace wheel, a WH-R9100 with 20 holes. I built a rear wheel …
Rebuilt AL22 Rim Rear Wheel on Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Today it's wheels again (and so on...). In the middle of a rim relocation... A customer brought in a rear wheel with an AL22 rim that we'd built for them back i…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9 (32mm)
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9 (32mm). Revo disc hub (Shimano 12-speed dedicated) 24…
Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #9 (32mm)
Another day in wheel building (you know the drill). Got in two 32mm deep-section rims for building both wheels on Nomu Lab Wheel #9. Built the front wheel today…
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, July 11th (Saturday), I have some unavoidable business to attend to, so I'll be closing the shop. I apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you for…
Continuing the ¥500 Tube
We've had the Continental Race 28 tube for quite a while now with steady customer support, but the real reason people kept buying it wasn't "because it's a Cont…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9 (45mm)
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9. Revo disc hub, 24H, semi-CX sprint 46-hole JIS lacing with rainbow (VAS) nippl…
I Bought the Topeak NINJA P
Topeak makes a NINJA series of products designed to let you carry mini tools and pumps discreetly on your bike. There are chain cutters built into handlebar end…
Built a front wheel with AL22W rim
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built a front wheel with an AL22W rim for rim brakes. Since I built a wheel with the disc brake version of this rim as Nomu L…
Built a rear wheel with a 20mm high carbon tubular rim
Another day, another wheel build (you know the drill). A customer dropped off a rear wheel built with a 20mm high carbon tubular rim. PowerWay hub, 24H Pillar a…
Rebuilt the Cosmic SL40 rear wheel
Wheels again today (etc., etc.). Continuing from yesterday. Rebuilding the rear wheel on this Cosmic 40 SL. Nearly press-fit (won't come out with finger pressur…
Nepest Nova's Rear Wheel
What a low-grade wheel this is. I received a Nepest Nova rear wheel from a customer for repair. I forgot to take a before-work photo, so the image above is from…
Rebuilt the front wheel on a Cosmic SL40
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer dropped off the front and rear wheels of a Cosmic SL40 with rim brake setup for me to work on. They wanted a rebuild, …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #9 (45mm)
Wheels again today (et cetera). I've sourced two of these Nomu Lab Wheel #9 45mm deep-section rims with a nominal weight of 319g. I'll be building both front an…
Gravel Bike Guy: Instant Downfall (Continued)
Honestly, when you think about it rationally, there's no way gravel bikes would catch on in Japan lol Even at Chiriham (千里浜), Japan's only beach where you can a…
Rode Around the Noto Peninsula
This happened at the end of last month, but I did a brevet ride around the Noto Peninsula. ↑From my Polar log. The distance was just over 400km. The ① and ② mar…
Swapped the One Air DX3 Front Wheel Rim to a Nøm Lab Wheel #9 (32mm) (It's the Front Wheel, but Here's Part 2)
Wheels again today (et cetera). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the One Air DX3 front wheel by swapping the rim to a Nøm Lab Wheel #9. DT240 straight-…
Swapped the DX3 OneAir to Nomunabo Wheel No. 9 (32mm) (Rear wheel, part 1)
Another day with wheels (and so on). I've sourced two rims for the Nomunabo Wheel No. 9, which have a stated weight of 273g. I'll be building both front and rea…
Changed Nomu Lab Wheel #5's Rear Wheel from Half-Competition to Half-CX Sprint
A customer brought in the rear wheel from Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Black spokes with red nipples. Evo Light hub, 24H, half-Competition, 4:6 lacing, tied and soldered.…
Built the Rear Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8. Revo Disc hub, 24H, half-CX Sprint 4:6 JIS lacing, tied and soldered.
Removed a Broken Titanium Bolt from a 3T Stem
The drill screams! A customer brought in a 3T ARX-TEAM stem for repair. The successor model, the ARX-TEAM II stem, uses a single M6 Torx titanium bolt on the st…
Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
Another day, another wheel (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8. Revo Disc hub, 24H, half-CX Sprint 6:4 reverse Italian lacing, tie…
Nepest Nova
A customer brought in a Nepest Nova carbon spoke wheel rear rim for service. When pedaling, there was a crunching sound, so I took a close look at the wheel and…
Rebuilt rear wheels from the SES 2.2's two rear wheels
Another day with wheels (and so on...). Continuing from yesterday. From the SES 2.2's two rear wheels I'm building a rear wheel with a Chris King hub and WO ri…
Rebuilt both SES 2.2 front wheels from scratch
Another day in the wheel (etc.) department. A customer brought me two front wheels from an SES (Smart Envi System) 2.2 for rebuild work. The one in the foregrou…
Built a rear wheel with a 406 aluminum rim
Another wheel build today (and so on). A customer dropped off a 406 HE 20-inch rim. They wanted the rear wheel built with a Shimano Deore-grade hub, so I built …
Zonda's Front Wheel
A customer brought in a Zonda front wheel for repair. It got hit by a scooter and developed lateral runout. Looking at where the wobble was most pronounced, I c…
Complete Spoke and Nipple Replacement on the Vittoria Illusion Nero Rear Wheel
Another wheel day (and so on...). Continuing from yesterday. Completely replacing the spokes and nipples on the rear wheel of a Vittoria Illusion Nero. For the …
Replaced all right-side spokes on the Iron Cross rim rear wheel
While it takes about as much effort as building a whole wheel, today's work wouldn't normally be recognized as such. A customer brought in a rear wheel built wi…
Complete Front Wheel Spoke Replacement on the Vittoria Illusion Nero
Another wheel day (and so on...). A customer brought in a pair of front and rear wheels—a complete wheelset called the Illusion Nero, made by Vittoria, the tire…
I Made a Matching Pair Out of Two LOOK Pedals
A customer called to say that the pedal body on a LOOK Kéo Blade Carbon with a titanium shaft and ceramic bearings had suddenly cracked, and asked if there was …
Built the Rear Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #9 (45mm)
Another wheel build today (et cetera). But first. GroTac pointed out to me that measuring flange hole center-to-center with calipers is a measurement method pro…
Don't Go Around Saying My Name...
Don't Go Around Saying My Name... Examples of when you SHOULDN'T say it (→ here ) Examples of when it's OK to say it (→ here ) My old man runs an auto repair sh…
Ksyrium S25
A customer brought in a Mavic Ksyrium S 25 for service. This is a rim brake model. The model name laser-etched on the rim is "KSYRIUM S 25" and includes rim dep…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #9 (45mm)
Wheels again today (you know the drill). I picked up two 45mm deep section rims, rated at 319g each, to build both wheels for Nomu Lab Wheel #9. Today I'm build…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
Wheels again today (etc., etc.). Continuing from yesterday. I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8. Revo disc hub, 24H, black half CX sprint Built with 4/…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
Another wheel day (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8. The customer for this wheel had us rebuild a Reserve front and rear set in …
Rebuilt the front wheel on the Rapide CLX
Back to wheels today (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I'm going to rebuild the front wheel on the Rapide CLX. It's a front wheel with all Aero Lite s…
About the EQUAL Hub
I'm planning to build a wheel soon using a hub from the EQUAL brand by Grota-tack, and when I checked the history of my spoke length calculation formulas, the h…
About SRAM's 12-Speed Sprockets
↑This is the SRAM Force 12-speed 10–33T cassette that was on the Lovall's rear wheel when I was reassembling it the other day. SRAM's XDR-standard 12-speed cass…
Ksyrium Pro Carbon SL
A customer brought in the front and rear wheels from a Ksyrium Pro Carbon SL for inspection. Let's start with the front wheel. Mavic's current Ksyrium and Cosmi…
Rebuilt the Rear Wheel on a Rovialle Rapide CLX
Another wheel day (and so on...). I took in a rear wheel from a Rovialle Rapide CLX customer. They wanted it rebuilt. The final cross on the freewheel side—the …
Attaquer Disc V2
A customer brought in a pair of front and rear Attaquer Disc V2 wheels for Prime disc brake rims for inspection. They wanted a full inspection. Let's start with…
The Zonda Repair
A customer brought in the front wheel of a Zonda with a C15 rim for repair. One spoke was broken. The customer said it suddenly snapped with a loud crack while …
Rebuilt the rear wheel on the Alpinist CLX II
Another wheel day (and so on...). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel on the Alpinist CLX II. ↑This image was taken for an article about th…
Rebuilt the Front Wheel on a Rovail Alpinist CLX II
Another day, another wheel (you know how it goes). A customer brought in both front and rear wheels from a Rovail Alpinist CLX II requesting a rebuild. Today I'…
The Misspelled Electric Wire Set
Last week, in addition to our regular closed days on Wednesday and Thursday, plus the last Saturday of the month, I took Tuesday and Friday off as well to give …
Rebuilt the rear wheel on the Alpinist CLX II
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Continuing from last time. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel on the Alpinist CLX II. I'll go into more detail later, but unl…
Rebuilt the rear wheel for a Cosmic Pro Carbon
Another wheel day (and so on). I had a customer drop off a rear wheel for a Cosmic Pro Carbon SL UST rim brake setup. Yeah, that's right. They want to use it on…
Rebuilt the front wheel on an Alpinist CLX II
Another day, another wheel build (et cetera). A customer brought in the front and rear wheels of a Rover Alpinist CLX II that they wanted rebuilt. Today I'm wor…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on the Rapide 60 CLX
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. Rebuilding the rear wheel on the Rapide CLX 60. 2:1 lacing pattern, 21 holes Aero Lite spokes…
Rebuilt the front wheel for a Lovéal Rapide 60CLX
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought me a set of front and rear rim brake wheels from a Lovéal (vintage French wheel brand) Rapide 60CLX. The…
I Installed a Turn Signal on the Saddle Rail
"Did you really take time off work for this?" I can hear people saying that (but that's not the case) I installed a turn signal on the saddle rail. There's a ca…
Closed Until May 30th
Due to some personal circumstances that I need to take care of, I'll be taking time off until May 30th (Saturday). Since Wednesday, Thursday, and the last Satur…
CADEX 50 Ultra Disc Tubeless Wheels
A customer dropped off a pair of CADEX 50 Ultra front and rear wheels with me. Both front and rear wheels had no issues with hub bearing rotation. The customer …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY Pro Outpoke radial lacing. After the announcement …
About Panaracer Sealant
Previously, I investigated the specific gravity of sealants from Stans, Caffélatex, and Imaje and within the range of these three companies the result was 「roug…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9 (32mm)
Another day working on wheels (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built the rear wheel for the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9 (32mm). Revo disc hub, 24H, semi-CX sp…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9 (32mm)
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I sourced two 32mm deep rims for building the front and rear wheels of Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9. Today I built the front whe…
Scope Cycling's Artec 6
A customer brought in the front wheel of a Scope Cycling Artec 6 for service. The top-tier model in Scope Cycling's lineup is the Artec (ARTCEH). Below that is …
Racing Light XLR
A customer (technically speaking) brought in the front wheel of a Fulcrum Racing Light— the ultra spec version, as Campagnolo would call it— the Racing Light XL…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9 (45mm)
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9. Revo disc hub 24H, and while I'm at it, …
Elite Drive Customer Rear Wheel
A customer brought in an Elite Drive (Japanese bicycle brand) rear wheel for repair. They had ridden off with a cable lock still attached, and ended up breaking…
Racing Zero Carbon Rear Wheel
A customer brought in a Racing Zero Carbon rear wheel for repair. One spoke is completely missing (it looks like it might be a rest phase alignment, but it's no…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9 (45mm)
Another day with wheels (and so on). I've sourced the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9 (45mm) rims for both front and rear wheels. The stated weight is 319g. Today I built …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9 (45mm)
Another day of wheels (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built the front wheel. R45D hub 24H semi-CX sprint Built with reverse Italian lacing (64 style) …
About CX-RAY Pro
A Sapim distributor recently started carrying the CX-RAY Pro, and while the product itself isn't bad, there are elements in wheel building where you're forced t…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9 (45mm)
Wheels again today (and so on). I sourced the rims for the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9 (45mm) for both front and rear wheels. The stated weight is 319g. By the way, th…
Built the rear wheel for Nomulab Wheel No. 9 (55mm)
More wheel building today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. Built the rear wheel for Nomulab Wheel No. 9 with a 55mm high rim. Revo disc hub, 24H, semi-CX…
Built the front wheel for the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9 (55mm)
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Building both front and rear wheels with the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9's 55mm high rim (claimed weight: 354g). Next to the…
Front Wheel with Bora One Hub and Tni Road 38 Rim
A customer brought in a front wheel built with the same rim as Nomu Lab Wheel #2 and a Campagnolo 18H hub. They wanted an inspection. The hub rotation has some …
Assembled the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #9 (32mm)
Back to wheels today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I assembled the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #9. Revo disc hub, 24H, black half CX sprint 46mm JIS…
About Shimano STI Brake Lever Bleeding
The Nomunomu Lab Wheel #9 with 45mm high rims that I was able to assemble both front and rear wheels for as of yesterday's post was picked up right away. The cu…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9 (32mm)
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). Building both front and rear wheels with the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9's 32mm high rim. The rim has a claimed weight of…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9 (45mm)
Back to wheel building today (etc.). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9. Revo disc hub 24H black semi-CX sprint 46 JIS lacing with black aluminum n…
CADEX 50 Ultra Disc Tubeless
A customer brought me a pair of CADEX wheels for inspection. Since this isn't the original owner, they wanted a full inspection. Let's start with the front whee…
Built the front wheel for Nomulab Wheel No. 9 (45mm)
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I procured rims for building the front and rear wheels of the Nomulab Wheel No. 9 (45mm). The stated weight is 319g. …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9 (32mm)
Another day of wheel building (etc.). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9. For the rim weight, I used the lighter option from the two rims mentioned…
CX-RAY PRO Now Available
Our spoke supplier Sapim (a Belgian spoke manufacturer) has started carrying CX-RAY Pro, a derivative model of the CX-RAY, so I've already stocked some right aw…
I Was Drawn to the Sub Jersey Design
Among the current Happy Meal toys at McDonald's there's a Hello Kitty dress-up figure. You can apply either fashionable clothes or Mac Crew stickers onto the fi…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #9 (32mm)
Wheels again today (and so on). I've built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #9 with a 32mm high rim. For Nomu Lab Wheel #9, I'm planning to record all the act…
WH-7801C
A customer left a WH-7801C rear wheel with me. The hub had gotten rough and they wanted me to fix it. The fact that it "had gotten" rough means there was a time…
Bora One CX
A customer entrusted me with the front and rear wheels of a Bora One CX. A rare item and still brand new. Incredible. The Bora One CX is one of the wheel series…
I rebuilt the front wheel of a fixed-gear bike that was laced with Open Pro rims
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a front wheel laced with a 7600 Dura-Ace track hub and Open Pro rims. HB-7600 36H all-Champion #15 Bu…
Rebuilt the Open Pro rear wheel
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from the front wheel the other day. Rebuilding the rear wheel with an Open Pro rim. This was supposed to happen yeste…
Particle RCX Ultralight 33
A customer brought in front and rear wheels with carbon spokes from a brand called PARTICLE, model RCX Ultralight 33. They wanted the lightest wheels possible w…
CADEX 50 Ultra Disc Tubeless
A customer dropped off a pair of CADEX wheels with me. I only took a photo of the front wheel. That number 3.9 near the valve hole— is that a note of the air pr…
Built the front wheel for Nomulab Wheel No. 5 (Take 2)
Whether I should count this as "Today's also Wheel (you know...)" or not... Well, I'm the one deciding anyway, so today's also Wheel (you know...). A little whi…
Rebuilt the Mavic Open Pro Rim Front Wheel
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer dropped off a front wheel built with a Mavic Open Pro rim. HB-7700 hub, 32H, stainless steel 15g plain spokes JIS-patt…
Speed 40T
I received a Fulcrum Speed 40 in T (tubular) specification from a customer. The Speed 40/55 is the successor to the Racing Speed, which shared the same rim heig…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. R45 hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial laced with irid…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Back to wheels today (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Chris King R45 Turquoise Anodized Hub, 24H Semi-comp 4-cross lacing pattern Sin…
Replaced the front wheel rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Another day working on wheels (and so on). I received the front wheel from Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1 from a customer. There are marks drawn on the rim, but A tire le…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day working on wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Unmarked straight-pull spoke hub, 20H CX-RAY radial lacing.
Built a rear wheel with a Super Champion wooden rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I built a rear wheel with a Super Champ wooden rim. Campagnolo Earth Mark Record 120mm width freew…
Bontrager Aeolos 3 Tubular
A customer brought in a Bontrager Aeolos 3 tubular rim front wheel for repair. A straight spoke had broken at the head. The original spokes were DT Aerolite, so…
Original Bora WTO 60
A customer brought in a new original Bora WTO 60mm deep section model for inspection. They wanted a full check. Let me start with the front wheel. Found some ce…
Built a front wheel with a Super Champion wooden rim
Wheels again today (and so on). I received a Super Champion wooden rim from a customer. I'll be building both front and rear wheels with it, but today I'm doing…
Taking a Day Off Recently
I completed a 600km brevet. It was a sightseeing brevet with some detours, and I finished with about an hour and a half to spare against the 40-hour time limit.…
Built a rear wheel with Reserve's 49TA rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Built up a rear wheel with Reserve's 49TA (Turbulent Aero) rim. The front wheel (→ here ) was built on a different day because o…
Taking a Break Tomorrow and the Day After
Tomorrow and the day after, April 11th (Saturday) and 12th (Sunday), I had planned to do a brevet, but some unavoidable matters have come up, so I'll be taking …
Built a rear wheel with Crest MK4 rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built a rear wheel with a Stans Crest MK4 650B rim. FH-M975 32H black Champion/Competé spokes 36-hole JIS lacing pattern wi…
Front and Rear Wheels Built with H PLUS SON Rims
I received front and rear wheels built with H PLUS SON (Japanese aluminum rims) from a customer. They requested an inspection. Both front and rear hubs are Dura…
I rebuilt the rear wheel with the Mavic Record Mondial gold rim
Today it's J-wheels again (etc.). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel built with a Mavic Record Mondial gold rim. A 121mm width Record hub …
Replying to Comments
In the article about the TC500 hub, I wrote something like "Do we really need to make a 142mm width hub with Microspline specification?" and I received two comm…
Rebuilt the Record Mond Gold Rim Front Wheel
Another wheel day (et cetera). A customer brought in a front wheel that was built with a Mavic rim. The rim is a Record Mond gold rim and the hub is a Record sm…
About the FH-TC500 Rear Hub
In the draft of my previous article I had written down 3 things that bothered me about the FH-TC500 but it got long, so I made it a separate post. First, regard…
Rebuilt the rear wheel from a Cannondale complete bike using a Glowtack rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I rebuilt the rear wheel that came with the Cannondale complete bike using a Glowtack (carbon rim manu…
Rebuilt the front wheel from a Cannondale complete bike with a Gravel Tack rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in the front and rear wheels from a Cannondale complete bike— heavy-duty aluminum rims that were comp…
More on the Zonda
The other day I removed the stickers from the rims on the Zonda's front and rear wheels and I'm cleaning up the brake zone using the forbidden Merca○i technique…
I Widened the Rim on Lab Wheel No. 5 (It's the Front Wheel Though—Part 2)
Wheels again today (you know the drill). Continuing from last time. I'm swapping out the front wheel on Lab Wheel No. 5, moving from an AL22 rim to an AL22W wid…
Chikuwa Ringyō Wheels
A customer brought in a complete wheelset from Chikuwa Ringyō (a Japanese wheel builder). These are wheels built with carbon spokes. I have both front and rear …
Replying to Comments (The ZIPP build from the other day)
About the rear wheel with the ZIPP 404 rim that I built the other day ↑This one As someone pointed out in the comments (← awesome) the spoke lacing was wrong in…
Zonda, Zonda
A customer brought in two pairs of Zonda wheels with C15 rims that aren't tubeless-compatible for inspection. These wheels aren't the original owner's, so they …
Widened the Rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 (Rear Wheel, Part 1)
Another day with wheels (and so on). I took in the rear wheel of a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 from a customer. It's got an Evolite hub with 24 holes, black semi-compe…
Built a rear wheel with a Derobast rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. Built up a rear wheel with a Derobast (high-end carbon wheelset brand) 35mm tall, tubeless…
Built a front wheel with a Deerobust rim
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left me with a rim from a brand called Deerobust— a tubeless-ready offset carbon rim with no holes on the outer perime…
Chromoly Frames Need Chromoly Seatposts
In my previous article I wrote about 「using a titanium seatpost to avoid seizing on steel frames」, but if you match the ionization tendency of the pipe material…
I Bought a Topeak DP Mount
I picked up a Topeak DP Mount product. ↑This thing What DP Mount means It stands for "Dropper Post Mount". The clamp section is 27mm, and it comes with spacers …
Built a rear wheel with a 404 rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I built a rear wheel with a ZIPP 404 tubular rim and an Extralight hub. Cyber rear hub 24H H…
I Bought a Hose Cutter (About Jagwire - Part 1)
The only distributor in Japan that carries Topeak recently started seriously carrying Jagwire, and their catalog arrived. ※The spelling style I used has no part…
Built a front wheel with a 404 rim
Another day with wheels (etc.). I received two ZIPP 404 tubular rims from a customer. I'll be building both front and rear wheels with these, but since there's …
Built a front wheel with Crest MK4 rim
Wheel building again today (and so on). Got a customer order, so I stocked a 650B size Crest MK4 rim from Stans. I'll be building wheels with this and XTR quick…
Built a front wheel with Reserve's 42TA rim
Another wheel build today (and so on). With Reserve's 42TA (Turbulent Aero) rim (Don't stick stickers all the way to the rim edge— it makes building the wheel a…
Cosmic Pro Carbon Exalite Customer Wheels
A customer brought in （↑I don't usually post photos here, but with Mavic wheels I often snap pictures in this spot to record the model names） both front and rea…
Rebuilt rear wheel with AL22W rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer dropped off a rear wheel that we built for them some time ago. AL22W rim, Ebolite hub, 28H Semi-championship pat…
Rapide CLX II Team Wheels
A customer dropped off the front and rear wheels from a Roval limited-edition wheel set, the Rapide CLX II Team. The hub rotation was rough on both wheels, and …
Rebuilt the rear wheel of the SES4.5
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I'm going to rebuild the rear wheel on the SES4.5. The rim by itself has the model name A…
Rebuilt the front wheel on an SES 4.5
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in the front and rear wheels from an SES (Smart Envy System) 4.5. Today I'm rebuilding the front wheel. Rim br…
Built a rear wheel with WTB rim and ONYX hub
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel that was assembled with a WTB rim and XTR hub, this time using an ONYX …
I Disassembled and Cleaned a Campagnolo Hub
The other day I mentioned that of the two wheel pairs I built with Campagnolo Sigma rims, only the rear wheel with the silver rim had noticeably rough rotation,…
Built a front wheel with WTB rim and ONYX hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I received an MTB front wheel from a customer. The rim is a WTB CZR i30, and that wavy profile on the inner rim edge …
Thou Shalt Not Finish Thy Drink
The title is borrowed from phrasing that seems to appear in the Gospel of Matthew. Yesterday (Saturday) I took an unexpected day off and I apologize for that. T…
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, March 14th (Saturday), I have some unavoidable circumstances (not just errands) so I'll be taking the day off. I apologize for any inconvenience, and …
Built a Wheel with Campagnolo Sigma Rim (4/4)
Today, another wheel (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I built the rear wheel with a Campagnolo Sigma silver rim. A C-Record or Gipiemme hub — I can't…
Fixed the screw hole on Lake shoes
The drill is screaming! By the way, the title isn't a typo. For example, though it doesn't happen much these days, when I've built 4 wheels in a single day I'd …
Building Wheels with Campagnolo Sigma Rims (3/4)
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). Building front and rear wheels with Campagnolo's Sigma silver rims (chrome finish). On the hard anodized rim I bui…
Built a wheel with Campagnolo Sigma rims (2/4)
Another day on wheels (cont'd). Continuing from yesterday. Building a front wheel with a Campagnolo front hub that a customer left with me. You might wonder why…
I Built a Wheel with Campagnolo Sigma Rims (1/4)
Another wheel build today (etc.). A customer brought me Campagnolo Sigma rims in hard anodized finish. Today I'm building the rear wheel with the lighter set. G…
Built a rear wheel with GlowTack's 40mm tubeless rim
Another wheel building day (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built a rear wheel using GlowTack's 40mm tall tubeless-ready rim. Chris King R45D hub, 24 h…
Surprisingly Unpopular
We have memos taped on the bikes held on order at the shop to identify who each one belongs to The character called "Dokuromisan" that I drew on one customer's …
Built a front wheel with AL22W rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Built a front wheel with an AL22W rim for rim brakes. DT240 hub, 20H, with CX Sprint 4/4 Italian spoked pattern Blue aluminum ni…
I remade the front fender bracket for my Niner
This is a continuation from my previous post. I've been using a homemade front fender (→ here ) that works with my Niner RDO fork only when running tires near t…
I replaced the front fork on my Niner
I've been thinking about replacing the front fork on my Niner for a while now. ↑This one It's not bad as-is, but those three holes on the sides of the fork blad…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Another day with wheels (and so on...). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub, 24H, black semi-CX sprint Laced 46 JIS pattern with black …
Built a front wheel with 50/45mm Chinese carbon rims
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in a pair of 50/45mm height, wavy-profile Chinese carbon tubeless-ready rims. Both are 24H, and I'll …
Built a front wheel with a Fire Eye rim and Alfine dynamo hub
Another wheel day (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built a front wheel with a Fire Eye Excellent LT28 rim and an Alfine brand dynamo hub. DH-S501 hub, …
Built a rear wheel with Fire Eye rim and Alfine hub
Wheels again today (and so on...). A customer brought in a rim called the Excellent LT28 from the Fire Eye brand. With a stated weight of 585g, this is a rim th…
Another Continental Price Hike Rush Demand Tower Has Been Built
built. I'm ordering a bit extra for shop floor inventory on top of customer orders, but since I can't tell when to pull back, I'm not stocking up too aggressive…
Reverse Italian Lacing Actually Makes Sense
Another wheel day (and so on). I took in a rear wheel with an XT hub that we built here at the shop from a customer (nominally speaking). The rim is a CX22 tubu…
Built a fixed gear wheel with a Cosmic Carbon rim
Another day working on wheels (and so on...). A customer left me with a rear wheel using a Cosmic Carbon tubular rim. It's a 20H Mavic hub built 4130-equivalent…
Racing Zero Tubular
A customer dropped off a rear wheel with Racing Zero tubular rim specifications. They thought there might be an issue with the hub, but there wasn't anything pa…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub 24H black half CX sprint 64-spoke reverse Italian lacing with blac…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Revo disc hub 24H black semi-CX sprint Built in 46 JIS pattern with bl…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Back to wheels today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub, 24H, black half CX sprint Built with 64-spoke reverse Italian…
Continental Tire Price Increase Coming
Some Continental tire models will see a price increase starting March 2nd （Not March 1st because that's a Sunday）. The wholesaler calls it a "price revision," b…
The Newmen Front Hub Was Also Shot
Another day with wheels (and so on). I received the front wheel from a customer that we'd previously rebuilt here at the shop. The rim is a Duke carbon road rim…
Built a fixed gear rear wheel with a 60mm deep rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). In a way, this is a continuation from yesterday. A customer left a 60mm deep tubular rim with me. It's the same customer…
Built a 82mm High Rim Rear Wheel for a Fixed Gear
Another wheel build today (and so on...). I built a fixed gear rear wheel with an 82mm high tubular rim. The customer mentioned it was an 80mm high rim, but whe…
I rebuilt the rear wheel on the Zentius Squad 4.2 that I had previously rebuilt
Another wheel day (and so on...). A customer brought in a rear wheel built with a Zentius 4.2 Squad rim. This was one I had previously rebuilt at the shop— FH-9…
Replaced the front rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Another wheel day (and so on...). I received the front wheel of a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8 from a customer. Evo Disc II hub, 24H, black Campagnolo / Campagnolo 64-s…
Built a rear wheel for Dahon
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I built a rear wheel for Dahon using a 16-inch HE rim labeled Silver Lock. The hub is a N…
I Replaced the Bearings on a LOOK KeO Pedal
A customer (sort of) asked me to replace the bearings on the top model LOOK KeO Blade pedal, and I thought, "Just swap out the bearing cartridge pedal shaft ass…
Built a front wheel for a Dahon
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I built a front wheel for Dahon, the small-wheel bike brand. The rim is an aluminum rim labeled "Silver Lock"— a 16-inch…
I replaced the battery in my SRAM Force spindle-type power meter
SRAM Force spindle (crankshaft) type power meter battery replacement. A while back, when starting up my cycle computer, I started getting occasional warnings th…
Rebuilt the rear wheel of the Vision Metron 40 LTD
Wheels again today (and so on...). Continuing from yesterday. Rebuilding the rear wheel of the Vision Metron 40 LTD. Just like the front wheel, the spokes are h…
Rebuilt the front wheel of the Métron 40 LTD
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought me a Métron 40 LTD wheel from Vision, FSA's wheel and TT parts brand. The spokes are heavily rusted, and…
Racing Zero Night Wheel
A customer brought in a front wheel from a Racing Zero Night (high-end wheelset) for repair. They wanted me to fix some runout in the wheel. Sure enough, there …
Built a front wheel with a hole-less rim and ONYX hub
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer left me a 38mm tall tubeless carbon rim to work with. I built a front wheel for rim brakes. ONYX hub, 20H, CX-RAY Bui…
Rebuilt the front wheel of the WH-R8170
Another day working on wheels (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the front wheel of the Altegra C50. The customer already has another C50, a…
WH-R9270-C50-TL
A customer brought in a Dura-Ace C50 rear wheel for me to work on. It's a tubeless rim spec. The freewheel has significant drag resistance, and particularly whe…
Rebuilt the rear wheel of a WH-R8170
Another day of wheel work (and so on). A customer brought me an Altegra C50 rear wheel. The customer wasn't the original owner of this wheel— they acquired it a…
Rebuilt the front wheel for the Cosmic SL32
Another day of wheels (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the front wheel of the Cosmic SL32 Rebuilding it. If it were just skepticism about …
Turned back halfway
This morning I rode out toward Shiga with the のむラボホイール９号 (Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9) front and rear wheels installed, and while it's true that the light rims do make…
Rebuilt the rear wheel of the Cosmic SL32
Another day of wheels (and so on). A customer left me with a rear wheel from a Mavic Cosmic SL 32. They wanted it rebuilt. No matter how you look at it— it's un…
Built a front wheel with Pasenti's Burivé rim
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I built a front wheel with Pasenti's "Burivé" rim and a dynamo hub. SON deluxe hub, 28H All …
Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT
I received the front and rear wheels of a Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT from a customer. They acquired it at auction, and asked me to return the wheels as-is if my asses…
Built a rear wheel with Pasenti's Brevé rim
Today it's wheels again (and so on). With a Pasenti "Brevé" rim that has a label like the old Mavic ones I built the rear wheel. Novatech unmarked hub, 28H All …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
More wheel building today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 28H, semi-comp black spokes in 4-cross lacing pattern with red …
Built a rear wheel with Open Pro rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built a rear wheel with a Mavic Open Pro silver rim. Campagnolo earth-mark Record boss hub 32H, semi-comp four-cross …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with red aluminum nipples.
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Revo Disc Hub 24H black semi-CX sprint 64-spoke reverse Italian lacing with turquoi…
Rejected Aluminum Nipples
The wheel I built previously used DT's turquoise-colored aluminum nipples, but semi-finished products from the manufacturing process got mixed in, so I rejected…
Obey Traffic Laws
A while back, my watch mentor consulted with me about using a Cinelli TUTTO (Tutto) as a base bike for a cyclocross race on fixed gear (of course single-speed),…
Replies to Comments
So about that IKEA storage bag, the DIMPA↑, I received comments from two knowledgeable folks so I thought I'd share what they said. First, apparently it's also …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub 24H black half CX sprint 46 JIS lacing pattern Turquoise aluminum n…
Built a rear wheel with a hole-free rim and an ONYX hub
Another wheel day (and so on). I received a 38mm high tubeless carbon rim from a customer. ↑This is a rim with no holes on the outer edge except for the valve h…
Built a front wheel with Open Pro rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built a front wheel with a Mavic Open Pro silver rim. The hub is a Campagnolo Record with the globe mark, 32H, all CX…
Dimpa × Cyclocross Wheels
This is a continuation from my previous post. I got the chance to test whether an IKEA Dimpa bag (→ here ) can fit both front and rear cyclocross wheels with 32…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built the rear wheel for my personal Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9. Against an estimated weight of 653g, it …
The Nail That Sticks Out
The hydration pack I use is ↑made by Hydrapak. When it comes to hydration packs, Hydrapak and CamelBak stand as equals, and the main difference is in how you se…
I Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #9
Another day with wheels (and so on). What's wrong with using my own stuff! ← defensive about it I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #9. Against the spec …
Go Get a DIMPA
Today I went to IKEA and a buddy I rode with to Ise told me "Go get a DIMPA." ↑This thing It was on sale today only, 399→299 yen. I bought it. It's a storage ba…
I Got New Toe Shoe Covers
As I've written many times before, I don't really use full shoe covers even in winter. If I combine them with socks and get creative, I can manage fine with an …
Revealing the Weight of Gravel Tack Rims!
So, out of nowhere, I'm going to reveal the actual measured weight of the Gravel Tack carbon rims! Actually, I've never posted this before! But before that! Gra…
Took a Ride to Ise
Yesterday, January 4th, I rode out to Ise. ↑Ise udon Actually, I did this as a brevet (brevét cycling event) (Since I had time off anyway, it made sense to ente…
Tan Sidewall Color
↑This is a Vittoria Corsa Pro Speed TLR tire that a customer left with me. I thought the tan sidewall color looked like a really nice shade, but then it turned …
Year-End and New Year Holiday Schedule
We will be closed from December 31st (Wednesday) through January 8th (Thursday). We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.
About BERD Spokes
This time, I'm writing about the spokes from BERD (ベルド) that I used to build a wheel with a Duke rim. These are polyethylene spokes, or to be more precise, ultr…
Built a front wheel with Duke's rim, Bird's spokes, and ExtraLight's hub
Another wheel day (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. Duke's Lucky Jack Ultra SLS4 rim and Bird's spokes and ExtraLight's HyperBoost 3 hub I built the front…
Built a rear wheel with Duke rim, Berd spokes, and ExtraLight hub
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built an MTB rear wheel using Duke's ultra-light rim, the Lucky Jack Ultra SLS4, Berd (ベルド) polyethylene spokes, and an E…
Rebuilt Mechanic's Wheel (It's the Front Wheel, But This is the Second Part)
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the Mechanic's wheel. Unmarked straight-pull spoke hub, 24H All-black CX-RAY with…
I Rebuilt Mechnico's Wheel (Rear Wheel, Part 1)
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I received a rear wheel from a customer's Mechnico (メカニコ) complete wheel build. The spokes are Sapim CX-RAY on both sides U…
The Rear Wheel of the Hybrid Bike
A customer brought in a hybrid bike that they'd received from an acquaintance because the rear wheel was seriously out of true, and asked me to fix it. It's a r…
Received an order for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9 32mm
I sourced 2 rims. The stated weight from the distributor's actual measurement is 273g, and my own two rims came in at 272g and 273g respectively, but the first …
Racing Zero Carbon
A customer brought in the front and rear wheels of a Racing Zero Carbon for service. Let me start with the front wheel. They wanted me to set up the new shaft t…
Built a rear wheel with Glowtack's 40mm high tubeless rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built up a rear wheel with a Glowtack 40mm high rim. Revo disc hub 24H semi-CX sprint 46-spoke JIS l…
Built a front wheel with Gravel Tack's 40mm high tubeless rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Built a front wheel with Gravel Tack's 40mm high tubeless rim. Revo disc hub, 24 holes, semi-CX spoke 64 reverse Italian lacing …
Built a disc brake front wheel with ENVE 25 tubular rim
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer entrusted me with an ENVE 25 tubular rim. They want me to build a front wheel for disc brakes with it. This rim's stat…
Re-laced the rear wheel of an ENVE SES 7.8
Another day of wheel work (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel from an ENVE SES 7.8 that we had previously laced at our shop. 660 hub, 24H, black sem…
Replaced the rear rim on Nomulab Wheel No. 8
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer left the rear wheel of a Nomulab Wheel No. 8 with us for service. The rim has become deformed from repeated pinc…
Haven't Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9 Yet
I weighed all the materials. Against an estimated weight of 540g, the actual measured weight of this unit came to 536g. In terms of differences from the estimat…
About the Combined Weight of Front and Rear Wheels for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9
I received a comment asking me to explain this. If I'm being my usual self, what matters is the weight of the rim, and the combined weight of front and rear whe…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 24H, black semi-comp 4-cross lacing With crossed spokes Red alum…
The Nomu Lab Wheel No. 9 Rim Has Arrived
About half a year ago, the president of Tri Sports and the sales department manager came to our shop. During a business trip to Osaka where the president came a…
Racing Zero Night Wheels
A customer brought in the front and rear wheels from a Racing Zero Night (Fulcrum racing wheelset). One spoke on the front wheel is broken, and they want it rep…
Built a rear wheel with Gravel Tack's 40mm high tubeless rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. Built the rear wheel for my partner's bike. Revo disc hub, 24H, black half CX sprint 46 JIS lacing wi…
Built a front wheel with Gromtack's 40mm tall tubeless rim
Another day of wheel building (etc.). I built the wheel that sold in my previous post. Today it's the front wheel. Revo disc hub, 24H, black half CX sprint Buil…
Building a suspension wheel with Glowtack 40mm tall tubeless rims
I don't have any current plans to make a Nomu Lab Wheel ○ model, but in the near future I'm planning to build front and rear suspension wheels with Glowtack 40m…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
Back to wheels today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8. Revo disc hub 24H black semi CX sprint Built with 46 JIS (Japan Industrial Stand…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Another day of wheels (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub, 24H, black half CX sprint 64-spoke reverse Italian lacing w…
Replaced a Spoke on the Nepest Front Wheel
A customer brought in a Nepest Wild 38 wheel for their front wheel to be repaired. It's a wheel built with steel spokes, and the spokes are CX-RAY brand. This w…
About Nepeste Wheels
Regarding the recent Nepeste Nova 45/45mm article (→ here ) I received feedback from several people so I'm writing about that. First, about the customer's Nova …
Bora One 35
A customer brought in a rear wheel from a Bora One 35 (high-end road wheelset). To be precise, it's the clincher rim bright label specification. One spoke on th…
Fulcrum Wind 42 DB
A customer left me a pair of front and rear wheels from Fulcrum's Wind 42 DB. The previous Wind 40 model came in a rim brake version as well, so it had the mode…
Tooth Clearance Correction
A customer's FC-6750 crankset had abnormally worn tooth tips on the 50T outer chainring, so I replaced it with a Stronglight 49T. The FC-6750 is from the era of…
Rebuilt Planet X Front Wheel for Disc Brake Compatibility
Another wheel day (and so on...). A customer brought in a front wheel built with Planet X rim and hub. The rim is an R50—a 50mm-deep carbon tubular rim. The hub…
Nepest Nova 45/45mm
A customer brought in a pair of front and rear wheels with carbon spokes from a brand called Nepest a model called NOVA. The rim heights for the front and rear …
Built a fixed gear rear wheel with Araya Prostaff 400 rim
Back to wheels again today (and so on). I built a rear wheel using an Araya Prostaff 400 tubular rim and a Sunour Shuparubu (Suntour Superbe) double-threaded fi…
Rebuilt DT P1800 Spline Rear Wheel with Nômu Labo Wheel No. 5 Rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I'm rebuilding the DT P1800 rear wheel with a Nômu Labo Wheel No. 5 rim. The hub is a DT 370 grad…
I Went to Shodoshima
The other day I had a two-day break, and on the first day I went to Shodoshima. I'll write about the things I noticed and what happened while I was there. This …
I Upgraded the Front Wheel of a DT P1800 Spline to a Nomunolab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheels (and so on...). A customer brought in the front and rear wheels of a DT P1800 Spline. The image above is just the front wheel. There were …
Built the rear wheel with Reserve's 49TA rim
This is a follow-up to the front wheel I did the other day (→ here ). I built the rear wheel using the 49TA rim, which is the rear rim from the Reserve 42┃49TA …
Taking Time Off Tomorrow and the Day After
Tomorrow and the day after, November 22nd (Saturday) and 23rd (Sunday), we will be closed. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
Built a rear wheel with a CX22 rim
Another day of wheel building (etc.). I built a rear wheel using a Tni CX22 tubular rim. Revo disc hub 24H semi-CX sprint 46 JIS lacing pattern with nipple ties…
Photon Torpedo
↑This is a cylindrical mobile battery from Elecom (Japanese electronics brand) with waterproof performance—as long as the cap is closed, it's even OK if submerg…
Built a rear wheel with Reynolds hub and AL22W rim for rim brakes
Another wheel build today (and so on). I built a rear wheel using a Reynolds hub (from a complete wheel) that a customer left with me, and an AL22W rim for rim …
Eighty-Eight
More wheels today (and so on). Built up the front wheel with an 88mm high tubular rim. HB-7700 24H #15 Champion Outpoke radial lacing.
Built a front wheel with Reserve's 42TA rim
Another wheel day (etc.). A customer entrusted me with front and rear rims from a brand called Reserve. The 42┃49TA model. Reserve is the wheel brand of Santa C…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 24H, black half-competition 4-cross lacing with black al…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. It's the matching pair to the Quort rear wheel I built the other day. HB-RS470…
Shoe shields are essentially mandatory for egg beater-style pedals (personal opinion)
On the 22nd (Saturday) and 23rd (Sunday) of this month, I apologize, but I'll be taking those days off. The reason is not a classical concert. For that reason, …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8 with a Q'AUTO hub
Another wheel build today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8 using a hub from Q'AUTO (Quoto), Shimano's learning-type automatic shifting …
Built a Fixed Gear Front Wheel with a 60mm Deep Tubular Rim
Another day building wheels (long story). Built the front wheel for a fixed gear with a 60mm deep tubular rim. It's the matching set to yesterday's rear wheel. …
88mm
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built the rear wheel for a fixed gear with an 88mm carbon tubular rim. Going back in time a bit to when I had just the rim—…
Squeezed in Soni Highland on the Way Home
There's a place in Nara called Soni (曽爾) Highland, famous for its fields of Japanese pampas grass. This is something not widely known, but it was originally dev…
Rebuilt the front wheel of the Zentis Squad 2.5 that was previously rebuilt
Another wheel day (and so on). I received a front wheel from a Zentis Squad 2.5 from a customer. This wheel was originally built with white-painted spokes in th…
I Received a "Bribe" from Someone at a Kyoto Playing Card Shop
I was going to add this as a note to my previous article but since it's a separate matter from the ZIPP customer and it's getting long, I made it its own post. …
Built a rear wheel with a 353NSW rim
More wheels today (and so on). Continuing from the other day. Building a rear wheel with ZIPP's old 303NSW rim. I have to take this photo or ↑this image will ju…
The Front Wheel of the 353NSW
I took in the front wheel of a ZIPP 353NSW from a customer. This is the previous model. The current model, which came out about half a year ago, has the rim hei…
Fired It Up!
↑In the previous post, I got a comment saying "I don't see any crab-beam laser coming from my eyes" ↑So I added this image! Thanks so much for the comment!
Built a rear wheel with Light Bicycle's tubeless rim
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built a rear wheel using Light Bicycle's tubeless rim. Tni LW Super Hub 24H Black hal…
Built a front wheel with Light Bicycle's holeless rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a front wheel today using Light Bicycle's ultra-lightweight holeless rim with no holes except for the valve hole on the o…
I Rebuilt the SES 4.5 Rear Wheel
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I rebuilt the rear wheel on the SES 4.5 disc wheel. Nonplus All Road rear hub Straight-pull,…
Taking a Day Off
On October 31st (Friday), I have some pressing matters to attend to, so I'll be taking the day off. I apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you for your un…
About Drop Bar Width
I removed the Profile Canta Race (→ here ) from a Nine bike. It's not that I disliked it. I just wanted to put it on a different bike. The reason I bought this …
Rebuilt the front wheel for the ENVE 4.5
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left me with an ENVE 4.5 front wheel. The rim is hookless and dedicated to tubeless-ready only. The hub is an ENVE wit…
Built a rear wheel with AL31W rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I built a rear wheel for rim brakes using the AL31W rim—the one with the Tni braking zone. 660 hub, 28 holes, black semi…
Racing Zero
I received a Racing Zero rear wheel from a customer. The hub rotation was grinding, and there's corrosion, so they want me to fix it even if it means replacing …
I Replaced the Rear Wheel Rim Built with an Iron Cross
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer (sort of) dropped off a rear wheel built with an Iron Cross, a super rare discontinued Stans rim. At the first K…
Various Supplementary Notes
A little while back, I wrote about how the new specification Polar bottles without the inner circular indentation seemed to have inferior insulation compared to…
Built a rear wheel with a hole-less carbon rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Built an MTB rear wheel using a carbon rim with no holes on the outer edge except for the valve hole. I did my research on wheel…
Bora WTO45
I received the front and rear wheels of a Bora WTO45 from a customer. They said it was obtained at an auction, and they wanted an inspection at our shop before …
Bora One 35 Clincher Dark Label
A customer brought in a rear wheel from a Bora One 35. A spoke broke while riding on Awaji Island. ↑ This one The spoke fractured right at the boundary where th…
Replaced the rear rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). A customer dropped off the rear wheel from a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 a while back. It wasn't the wheel by itself that was left…
YAWYD Top Cap Has Arrived, But...
The Niner frame I ride has the company's slogan "pedal damn it" written on the front of the top tube. On the top cap above the stem, you can snap any beer bottl…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8 with an ONYX hub
Back to wheel building today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8 using an ONYX Racing hub. Vesper Road/Gravel …
CADEX 42 Tubeless Wheel
A customer dropped off a CADEX 42mm high rim wheel with us. Since this isn't the first owner's wheel in other words, it was bought at auction , they wanted an i…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8 with an ONYX hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8 with an ONYX Racing hub. Vesper Road/Gravel Disc Hub, 24-hole Black half C…
Rebuilt the front wheel for the Alpinist CL1
Another wheel day (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. Rebuilding the front wheel for the Alpinist CL. DT350 and Rovar dual-branded hub. Shot from the DT sid…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on an Alpinist CL1
Another day working on wheels (and so on). A customer left me with the rear wheel from a Rovalé Alpinist CL1. The official model name is Alpinist CL, but since …
Built rear wheel with XC621 rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. Built a rear wheel with a Mavic XC621 rim and a 135mm quick-release disc hub. The hub is a DT 350, qu…
About Grand Prix and Grand Prix 5000
This is a story from about three months ago, but Continental's Grand Prix (the regular Grand Prix, not the Grand Prix 5000) has undergone a model change. It's f…
Back When Eurus and Racing 1 Were the Flagship Aluminum Rim Models
A customer dropped off a rear wheel from a Campagnolo Eurus. It had a clear lateral runout, enough that the customer had already pointed out the wobble themselv…
Built a front wheel with XC621 rim and dynamo hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built a front wheel with a 27.5-inch rim and a dynamo front hub with 100mm quick-release width. It's a combination wh…
Built a Rear Wheel for Rim Brakes with AL22W Rim
Wheels again today (and so on). I built a rear wheel for rim brakes using the AL22W rim that has a brake zone. 660 hub, 24H, half-competition black spokes in 4-…
Hammerhead System Lower Bracket Has Arrived, But...
SRAM Quarq accessory The lower bracket compatible with the Quarq-specific Hammerhead System (the official acronym is HMS, not HHS) has arrived in stock. Natural…
Built a rear wheel with Racing Zero hub and Racing 1 rim
Another day of wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel from a Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT. Part of the rim is dented in. ↑It's like this ...Damn it, I f…
I rebuilt the front wheel I had laced with a spoke-less carbon rim
Continuing from yesterday today is also wheel... (etc.). No, it's not. The wheel I built yesterday (before), same component setup but I rebuilt it (after). What…
Built a front wheel with hole-less carbon rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built the front wheel from the wheel research I wrote about before (→ here ). HB-M8110-BS 28H The spokes on the left side are t…
The Cap on My Polar Bottle Broke
The insulated water bottle I've been using for years, a Polar Bottle (that's what the old distributor used to call it) has had its drinking spout plastic break.…
Rebuilt the rear wheel of a Rovale Rapide CLX40
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in the rear wheel of a Rovale Rapide CLX40 for me to work on. It's from the era when it had an internal nipple…
Two Holes to Celebrate the Compact Drive
Regarding Campagnolo's 12S components, back when only wired EPS was available, the tooth count configurations were: Crankset side: 53–39T 52–36T 50–34T Sprocket…
Rebuilt the SES4.5 front wheel
Another day, another wheel (you know the drill). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the front wheel on the SES4.5 with the WO rim spec. Yesterday I wrote…
First Generation Bora Ultra WTO 33 (+ Second Generation Bora Ultra WTO 35)
A little while back I did an inspection of the front and rear wheels on my first generation Bora Ultra WTO 33 (→ here ), and I got a comment saying something li…
Built a front wheel with an AL22W rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). Tried building a rear wheel with a Grota Tack tubular rim... → ran short on spokes Tried building a front wheel wi…
I Fixed the Bottle Cage Holes on a Fuji Gravel Bike
The drill is screaming! A customer brought in a Fuji gravel bike, a complete Jari model. One of the three bottle cage holes on the down tube had a broken bolt s…
Built a rear wheel with XR331 rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I built a rear wheel using the XR331 rim. Novatec D792 hub with a 135mm quick-release …
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, September 28th (Sunday), I have some unavoidable business to attend to, so I'll be taking the day off. I apologize for any inconvenience, and thank yo…
Built a front wheel with XR331 rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). A customer brought me two DT XC race rims— the XR331—for building front and rear wheels. It's a discontinued rim that…
Preliminary Research for Rebuilding Wheels
Not building wheels today. Just doing the prep work for it. A customer left me with the front and rear wheels from their MTB. They want the hubs replaced. Both …
I was confined to a room until I finished my crafts
A red fluffy headband （originally used to tie back your hair while washing your face, apparently...） with white and blue felt circles glued on as eyes using fab…
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, September 23rd (Tuesday), is the autumn equinox holiday, but I'm taking the day off anyway even though it's a holiday. I sincerely apologize for any i…
Built a front wheel with Giro Tack's 30mm high tubular rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a front wheel with a Giro Tack 30mm high tubular rim. Revo disc hub 24H half CX sprint 64-hole reverse Italian lacing. I'll…
Replaced the rear wheel rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day working on wheels (and so on). I took in the rear wheel of a customer's Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. The brake zone on the rim is worn out, so they'd like …
Shop Notice: About Ritchey's C260 Stem
Right now we have a bike in the shop getting component assembly work done, and the customer brought in a Ritchey C260 stem that's been custom painted, with matc…
I Replaced the Front Wheel Rim on a Racing Zero
Another day of wheels (and so on). A customer brought me a Racing Zero front wheel. Part of the rim width has become narrowed and crushed, so they requested a r…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Back to wheels today (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. 660 hub, 20H Black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with iridescent (VAS) ni…
I Borrowed a Counterfeit Dura-Ace 11S Chain
A customer brought in an 11S Dura-Ace chain that they bought from SHEIN (シーイン), a Chinese website, for 15,180 yen, saying it might be counterfeit. I'm holding i…
Zonda C15☆Low Mileage☆Excellent Condition
This is a follow-up to the Zonda situation from the other day. I could totally insist that I peeled off the rim stickers right after buying it (completely lying…
Built a rear wheel with Reynolds Attack rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built the disc brake rear wheel with a Reynolds Attack rim, the matching pair to yesterday's front wheel. Novatech D792-CL …
The Story of a Box Possibly Containing a White Raven Being Covered in Bar Tape
The other day, a customer came in riding a GIANT Propel complete bike ↑This one They'd never removed the bar tape (shown in the image above) that came factory-w…
Built a front wheel with Reynolds Attack rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Built a disc brake front wheel with a Reynolds Attack rim. The rim has no brake zone and is designed for disc brakes. Novatec D7…
Zonda's sticker is tough as nails
About the inspection on that pair of Zondas the other day, I contacted the customer and decided to just peel off the rim sticker since it was looking dirty ↑sam…
Rebuilt a half-comp rear wheel as a half-CX Sprint
Wheels again today (and so on). I received a rear wheel from a customer that we had built previously. Apparently it was being used with a 12-speed setup, but th…
Replaced the rim on a front wheel built with a CX22 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I received a front wheel built with a Tni CX22 tubular rim from a customer. It has a red sticker from our shop (Kanikōsen, a loca…
Zonda Zonda
A customer dropped off a pair of front and rear Campagnolo Zonda wheels. Both are the final generation C15 narrow rim, not the 2WAY-FIT version. ↑The pair in th…
Built a rear wheel with DT RR411db rim
Another day working on wheels (and so on). I built a rear wheel using a DT RR411db rim. Duro hub, 28H, black, semi-competizione, 46-spoke Japanese lacing patter…
The Anpower Project
The other Saturday, the morning of September 6th, I rode out to around the Biwako Bridge. A customer had given me one of these sports yōkan bars called anpower …
I Made a Front Fender for My Niner (With Installation Conditions)
↑These are photos from February 2024, taken just before the summit on the Osaka side of Takenouchi Pass. The rain had stopped, but the road was still wet, and w…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revolve disc hub, 24H, semi-competition 46-spoke JIS lacing With spoke connecti…
Replaced hubs and rims on two pairs of ENVE wheels (4/4)
Working on wheels again today (and so on). Building the rear wheel with an SES3.4 rim using a DT 240 hub, which has smaller flanges than the Chris King R45 hub …
Original Bora Ultra WTO33
A customer dropped off the front and rear wheels from an original Bora Ultra WTO33 for inspection. With the original Bora WTO, there are rim brake versions avai…
I Swapped Hubs and Rims on Two ENVE Wheelsets (3/4)
Wheels again today (and so on). Now for the rear wheel. ↑I'm going to swap the hubs and rims from these two. I disassembled both rear wheels. The spokes from th…
Specialized Store Kyoto: "Leave Roval Wheel Repairs to Us!"
A customer brought in a front wheel from a Roval Rapide CLX60. It's an old model from 2014, of course set up for rim brakes. The same model name from that era c…
Built a rear wheel with Gravel Tack's 40mm tubeless rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built a rear wheel using Gravel Tack's 40mm tubeless rim. Revo disc hub, 24H, semi-CX sprint lacing pattern in black 46 JIS…
Built a front wheel with Grolltack 40mm high tubeless rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a front wheel with a Grolltack 40mm high tubeless rim. Revo disc hub, 24H, black half CX sprint with black aluminum nipples…
Replacing Oni Bearings with Standard Ball Bearings Resulted in Smooth Rotation
A customer dropped off the front and rear wheels of a CADEX tubeless-ready rim. Since they're sold as individual front and rear units, the customer changed the …
8x8mm
Today's another wheel (and so on). I feel like I saw this same rim not too long ago (→ here ), but I built the rear wheel with an 88mm-high tubular rim. WH-RS30…
We Have Stock of Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 Available for Immediate Delivery (tears of blood)
I can't go into the details of why, Tni 660 hub with 20H front and 28H rear, black spokes with gold nipples Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 We have wheels available for im…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
Today it's wheels again (and so on). It's a 135mm quick-release rear wheel spec but for a cyclocross frame with disc brake setup instead of cantilever brakes— I…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu-Lab Wheel #5 with a DT240 hub
Another day of wheel building (details omitted). Built the rear wheel for Nomu-Lab Wheel #5 using a DT240 hub. 28H, black semi-comp lacing pattern (4-cross), wi…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5 with a DT240 hub
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Tni 660 hub, 20H front and 28H rear Black spokes with gold nipples I'd built Nomu Lab Wheel #5, and the customer came to…
Built a rear wheel with ALEXRIMS CX24 rim
Another wheel build today (and so on). Built a rear wheel with an ALEXRIMS CX24 rim. Gran Compe GC-SF hub, 32H All CX sprint lacing, no wire-on method, whereas …
Reply to Comments
In my previous post, I wrote something like "You can't operate wireless new XTR and similar with 12-speed road STI levers" but I received a comment saying that …
Recent Long-Cage Rear Derailleurs and Small-Wheeled Bike Compatibility
↑This shows an Alex Moulton small-wheeled bike fitted with an 11-speed Super Record rear derailleur, shifted to the position closest to the condition where the …
Changed the WH-RS700 spokes to silver (rear wheel edition)
Wheel work again today (and so on). I rebuilt the rear wheel on the WH-RS700, the partner to the front wheel I converted to silver spokes the other day. CX-RAY …
Replaced the rear rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
More wheels today (and so on). A customer dropped off the rear wheel from Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1 with me. The rim was deformed, so we're replacing it. Transferrin…
Built a front wheel with ALEXRIMS CX24 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). ALEXRIMS CX24 rim (rim height 24mm / inner width 17mm / outer width 22mm) and built a front wheel. Paired with a Gran Compe small…
I built the front wheel for the Nomu Lab Wheel #8
Today it's wheels again (and so on). The gold aluminum nipples arrived, so I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8 with the rainbow-colored (VAS) nipple p…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Another day working on wheels (and so on). I couldn't build the rear wheel for the WH-RS700, so I tried to build a different wheel but ran short on materials fo…
I wanted to change the rear wheel spokes on the WH-RS700 to silver
Today's wheel stuff (and so on). is not this wheel. Continuing from the other day, I wanted to change the rear wheel of the WH-RS700 to silver spokes too, but w…
Taking a Day Off Tomorrow
Tomorrow, August 12th (Tuesday), it's not a summer vacation or anything like that, but I'll be taking the day off. It's not a classical concert either. I apolog…
Changed the WH-RS700 spokes to silver (front wheel, part 1)
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in the front and rear wheels from a Shimano WH-RS700. Today I'm working on the front wheel, and they wan…
Rebuilding a rear wheel assembled with RR411 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I took in a rear wheel from a customer that was built with a DT RR441 offset rim. Apparently it was assembled by an acquaintance …
Nomunlab Controversy
A customer brought some fireworks by the shop, so we set them off in front of the store after closing time.
Replaced the front rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
More wheel work today (you know the drill). A customer brought in the front wheel from Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1 for service. Rim pinch flat caused the bead hook to …
A Squorx Nipple Fractured
A customer brought in a rear wheel built with a DT XR331 rim. It was one we built here in the shop previously. The nipple has fractured. This rim requires being…
Built a rear wheel with Grail CB7 rim
Another wheel build today (and so on). Building the rear wheel with a Grail CB7 rim to match the front wheel I built the other day. When building both front and…
Built a front wheel with Stans Grail CB7 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). With a Stans Grail CB7 rim I built up a disc brake front wheel. Unmarked straight-pull spoke hub, 28H Semi-CX sprint, forced 3-cr…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
More wheel work today (you know the drill). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. 660 hub, 24H, black semi-comp 4-cross lacing Rainbow color (VAS) nipple …
Above the Convenience Store Register
Every time I see that three-screen display I'm reminded of the original Darius arcade cabinet, so I made this quick mashup image.
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
It's wheel day again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 28H, black semi-competition 4-cross lacing with gold aluminum nipple…
Bringing Your Smartphone Close to a Vacuum-Sealed Ferragamo Case
A storm of notifications comes pouring in. I keep a "Ferragamo card case that's been vacuum-sealed (vacuum Ferragamo)" in my shop desk drawer, and the other day…
I replaced the front hub on a Bontrager Aeolos RSL 51
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer (technically) brought in a front wheel from a Bontrager Aeolos RSL 51 for me to work on. The hub shell has "Bontrager"…
Assembled the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Back to wheel building today (and so on). I assembled the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 24H, black semi-competition 4-cross lacing pattern with …
Eight Eight
More wheel building today (and so on). Built up the rear wheel with an 88mm high tubular rim. The rim side finish is super glossy and shiny, so the surrounding …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with red aluminum nipples.
Eight-Eight
Another day of wheel... (and so on). Before that, though. During wartime, when metal resources were scarce, there was an order to requisition donate temple bell…
Racing Zero Night Wheels
A customer brought me the front and rear wheels of a Racing Zero Night for repair. This is the same situation as the previous post— wheels purchased at auction …
Racing 3 2WAY-FIT Rear Wheel
A customer dropped off a Racing 3 rear wheel with us. To be precise, I inspected a total of four wheels—the front and rear Eurus wheels that had been in regular…
G540 sir/madam
A customer brought in a DT (gravel-ready complete wheelset), the G540 rear wheel for repair. This image is from after the repair work. There was a pretty notice…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with gold aluminum nipples.
Built a rear wheel with AL22W rim and Mirage hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built a rear wheel with an AL22W rim. Campagnolo Mirage hub, 32H Half CX sprint 46-spoke lacing pattern. I'll do the …
Racing 7 CX
I received the front and rear wheels from a customer for a Racing 7 CX. To be precise, I received a cyclocross complete bike with these front and rear wheels at…
Built a front wheel with AL22W rim and Mirage hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built a front wheel with the AL22W rim. Hub is a Campagnolo Mirage 32H CX-RAY spokes in 60/40 Italian pattern lacing.
Built a front wheel with Open Pro Carbon 25 UST rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. Built my teammate's front wheel. PowerTap hub, 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. Even though it's a P…
Built a rear wheel with Open Pro Carbon 25 UST rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a rear wheel using an Open Pro Carbon 25 UST rim. The bag the rim came in said Open Pro Carbon UST, but the rim itself is…
CLX 50
A customer brought in the front wheel of a ロヴァール (Rovalé) CLX 50 for work. The image above shows the wheel after work. For tubeless tires, you can either pressu…
Rebuilt the DM18 rim rear wheel
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel with a DM18 rim. The hub is a Shimano Deore LX FH-M565, and the era mat…
Rebuilt the front wheel with ALEXRIMS DM18 rim
Today's another wheel build (and so on). ↑This is unrelated to today's wheel rebuild— it's a CAAD1 MTB, but it's equipped with a CODA saddle. CODA is Cannondale…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY Radial outpoke lacing with gold alloy nipples.
Built a rear wheel with CXP Pro Carbon 40 UST rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A Mavic that a customer left with me CXP Pro Carbon 40 UST rim I built the rear wheel. He wanted it built really tight. …
Built a front wheel with Crest MK4 rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built a front wheel with Crest MK4 rim. HB-RS470 28H black half CX sprint hub Laced in reversed 64-spoke Italian pattern wi…
Stan's Rim Tape Packaging "and More" Has Been Redesigned
Stan's rim tape has been completely redesigned in packaging "and other things." Previously it came in very basic vinyl bags, but With the new packaging, if you …
Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT
A customer left me with the rear wheel of a Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT. The rim's cosmetic branding only says Racing Zero, but there's a small sticker that reads 2WAY…
Built a rear wheel with Stans Crest MK4 rim
Another wheel build today (and so on). Built a rear wheel with Stans' Crest MK4 rim. Duro hub 28H black half CX sprint Built JIS 46-spoke pattern with black alu…
Replaced the front rim on a Racing Zero Night
Another day working on wheels (et cetera). A customer brought in the front wheel from a Racing Zero Night (wheel model). The missing spoke was removed just for …
Built a rear wheel with XR300 rim
Another day working on wheels (and so on). I built a rear wheel using a Kinrin XR300 rim that a customer brought in. It's not one of the Nomu Lab wheels #1, par…
Built a rear wheel with AL22W rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a rear wheel with an AL22W rim. 660 hub, 24 spoke, black semi-competizione four-cross lacing pattern. I'll do the spoke nip…
Built a rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5 using the WH-RS300 rear hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on). A customer dropped off a Shimano WH-RS300 rear wheel. They only wanted the rear hub with the Shimano 11-speed freebod…
Hyperon Ultra Two Customer
I received the front and rear wheels from a Hyperon (high-end wheel brand) from a customer. They were purchased at auction, and the condition looked suspicious …
So There Actually Exists Such a Thing as a Reverse-Rim Dedicated Left-Right 2-Cross Disc Hub
A customer brought in a new old stock complete bike — a Time Alpe d'Huez 21 — that they purchased from a shop with a used goods dealer license, requesting inspe…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5 using a WH-R501 front hub
Another wheel day (you know the drill). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5 using a hub that came from a Shimano complete wheelset a customer had give…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Back to wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub, 24H, black semi-comp, 46-spoke JIS lacing with black alu…
I Bought a Lockring for the EW-SS302
I bought a Shimano small part called "EW-SS302 Lockring WH Magnet and Washer" for myself. This part isn't the EW-SS302 itself. Shimano has a STEPS assist unit s…
Replaced the AL300 rim on the rebuilt front wheel
Another day working on wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a front wheel built with a Tni AL300 rim. Evo Lite hub, 24H, black CX-RAY Four-cross lacing pat…
I replaced the rear wheel rim on Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another day of wheel work (and so on)... but first. The Tni aluminum rims that were out of stock for a long time have finally arrived. We got a lot of rims for …
Ksyrium Pro UST
I received a Ksyrium (Mavic disc brake wheel) from a customer. This is a Ksyrium from back when Mavic was using Zicral aluminum spokes. The customer mentioned t…
Rebuilt the Rear Wheel of a 303 Firecrest
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel from a ZIPP 303 Firecrest for us to work on. I've taped plastic string to both the sprocket an…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 24H, black semi-competition 4-cross lacing with rainbow-colored arrang…
Replaced the front rim on Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in the front wheel of Nomu Lab Wheel #5. They were riding on the street-side portion of the sidewalk when thei…
Shamal Ultra
A customer left a Shamal Ultra front wheel with me. One spoke got caught in the rotation. Originally, it should have been just that one spoke replacement, but b…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing Rainbow sequence (VAS sequence…
Built a rear wheel with a 29mm high TLR rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I built a rear wheel with a 29mm high carbon rim. Revo disc hub, 24H, black half-compe…
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, June 17th (Tuesday), I have some unavoidable business to attend to, so I'll be taking the day off. I apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you fo…
Built a front wheel with a 29mm high TLR rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). A customer gave me a 29mm high tubeless-ready carbon rim to work with. When I saw the rim's finish, I was almost cert…
Built a rear wheel with Colima's Aero rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in a Colima Aero rim for me to work with. "Aero rim" isn't a generic term referring to the shape— it'…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
Another day of wheels (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8. Revo Disc Hub 24H black semi-CX Sprint Lacing in reverse Italian style with blac…
Replaced the rear wheel rim on Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). A customer (sort of) dropped off the rear wheel of Nomu Lab Wheel #5. The rim was warped, so I'm replacing it. Rim relocati…
Vision Disc Wheel
A customer brought in a disc wheel from Vision, an FSA (Full Speed Ahead) TT/triathlon parts brand. I've taken it in for service. The industry situation these d…
Built a rear wheel with ALEXRIMS Supra 35 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a rear wheel with an ALEXRIMS Supra 35 rim. The front wheel build was a while back (→ here ), but when I tried to build a…
Rebuilt the rear wheel with XR300 rim
Another wheel day today (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel built with either a Kinrin XR300 rim or a Tni (Tanni) AL300 rim. It wasn't built in our …
Built a rear wheel with Molterno rim
Wheel building again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built a rear wheel using a Molterno (Italian rim brand) Grand Prix 80 rim. Bronze anodized …
Built a front wheel with Moltorno rims
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought me rims from a manufacturer called Moltorno called the Grampri 80. The pair weighs pretty much the same at aro…
I Switched My Niner's Pedals to Crank Brothers
My Niner is supposed to be a gravel bike in theory, but given the frame's tire clearance tolerance of 25–50C, I'm running the minimum 25C tires, with 330mm hand…
Repaired a Puncture in the Purple Light Tube
The tube from Panaracer's Purple Light (lightweight tube) that I have in my personal bike's rear wheel had developed a super slow leak that would last about a d…
Built a rear wheel with RR411 rim and 240 hub
Another day working on wheels (and so on). I built a rear wheel using a DT RR411 rim and DT 240 hub that a customer dropped off. 240 hub, 24 spokes, black half …
Cosmic SLR 40
I've taken in a set of Mavic Cosmic SLR 40 front and rear wheels from a customer. The customer said it was okay to mention, so I'll note that this was purchased…
I rebuilt the rear wheel for the 454NSW
Another wheel day (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel for the 454NSW. The hub is a Cognition V2. V2 means Version Two, and wit…
Rebuilt the front wheel on a 454NSW
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left me the front and rear wheels from a ZIPP 454NSW. They've got 7 pairs of wheels total including this one, but this…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
More wheels today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8. Revolving disc hub, 24H, black semi-CX sprint 64-spoke reverse Italian lacing with…
303 Firecrест
A customer brought in the front and rear wheels from a ZIPP (high-end wheelset brand) 303 Firecrест for me to work on. They wanted an inspection. Since they're …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo Disc Hub 24H half-CX sprint 64-spoke reverse Italian lacing with red…
Vittoria Rubino V (Five) Has Arrived in Stock
At our shop, we stock Continental Grand Prix 5000 and Grand Prix 5000 S-TR as our clincher tire inventory, but I don't think Continental tires are the best opti…
I Installed a REC-MOUNTS on the Kanta Race (Not without modifications, mind you)
The other day I wrote about buying a Profile handlebar with a narrower width (there are some), the Kanta Race C-C 330mm, and at that time I mentioned that about…
Bora WTO45
A customer brought in a Bora WTO45 (rim brake version) for service. I had inspected this wheel previously, but the customer reported play in the hub that was af…
I Made a Tool That Can Turn Nipples From the Outside Even When the Spoke Threads Extend Beyond the Nipple Slot
While building the wheel from my previous post, I stripped a nipple. For minor damage, I'd normally just loosen it and remove and replace it, but in the image a…
Built a rear wheel with Gro-Tack's 30mm high tubeless rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a rear wheel with a Gro-Tack (Japanese rim manufacturer) 30mm high tubeless rim. Gro-Tack disc hub, 24H Black semi-competit…
Built a front wheel with ALEXRIMS Supra 35 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a disc hub with 100mm quick-release width, and asked me to build a wheel in 26 inches with a wide rim I bui…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub 24H black half CX sprint Laced in reverse Italian (64-spoke) …
Built a front wheel with a Grottack 30mm high tubeless rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a front wheel with a Grottack 30mm high tubeless rim. Grottack disc hub, 24H Black half CX sprint 46 reverse Italian lacing…
Rebuilt the front wheel on a Prime
A customer brought in a front wheel for the Prime Attacker disc brake model wheel for me to service. Just to be clear, the Attacker also comes in a rim brake mo…
Setsuko, That's Not a Drop. It's a Drop Bar.
I bought a new handlebar called the Profile Canta Race. About the title: Setsuko's brother is Seita, and Canta (Kanta) appears not in Grave of the Fireflies but…
Elite Drive Wheels
A customer brought in a wheel from Elite (エリート), a wheel brand unrelated to the bottle cage brand Elite, called the Drive. It's a wheel with carbon fiber spokes…
First-Generation Kysirrium Rear Wheel
A customer brought in the rear wheel from the first-generation Kysirrium specifically the Kysirrium SSC rear wheel. They wanted an internal hub overhaul and a w…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Another day of wheelbuilding (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. DT pre-built wheel hub 28H Champ/CX Sprint forced left-right 2-cross …
Rebuilt the rear wheel for WH-R8170-C50
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left me an Ultegra C50 rear wheel to work on. Despite its appearance suggesting decent rim depth and all, there's defi…
Replaced Rusted Spokes on Shimano Wheel
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought me the front and rear wheels that I had built for them previously. The front wheel is a Nomu Lab (Japane…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub, 24H, black semi-competition 46-spoke JIS lacing. I'll do the spo…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Revo II hub, 24H, black semi-comp 4-cross lacing with turquoise aluminum nipple…
It's a tiger! It's a tiger! You're all going to become tigers!
The riverbed of the Kanzaki River, which branches off from the Yodogawa River, has paved road surfaces that continue on and on, but ↑That's roughly where it end…
The saddle bag orientation wasn't actually wrong...
I thought the saddle bag from Psycology (psychology-themed cycling accessory brand) that was on a customer's saddle might be oriented incorrectly, so I remounte…
CLX32 Disk
Today wasn't going to be another wheel (and so on) situation. I took in the front and rear wheels of a customer's Roval CLX32 Disk. A while back I fixed a diffe…
Built a rear wheel with GroTack's 40mm high tubeless rim
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built a rear wheel with a GroTack 40mm high tubeless-ready rim. Revo disc hub, 24H, black semi-competition laced in 4-cross JI…
Built a front wheel with Gravel Tack's 40mm tubeless-ready rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a front wheel with Gravel Tack (Japanese rim brand) 40mm tubeless-ready rim. Revoloop disc hub 24-spoke black half CX sprin…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced with turquoise alumin…
Racing Zero Carbon DB Wheel Service
A customer dropped off the front and rear wheels of a Racing Zero Carbon DB for service. The rear wheel is quite complex work, but I'll start with the front whe…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5 with a silver rim. 660 hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial laced. In my post about …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheels (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. 660 hub, 24H, semi-comp 4-cross lacing with tied and soldered spokes Red and blac…
Replaced AX Lightness Rim That Cracked From Buckling
Another day working on wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel built with an AX Lightness ultra-lightweight carbon rim. This was a wheel we built…
Built a rear wheel with Paul's single-speed hub and hole-free rim
Another wheel day (details omitted). A customer gave me a Paul rear hub for single-speed bikes. It's the DISC WORD model with a through-axle width of either 142…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub, 24H, black half CX sprint 64-spoke reverse Italian lacing.…
Racing 3DB Front Wheel
A customer brought in the front wheel from a Racing 3DB for repairs. Two spokes were broken. Since this wheel has high tension and few spokes, the rim was sever…
Replaced the rear rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
It's wheels again today (and so on). I received Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8's rear wheel from a customer. The rim was deformed, so I'm replacing it. There was a Kaniko…
Dahon's Rear Wheel
A customer brought in a Dahon 28H rear wheel built with a Joytech (Japanese hub manufacturer) rear hub that has the DAHON logo on the hub shell. Apparently a ne…
Taking tomorrow off, but it turns out to be a 4-day break since the day after is the final Saturday
Tomorrow, April 25th (Friday), I have some unavoidable matters to attend to, so I'll be taking the day off. I apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you for…
Built a rear wheel with Grota Tack's 40mm high tubeless rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built a rear wheel using a Grota Tack 40mm high tubeless ready rim. Duro hub 28H semi-comp four-cross JIS lacing. I'll do…
Built a front wheel with Gravel Tack's 40mm high tubeless rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built the front wheel with Gravel Tack's 40mm high tubeless-ready rim. Duro hub, 24H, semi-CX sprint 64-spoke reverse Italian lac…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 24H — currently out of stock at the parts distributor Blac…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced with black aluminum nipples.
One Cup Can Save a Wheel
The Niner gravel bike I'm riding has been equipped with Nomu Lab wheels #8 on both front and rear from the beginning. The front hub happens to be a spare (→ her…
Assembled the rear wheel for むLabo Wheel No. 8 with an RS770 hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for むLabo Wheel No. 8. FH-RS770 28H, semi-competition 4-cross JIS lacing With spoke twistin…
※In this case, "人間" is read as "jinkan"
↑This is a spicy sesame oil ramen (with broth) large serving from a ramen shop called "Norio" within walking distance of our store. This has nothing to do with …
CADEX 50 Ultra Disc Tubeless Wheels
I received a customer's CADEX front and rear wheels on deposit. The image above is the rear wheel. I forgot to take an overall shot of the front wheel. Both fro…
Built a rear wheel with a DT fixed gear hub
Another wheel day (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. Built the rear wheel with a DT fixed gear hub and 50mm high tubular rim. 24H black CX Sprint 6x6 JIS l…
Built a front wheel with DT's fixed gear hub
Wheel building again today (and so on). I built a front wheel using a 50mm deep Chinese carbon tubular rim and a DT fixed gear hub. This hub only comes with fro…
Built a rear wheel on Fulcrum Racing 4DB hub with AL22W rim
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a hub that they said was a Racing 3DB rear hub. The customer who brought it in is a regular from S Prefectu…
I rebuilt the rear wheel of the 303 Firecrest again
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. The rear wheel also needed to be rebuilt. The hub rotation feels a bit rough, but the bearings a…
Reply to Comments
In yesterday's article, I wrote that you need to remove the bearing adjustment nut temporarily when installing a disc rotor on a Chris King R45D rear hub. I rec…
Revo Disc Hub II Has Arrived in Stock
Among Tni's Revo disc hubs, only the rear hub for Shimano 11-speed had been on long-term backorder at the distributor （the other specs are Shimano 12-speed excl…
Chris King Releases External-Lock Disc Rotor Lockring
Regarding the center-lock interface on the Chris King R45D rear hub, ↑(the split isn't visible in the photo) You have to remove the split cone from the hub axle…
Rebuilt the front wheel of the 303 Firecrest that was previously rebuilt
Another day on the wheel (etc.). A customer brought in a ZIPP 303 Firecrest front wheel that we had previously rebuilt. The hub was rebuilt using a Grothack EQU…
Note: This is different from "You wanna fight, huh!?"
Panda: "Huh? What's up with you" Panda: "You wanna fight, Koala!?" Edit: I got a comment saying "Koala is turning into Panda," but both lines are actually Panda…
Rebuilt the rear wheel of the WH-R9270-C50-TU
Another wheel day (and so on...). But first. A tangent unrelated to the main story. The image above is the latest generation Dura-Ace rear wheel, with a 10-spee…
Rebuilt the front wheel of the WH-R9270-C50-TU
Another day of wheels (and so on). A customer entrusted me with a Dura-Ace C50 tubular front wheel. They wanted it rebuilt. By the way, this is a different cust…
I bought a reading light
A while back I bought a book called "Kamala Harris's Accomplishments"—which is basically a blank page (→ here )—and I thought a light suitable as a reading lamp…
Replaced the hub on the rebuilt front wheel of the WH-R9270-C36-TU
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a front wheel from a Dura-Ace C36 tubular rim model that we rebuilt here at the shop some time ago. Y…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
Another day of wheels (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8. Revoled disc hub 24H black half CX sprint 64 reverse Italian lacing with orange …
Built the rear wheel for Nomulabo Wheel #8
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomulabo Wheel #8. AL22W rim 24H — currently out of stock at the distributor Revo disc hub 24H — c…
Frame Touch-Up Work
I received a BOMA サイII (Saiyuu II) frame from a customer (technically speaking). They'd collided with an acquaintance and damaged the frame. Besides that, one o…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub, 24H, semi-comp 46 JIS lacing. I'll do the cable routi…
Built the front wheel for Nomulab Wheel No. 8
Another wheel day (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomulab Wheel No. 8. Levo disc hub 24H semi-CX sprint 64-spoke reverse Italian lacing. I'll do the wi…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub, 24H, black semi CX sprint 64-spoke reverse Italian lacing with …
Changed the Rear Rim on the Axiom Disc
Wheels again today (et cetera). Continuing from the other day. I changed the rear rim on the Axiom Disc to this rim. It had a Shimano freebody attached, but the…
Changed the front wheel rim on an Ксиум Disc
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in an Axiom Disc front wheel. The rim has 24 holes with equal spoke count left and right, and they want …
Rebuilt the DV46 Cross front wheel
Another wheel day (details omitted). A customer brought in a Reynolds DV46 Cross front wheel for rebuild. A while back I rebuilt a DV46UL rear wheel for a separ…
Imajé Sealant is Back in Stock
The Imajé sealant that had been out of stock for a while is finally back in! This is the Imajé + (Plus) version with microfiber. Once customers buy this, they t…
Built a rear wheel with Open Pro UST rim for rim brakes
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built up a rear wheel using an Open Pro UST rim for rim brakes. 660 hub, 24H, black semi-co…
Built a front wheel with Open Pro UST rim for rim brakes
Another wheel build today (and so on). A customer left me two Open Pro UST rims for rim brakes (with brake zones). Not 20H and 24H—both are 24H. When I build fr…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on the WH-R9270-C36 tubular
Another day working on wheels (and so on). A customer left me a rear wheel — the tubular rim version of a Dura-Ace C36. The image above is from after the work. …
Completely Replaced the Nipples on the Intense/DVO Wheels (Part 2: Rear Wheel)
Wheels again today (you know the drill). Continuing from yesterday. I'm replacing all the nipples on the wheels of this Intense complete bike. The rear wheel al…
The Original Racing Zero
A customer brought in an original generation Racing Zero for me to work on. Even though this is a rear wheel from a Racing Zero made before rest phase holes exi…
Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT Rear Wheel
A customer brought in a Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT rear wheel for repair. It got hit by a car and the spokes bent. The front wheel from a different vintage Racing Zer…
Racing Zero
A customer brought in the rear wheel from a Racing Zero for me to work on. Looking at the image around the top, there's a spoke on the non-freewheel side that a…
Racing Zero Competizione Front Wheel
A customer dropped off the front wheel from a Racing Zero Competizione (high-end Italian wheelset) for repair. One spoke was bent, and it was causing runout at …
Completely Replaced All Nipples on an Intense/DVO Wheel (Front Wheel, Part 1)
A customer brought me an Intense complete bike's stock wheel for service. Intense is an MTB frame brand, and based on my knowledge of Intense from the early 200…
I Rebuilt the Rear Wheel of a DV46UL
I received a Reynolds DV46UL rear wheel from a customer. To be precise, since it's a tubular rim specification, it's the DV46UL T. The non-freewheel side is rad…
The 99.1% Win Rate Tool
A customer asked me to remove a seatpost from a Geos small-wheeled bike, a Mignon. The image above is already after the work. The seatpost came with the complet…
Replaced the rear rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on). This is the rear wheel, the partner to the front wheel whose rim I replaced the other day. There's a section where it's wobbling…
Taking a day off the day after tomorrow
The day after tomorrow is Friday, March 14th, and I have some unavoidable business, so I'll be taking the day off. I apologize for any inconvenience, and thank …
I replaced the front wheel rim on the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on). This is a follow-up on the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 where a customer left two pairs of front and rear wheels with me a while back (→…
Replaced the rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Back to wheels again today (and so on). A customer brought in the rear wheel of a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 (custom wheel brand). The rim cracked, so we're replacing…
Rebuilt Chikuwa Wheelset Complete Wheel (Front Wheel, But the Second Half)
Another day with wheels (you know the rest). Continuing from yesterday. Rebuilding the front wheel of the Chikuwa wheel. Lightweight hub, 24H, all-black CX-RAY …
I Rebuilt a Chikuwa Wheelset Rear Wheel (Part 1)
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer left me with a Chikuwa (budget wheel brand) rear wheel. They said I could do whatever I thought would make it be…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on the CL50
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I rebuilt the rear wheel, the counterpart to the front wheel I rebuilt on the CL50 the other day. Unlike the front wheel, t…
If You Make It, Bury It in the Field
At a certain facility, there was a stamp vending machine. You could choose the characters and font styles with a fair amount of freedom, and whether or not you'…
Heavy Mobile Mecha Blau Blo
From Mobile Suit Gundam, the original Gundam series, I acquired an old Blau Blo kit. About three months after the end of the Gundam broadcast, Director Yoshiyuk…
Bora Ultra 35 Tubular Dark Label
I received the front and rear wheels of a Bora 35 from a customer. They wanted me to replace the hub axles. Let me start with the front wheel. It's a tubular ri…
Rebuilt the Front Wheel of a CL50
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer dropped off the front wheel from a Rovaal CL50 (Japanese wheel brand) for me to work on. They wanted it rebuilt. The C…
Spinergy Zero Light Wheel
A customer brought in a Spinergy Zero Light rear wheel for service. There's one spot with a pretty significant wobble, and the customer wants it repaired. The s…
About Purple Light Valve Cores
Panaracer's purple TPU tube, Purple Light, After installing on both front and rear wheels, I've had multiple cases where there was a difference in air loss rate…
I Bought a USE Front Light QR Bracket
The USE front light Axis (→ that I have ) is officially designed as a light for mounting on top of a helmet (the "chonmage beam" style), so it comes with a helm…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8. Revo disc hub, 24-spoke, black semi-competition, 46mm JIS lacing Rainbow (VAS) patte…
Built a rear wheel with Ambrosio's Nemesis Rim
Another wheel day (and so on...). Continuing from yesterday. I built up a fixed-gear rear wheel using Ambrosio's Nemesis Rim. GC-SF double-sided fixed-gear hub,…
Racing Zero Front Wheel
A customer brought in a Racing Zero front wheel for repair. When dismounting, they caught the toe of their shoe in the front wheel, bending a spoke and causing …
Built a front wheel with Ambrosio Nemesis Rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). I received two Ambrosio Nemesis Rims from a customer. I'll use these to build the front and rear wheels for a fixed-gear bi…
Replaced the front rim on Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on...). A customer dropped off two pairs of front and rear wheels—Nomu Lab Wheel #5 with black spokes and red nipples. They've damage…
Closed Tomorrow, February 22nd
I don't usually make announcements about closures, but tomorrow is the last Saturday of the month, so we're closed. However, since the 22nd being the last Satur…
Built a rear wheel with Astral Solstice Rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Let me supplement what I mentioned when building the front wheel. Even if you try to align the phase of the rim sticker like in t…
I Reattached Boon's Front Derailleur Bracket
The drill whines! A customer's (supposedly) Trek cyclocross bike— the front derailleur bracket on Boon was loose, so I had to fix it. The frameset's generation …
Cosmic Pro Carbon SL Rear Wheel
A customer dropped off the rear wheel from a Cosmic Pro Carbon (high-end Mavic wheelset). One of the radially-laced spokes on the non-freewheel side had been re…
Alien L5 Wheel
A customer brought in a wheel called the L5 from 8LIEN (Alien) for us to work on. ↑That's how you read "Alien." Back in the day, Cinelli had a frame called the …
Built a front wheel with Astral Solstice rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). A customer brought in a rim called Solstice from a maker called Astral Cycling. It's an aluminum rim with a 22mm rim …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 24H, semi-competition laced in four-cross with black aluminum nip…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (et cetera). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY Radial lace with outpokes Black aluminum nipples. Jus…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY Outpoke radial lacing Black aluminum nipples.
Rebuilt the rear wheel of the Alpinist CLX
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I rebuilt the rear wheel of the Alpinist CLX Rebuilt it. I'm sure someone's going to ask wha…
Rebuilt the front wheel for an Alpinist CLX
Another day with wheels (etc.). A customer brought in the front wheel from an Alpinist CLX. They wanted it rebuilt. The front hub bearing rotation is feeling gr…
I Built the Rear Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
Another day, another wheel (you know the drill). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8. (Disc brake rim but it's a rim brake wheel though no one will kno…
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, February 9th (Sunday), I need to take the day off due to some unavoidable business. I know it's a bit unusual to take Sunday off, but our regular conc…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on the Alpinist CL
Today's another wheel day (et cetera). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel on the Alpinist. There's almost no trace of use. That said, you …
Wonderfully Bright SRAM AXS (Part 2)
Continuation from Part 1 (→ here ). For a while now, I've been thinking about whether I could assign rear derailleur shift-up/shift-down to the left lever of an…
I rebuilt the front wheel of the Alpinist CL
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer dropped off the front and rear wheels of a Roval Alpinist CL. They came on a complete Ethos bike, but compared to the…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on the Rapide CLX
Today's wheel (and so on). I rebuilt the rear wheel on the Roval Rapide CLX. It's the counterpart to yesterday's front wheel, and since it's the first generatio…
Rebuilt the front wheel on the Rapidé CLX
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a Rovar Rapidé CLX for me to work on. They wanted a rebuild, so I'm swapping the spokes on one side from Ae…
Built a rear wheel with a lightweight hole-less tubeless rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built up the rear wheel with an exceptionally light hole-less rim. Goldix R240 SL hub, 24H Black ha…
Bora WTO33 Rim Brake Wheels
I took in a pair of front and rear Bora WTO33 rim brake wheels from a customer. If you're going to keep riding rim brake bikes, you don't necessarily need the C…
Built a front wheel with a lightweight hole-free tubeless rim
Another wheel build day (and so on). A customer brought me a rim that has no holes on the outer circumference except for the valve hole. Since it's not a hookle…
Bora One 35 Clincher Dark Label
A customer dropped off a set of Bora 35 front and rear wheels for me. They wanted an inspection done. Let me start with the front wheel. When viewing the wheel …
Rebuilt the DT ERC1400 Diecut 35 front wheel as a rear wheel
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I rebuilt the DT ERC1400 front wheel as a rear wheel. This is the pair to the wheel I rebuilt as a front wheel the other da…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #7
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #7. Nomu Lab Wheel #7 has already been discontinued, but I kept a small stock of …
Rebuilt the front wheel of the ERC1400 Diecut 35
Another day with wheels (and so on). Rebuilding the additional order of discounted wheels for the ERC1400. Today it's the front wheel. Front to front wheels can…
I Bought a Hermès Birkin Bag
The other day, I bought a Hermès Birkin bag. I'd heard all sorts of rumors—that a concierge would stick with you the moment you walk into the store, that you ha…
I rebuilt the rear wheel of the Hologram 35
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I'm going to rebuild the rear wheel, which is the counterpart to the front wheel of the Hologram 35 that I rebuilt the othe…
I Got My Hands on a Super Rare Nipple
↑This is a DT Squorx nipple in silver. The silver Squorx nipples come as 34 pieces with aluminum rims that specify their use, and since the rim has holes in eit…
About Park Tool Spoke Wrenches
Regarding the #12 nipple for plain spokes from the previous article, the grip width has a nominal diameter of 3.9mm. As the corresponding nipple wrench, I origi…
Built a front wheel with an ultra-wide small-diameter rim
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer dropped off a small-diameter rim with unusually wide rim width. Apparently several shops refused to build a wheel wit…
Chikyuu-san's Recommended Setup
In the Kansai cyclocross series races, there's "Yuru Cross" (casual cyclocross), a race format designed to promote cyclocross with relaxed regulations and atmos…
Bora Ultra WTO 45
I took in the front wheel of a Bora Ultra WTO 45 from a customer. This is the second generation with a wider rim, and it's the latest model currently available.…
Rebuilt the front wheel on a Hologram 35
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a front wheel from a Cannondale Hologram 35 for me to work on. They wanted it rebuilt. All the sticke…
An Exceptionally Bright SRAM AXS (Part 1)
Don't worry, it's got it all （brake function and shifting function too） Part 2 is （→ here ）
Cosmic SL40
I received the front and rear wheels of a Cosmic SL40 from a customer. These are rim brake wheels. The customer requested an inspection and tubeless tire instal…
Built a rear wheel with Super Champion Record rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. Building a rear wheel with a Campagnolo large flange boss hub. The customer adjusted the hub spacers t…
Zonda
A customer left me with a Zonda rear wheel. The image above shows the wheel after the work. When the customer did the truing themselves, they used a 3.4mm hex n…
Built a front wheel with Super Champion Record rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Built a front wheel with a Super Champion Record rim. This is a follow-up to the situation from late last year where I couldn't …
Built a rear wheel with AL22W rim
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5's wide rim version. 660 hub, 24H, half-comp black in a 46-cross pattern with bla…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Back to wheels today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub, 24H, semi-comp 46-spoke JIS lacing. I'll do the wiring later.
The Idaten Wheel
A customer brought in a wheel from a brand called Idaten (韋駄天) — a 20-inch WO rim with ETRTO 451mm specifications. The rim is pretty much unmarked, but "Idaten"…
Zonda Front Wheel
A customer dropped off a Zonda front wheel with me. A mama-chari (utility bicycle) hit it from the side and broke a spoke. All fixed. ↑The replaced spoke Zonda …
Racing Zero Sir
A customer left me the front wheel from a Racing Zero (Japanese steel road bike) for work. There's red tape wrapped around two spots on the spokes, and the cust…
I Did a Stylish Spoke Swap on the Racing Zero DB
A customer brought me the front and rear wheels of a Racing Zero DB for service. Starting with the front wheel. While doing a general inspection on both wheels,…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8. Revo disc hub, 24H, black semi-CX sprint Built with reverse 64-spoke Italian laci…
Built a front wheel with Growtac's 30mm high tubular rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Growtac 30mm high tubular rim front wheel build complete. ERC14... mystery hub with DT240 equivalent straight spoke specification…
Built rear wheel with SP-30 rim
Another day working on wheels (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built the rear wheel with an Araya small-diameter rim. Campagnolo Record 8-speed freehub…
Built a front wheel with the SP-30 rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Built a front wheel with an Araya small-diameter rim. The rim is the SP-30, which is a single-wall rim, but just because it's si…
Built a rear wheel with Grota Tack's 30mm high tubular rim
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built the rear wheel with Grota Tack's 30mm high tubular rim. DT350 hub, 24H, semi-CX sprint (deliberately not semi-comp) 46 J…
Heel Cutoff
I have two of the same Pearl Izumi winter long bib pants, and since the fabric on one has gotten thin and a small hole appeared, I broke out the 7ITA long bib p…
About SRAM Disc Brake Hoses
My watch master had an accident while commuting last year-end, which is fine and all (well, it's not fine), but he totally smashed the top tube and left fork bl…
Visited Ise Shrine
The evening of January 4th, a couple of days ago, a customer (sort of) called me out saying 「I'm going to return the lucky arrow I bought at Ise Shrine last New…
Year-End and New Year Holiday Hours
We will be closed from December 31st (Tuesday) through January 8th (Wednesday). We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
Inspected the front wheel with Mavic Record Mond rim
I received a front wheel with a Mavic Record Mond rim from a customer. It's a 32H radial lacing. The other wheel (rear) that came with this one was garbage-tier…
Replaced the rear wheel rim built with a Crest MK3
Another day working on wheels (and so on). I received a rear wheel built with a Stans Crest MK3 rim from my watch mentor. It was built at our shop some time ago…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. 660 hub, 24H, semi-comp with 4-cross lacing and spoke wrapping, with purple alumin…
I Prepared an Aging List
For the annual awards ceremony of the Jūsan Pass hill climb event that I organize, I needed an aging list, so I quickly put one together. The image above has ab…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. 660 hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with purple aluminum nipples.
I Hate to Point It Out, But...
Regarding the part in my previous article that said 「The front wheel of the ERC1400 Diecut db is ¥145,000 excluding tax, ¥159,500 including tax, so two front wh…
Stocked DT ERC1400 Diecut 35 Front Wheels
So suddenly, I'm going to write about DT's ARC/ERC 1100/1400 wheels. ARC stands for Aero Road Carbon with an inner rim width of 20mm (17mm for rim brake models)…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. DT 350 Campagnolo freebody 24H Black half-comp four-cross lacing pattern with b…
Rebuilding a Mavic Record Mond Rear Wheel
Today it's wheels again (and so on). A customer brought in a wheel built with Mavic Record Mond rims. According to them, it came from a vintage bike that hung o…
Bora 35 Clincher Bright Label
A customer dropped off a Bora 35 rear wheel with me. One spoke is broken. ↑This one The spoke itself shows no deformation — it's perfectly straight. Only the sp…
Metron 45 SL Disc
A customer brought in a complete wheelset with Vision's 45mm high rim. Starting with the front wheel. Both front and rear wheels are loose, so they wanted them …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
More wheels today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8. Duro hub, 24H, half CX sprint 64-spoke reverse Italian lacing with solder connecti…
Mr. Shamal Ultra
I received the front and rear wheels of a Shamal Ultra (high-performance road wheelset) from a customer. Starting with the front wheel. Just as the customer rep…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub 24H black half CX sprint Laced in reverse Italian style (64-spok…
Built a Rear Wheel with HUNT Rim and Hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on). But first. With current Shimano 12-speed, assuming a front chainring of 52-36T and a cassette of 11-30T, when you put…
Built a fixed gear front wheel with Velocity A23 rims
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel to match the rear wheel from the other day using a Velocity A23 rim. HB-7600-F 36H Fully Campagnolo 8×8 …
Built a front wheel with Gryphon Tack's 30mm high tubular rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a front wheel with Gryphon Tack's 30mm high tubular rim. Revo disc hub, 24H, semi CX Sprint 64 reverse Italian lacing. I'll…
Built a fixed gear rear wheel with a Velocity A23 rim
Today it's wheels again (and so on). A customer entrusted me with a Velocity A23 rim. There's only one sticker in the location shown in the image above, with th…
Rebuilt the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
Another day with wheels (and so on). I received the rear wheel for the Nomu Lab Wheel #8 from my mentor who works with clock repair. Since it's going to be used…
Built a front wheel with AL22W rim
Another wheel build today (and so on...). Built a front wheel with an AL22W rim. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with black aluminum nipples.
Reverse Beaujolais Nouveau
A former colleague from the bike shop where I used to work went back to his hometown (Kumamoto Prefecture), and he has a mandarin orange orchard in front of his…
Bora Ultra Two
A customer dropped off the front and rear wheels of a Bora Ultra Two for me. The customer isn't the original owner of these wheels, so they wanted an inspection…
Zonda
The drill whines! A customer came in saying they were about to grease up the front wheel of their Zonda, but realized it might turn into a "new shaft explosion …
I Rebuilt the Rear Wheel of an American Classic Pre-Built Wheelset
Today it's wheels again (and so on)... but first. These are actual bike photos from my mentor, taken a while back when I wanted some close-up shots of an Americ…
Built a Fixed Gear rear wheel with Open Pro rim
Today it's wheels again (and so on). before after I rebuilt the front wheel from JIS lacing to Italian lacing. Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built my f…
Built a Fixed Gear Front Wheel on an Open Pro Rim
Another wheel day (details omitted). A customer entrusted me with a Dura-Ace track small flange front hub, HB-7710. For some reason the Dura-Ace print on the hu…
Built rear wheel with custom 60mm deep tubeless-ready rim
Today, wheels again (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. Built the rear wheel with a 60mm deep, hookless tubeless-ready rim. Novatec 482SL hub, 24-hole Semi-…
Built a front wheel with a custom-engraved 60mm rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I received a 60mm-high Chinese carbon rim from a customer with their team name laser-etched into it. I asked if it was okay to po…
Rebuilt the ZIPP 303 Firecrest (Front Wheel, Part 2)
Another day of wheel work (and so on). Following yesterday's rear wheel, I'm rebuilding the front wheel of the 303 Firecrest. ZIPP ZR1 disc hub, 24H All-black C…
Zonda C15
A customer brought in both wheels of a Zonda C15 for service. Actually, they're from the same owner as the Bora 35 and 50 from the previous article. The rims ar…
Bora One 35 and 50
A customer left me a Bora One 35 and 50 for inspection. Both are tubular rim wheels, and the letter mentioned "narrow rim 35 and 50," but only the 50 has a narr…
Speed 55T
I received a Fulcrum Speed 55T from a customer. They picked it up at an online auction, and if I write too much detail, the previous owner might notice, but app…
Built a front wheel with Grota Tack's 30mm high tubeless rim
Another wheel build today (et cetera). Built a front wheel with Grota Tack (Japanese rim manufacturer) 30mm high tubeless rim. Revo disc hub 24H black half CX s…
Built a Front Wheel with the RR411 Rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a front wheel using a DT RR411 rim. HB-RS400 28H CX-RAY Italian lace. With a small flange hub like the Tni front hub, when …
Built a rear wheel with a hole-free carbon rim (rear wheel, so this is the sequel)
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built a rear wheel with a 40mm-tall hole-free carbon tubeless-ready offset rim. ENVE hub with spars…
It Wasn't the 200 Standard
Regarding the bottom adapter for the SRAM Quarq crank arm base (→ here ), Since there's something called a "200 standard" for bottom adapters, I thought that mi…
Built a front wheel with a hole-free carbon rim (front wheel, so part one)
Another day with wheels (etc. etc.). A customer left with me two 24H, 40mm-deep carbon rims for disc brake front and rear wheels— the outer circumference has no…
Built a rear wheel with a hookless rimless rim (rear wheel, so this is the second part)
Another wheel day today (and so on). This is a continuation from yesterday. I built my partner's rear wheel. Yesterday, I wrote that if I listed all the rim spe…
Built a front wheel with a pinless hookless rim (front wheel, so part one)
Another day of wheel building (et cetera). A customer entrusted me with a 35mm tall hookless carbon tubeless ready rim. I listed all the specs, but aside from t…
Bora One 35 Clincher Dark Label
A customer dropped off the rear wheel of a Bora 35 with me. It's someone I've known for a long time, but when they called and asked "do you have spokes in stock…
Ksyrium SL, The Spoke Situation
A customer dropped off the rear wheel from a Ksyrium SLS for me. One spoke on the non-freewheel side is missing. As far as I know, there's never been a case of …
Rebuilt the front wheel on the WH-R8170
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I'm rebuilding the front wheel on the WH-R8170-0-C36. Just like the rear wheel, it shows signs of…
Built a rear wheel with AL22W rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built a rear wheel with an AL22W rim for rim brakes. Revo II hub, 24H black semi-comp, 4x lacing pattern with black a…
Rebuilt the rear wheel of the WH-R8170
Wheels again today (and so on). I took in a WH-R8170-C36 rear wheel from a customer. They wanted the hub replaced and the wheel rebuilt. This is a different cus…
Built a rear wheel with the WH-R8170-C36 rim
Another wheel day (and so on...). I received a WH-R8170-C36 rim from a customer. They wanted me to build a rear wheel with it, but the spokes were already laced…
Replaced the rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8 (rear wheel edition)
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I'm replacing the rear wheel rim too. The Revo Disc rear hub only comes in 24H, but I've built th…
Replaced the rim on Nomu Lab Wheel #8 (front wheel, so this is part one)
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer dropped off both front and rear wheels from a Nomu Lab Wheel #8 (custom Japanese wheelset). Today I'm working…
Mr. Shamal Ultra
A customer brought in a Shamal Ultra rear wheel for repairs. A spoke is broken and needs replacement, and since there are spokes with scuff marks, the customer …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8. Revo disc hub, 24 holes, black semi-competition, 46 JIS lacing pattern with r…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Revo disc hub 24H black semi CX sprint 64 reverse Italian lacing with red…
Built a rear wheel with CX22 rim for rim brakes
Today, wheels again (and so on). Built a rear wheel with a CX22 rim. It's an aluminum rim with just the right width for cyclocross tires. Currently out of stock…
Sometimes physical books are the only way to make the point
I recently bought what you might call a replica of a certain foreign language book that was just published. ↑This is "The Accomplishments of Kamala Harris." Bef…
About Accelerometer-Type Cadence Sensors
Before I get to the main topic. Topeak, famous for saddle bags and portable pumps, once had a brand called "Panobike" that offered cycle computers and an app se…
Built a front wheel with CX22 rim for rim brakes
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a front wheel with a Tni CX22 aluminum tubular rim. The reason I specified "for rim brakes" in the title is that not too lo…
Built a fixed-gear front wheel with a 50mm deep-section rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I received a 50mm deep-section carbon tubular rim from a customer. It's 24-hole, but it was designed as a road rear wheel with sp…
I Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo Disc Hub 24H black semi CX Sprint 64-spoke reverse Italian lacing with…
Built a rear wheel with R90SL rim and PowerTap hub
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in an Easton tubeless-ready rim, the R90SL. When I've built wheels with this rim in the past, the weight has b…
Ropvall Rapide CLX II
I received a Ropvall Rapide CLX II from a customer for inspection. I inspected both the front and rear wheels, but I only photographed the front wheel. The diff…
Sapim Spokes Now Come in Boxes
Sapim's CX-RAY spokes, which used to come in packs of 20, have changed their packaging format from long, thin nylon bags to cardboard boxes designed for 100 spo…
Lithium-Ion Batteries Won't Work Either
Among SRAM's power meter-equipped cranks, the models that don't use button cells on the spider but instead take an AA battery in the spindle (crankshaft) have a…
I Bought Another USE Front Light
I bought a USE Exposure Axis light at the end of 2022 and wrote about it in January 2023 (→ here ), but that was a wholesaler's stock item. USE lights go throug…
I Bought a Niner RLT9 Steel Frame
Warning: as you'll find out later, this article is undeniably a crappy post. It's been about a year now, but I bought the steel version of the Niner RLT9, a gra…
I serviced the pistons on my SRAM front disc brake
My SRAM Rival disc brake pistons weren't returning well, and there was a significant left-right difference in piston travel when squeezing the brake lever, so I…
Roval Rapide CLX
A customer brought in the front wheel from a Roval Rapide CLX for repair. This isn't the version II that came out as a minor update later, so it's a tubeless-in…
Built a front wheel with GravelTac's 50mm high tubeless rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built a front wheel with GravelTac's 50mm high tubeless rim. Revo disc hub, 24H, black semi-CX sprint 64-spoke revers…
I Did a "Nikomi" (Parts Transplant) on a Rolf Vector Pro Rear Wheel
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel from a Rolf Vector Pro. The hub shell has split clean in half. Apparently there was alre…
Rebuilt the front wheel of WH-R8170-C50 with a DT hub
Back to wheel building again (and so on). The other day I rebuilt the front wheel of a WH-R8170-C36, and now I've built its matching rear wheel. The rear wheel …
Converted the Nomu Lab Wheel #5 rear wheel to a wide rim
It's wheels again today (and so on). I received the rear wheel of a Nomu Lab Wheel #5 from a customer. Evolight hub, 28 holes, semi-championship lace with spoke…
Metron 40
A customer brought in the front and rear wheels of a Vision Metron 40 tubular. First, the front wheel. It has the name of a certain complete bike brand on it, a…
Zonda Wheels
A customer left me with the front and rear wheels from a Zonda. Let's start with the rear wheel. They asked for an inspection, or rather, I went ahead and did o…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. DT 240 hub, 20H, all CX Sprint 4-4 Italian lacing Just the two nipples on eith…
Rebuilt the front wheel of WH-R8170-C36 with a DT hub
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in an Ultegra C36 front wheel. When they tried using it, it wouldn't roll at all, so they wanted it rebuilt...…
Built a fixed-gear rear wheel with Araya Prostaff 340 rim
Back to wheels today (and so on). Built the rear wheel to match yesterday's ADX-5 rim front wheel. The rim is Araya's Prostaff 340. The cyan label is Prostaff 3…
Built a fixed gear front wheel with an ADX-5 rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I received an Araya ADX-5 tubular rim from a customer. There's still a faint trace of rim cement residue, but I don't…
Specifications of the Lower Mount on the Hammerhead System
Regarding SRAM's Karoo, since there's no decent Japanese manual, I'm currently compiling articles based on what I've noticed through actual use in a category ca…
About Altegra's 46-36T Crank
A customer left me with just the crankset from a 12-speed Altegra FC-R8100. In the article below, I'll refer to the direction from the crank axle to the pedal h…
I converted the front wheel of the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 to a wide rim
Another day working with wheels (and so on). A customer entrusted me with the front wheel of their Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Tni Revo II hub, 20H, CX Sprint 4-spoke…
Replying to Comments
Regarding the front geometry article I wrote the other day, I received the following rather pungent comment: 「That's wonderful. Just by looking at the geometry,…
CADEX 50 Ultra Disc Tubeless
A customer dropped off a CADEX (carbon spoke wheel brand) wheel with carbon spokes for us to look at. Starting with the rear wheel. The wheel was purchased at a…
Built a rear wheel with Glowtack's 30mm high tubular rim
Back to wheels again (and so on). Built a rear wheel with Glowtack's 30mm high tubular rim. Revo disc hub 24H black semi-comp 46-spoke JIS lacing with black alu…
Built a front wheel with Grota-tak's 30mm high tubular rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Built a front wheel with Grota-tak's 30mm high carbon rim. The six-digit number on Grota-tak's rim model lists the dimensions in…
Built a front wheel with XTR tubular rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). But before that. Even wheels assembled with so-called Chinese carbon rims and hubs from brands you've never heard of,…
Built a rear wheel with the new CX22 rim
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built the rear wheel with the CX22 rim, which now has black anodizing all the way to the rim sides. Revo Disc hub, 24H, hal…
Built a front wheel with the new spec CX22 rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built a front wheel with the CX22 rim, a tubular aluminum rim from Tni (cyclocross-specific rim), The name says it all — …
Replies to Comments
Regarding the previous article, I've received a lot of comments. I thought I'd get completely trashed for it, but that didn't happen. Among them, I received a c…
Let's Read Geometry Better (Front End Edition)
This goes back quite a while, but I once wrote some unflattering things about GUSTO (hereinafter Gusto) frames (→ here ) and received the following comment in r…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Back to wheels again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. 660 hub, 18H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. The reason I went with 18H isn'…
Salvaged the Rim from a (Spec-wise) Dead Hub and Rebuilt the Wheel
Another day, another wheel job (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel built with a Stans Crest rim. It was built on a ZTTO 32H BOOST hub, one that we b…
Assembled the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Back to wheels today (and so on). I assembled the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. 660 hub, 24H, semi-comp four-cross lacing. I'll do the spoke nipple tensi…
Rebuilt the Racing Zero rear wheel with a different-generation hub
A customer brought in a Racing Zero rear wheel for repair. It's from the era of tie spokes, but The right flange of the hub is completely blown out. The custome…
I Modified the Gym
There's a capsule toy series called "Machi-bouке" where they put licensed characters in a sitting position, and there's a Gundam version of it Since there are o…
Rebuilt a front wheel laced on an Open Pro rim
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer brought in a front wheel built with a 7700 Dura-Ace hub and an Open Pro rim. They wanted it rebuilt. HB-7700, 32H, st…
Rebuilt a rear wheel laced with Open Pro rim
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel laced with a 7700 Dura-Ace hub and an Open Pro rim. They wanted it rebuilt. The rim is an Open…
PR1400 Customer
A customer brought in the rear wheel of a DT PR1400 for repair. The image above isn't from when I first received it but rather already in the middle of work, Th…
Self-Proclaimed Transparent
↑This is a well-used Continental Grand Prix 5000 in Black/Transparent colorway. Regarding the tire sidewall color, the reason it's called Transparent (clear) ra…
Built a rear wheel with Gravel Tack's 50mm high tubeless rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). Continuing from the other day. Building a rear wheel with a Mavic disc hub. From the feel and sound of the freehub spinning…
Speed 40C Customer Wheels
I received the front and rear wheels from a Speed 40C from a customer. Starting with the front wheel. They wanted both wheels inspected, but the main reason the…
Built a front wheel with Gravel Tack's 50mm high tubeless rim
Today I was planning to start rebuilding the front and rear wheels that were built with 7700 Dura-Ace hubs and Open Pro rims, but given how bad their condition …
Built a rear wheel with Grottack's 40mm high tubeless rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built a rear wheel using a Grottack 40mm high tubeless-ready rim. Revo disc hub, 24H, black semi-competition, 4-6 J…
Built a front wheel with GiroTack's 40mm high tubeless rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a front wheel with GiroTack's 40mm high tubeless rim. This is a spec where I swapped out the rim from Nomilab Wheel #8 Re…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5 with an XTR quick hub
Another day on wheels (and so on). But first, something completely unrelated. Yesterday, I repaired a Vittoria complete wheel that had a spoke break (fracture a…
I Built the Rear Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 Using an XTR Quick Hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 using an XTR quick hub. Not from our shop, but it seems to be from wh…
I'm the Person Inside Mizuho Bank's ATM
My true identity is a Gamilas alien in disguise, in other words, a spy in civilian clothes. ↑When it's outside business hours, a screen like this appears, but i…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8 (the one in front in the image above). Just like the rear wheel on the other on…
Built the rear wheel for Nomulab Wheel #8
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomulab Wheel #8. Revo disc hub, 24H, black half-competition 4-6 JIS lacing. I'll do the cable routin…
Rebuilt the rear wheel for WH-R8170-C50-TL
Another wheel day (and so on). I received a rear wheel from a customer with a current Ultegra 50mm high tubeless rim. They didn't say the Optivarcal hub was bad…
Zonda
A customer brought in the front and rear wheels of a Zonda for me to work on. They wanted an inspection. Let me start with the front wheel. The hub rotation fel…
Rebuilt the front wheel of WH-R8170-C36-TL by replacing the hub
Another wheel day (and so on). I took in a customer's current generation Ultegra C36 front wheel. It had been used for cyclocross, and whether related to that o…
I rebuilt the rear wheel for the Aeolos Pro 51
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel for the Aeolos Pro 51. The hub is a DT 350 with a different label— …
Addendum to the Previous Article
↓That's way too many! I was writing an addendum to the previous post and it got too long, so I made it a separate article. Addendum: While it's true that many e…
Bora 35 Tubular Dark Label
A customer left the front wheel of a Bora One 35 with me. It's a tubular rim setup, but it's only been used for one season and it's not the narrow rim version w…
Rebuilt the front wheel of the Bontrager Aerolos Pro 51
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in both front and rear wheels from a Bontrager Aerolos Pro 51. The rear wheel is where the trickier work…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revlolabs disc hub, 24H, black semi-CX Sprint 64-spoke reverse Italian laci…
Yo-Reo
A customer brought in a wheel from a brand called Yo-Reo (ヨーレオ) a Yo-Reo Pro C45 wheel. They wanted an inspection. The front wheel had no centering issues and w…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub, 24H, black semi-comp with 46 JIS lacing red aluminum nipple…
Built an MTB rear wheel with Arch MK3 rim
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). Built the MTB rear wheel using a Stans Arch MK3 29-inch rim. TNI Revo MTB BOOST hub, 32-hole Half-comp, 46 JIS lac…
Built a rear wheel with a Gokiso hub and LWC rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a rear wheel with an LWC rim that's nominally 68mm tall with an actual measured height of 68.5mm, tubeless non-compatible W…
On the Behavior of Karoo's Climb Recognition (The Sai no Kawara Edition)
Since the second half also dragged on, here's a continuation of the second half. Since it's the previous article, I won't put a link. The other day, on a day I …
About Karoo's Climb Recognition Behavior (Part 2)
This is a continuation of a previous article (→ here ). I'll write about cases where SRAM's Karoo recognizes a route as a climb but then withdraws that recognit…
Built a rear wheel with a 20-inch DA16 rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. Built the rear wheel with a DA16 406 rim. FH-RS400 32H all Champion Robusto Italian lacing, no valve …
Built a front wheel with a 20-inch DA16 rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Built a front wheel using an ALEXRIMS DA16 rim in 20-inch HE (hook-edge) configuration. The sticker has been updated to match th…
Rebuilt the rear wheel of a DT C1800 Spline
Another day with wheels (et cetera). A customer brought in a DT C1800 Spline rear wheel. It was feeling a bit loose, so they asked me to rebuild it. DT straight…
Bora WTO 33
A customer dropped off a first-generation Bora WTO disc brake wheel for service. Since it's not the Ultra version, a rim brake Bora WTO is also possible, so I'm…
About Kool-Stop Brake Shoes
The other day I built my personal front wheel with an RR411 rim, ↑this is the Campagnolo Neutron Ultra front wheel I'd been using up until then which I converte…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1 with a 7400 hub
More wheel building today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1 with a 7400 hub. 28 hole, semi-comp 46-spoke lacing pattern with crossing, a…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1 with a 7400 hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1 using a hub that a customer had left with me. HB-7400 Dura-Ace hub, 28 …
Bora One 50 Clincher Dark Label
The drill screams! A customer left me with a Bora One front wheel. A new axle catastrophe case. Ugh, I'm stuck in a real pickle here. The left end won't budge, …
Built the rear wheel with a mysterious carbon hookless rim
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I'm building the rear wheel with the same rim as the front wheel I built yesterday, but to show that the dented-looking glo…
Tni's TPU Tube—The Lighter Version
Our shop used to stock the lighter of Tni's TPU tubes, the "LIGHT 24" with a nominal weight of 24g (as opposed to the 35g version) (past tense). ↑Both of these …
Tni Valve Extender Makes a Comeback with Spec Changes
The Tni valve extender At our shop, we've been trying to keep 20mm, 30mm, 40mm, and 60mm lengths in stock, and since colors like red, gold, blue, and black came…
Built a front wheel with a mystery carbon hookless rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a disc brake front wheel with a carbon rim whose origin the customer requested I keep under wraps. 46mm tall (← looks like …
Built a front wheel with RR411 rim for rim brakes
Another wheel build day (and so on). Built the front wheel with an RR411 rim, hoping no one realizes it's my personal bike. This rim has stickers labeled "RR411…
Built a rear wheel with rim brakes using a hole-less lightweight rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built a rear wheel with a hole-less lightweight rim for rim brakes. The original inspiration for th…
Ksyrium Pro
I received the front and rear wheels of a Ksyrium Pro (Mavic wheelset) from a customer. They'd acquired it at an auction and wanted me to inspect it before use.…
Built a rim brake front wheel with a hole-free lightweight rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Built a rim brake front wheel using a lightweight rim with no holes in the rim's outer section aside from the valve hole. Not on…
Built a rear wheel with Gro-Tack's 40mm high tubeless rim
Wheels again today (and so on). I built up a rear wheel with Gro-Tack's 40mm high tubeless rim. Revo disc hub, 24H, semi-comp four-cross JIS lacing pattern. I'l…
Aero Starlight Bright (Not Starlight)
Today, a customer (sort of) brought me a Mavic open rim and a bundle of spokes. By "open," I mean there was actually a rim model called OPEN that Mavic made bef…
Built a front wheel with Gravel Tack's 40mm high tubeless rim
Another day of wheelbuilding (and so on). Built a front wheel with Gravel Tack's 40mm high tubeless rim. Revo disc hub, 24H, semi-CX sprint spokes Built in reve…
Bora Ultra WTO 45
A customer brought in the front wheel of an original-generation Bora Ultra WTO for me to work on. The wheel had runout, so when they tried to true it themselves…
I turned trash into a wheel using Gravel Tack rim and hub
A customer left me a wheel-shaped object made with a Gravel Tack rim and hub. The rim and hub are Gravel Tack, but it's not a factory-built wheel. It was appare…
Replaced the front rim on Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer dropped off the front and rear wheels from Nomu Lab Wheel #5 for me to work on. They'd had a crash, and while…
Rebuilt rear wheel assembled with Mavic SSC rim
It's wheels again today (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel assembled with a Campagnolo 9-speed freehub. The rim is Mavic's Special Service Crux. Th…
I rebuilt the rear wheel on the Alpinist CL
Another wheel day (etc.). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel on the Alpinist CL. I mentioned that the front wheel being loose might be a t…
Rebuilt the front wheel of a Rovaal Alpinist CL
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in the front wheel of a Rovaal Alpinist CL for me to work on. It's slack, so they're requesting a rebuil…
Built a rear wheel with Velocity's 20-inch WO rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A while back I built a front wheel with a Velocity 20-inch WO rim and a 28H Evelite hub, but I'd been stuck on what hub …
Built the rear wheel for Nomulab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomulab Wheel No. 5. FH-RS400 hub, 28H, semi-competition four-cross lacing. I'll do the spoke nipple …
About Karoo's Climb Recognition Behavior (Part 1)
I'll write about the Karoo function from SRAM, the behavior of "automatic climb recognition." This is called Climber in the official function name displayed on …
Actual measured weight of Roval rims
A while back I mentioned doing 10 consecutive wheel rebuilds with Roval wheels, but I haven't published the actual measured weights of those rims. The most valu…
Rebuilt the front wheel of the Cosmic Pro Carbon SL
Another day of wheel building (et cetera)... but first. ↑This is the rear wheel I rebuilt yesterday. In the article, I initially called this Cosmic Pro Carbon S…
Rebuilt the rear wheel of the Cosmic Pro Carbon SL
Another day working on wheels (and so on). I received a rear wheel from a customer—it's a Cosmic Pro Carbon. This is the rear wheel, but along with it the front…
Recovered a Broken Bolt from a RED Crankset
The drill whines to life! A customer brought in a SRAM RED right crankarm for us to work on. They'd snapped one of the 8 bolts. This time it's just this one spo…
Shimano 12-speed sprockets in the 17–27T range are the same as 9-speed
The Altegra 12-speed sprocket from my previous article was 11–34T, but ↑This is a Dura-Ace 12-speed sprocket 11–30T that I'd shot separately for an article. Wit…
Replaced the rear wheel rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day with wheels (and so on). I received the rear wheel of a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 from a customer. Evolite hub, 24H, half-competition 46-lace pattern wit…
Rebuilt the rear wheel laced with Tni ROAD50 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel laced with the same rim as the front, but this one is more the real deal…
Rebuilt a front wheel laced on a Tni ROAD50 rim
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer left me a front wheel laced with a Tni 50mm high-carbon rim— the same rim as the Nomulab Wheel 2.5. This rim gets a s…
Go to the Nunnery!
Yesterday, I rode about 150 km after the sun had completely set. The title is a line from Shakespeare's "Hamlet" spoken by Prince Hamlet to Ophelia, Get thee to…
On the Interpretation of 2n+1
The other day, regarding the number of positions that can be set on Shimano's electric rear derailleur, I expressed it as 2n+1 with plus/minus n stages plus the…
Built a rear wheel with Grotta Tack's 30mm high tubeless rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a rear wheel with Grotta Tack's 30mm high tubeless rim. Revo disc hub 24H black semi-competition 4/6 JIS lacing with black …
Corima 47mm Aero and Lightweight Disc Wheels
A customer dropped off front and rear wheels that appear to be intended for use on a time trial bike. The front wheel is a Corima 47mm high rim wheel, the "47mm…
Built a front wheel with Growtac's 30mm high tubeless rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a front wheel with Growtac's 30mm high tubeless rim. Revo disc hub, 24H, black semi-CX sprint Laced 64-spoke reverse Italia…
Reconquista
A customer asked me to "convert their road bike from a single front chainring back to a double front chainring, and while you're at it, swap out the SRAM mechan…
Snail Snail
Two weeks ago on Wednesday, someone asked me to take them somewhere before their triathlon in Kaike, so I ran a course that goes from Kimi Pass heading out of O…
Rebuilt the front wheel of Bontrager Line Carbon 30 wheels
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the front wheel of the Bontrager Line Carbon 30. The disc rotor diameter is 203mm…
I rebuilt the rear wheel of Bontrager's Line Carbon 30 wheels
Another day of wheels (abbreviated hereon). I received a Bontrager wheel from a customer for MTB enduro racing. It looks like it came stock with a complete bike…
Q2 QUASAR Rear Wheel Build
Another wheel day (and so on). From the customer bikes I have on hand, I built up the rear wheel using the Q2 Quasar rim —the one with the sticker on it. Quanta…
Racing Zero Competizione Front Wheel
I've taken in a front wheel from a Racing Zero Competizione from a customer. This is what we call a new shaft catastrophic failure case. I heard from someone at…
Q2 QUASAR Rim Front Wheel Build
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a front wheel with a disc brake hub using a Q2 Quasar rim. The customer left me two rims for front and rear wheels, but the…
Speed 55T Wheel
A customer brought in a rear wheel from a Fulcrum Speed 55T for repair. Two spokes on the freewheel side are broken partway through. After inspecting all the sp…
Replaced the spokes on Nomu Lab Wheel #5's rear wheel
A customer brought in the rear wheel of a Nomu Lab Wheel #5 (custom wheel brand). The customer isn't the original owner of this wheel, but the previous owner sw…
Replacing Front Wheel Spokes on the CLX50
Just the other day, I spent 10 consecutive business days rebuilding Roval wheels, and along with a letter saying "The CLX50 you rebuilt is running great now!" a…
Rebuilt the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another wheel day (and so on...). A customer brought in the front wheel from Nomu Lab Wheel #1. It was built 11 years ago, and it's a Tni Evo hub, 24H, CX-RAY o…
Built a rear wheel with GL330 rim
Wheels again today (and so on). I built a rear wheel with a GL330 24-inch rim. Centaur 32H, full competition 4-cross lacing. After thinking it over, I decided n…
Rebuilt rear wheel with Tni ROAD38 rim
Another day working on wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel built with a Tni 38mm high carbon tubular rim (the non-wide version). It's the sam…
Built a front wheel with a GL330 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). ↑This is my personal Mavic GL330 rim. The numbers on the GEL280 rim and GL330 rim represent the stated weight, but with the red-l…
Built a front wheel with Mecánico's 55mm high rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I built the rear wheel with a Mecánico 55mm high tubular rim. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-R…
Myakumyaku-sama
Currently, in some parts of Osaka Prefecture, manhole covers featuring the design of the Kansai Expo's mascot, Myakumyaku-sama, are being installed, Anyway, an …
Built a rear wheel with Meccanico's 55mm high rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I built a rear wheel with Meccanico's 55mm high rim. 660 hub, 24H, black semi-CX sprint 46-spoke lacing with black alumi…
Built a rear wheel with AL22 rim
Today, July 6th, is another wheel day (and so on...). The rear wheel rebuild for the Alpinist CLX II that was stuck in "draft" status wasn't showing up here, so…
Built a front wheel with the AL22 rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Built a front wheel with a Tni AL22 rim. The rim has an old-style sticker label—it's a customer-supplied part. This is a 20H rim…
Rebuilt the rear wheel of the Alpinist CLX II
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I'm rebuilding the rear wheel to match the front wheel of the Alpinist CLX II that I rebuilt the other day. This marks t…
The Rear Wheel of the WAKE6560
A customer brought in the rear wheel of a Princeton WAKE6560 for me to work on. I had previously replaced the front wheel bearings (→ here ), and the rear wheel…
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, Friday July 4th, I'll be taking the day off due to some unavoidable business. I apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you for your understanding.
About "Butterfly Mode" and the First 0.1 km
I'm going to write about the GPS behavior of SRAM's Quarq. Based on my actual experience with equipment, I've used Polar's heart rate monitors with GPS function…
I Rebuilt the Front Wheel on a Rovale C38
Today it's wheels again (and so on). A customer brought in the front wheel from a Rovale C38 for me to work on. They wanted it rebuilt. The sticker shifts betwe…
Bonus
The boss is known for owning multiple のむラボ wheels (※) We procured some Lezyne Mount products through a distributor. One extra mounting bracket came as a bonus, …
Rebuilt the front wheel on an Alpinist CLX
Another day with wheels (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I'm rebuilding the front wheel on an Alpinist CLX. It's not to the point where replacement i…
I Re-attached the Front Derailleur Bracket on the Dogma 65.1
The drill screams! I took in a Pinarello Dogma 65.1 frame from a customer. Apparently it had been repainted, and in the image above you can see the caliper brak…
RovalAlpinist CLXII
A customer brought in a Roval (high-end wheel brand) Alpinist CLXII and Rapide CLXII, and I inspected the front and rear wheels. The rims now support tubeless, …
Rebuilt the rear wheel for an Alpinist CLX
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left an Alpinist CLX rear wheel with me. Never mind that my white balance is all over the place every time I shoot, bo…
Rebuilding the front wheel on the CL50 that I had already rebuilt
Another wheel day (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel of the CL50 that I had rebuilt with CX-RAY spokes. I'm swapping out the …
About Kurui's "Kuromaru-kun" and Global Pins
I'll write about SRAM Karoo's "Kuromaru-kun" (black dot marker) and "Global Pins". Open the training program and switch to map display mode. Long-press anywhere…
Re-laced the CL50 front wheel that was re-laced
Today it's wheels again (et cetera). A customer brought in a CL50 front wheel. It's CL, not CLX At another shop, it was re-laced from DT Competé Race to Sapim C…
Rebuilt the rear wheel of the Rapide CLX
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel on the Rapide CLX. The front wheel was perfectly centered, and the…
Rebuilt the front wheel on the Rapidé CLX
Another day, another wheel (et cetera). A customer brought in a Roviàl Rapidé CLX and I've received both front and rear wheels. Today I'm rebuilding the front w…
About Ass Savers Mudguards
Back in April this year, we got the new colors of Ass Savers mudguards directly from the manufacturer, the three colors of "Bold Rain" with a rainy pattern and …
A Lucky Cat Suddenly Appeared
Park Tool recently released a tool called the 「TH-3」. TH stands for "Tap Handle." Since it's the handle portion of a multi-tool, you might think it stands for 「…
Exelium ES Front Wheel
A customer brought in the front wheel from their Exelium ES (high-end wheel set) for repair. The spokes are bent, they said. Sure enough, I could faintly see de…
PRC1100 DICTU Mon Chasseral
A customer brought in wheels for rim brakes on a DT (DT Swiss) Mon Chasseral (a lightweight mountain model), and the rear wheel was loose or had some play, so t…
Racing 3 Sir
A customer dropped off the rear wheel from a Racing 3 (a classic Japanese racing bike model) with us. The spoke had broken at the neck （not from a crash, accide…
Rebuilt the CLX50 rear wheel
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. Rebuilding the CLX rear wheel. When I spin the hub axle by hand, the rotation feels rough, though not…
Rebuilt the front wheel for the CLX50
Right now, our shop is completely buried in boxes containing Rovarl wheels and wheel bags. This is surely despite what the facts say punishment for calling Rova…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Revo II hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Taking Tomorrow Off
The other Wednesday was actually a day when I had unavoidable business to attend to, but since it's normally our regular day off anyway, I didn't make an announ…
I Replaced the Lefty's Rim
Another day of wheels (et cetera). A customer brought in the front wheel of a Cannondale Bad Boy's Lefty fork with a 650B rim They'd won the complete bike at au…
On Karoo Route Generation and Navigation Behavior
I'll write about the behavior when turning on navigation to a pin position set via the device controls or dashboard on the SRAM Karoo (bike computer). On the da…
The RD-6770 Has Failed
The electronic rear derailleur RD-6770 from my Shimano 10-speed Altus groupset that I had on my cyclocross bike has suddenly passed away. This is what's scary a…
ENVE 45 Foundation Wheel
A customer brought in the rear wheel from an ENVE 45 Foundation for repair. The chain had dropped inside the sprocket cluster and bent some spokes, so they aske…
Replaced the rear rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in the rear wheel of Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1 for repair. Apparently they had called out a cyclist who ran a…
Rebuilt the front wheel of a 303 Firecrest
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer left me with the front wheel of a ZIPP 303 Firecrest. I rebuilt the rear wheel a while back, and now the fron…
I Rebuilt the Rear Wheel on the 303S
Today it's wheels again (and so on). ↑This is the original condition of the front wheel I rebuilt yesterday. Looking at the wheel from the right side. With disc…
Rebuilt the front wheel on the 303S
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left me a front wheel from a ZIPP 303 to work on. ZIPP 76 hub, 24H, all-black CX Sprint 4x4 lacing. Since it's not a s…
About SRAM Karoo Web Operations and Behavior
From Hammerhead, which became a SRAM subsidiary brand I'm writing about what I've learned regarding web-related matters with "SRAM Karoo" Since I plan to write …
I Personally Bought a Hammerhead Karoo
HAMMERHEAD is a cycle computer manufacturer that has a decent market share, mainly in the United States and outside of Japan. The product model name is KAROO, b…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on a 303 Firecrest
Another day working on wheels (and so on). I received a rear wheel from a customer to work on—a ZIPP 303 Firecrest tubeless rim for disc brakes. Compared to the…
Racing Quattro Carbon Rear Wheel
A customer brought in the rear wheel from a Racing Quattro Carbon (Japanese carbon racing bike) for repair. A spoke had broken, so they wanted it repaired. ↑Thi…
More About "Ika no Osushi"
Suspicious Vehicle Report: Around 5:20 PM on the 31st, on a street near Minamisenba 1-chome, Chuo Ward, Osaka, a suspicious vehicle with "FREE CANDY" written on…
CLX64 Customer
A customer brought in the front wheel of a Roval CLX64 Disc for repair. They couldn't quite make a right turn and rubbed the left side spokes, rim, and tire aga…
Cosmic SLR45 Disc
I received a Cosmic SLR45 Disc from a customer (supposedly). The outermost finish uses a cosmetic carbon that's Mavic's UD² finish, so it's a 2022 or later mode…
Built a front wheel with Velocity 20-inch WO rim
Another wheel day (and so on...). The other day, I pulled out a Chris King hub (→ here ) and built a front wheel with a Velocity 20-inch rim. The 28-hole is sti…
I replaced the front wheel rim on an Elite carbon spoke wheel
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer dropped off a front wheel from Elite, the wheel brand (unrelated to the Elite bottle cage brand). It's a wheel built w…
Rebuilt the front wheel on the CL40
Wheels again today (etc.). A while back I rebuilt the rear wheel on a rim brake CL40 (→ here ), and the customer wanted the front wheel rebuilt too, so I did it…
Bora One 35 DB Tubular Dark Label
I received the rear wheel of a Bora 35 DB from a customer. The first disc brake wheels Campagnolo released were the Bora One 50 DB and Zonda DB. At that point, …
Bora WTO45 Bright Label Rear Wheel
A customer brought in a Bora WTO45 rear wheel for repair. Something got caught in the wheel, and two spokes on the non-drive side were bent. The customer notice…
Shamal Ultra Dark Label Repair
A customer (technically speaking) didn't bring in their Shamal Ultra because the rotation seemed off—they rode it in. ↑Here's the culprit The bearings on the fr…
Racing 3's Front Wheel
A customer dropped off the front wheel from their Racing 3 for me to work on. During practice, they nearly collided with the rider ahead, managed to avoid it, b…
Racing Zero and First-Generation Racing Zero
A customer brought in the front wheel of a Racing Zero for me to work on. Apparently they picked this up at an auction recently (and based on the condition I'd …
Built rear wheel with hole-less tubeless rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I built the rear wheel using a hole-less carbon tubeless rim. DT 350 disc brake hub 24H Black semi…
Built a front wheel with a holeless tubeless rim
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built a front wheel with a carbon tubeless rim that has no holes on the rim braking surface other than the valve hole. DT35…
Built a rear wheel with Gro Tack's 50mm tall tubeless rim
Wheels again today (you know the drill). Built the rear wheel to match the front wheel I put together the other day, using Gro Tack's 50mm tall tubeless rim. Re…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on a CL40
Today it's wheels again (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel from a Roval CL40. It's not the original owner, but they recently acquired it, and it do…
I built a front wheel with Grototack's 50mm high tubeless rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a front wheel with Grototack's 50mm high tubeless rim. I'm not putting this under the "Nomu Lab Wheel" category, but form…
L05A Resin Pads Have Gone Up in Price
The Shimano road-use finned resin brake pads L05A that we've been selling at our shop's popular loss-leader panda pricing — the bulk 25-pair pack — we've been i…
Inspector's Mark? When Did That Start?
The other day, a customer brought in a Bora One 50 DB wheel with suspected puncture damage, and sure enough there was actually a hole in it, but the tube was a …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5 with a Chris King hub
Wheels again today (and so on). Following up from the other day. I disassembled the rear wheel from the Velocity small-diameter rim and built the rear wheel for…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5 using a Chris King hub
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought me a Velocity small-diameter rim and a wheel built with a Chris King hub. They want me to build a wheel using …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 with a Tradizione hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 using a hub that a customer provided. Tradizione Classic hub, 32H Bui…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another wheel day (you know the rest). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with purple aluminum nipp…
The Choice Was Racing Zero
On April 28th, I built a front wheel with LWC carbon rims with rainbow (VAS) nipple arrangement（→ here ）, but I carelessly forgot to photograph the wheel, so th…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Labo Wheel #5 with a Gokiso hub
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Labo Wheel #5 with a Gokiso hub. This is a separate job from the ones I've been working o…
About the Rear Wheel on that Previous Gokiso Post
・・・I asked the customer about the history of the wheel and it turned out to be a factory-assembled complete wheel from the manufacturer (Gokiso) itself. I'd bee…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 with a Gokiso hub
Back to wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I extracted just the hub from the Gokiso rear wheel and rebuilt it into the Nomu Lab Whee…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 using a Gokiso hub
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer left me a complete set of Gokiso wheels— front and rear—to work with. The rim sticker has been peeled off, but given …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with black aluminum nipples.
Temple of the Cult
A while back, our shop needed a floor pump that was as cheap as possible and compatible with all three valve types—French, American, and English—so I bought a Z…
About the Rimless Weight of Nomunlab Wheel No. 8
When it comes to wheels, my philosophy is that I'd prefer to use the lightest possible rim and build it as stiffly as I can. The weight of the hub and spokes—we…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. It's the matching pair to the rear wheel I built the other day. Revo disc…
Built a front wheel with LWC carbon tubeless rim for rim brake
Another wheel day (you know the rest). I built a front wheel from an LWC carbon rim that a customer left with me and a Prime straight spoke 20H hub in black CX-…
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, April 26th (Friday), I will be taking the day off due to some unavoidable circumstances. I apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you for your und…
WH-R9270-C50-TL and CL50
I haven't written an article about it, but a while back I did a complete overhaul of the front and rear wheels on a customer's Racing Zero. I think it was just …
The CLX50 We Rebuilt at Our Shop
The other day we rebuilt the front wheel of a CLX50 at our shop and before that, the rear wheel that had already been rebuilt by the partner was showing runout,…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8. Revo disc hub, 24H, black semi-comp, 46-spoke JIS lacing with rainbow-colored…
Rebuilt the WH-R8170-C36 (Part 2: Even Though It's the Front Wheel)
Another day with wheels (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. Rebuilding the front wheel on the R8170's C36. The R9270's C36 tubeless has spoke lengths that d…
Rebuilt the WH-R8170-C36 (Rear wheel, Part 1)
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer dropped off both front and rear wheels from a Shimano Ultegra C36 wheelset with us. They said the wheels feel lo…
CX22 Rim Rear Wheel
From the customer with the ZITTO hub 29-inch MTB wheel from yesterday I received a cyclocross rear wheel built with a Tni CX22 tubular rim. There's a Clement cy…
Re-lacing Bontrager Race Lite front wheel (again)
Another wheel day today (you know the drill). A customer dropped off a wheel built with a Bontrager aluminum rim. It's built with paired spokes, but apparently …
Built an MTB rear wheel with a Chinese hookless rim
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built a rear wheel with a Chinese carbon rim. The rim is hookless, Hub is ZITO M1 for straight spokes, 28H, all-black CX-RA…
Shamal Ultra 2 WAY-FIT
I received a Shamal Ultra rear wheel from a customer. I've repaired this wheel many times before, but this time a spoke has broken at the head. It's extremely r…
Rebuilt the rear wheel of a Bora Ultra 35 tubular
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left me with front and rear wheels from a Bora Ultra 35. Several of the aluminum nipples on the rear wheel are cracked…
Disc Wheel Valve Adapter
From my old Italian-era Silca pump came out a Presta pump head with an incredibly small head portion for inflating disc wheels (※). ※This is NOT a "disc brake w…
Continued Discussion on CX Sprint Spoke Blank Length (Article for Industry Professionals)
This is a continuation of the CX Sprint discussion from the other day (→ here ). I said I had no intention of investigating cases other than the 310mm black str…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). Since yesterday's Bora 35 rear wheel project is running into quite a bit of trouble, I built the rear wheel for No…
Built a Wheel with Hole-less Chinese Rim and Campagnolo/Fulcrum Hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on). A customer brought me a Chinese carbon rim with spokes and nipples just threaded through— basically a semi-assembled …
Built a disc rear wheel with AX Lightness ultra-lightweight rims
Today it's wheels again (etc.). But first. ↑This is the front wheel I built yesterday, but with internal nipples, the spoke angle orientation pierces through in…
On the Blank Spoke Length of CX Sprint (Article for Industry Professionals)
↑This is a Sapim CX Sprint (straight, not bent neck, black not silver) from our shop's stock at 310mm length, but The CX Sprint handled by the domestic distribu…
Stocked Wako's Refresh Coat (The Antidote Sales Tactic)
There's this sales rep who comes by the shop during work hours to slack off (※) with our products, and yesterday he came by to pitch yet another new product. ※s…
Built a disc brake front wheel with AX Lightness ultra-lightweight rims
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built a disc brake front wheel with AX Lightness Ultra 25T (25mm deep tubular) rims. The rim sidewalls have no special tr…
Replies to Comments
In the recent Zentis wheel article, I wrote something like 「If the hub supplier is DT, wheel makers/brands are forced to use DT spokes, with the exception being…
Hookless Rim Wheels
A customer had left me a pair of hookless carbon rim wheels for work. The image above is the rear wheel. They'd been left with me last December wanting the whee…
Rebuilt the front wheel on a CLX50
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer left me with a front wheel from a Rovaul CLX50. The spokes on the tangent-laced side were creaking, so they want…
Rebuilt the rear wheel for a Zentis Squad 4.2 Race
Another wheel day (and so on...). Continuing from the other day. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel for a Zentis Squad 4.2 Race. The original hub was a DT 350 straig…
Replaced the rear rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day working on wheels (and so on). A customer dropped off the rear wheel from their Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 (a custom wheel brand). The brake zone on the r…
Rebuilt the front wheel of Zentis Squad 4.2 Race
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer brought me the front and rear wheels of a Zentis Squad 4.2 Race. Today I'm only working on the front wheel. The numbe…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on the ARC1400 DICUT DB 62
A customer dropped off a DT ARC1400 rear wheel with me. To be precise, it's the ARC 1400 DICUT DB model, and specifically the one with a 62mm rim height out of …
Built a rear wheel with Growtac's 50mm high tubeless rim
Wheels again today (and so on). I built up a rear wheel with Growtac's 50mm high carbon tubeless rim. Revo disc hub, 24H, half-competition JIS-style lacing in b…
I Received a Wristwatch from My Watch Master
During the Kansai Cyclocross season of the previous year (2022–2023), to my watch master ↑I built a rear wheel like this, but when it came to payment, he firmly…
The Loud Sintered Guy
This is a continuation of my story about trying out SRAM's sintered metal brake pads. For information on the types of SRAM disc brake pads （→ here ）, and on the…
Built a rear wheel with Colima's 47mm rim
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer left me with a Colima 47mm tubular rim. "47mm" is a model name, not a generic term. Naturally the rim height is 47mm,…
Built a front wheel with Gravel Tack's 50mm tall tubeless rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer had me take a Gravel Tack 50mm tall carbon tubeless rim. To be precise, it was sent directly from the manufac…
Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8 Rims Have Arrived
Going forward, Tni aluminum rims will come without stickers as standard, and stickers will be included separately for those who want them. ↑That's the one They …
About the Nomunlab Wheel No. 8 Rim
The other day I rebuilt the front and rear wheels of a Roval CL50 and it was used in a race the very next day after delivery, and regarding the feedback that th…
Raising Prices on Nomu Lab Wheels (Fourth Price Point)
We're finally raising the price on Nomu Lab wheels. I'm also announcing the price for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. The last price increase was April 2nd, 2018, and we …
Built a track cycling rear wheel with 16B Gold old label rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built the rear wheel to match the front wheel from the other day. HB-7600 110-8 rear hub 36H Hoshi NJS round butted spok…
About Recent Michelin Tires
About Bontrager tires The orientation of the text on the tire label— with the text gravity pointing outward— is probably unique to this brand alone. The label w…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Back to wheels today (long story). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub, 24H, black half CX sprint 64-spoke reverse Italian lacing wi…
Built a keirin front wheel with 16B Gold old-label rim
Another day with wheels (et cetera). A customer who is a keirin racer brought in two 36H rims of Araya's 16B Gold for me to work on. This rim was treasured by o…
Replying to Comments
Regarding the other day when I completely peeled off the adhesive seal on the cap of the Iméjé sealant, I received multiple comments saying, "Wouldn't it be bet…
Racing 1 2WAY-FIT Customer Work
I received the front and rear wheels from a customer's Racing 1 2WAY-FIT bike. The customer wanted both wheels to have their rims swapped to clincher rims inste…
Built the rear wheel for Nomulabo Wheel No. 8
Back to wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomulabo Wheel No. 8. Not a Revolver disc hub 24H semi-black (Campagnolo pattern) but a semi-…
Shamal Ultra
A customer left me the front wheel of a Shamal Ultra (Campagnolo high-end wheel). A weasel-like creature darted across in front of the rider ahead, causing an e…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Novatech 291SL prime brand hub (same manufacturer as the Tni Evolite hub) 20H …
I Replaced the Disc Brake Hose on a LOOK 795 Blade RS
A customer dropped off the front wheel of a Racing 3DB. ↑On the right side, the spoke on the fewer-spoke side radial-laced section is bent, so they want it repl…
Imajj Sealant Has Arrived in Stock
The Imajj (Japanese sealant brand) sealant with microfiber that had been out of stock for a while has been restocked! I use it not just for selling, but also fo…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Back to wheels today (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Novatech 482SL prime brand hub from the same manufacturer as the Tni Evolite hub, …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another wheel building day (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 24-spoke, black half-competition 4-cross lacing pattern with b…
Rebuilt the front wheel on the CL50
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the front wheel on the CL50. The customer's components aren't Campagnolo, but the disc…
Rebuilt the Rear Wheel on the CL50
Another wheel day (and so on...). A customer brought in the front and rear wheels from a Roval CL50 for me. They asked me to rebuild them because they felt loos…
I installed a quick-release converted Zonda DB on Trek's FX3 crossbike
The other day, I installed a Zonda DB (a Campagnolo wheel model) that I'd converted from thru-axle to quick-release ( here ) onto Trek's FX3 crossbike. When I m…
Eurash Front Wheel
A customer dropped off a Eurash front wheel for repairs. About a month ago, it fell into a drainage groove and got damage on 5 spokes across both sides. The cus…
I replaced the spokes on the rear wheel of the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
I received the rear wheel of a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 (custom wheelset) from a customer. There's reflective tape on the rim side, so I tried taking a flash photo.…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 with a Gran Compe double-sided fixed gear hub
Another day of wheel building (etc.). I received a Gran Compe GC-SF hub from a customer. Gran Compe Small Flange Hub is what it stands for, but it's rare to see…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Leaf hub, 20H, Campagnolo outpoke radial lacing.
Essentially rebuilt the wheel I assembled with Giro Tack rim
Another day, another wheel (etc.). This is outside the normal scope of things. The rear wheel I built with the Giro Tack 40mm deep rim the other day— the day af…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
More wheels today (and so on). The wall color keeps changing. Anyway, I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 24H, black semi-comp lacing, 4-c…
Zonda DB
I ordered a Zonda DB for a customer. As expected, it's a through-axle spec with 100mm front and 142mm rear width. The frameset the customer wants to install thi…
Built a front wheel with Glo-Tack's 30mm tall tubeless rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Following the formula of "(Nomunlabo wheel No. 8 — rim) + any rim," as the variable rim choice, Glo-Tack rims have been coming in…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub, 24H, half-competition 4-cross lacing pattern. I'll do the spokin…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8. Revol disc hub, 24H, black, half-comp, 4-cross lacing. I'll do the spoke conn…
Breaking in SRAM Sintered Brake Pads
This is a follow-up to my previous post about SRAM brake pads. After swapping to sintered (metallic) pads and installing a new rotor, I took it out in the rain …
303S Customer
A friend of one of my customers (so to speak) brought in the rear wheel of a ZIPP 303S. Actually, it wasn't just the rear wheel—they brought the whole bike in. …
Built a rear wheel with XR-19W rim
Wheels again today (et cetera). Built the rear wheel to match the front wheel with the XR-19W rim I assembled the other day. Shimano Sora Pro large flange 126mm…
About SRAM Disc Brake Pads
SRAM disc brake pads come in 4 types depending on differences in backplate and pad material, and since the names alone don't make it clear what's different, I d…
I Replaced the Front Wheel Rim on a Shamal Ultra
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer had left me a Shamal Ultra front wheel for work. WO rims experience outward force on the rim ears due to tire ai…
Built the front wheel for Nomulab Wheel No. 8
More wheels today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomulab Wheel No. 8. I forgot to bring my digital camera so the photos I took with my smartphone came…
Built a front wheel with the XR-19W rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a front wheel with a Kinrin XR-19W rim and a Sunour Superb Pro hub. There's a red sticker on the rim that says X-KEYMET, an…
Taking June 15th Off as Well (Notice)
Today's concert was about 50 minutes long, whereas opera-format performances usually run a bit over 2 hours. The first half had pieces around 16 and 19 minutes,…
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, February 17th (Saturday), I need to take the day off due to some unavoidable circumstances. I apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your unde…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8. The rear wheel uses half CX Sprint rather than half Comp, and I built that a…
Built a rear wheel with Tni's SUB1 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a disc brake rear wheel with Tni's SUB1 rim. Revo disc hub, 24-hole, half-comp 46-spoke laced with rainbow-colored (VAS p…
Built a front wheel with Tni's SUB1 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a disc brake front wheel with Tni's SUB1 rim. This rim was the last pair a customer had on reserve, but since it's 20H an…
Cadex 50 Ultra Disk Tubeless
A customer dropped off wheels from GIANT's CADEX brand with carbon spokes. They wanted truing work done. The image above is the rear wheel, but I received both …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. I was planning to build the front wheel, but since it's a bit special, I d…
Rebuilt Reynolds 32 rear wheel
Today it's wheels again (and so on). A customer left me a Reynolds 32 rear wheel to work on. They wanted me to essentially rebuild it as a Nomu Lab Wheel #6. Th…
Built a rear wheel with A1022 rim
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I built a rear wheel with the Mavic all-road rim, A1022. The "22" at the end of A1022 refers…
Ksyrium Pro UST
A customer brought in a Ksyrium Pro UST for servicing. They wanted an inspection and some minor adjustments on the rear wheel. Let me start with the front wheel…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8. Revo disc hub, 24H, black half CX sprint 64-spoke reverse Italian lacing…
Built a front wheel with an A1022 rim
Another day of wheels (and so on). A customer gave me a Mavic A1022 rim to work with. It's a tubeless-ready aluminum disc brake rim. This one isn't too bad, but…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on the Aeolus Pro 37
Another day of wheel work (and so on). A customer brought in a Bontrager Aeolus Pro 37 wheel, specifically the rear wheel, for some work. DT hub, 24H, all-black…
About Spoke Length
This is a follow-up to my previous post, but although this rim is a double-wall rim, the brake zone takes up a larger proportion of the rim sidewall height comp…
Built a rear wheel with an internal 5-speed hub
I know the title is stating the obvious—an internal-gear hub is a rear hub, so of course it's for the rear wheel but here we go with wheels again (and so on). I…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on the CL50
Another day of wheel work (and so on...). The matching rear wheel to the front wheel from the other day— the Roval CL50's rear wheel needs to be rebuilt. Just l…
Checked Out the New Bora WTO
This was supposed to be "Bonus 4" from the previous article but I've split it into its own post. I had business at a distributor that handles Campagnolo wheels …
Tomorrow is our regular day off, but I'm taking the day anyway
The Japanese in the title is a bit off, but don't mind it. It's an unavoidable obligation, and it's unusual to have it on a Wednesday. The program features a pi…
Rebuilt the front wheel on the CL50
Another day, wheels (and so on). A customer brought me both the front and rear wheels of a Roval CL50. Today I'm only doing the front wheel, but they said it fe…
WH-R9270-C36-TL Service
A customer brought in the front and rear wheels of a Dura-Ace C36 for inspection. They requested a checkup. Let's start with the rear wheel. As expected of a Sh…
Rebuilt the front wheel of Reynolds Attack with a disc hub
Another wheel day (and so on). About a month ago I rebuilt the rear wheel of a Reynolds rim brake wheel Attack with a disc hub (→ here ) and today I finally got…
Urumantu
In the role-playing game Momotaro Densetsu, there are enemies with demon appearances called "urumantu" and "ketsuagyou", and the origin of these names comes fro…
Taking Time Off the Day After Tomorrow
Tomorrow, January 27th (Saturday) is our regular closing day as it's the last Saturday of the month, and the day after tomorrow, January 28th (Sunday) I'll also…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8 (Sort Of)
Wheels again today (and so on). ↑This is the Tni AL22W rim that's on Nomu Lab Wheel #8, and it's technically a defect—one of only two found among the dozens I'v…
I re-riveted the fork downtube holes on a GT gravel bike
The drill is whining! A customer brought in a GT gravel bike. On the left and right blades of the front fork, there are three M5 downtube holes on each side, an…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Revo II front hub, 20H Black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. 660 hub, 24H, black semi-comp four-cross lacing. I'll do the spoke nipple seat…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub 24H black half CX sprint 64-spoke reverse Italian lacing. I'll do …
I've Basically Bought Up All the Loose CX-RAY Spokes
A while back I rebuilt a wheel using Stans ZTR Alpha 340 rims, and found a round (non-flattened) butted spoke mixed in with a bundle of CX-RAY spokes, so I reje…
Replaced the rear rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day working on wheels (etc.). A customer brought in the rear wheel of a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 for repair. During riding, the derailleur hanger suddenly s…
Ksyrium SL
A customer left me the front wheel of a Ksyrium SL for service. One spoke is broken. The Ksyrium SL came out the year after Mavic's 125th anniversary special ed…
Racing 3 and Racing Quattro Carbon
A customer dropped off the front wheel from a Racing 3. A spoke has broken off. Fixed. ↑Replaced parts The nipple could have been reused, but I replaced it anyw…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Wheels again today (you know the drill). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub, 24H, black semi-comp 4-cross lacing. I'll do the spoke ni…
Built a rear wheel with Boondock 3 hub and rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm building a rear wheel with the ALEXRIMS Boondock 3 hub and rim. Since I wasn't particularly inter…
Built a front wheel with Boondock 3 hub and rim
Another wheel build day (and so on). But first. There's a bearing standard called 6902, which has inner diameter / outer diameter / thickness (mm) of 15 / 28 / …
Rebuilt the front wheel for WH-R8170-C36
Another day working on wheels (and so on). A customer brought in the front wheel of an Altegra C36 for us to work on. We had sourced two front wheels for the sh…
Wood Grain Pattern on Every Side
A customer dropped off a Fulcrum Speed 40 rear wheel with us. The image above is after the work was done, but the rear wheel had noticeable wobble. Since the cu…
Built a rear wheel with a 50mm tall WO carbon rim
Another day of wheelbuilding (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. The front wheel hub was a Novatech 291. In Tni terms, that's equivalent to an Evo hub, and …
Built a front wheel with a 50mm-high WO carbon rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Built a front wheel with a 50mm-high Chinese carbon WO rim. Novatech 291 hub, 20H, laced radial with CX-RAY outpokes. There seem…
I Fixed Various Issues With the CLX50 Rear Wheel
I received a Roval CLX50 rear wheel from a customer for repairs. Although it had been overhauled at another shop, the rotation became sluggish and made strange …
Rebuilt the rear wheel with ZTR Alpha 340 rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. Rebuilding a rear wheel that was built with a ZTR Alpha 340 rim. Evo hub 28H black Campagnolo / Revo …
Changed the tubular tires on a fixed-gear wheel
A customer dropped off the front and rear wheels of a fixed-gear bike built with Araya 16B Gold rims. They wanted both wheels' tubular tires replaced with rim c…
Rebuilt ZTR Alpha 340 Rim Front Wheel
Late last year when a customer from far away came directly to the shop, they knocked over the front wheel of a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 and it got bent, so they sai…
I Converted My Daily Bike to 7-Speed
SRAM's MTB component parts include a PG-720 downhill-spec 7-speed sprocket compatible with HG freebody. The tooth count is 11-13-15-17-19 in 2T increments, then…
Crab Boat Willie
From 2024 onwards ↑It looks like this kind of thing has become okay. By the way, ( this one ) is still not allowed, so be careful.
Regarding Year-End and New Year's Holiday
Regarding our year-end and New Year's holiday, we will be closed from December 31st through January 7th. We will reopen for business on January 8th (Monday). We…
Why I Swapped Out the Neumen Hub for a DT Hub
The other day, I rebuilt a rear wheel that was originally laced with a Neumen hub using a DT hub instead (→ here ). I want to explain what was wrong with the Ne…
Rebuilt the rear wheel for WH-7850-C24-TU
Another day working on wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel from a WH-7850-C24-TU. The rim is carbon tubular. They said it just doesn't feel r…
Rebuilt Reynolds Attack rear wheel with disc hub
Another wheel day (and so on). I received a Reynolds Attack rear wheel from a customer. When I received it, the nipple was broken and there were spokes missing …
Hyperon
A while back, I did an inspection on the first-generation New Cleon, also known as Nucleon, including rim cement bed removal, and the same customer also left me…
Built a rear wheel with ZIPP 303 rim
Another day of wheelbuilding (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. After bringing the spoke tension down sufficiently and cutting the spokes, we removed the P…
Replaced the spokes on Racing Zero
A customer left me Racing Zero's front wheel. As you can see, multiple spokes are broken. Some are just straight broken, and for some reason, one looks like it'…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 with a PowerTap hub
Another day working on wheels (and so on). A customer dropped off a PowerTap hub rear wheel built with a ZIPP 303 tubular rim. It's something we built here at t…
First Generation Zonda G3
A customer brought in the rear wheel of a first generation Zonda G3 for me. By "first generation," I don't mean the first Zonda model ever made— I mean the firs…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Revo II hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Built a rear wheel with CX22 rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Continuing from 3 days ago (though just 1 business day). Built a rear wheel with a CX22 tubular rim. FH-RS400 28H sem…
Replaced rear tire with Grand Prix 5000 TT TR
The other day, I wrote about how the rear Grand Prix 5000 S TR tubeless ready tire that had been sitting for about three weeks lost its seal when the rim bead h…
Built a Front Wheel with CX22 Rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a front wheel using a Tni CX22 tubular rim. This rim is a customer-supplied part, and this time I'm building it as a rim …
Stocked WH-R8170-C60-TL Spokes
I stocked spokes for the front wheel of the current generation Altegra C60. Since both sides are a lazy-design 262mm spec, as "Altegra C60 front wheel" there's …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub, 24H, black half CX sprint 64-spoke reverse Italian lacing. I'll…
I rebuilt the rear wheel that was built with Duke road rims and rebuilt it again
Another day, more wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel that was built with Duke rims —or rather, one that we built here at the shop (→ here ).…
Repaired Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Just to be clear upfront none of the following work was done on the same day. I received a front wheel from a customer—a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 (custom hub model)…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
Another day with wheels (abbreviated hereafter). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8. Revo disc hub, 24H, black, semi-comp, 46-spoke JIS lacing with si…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Another day with wheels (and so on...). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revolve disc hub, 24H, semi-competition 46 JIS lacing pattern. I'll do th…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. I bought two WH-R8170 front wheels and rebuilt one of them as a rear wheel, so…
Assembled the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheel building (etc.). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 24H, black half-comp 4-cross lacing with black aluminum nipples.…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with black aluminum nip…
Don't Underestimate It!
A customer dropped off a rear wheel for disc brakes from a Bora WTO45. It was purchased from an overseas online shop. Because it came with a Campagnolo freebody…
I Rebuilt the Rear Wheel on the Alpinist CLX
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I rebuilt the rear wheel on the Alpinist CLX. When I held the wheel in my hand and shook it, …
Rebuilt the front wheel of an Alpinist CLX
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a front wheel from a Roval Alpinist CLX. They want me to rebuild it. There was a torn piece of car wash spo…
Dora-Mine
Since June 30th this year, I've been using the Continental Grand Prix 5000S TR tubeless on my rear wheel (→ here ) First, here's a photo from when it was new, l…
First Generation Nucleon
I've taken in a Nucleon from a customer (sort of). For my own distinction, I call the first generation Nucleon just "Nucleon," and I call the Eurus from the ste…
Replaced the rear rim on Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another wheel day (and so on...). A customer brought in the rear wheel of a Nomu Lab Wheel #5. It's been about 5 years since it was built, and we did a truing a…
Rebuilt the front wheel for the Alpinist CL
Another day of wheel work (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I rebuilt the front wheel for the Alpinist CL. The hub is from the Rovar brand DT 350 in all-b…
Shimano Price Increases Starting Next Year
Starting January 1st, 2024, Shimano will be raising prices. We'll be raising the price of Nomu Lab wheels soon too. I'm not sure we have any right to say this, …
Making Thursdays a Closed Day Too
Starting next month in December, in addition to Wednesdays and the last Saturday of the month, I'm also making Thursdays a closed day. This is something I've be…
About Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8 is a wheel built with Tni's AL22W rim—a brake zone-free, all-black anodized rim— ↑this one I haven't announced the price until now. Our sho…
Built a front wheel with DT RR411db rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a front wheel with a DT RR411db rim. The rim was brought in by a customer, but I'm amazed that a new 24H version of this …
IPA, That Is
When IPA is used as an acronym for alcohol-related terms, it usually means "isopropyl alcohol," but when it comes to beer, it stands for "India Pale Ale," so wa…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Another day with wheels (et cetera). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub, 24H, black semi-comp 46-spoke JIS laced. I'll do the nipple…
Continuation of Oakley Apparel Discount Sale
The Oakley apparel discount sale that started at the beginning of this month (→ here ) ↑Our store inventory of accessories besides jerseys. Windbreakers and jac…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub 24H black semi-CX sprint Built with 64-spoke reverse Italia…
Instant Gravel Bike Addiction
When you think about it rationally, there's no way gravel bikes would catch on in Japan lol Anyway, not owning a disc brake bike felt like a liability given my …
Replaced the front rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in the front wheel of their Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. It's not catastrophically bad or anything, but the bra…
I essentially rebuilt a Racing Zero Carbon wheel
Another day of wheel work (et cetera). A customer brought in the front wheel of a Racing Zero Carbon (high-end carbon rim) for repair. Out of 16 spokes, 8 conse…
The Original Shamal Ultra
A customer dropped off a rear wheel from what's known as a gold Shamal Ultra. The bead hook got bent from buckling, so they're asking if I can straighten it out…
I disassembled and rebuilt the rear wheel with a 4ZA rim by changing the hub
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer—or rather, a senior in the industry and fellow mechanic— left me a rear wheel built with a rim from the 4ZA bran…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Another day of wheels (you get the idea). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub, 24H Black half CX sprint 64 reverse Italian lacing. I'l…
Built the rear wheel for Nomulab Wheel #8
Back to wheels today (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomulab Wheel #8. Revo disc hub, 24H black semi-comp, 46mm JIS laced with black aluminum nipples. I'l…
Built a rear wheel with XR331 rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built a rear wheel with an XR331 rim. The DT240 hub that was redesigned in 2021 with the…
Built a front wheel with XR331 rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built a front wheel with the DT XC rim that's been discontinued, the XR331. It's the newer DT240 hub that underwent…
The Kryptonite R-45 Might Be a Good Deal
There's a manufacturer called "Kryptonite" that's famous for durable chain locks. I myself use the Keeper 411 chain lock, which isn't particularly durable compa…
Built the rear wheel with Gravel Tack's 30mm high tubular rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built the rear wheel with a Gravel Tack 30mm high tubular rim. Revo Disc hub, 24H, black semi-comp 46 JIS lacing with black alu…
Built a front wheel with Gravel Tack's 30mm high tubular rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a front wheel with a Gravel Tack (Japanese rim manufacturer) 30mm high tubular rim. It can be used on disc road bikes too, …
Replaced Everything But the Spokes on the Nomu Lab Wheel #5 Front Wheel
Another wheel day (and so on...). A customer brought in the front wheel from their Nomu Lab Wheel #5. It got hit by a mama-chari and the rim is bent like a pota…
The 99.0% Win Rate Guy
A customer brought in a Niner chromoly MTB frame with a SIR9 seatpost that's seized, asking me to remove it. Even after loosening the seatpost clamp bolt and sh…
Replaced the muddy holy grail's axle with something modern (front part but also the back part)
Another day, another wheel (etc. etc.). Continuing from the other day's Grail rim rear wheel rebuild. HB-CX75 28H black CX-RAY 4x reverse Italian lacing. The ri…
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, November 11th (Saturday), I have some urgent business to attend to, so I'll be taking the day off. I apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you fo…
I rebuilt the rear wheel on the Gokiso
Another day with wheels (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel on my Gokiso. The original rim is made by Equinox, but it's not an…
Rebuilt the Gokiso Front Wheel
It's wheel day again (and so on). A customer brought in both front and rear wheels—apparently a Gokiso complete wheelset. This is a customer who had a Nomu Lab …
I Swapped Out the Grail's Mud-Caked Hub for a Modern Through-Axle Version (Rear Wheel, Part 1)
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a wheel built with a Stan's Grail rim. Today I'm only doing the rear wheel, though. Both wheels are built w…
I Rebuilt the Rear Wheel for a 404 NSW
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer dropped off the rear wheel for a ZIPP 404 NSW set up for rim brakes. I took a photo of the whole thing before starting…
Built a wheel with Iron Cross rim and RS770 hub (rear wheel, so this is part two)
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built the rear wheel for a cyclocross bike with an Iron Cross rim and RS770 hub. FH-RS77…
Built a wheel with Stan's Iron Cross Rim and RS770 Hub (front wheel, part 1)
Another wheel build day (and so on). A customer brought me a Stan's Iron Cross Rim to work with. I can't believe a new one still exists. There's a method to tel…
Reply to Comment
Regarding the back pocket zipper pull on the Oakley (American sportswear brand) discounted windbreaker from my recent post, I received a comment suggesting: "Is…
Oakley Apparel Special Sale
We're having a special sale on catalog closeout Oakley apparel! This sale is marked at a uniform percentage off the tax-included list price, but considering Oak…
Rebuilt the rear wheel for the CL50
It's another day of wheel work (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel for the CL50. Both sides with black Campagnolo Record strai…
Rebuilt the front wheel of the CL50
Another day of wheels (and so on). I received a Roval CL50 wheel from a customer. They're asking for a rebuild. Today I'm working on the front wheel. The spokes…
I Rebuilt the Front and Rear Wheels for the WH-R8170-C36
Another day with wheels (et cetera). There's an Ultegra C36 front wheel that's supposed to go out today, and since both need to be rebuilt (well, since there ar…
Built a rear wheel with Crest MK4 650B rim
Another wheel day (and so on). But first. When installing a 700C wheel on a Cannondale Jekyll, very wide tires can't be fitted (they interfere with the frame an…
Built a front wheel with Crest MK4 650B rim
Today, another wheel build (and so on). The other day, I built front and rear wheels for rim brakes using Mavic CXP23 rims that I pulled from the front and rear…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8 (my personal bike)
Back to wheels again today (abbreviated hereinafter). This is the rear wheel from my personal DT XC MTB complete wheelset, the X1900 model, which I previously t…
CLX50 SAGAN Model
A customer brought in the front and rear wheels from a Roval CLX50 Peter Sagan signature model for service. Let me start with the front wheel. The hub shell is …
Built a rear wheel with Tni's 38mm high-profile carbon tubular rim
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for a fixed gear bike with a Tni 38mm high-profile carbon tubular rim that a customer entrusted to me. ↑R…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8 (my personal bike)
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. To be honest, it's for my personal bike. The hub is a removed WH-R8…
Built a front wheel with Tuni's 38mm high-carbon rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a front wheel using the same rim as Nomo Lab Wheel No. 2, which I received from a customer. TUNE Mig 45 hub, 20 spokes Bl…
Built a Front Wheel with CXP23 Rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm disassembling a front wheel that had a Cannondale Lefty front hub and a Mavic CXP23 rim so I…
The Neighbor Prefecture Customer Who Always Brings Persimmons
A customer from Nara Prefecture came in asking me to install Challenge cyclocross tubeless tires. Not shown in the photo above, but they wanted me to install "S…
Bora Ultra 35 Tubular Bright Label
A customer brought in a Bora Ultra 35 tubular rim model. They wanted an inspection, but separately from that, they also wanted the rim cement bed removed. Essen…
Built a rear wheel with a CXP23 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left me front and rear wheels that are on a 2002 model Cannondale Jekyll. Today I'm only doing the rear wheel though. …
Rebuilt Chinese Carbon Rim Wheel (Front Wheel - Part 2)
Another wheel day (etc.). Continuing from yesterday, I'm rebuilding the front wheel, but I forgot to take a photo of the whole thing before disassembly. For det…
Rebuilt Chinese Carbon Rim Wheel (Rear Wheel, Part 1)
Another wheel building day (and so on). A customer entrusted me with front and rear wheels built with Chinese carbon rims. Today I'm only working on the rear wh…
Replaced the FH-9000 Freewheel Body
A customer brought in a rear wheel built with the FH-9000, the last generation Dura-Ace hub. When I shook the freewheel body by hand with the sprockets attached…
Disassembled and rebuilt the rear wheel of Nomu Lab Wheel #1
The rear wheel of Nomu Lab Wheel #1 that I built a while back (not yesterday) I completely disassembled it down to the rim level. When I was correcting lateral …
I Built the Rear Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. FH-RS400 28H semi-champion lacing pattern. I'll do the spoke nipple tig…
Campagnolo Apparel Has Arrived in Stock
The Campagnolo backbone explosion recovery sale (→ here ) is continuing indefinitely while stock lasts, and the fourth shipment has arrived. The first shipment …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Black hub, 20H, CX outpoke radial laced. This black hub has flange holes machined…
First Generation R-SYS
A customer entrusted me with the front and rear wheels from a first-generation R-SYS. Not exactly unused, but they definitely hadn't seen much riding. The custo…
Stocked Hyperon Ultra DB
The Hyperon Ultra DB was on sale through the end of September, but just the other day (now that we're in October), I got a call asking if we could match the sal…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in front and rear wheels built with ENVE 1-45 rims that we'd built for them in the past. On the opposite side …
Rebuilt an XTR Tubular Rear Wheel as a Front Wheel
Another wheel day (and so on). I took in a rear wheel with an XTR tubular rim from a customer. Not a typo for "tubeless" It's actually a tubular rim. MTB tubula…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. 660 hub, 24H, semi-comp 4-cross lacing pattern. I'll do the spoke wrapping la…
Built a Wheel with a 25mm-High Hole-Free Tubeless Rim (Rear Wheel, So This is Part 2)
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. With a 25mm-high hole-free tubeless rim I built up a disc brake rear wheel. The hub is a 24H Powerway…
I repaired wheels built with a brand whose name must not be spoken
A customer brought in front and rear wheels built with a brand whose name must not be spoken. Let me start with the rear wheel. Oh no—even being diplomatic abou…
Built a wheel with 25mm tall tubeless rim without spoke holes (front wheel, so part 1)
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer left me a 25mm tall Chinese carbon tubeless rim. The measured weight came to 614g, but oops, that was the total …
Rebuilt the Ellipse front wheel with a through-axle hub
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer left me a Mavic Ellipse front wheel. It's a classic track bike practice wheel. There's basically nothing like…
Replaced the Zonda rim that buckled (front wheel edition, part 2)
Even though I said I'd take Friday off, I had an errand so I stopped by the shop and got some wheel building done. So today it's wheels again (and so on). I rep…
Taking Three Days Off Starting Tomorrow
Tomorrow, September 28th (Thursday), I have some urgent business to attend to, so I'll be taking the day off. However, the day after tomorrow (Saturday) is our …
Campagnolo Backbone Explosion Recovery Celebration Sale
More and more Hyperlon-chan appearing. ↑Don't say it like "More Wakame-chan" It's fine to line them up and take photos, but the card hanging from the hub body o…
Responding to Comments
The other day, I wrote about Barcelona '92 rims where two rims happened to be the same weight, and mentioned that if there were a weight difference, I'd use the…
Replaced the Zonda rim crushed by buckling (rear wheel, part 1)
Another day with wheels (details omitted). A customer left me both front and rear wheels from a Zonda. In the image above, I've arranged them side by side with …
Built a wheel with Barcelona 92 rim (front wheel but part 2)
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a front wheel with a Barcelona 92 rim. Like the rear wheel, I'm converting the Record hub to CULT (Campagnolo Ultra-Light T…
Built a wheel with Campagnolo Barcelona 92 rims (rear wheel, part one)
Another day of wheelbuilding (and so on...). A customer entrusted me with two Campagnolo Barcelona 92 rims. These are Olympic host city and year series rims, an…
I Stocked DT Competition Spokes
I stocked DT Competition spokes. Hmm, quite the impressive sight. The reason I say "quite" is because each box contains 4 spokes. DT Competition comes in both 1…
Traces of Michelin
About the Spinergy Zero Light from the previous post, the color of the Zylon spokes is nearly the same as Tubolito's TPU tube (a high-end inner tube brand), whi…
Replaced the rear rim on a Spinergy Zerolight wheel
The drill is whining! And today, more wheel wh... (you know the rest). A customer brought in a Spinergy Zerolight wheel's rear wheel for service. When not under…
HUNT 44 Carbon Spoke Wheel
Before I get to the main topic of this post. Yesterday, a front wheel from a LUN (Lun) HYPER (Hyper) wheel built with carbon spokes was brought into the shop. O…
Built a rear wheel with AL300 rim
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built a rear wheel with an AL300 rim. FH-RS400 28H semi-comp 4-cross lacing pattern with rim tape Only the nipples on eit…
Shimano Acknowledges Crank Adhesive Failure Issue
I'm sure many of you already know this, but yesterday (September 21st) Shimano released a statement acknowledging instances of crank adhesive separation. This r…
More on Princeton
The other day, I wrote about the naming conventions for Princeton Carbon Works wheels (→ here ), and when I mentioned that Princeton didn't make tubular models,…
I rebuilt the ZIPP 353NSW front wheel with a Chris King hub (it's the front wheel but this is the second post)
Another wheel day (and so on). I received a front wheel from a ZIPP 353NSW from a customer. It's a Cognition front hub 24H all-black CX-RAY with 4-cross lacing.…
Rebuilt the ZIPP 353NSW Rear Wheel with a Chris King Hub (Part 1 - Rear Wheel)
Another day, another wheel build (and so on...). A customer brought in the front wheel of a ZIPP 353NSW rim that has a serrated shape on the inner side, which i…
Hyperion Ultra DB 2WAY-FIT Special Sale Event
The tubeless rim version of the Hyperion Ultra has arrived. The tubular version is currently not yet available in Japan. With a 37mm rim height, it's lighter in…
Built a front wheel with AL300 rim
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built a front wheel with a Tni AL300 rim. It's essentially the same as Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1, but I'm not calling it that bec…
More on Princeton
This is a supplement to my previous post. The wheel model name in that article was WAKE6560, but the naming convention is pet name + numbers, where the numbers …
WAKE6560 Front Wheel
I received a front wheel from Princeton CarbonWorks from a customer. The model is WAKE6560. When ordering complete wheels with spokes at Princeton, you can choo…
Rebuilt the rear wheel of the SES 6.7
Another day on the wheel work (and so on). A customer brought in the rear wheel of a Smart Envy System 6.7. The rim is a tubular. It has an odd Campagnolo-spec …
Replaced the rear wheel rim on the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day with wheels (and so on). I received the rear wheel from Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 from a customer. It's got an Evolite hub, 24H, black semi-competition l…
I rebuilt the rear wheel for the Rapide CLX
Today it's wheelbuilding (and so on). But first. I received a comment about the front wheel of the Rapide CLX. "Regarding the rim hook on the Rapide CLX front w…
Rebuilt the front and rear wheels of WH-RS710-C32-TL
Today, another wheel rebuild (and so on) This is work I did back on April 11th this year, but I hadn't written it up as an article. A customer brought me the fr…
Hub DBL and Spoke DBL
This is a supplement to my previous post. I'm going to write about why the SLR1 from the previous article couldn't be tensioned excessively and why the addition…
SLR1 and Bora Ultra 35 Tubular
I received the rear wheel of a GIANT SLR1 from a customer. The issue is that the chain slips forward when pedaling hard in the outer big ring and top small cog.…
Built the rear wheel for Nomulab Wheel #8
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomulab Wheel #8. Duro hub, 28H, black semi-competition, 46 JIS lacing with purple aluminum nipples. I'…
Let's Go Get Rūmeri!
Out there, some people call FFWD (Fast Forward) wheels "FF Yamaguchi" (エフエフやまぐち), and there's a certain number of folks who call Louison Poulidor bikes "Noreika…
Rebuilt the front wheel of the Rapide CLX
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I received a front wheel from a customer's Rapide CLX (a high-end road bike). It wasn't rolling smoothly, so they asked me …
Bora Ultra 50 Clincher Dark Label
I received the rear wheel of a Bora Ultra 50 from a customer. The customer has placed a marking tape on the wheel, but one of the spokes on the freewheel side i…
WH-R9270-C50-TL
A customer left me their current Dura-Ace C50 tubeless front and rear wheels for inspection. I received them on April 16th of this year. They wanted an inspecti…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
Another day building wheels (and so on...). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8. Duro hub, 28H (actually comes in 28H spec only) Built with semi-CX sprin…
Bora One 50
A customer left a Bora One 50 rear wheel with us. It was damaged in a crash caused by getting tangled up during a race and several spokes are bent. ↑I've reliev…
CLX64
A customer brought in the front wheel from a CLX64 for repair. One spoke is missing. ↑Right here. When it came in, the broken spoke was still attached, but afte…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Another wheel day (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Duro hub, 24H, black half-CX sprint 64 reverse Italian laced. I'll do the nippl…
I Rebuilt the Rear Wheel on a CLX50
Another day on the wheels (and so on). I received the rear wheel from a Rovalé CLX50 from a customer. This is the white version with markings on the rim sidewal…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. It's the matching set to the front wheel I did the other day. Revο Disc Hub, 24…
I Tried Washing a Chain with Wako's Multi Care Wash
Recently I bought a cleaner called Multi Care Wash from Wako's. But before that. LOOK's Kéo cleats— the standard cleats have been discontinued. There's still st…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub 24H black half CX sprint 64 reversed Italian spoke pattern wi…
Rebuilt the front wheel on the WH-R8170
More wheel work today (and so on). ↑This is from my previous post, but I took that new front rim in the back and rebuilt it as a rear wheel instead. I could've …
Replaced the rear rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another wheel day (you know the deal). A customer dropped off the rear wheel from their Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 (custom bike brand). They were descending rough ter…
Rebuilt the WH-R8170 front wheel as a rear wheel
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer dropped off two front wheels from a WH-R8170-C50. One of them already has a tire and disc rotor installed and shows si…
I Swapped the Rims and Hubs on the Front and Rear Wheels of the WH-R8170 (Front Wheel, Part 2)
Another day with wheels (etc.). This is a continuation from yesterday. I disassembled the C36 rear wheel and will build the front wheel using the former C50 fro…
Swapped the rims and hubs of the WH-R8170 front and rear wheels (rear wheel, part 1)
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought me a pair of front and rear wheels— a C50 and C36 WH-R8170—to work on. At first glance they don't look w…
Rebuilding the WH-R8170-C50-TL Front Wheel as a Rear Wheel
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer entrusted me with the front wheel from a WH-R8170-C50-TL. It was purchased before the price increase at the end …
REVO Disc Hub Stock Arrived
After being out of stock for a long time, the Tni REVO disc road hubs have been restocked! I got lazy about pulling out the full quantity, so what's shown in th…
Campagnolo Backbone Blowout Sale Follow-up
Campagnolo Backbone Blowout Sale apparel section update. They said they'd let us know inventory status through shipment contents, but from the 5th and 6th shipm…
Built a Front Wheel with EDGE 45 Rim and Bora Hub
Another wheel day (and so on...). Continuing from the other day. I'm rebuilding the front wheel with an EDGE 45 rim that a customer (technically speaking) left …
Taking Tomorrow Off
Today I got about three phone calls asking "Will you be open tomorrow?" It's probably because of the typhoon, but I sensed a general feeling that the prudent th…
Rebuilt rear wheel with EDGE 1-45 rim and Hyperon hub
Another day, another wheel (et cetera). I took in a rear wheel built with an EDGE 1-45 rim from a customer (sort of). The hub is the Evo hub, the predecessor to…
I Rebuilt the Rear Wheel on the C38
Today it's wheels again (and so on)... but before that. About yesterday's front wheel on the Roval C38: The front hub isn't an original made on commission from …
Rebuilt the front wheel on the C38
Another day, another wheel (and so on). From a customer A Roval C38 front and rear wheels were entrusted to me. The image shows only the front wheel I'm working…
I replaced the rear rim on a first-generation Racing Zero
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in the rear wheel of a first-generation Racing Zero. Strictly speaking, the original generation has rim/…
Bora WTO 33333333333 and Apparel and Supplements and Small Fish
Campagnolo Backbone Explosion Sale The wheel section ended today. Well, that's what I'd like to say, but it was essentially finished as of Tuesday the day befor…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Revo II hub, 24H, black semi-comp, 4-cross lacing pattern. I'll do the spoke…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another wheel day (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with black aluminum nipples…
I Replaced the Rear Hub on a 404
Another day working on wheels (and so on...). This is a continuation from yesterday. A customer brought me a rear wheel from a 404. A ZIPP silver hub body that …
Strange Phenomenon! Nabeyatsuji Pass!
Nabeyatsuji Pass connects Osaka and Wakayama, but on the Osaka side of the route, there's a "push-button box that appears to get relatively larger the closer yo…
Terror! Kimi Pass!
Kimi Pass connects Osaka and Wakayama, and on the downhill curve on the Osaka side, there's a section with a speed limit of 4 km/h. ↑This left corner here. By t…
Bora Ultra 35 Narrow Rim Tubular
A customer left me a Bora 35 tubular rim from the narrow rim era for servicing. The year after the Bora 35 came out, both it and the earlier Bora (50mm depth) w…
Replaced the front hub on the 404
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I received a front wheel from a ZIPPO 404 from a customer. Flange-ring style front hub, 16-hole CX-RAY straight force…
Built a rear wheel with a 50mm tall 451 rim
Back to wheels today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built a rear wheel using an ETRTO 451 rim with 50mm tall profile. Mystery hub (Campagnolo freebod…
Bora One 50 Dark Label Clincher
A customer brought in the rear wheel of a Bora One for repair. The quick release lever stand came loose while the rear wheel was spinning, got caught in the whe…
Built a front wheel with a 50mm-deep, 451mm rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I received two UD carbon-finished 50mm-deep, ETRTO 451mm rims from a customer. Both are 32H, and I'm building front and rear whee…
Replaced the front wheel rim on a hole-less Chinese carbon tubeless rim
Another day with wheels (etc.). A customer brought in a front wheel with a Chinese carbon tubeless rim that has no holes on the outer edge except for the valve …
Yaguchi Ranu Ga Imu
The other day I did wheel truing, centering adjustment, and tire replacement on the rear wheel of a Cosmic Ultimate, and now I'm working on the matching front w…
Built a front wheel with H PLUS SON rim and Gran Compe fixed gear hub
Another wheel build today (and so on). Built a front wheel using a Gran Compe fixed gear front hub and an H PLUS SON (Japanese high-quality rim manufacturer) ri…
Campagnolo Spine Explosion Sale
I attended a Campagnolo training session on July 19th, and while the technical instruction on the wireless Super Record EPS was fine enough, there was a Hyperon…
I rebuilt the front wheel on the 303
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a front wheel from a ZIPP 303. This is the partner to the rear wheel I rebuilt the other day. ZIPP 18…
Bora Ultra 50 Clincher Dark Label
A customer dropped off the rear wheel of a Bora Ultra 50 with me. The chain dropped during a front shift （maybe they kept pedaling while the chain was jammed） T…
I've Stocked Campagnolo and Fulcrum Aluminum Spokes
I've stocked Campagnolo and Fulcrum aluminum spokes. The Campagnolo is WH-105SHM (Wheel 105 Shamal Mille), and the Fulcrum is R0-117B (Racing Zero 117 Black). B…
I rebuilt the rear wheel for a 303
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer left me with a rear wheel from a ZIPP 303. The rim is WO (Welded Rim) spec. I also have a Dura-Ace 9000 hub o…
Cosmic Ultimate
I received a Cosmic Ultimate from a customer for service. The image above is after service — it's now fitted with Continental Competition 25C tubular tires. Bot…
Bora One 35 Clincher Dark Label
A customer dropped off the rear wheel of a Bora One 35 with us. A spoke broke and flew off during a ride. ↑The spoke is bent—what happens here is the spoke head…
Built a rear wheel with an H PLUS SON rim and Gran Compe fixed gear hub
Another wheel day (and so on). I built up a rear wheel with an H Plus Son triangular section polished WO rim and a Gran Compe double-threaded fixed gear hub. Gr…
Replaced Not Just Spokes but Also the Rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day working on wheels (you know the drill). A customer left me the front and rear wheels from their Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 for repair. They purchased it a…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Wheels again today (etc.). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Revo II hub, 24 holes, semi-comp 4-cross lacing pattern. I built a wheel with exactly t…
Secrets Amateurs Weren't Supposed to Figure Out (But Did)
I think there are plenty of male sport bike enthusiasts whose wives show 「no interest in bicycles」 but that 「no interest」really just means 「I'm not going to ind…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Revo II hub, 24H, half-competition 4-cross lacing. I'll do the spoke conne…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. 660 hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
I Rebuilt the Rear Wheel - Velarete ACR22
Another day of wheel work (and so on). A customer brought me the rear wheel of a wheel called ACR22 made by Velarete (a frame builder?). My colleague is shirkin…
Rebuilt the CL50 Rear Wheel
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer dropped off a Rovale CL50 rear wheel for me to work on. The rim is probably the same as the CLX (at least the…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another wheel day (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. 660 hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. This is a rim brake wheel. I've kept an Evolight hub (with Campagnolo free…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with black aluminum nipples.
Built a wheel with a 50mm high tubeless ready rim (rear wheel, so this is part 2)
Mountain Book Mountain Another day of wheelbuilding (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. Considering the height-to-weight ratio accounting for rim width, I'd…
Built a wheel with a 50mm tubeless-ready rim (front wheel, part 1)
Another day on wheels (et cetera). Built a front wheel with a 50mm tall tubeless-ready rim. Extralite Cyberfront front hub 20H black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced…
Built a wheel with an internal 5-speed hub and 42mm high ETRTO 451 rim
Another wheel build today (and so on). Just as the title says. All black Champion 4-cross pattern equivalent to JIS standard. By "equivalent," I mean it's close…
Built a fixed gear front wheel with a KING hub
Another wheel day (details omitted). A while back I built a fixed gear rear wheel with a BLB KING hub, and today I built its match—the front wheel. When the cus…
Bora WTO45 Rim Brake Dark Label (Separate from Previous Post)
I received the front and rear wheels of a Bora WTO45 from a customer. These wheels have a history of use in racing, and the customer requested a CULT conversion…
Bora WTO45 Rim Brake Bright Label
I received both front and rear wheels of a Bora WTO45 from a customer. These are wheels for rim brakes. Let me start with the front wheel. The customer requeste…
Changed rear tire to Continental Grand Prix 5000S TR
The IRC S-Light got a slow puncture during this morning's training ride. But first. This is a photo from the day I went for a ride right after putting on the ti…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with black aluminum nipples.
Built a fixed gear rear wheel with a KING hub
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built a rear wheel in double-sided fixed gear configuration using a BLB (Brick Lane Bikes) hub and a Nomu Lab Wheel #5 ri…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another wheel day (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Bora WTO60
I received an order from a customer for a Bora WTO60 wheel. It's a rim brake model. I'll do a full inspection of course, but the customer wants me to swap out t…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 24H, black semi-comp, 4-cross spoke pattern. I'll do the spoke tying l…
"While there are other works, in terms of public recognition and performance opportunities it's basically just that one" — Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique is the same as Don McLean's "American Pie"
It was the final Saturday the other day, but since it was already a day off I didn't bother writing about it, but I went to a classical concert. The regular con…
Replaced the hub on a 26-inch HE rim rear wheel
Another day, another wheel (etc.). A customer left me a rear wheel built with a 26-inch HE rim (ALEXRIMS DA16) and a 135mm quick-release hub. It's got Michelin …
I Built the Rear Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. 660 hub, 24H, black semi-comp, 4-cross lacing with black aluminum nipples. I'll…
Built a rear wheel with SUB1 rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built a rear wheel with a SUB1 rim. With an ONYX Vesper hub 24H black semi-comp 4-cross lac…
I Stocked Up on Various Hubs
Recently I got some stock of the disc road hub that Tni (a hub manufacturer) released a hub called DURO. I'm assuming the pronunciation is "Duro." Going forward…
Eurus
A customer brought in a pair of Eurus wheels for inspection. They wanted a full check-up. Let me start with the front wheel, but first— The EURUS wheel, from th…
Built a front wheel with a SUB1 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a front wheel with a Tni SUB1 rim. ONYX Vespa hub, 20H Black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with blue aluminum nipples. Going…
Replaced the front rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I replaced the front rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. In the photo above, the rim is already mid-transfer... Built it up. Ev…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Back to wheels today (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. 660 hub, 24H, black semi-competitive 46-spoke lacing. I'll do the spoke tying…
Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Back to wheel building today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. 660 hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. I built a wheel with the e…
Built a front wheel with an AL22W rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a front wheel with an AL22W rim. 660 hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial laced. Just the other day, I picked up a bunch of th…
Red and White
Today I had some business to attend to and went to visit my mentor On the way back, I noticed there was an office for a security company called Brother Maintena…
Built a rear wheel with AL22W rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a rear wheel with the AL22W rim. This time it's for Campagnolo, but I'm keeping it for either Campagnolo or SRAM XDR freebo…
Replaced the rear rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in the rear wheel from a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 for repair. A scooter had apparently hit it from the side while …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Back to wheels today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. 660 hub, 24 spoke, semi-comp four-cross lacing. I'll do the spoke nipple threadi…
I Rebuilt the Rear Wheel for Tni's SUB1 Wheel
Another day working on wheels (and so on). I sourced a Tni SUB1 wheel at a customer's request. SUB1 is a model name meaning under 1kg, and it's sold both as ind…
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, June 9th (Friday), I have some unavoidable business, so I'll be taking the day off. I apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understandin…
Rebuilt the front wheel of the Rovalé Rapide CLX
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer dropped off a Rovalé Rapide CLX front wheel. It's loose, so they want it rebuilt. Instead of 2:1 lacing x 7 pair…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another day, another wheel (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. 660 hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Buntline Special
The drill roars to life! The other day, I was assembling 9070 electronic shifting components on a certain frame, and I'd assumed the frame would have provisions…
I Rebuilt the Elite Rear Wheel
Another wheel day today (and so on). A customer brought in an Elite wheel rear wheel—completely unrelated to Elite bottle cages—for inspection. This is a steel …
Apparently You Don't Need a Truing Stand
Last Thursday, May 29th, customers kept coming in one after another—not all at once, but as soon as I'd finish one, another would show up. I ended up truing fou…
Replaced My Proxxon MM100 Mini Router
I replaced the mini router we use at the shop. It's another Proxxon MM100 (→ here ), but this one only lasted a little over a year. That said, I definitely push…
Rebuilt a HUNT disc brake wheel (front wheel, part 1)
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a HUNT disc brake wheel for me to work on. I swear I didn't prompt this comment myself, but they said…
I Rebuilt the Rear Wheel of the CLX32
Another day with wheels (and so on). This is the rear wheel, the counterpart to the CLX32 front wheel I worked on recently It was built with a 2:1 pattern and t…
Rebuilt an MTB wheel from a complete bike
Another wheel day (and so on...). A customer brought in a budget-grade rear wheel that came stock with an MTB complete bike. Both the hub and rim say STOUT on t…
Lefty Front Wheel
A customer dropped off a Cannondale Lefty front wheel for me to work on. Based on the rim diameter, it looks like a Bad Boy front wheel from the same manufactur…
WH-R9100-C40-CL Customer Wheel Service
A customer brought in a WH-R9100-C40 wheelset in WO rim (clincher) specification. The customer requested that I perform a hub overhaul if I deem it necessary, p…
Rebuilding the Front Wheel of the CLX32
Another day of wheel work (and so on). I received a Rovel CLX32 disc brake front wheel from a customer. They wanted it rebuilt and the cables rerouted, but when…
I rebuilt the front wheel built with Duke's road rim
Wheels again today (and so on). I rebuilt the front wheel that was built with a Duke disc road rim. It's the counterpart to the rear wheel from the other day. U…
The Penguins Have Arrived!
I got a gift from a customer, and my basic policy is not to post gifts on here, but they asked me to post it, so I will. Just so you know, even if people ask me…
Rebuilt rear wheel assembled with Duke road rim
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel assembled with a Duke disc road rim. The hub is a Neumann (unrelated to the warm noodle dish "…
Built a front wheel with hookless rim and dynamo hub
Wheels again today (and so on). Built a front wheel with a 40mm-deep carbon rim and dynamo hub. The rim depth measures 39.7mm actual, but even 35mm-deep rims ge…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on the Aeolus 3
Another wheel day (and so on). I received a Bontrager Aeolus 3 rear wheel from a customer. The rim is tubular specification. The customer wanted it rebuilt beca…
The Promise Was Broken
I have a couple of updates to share. The topic in the title is the second one. First, the first update. Continental Grand Prix 5000 TR in 25C has been restocked…
Built a rear wheel with AL22W rim
Another wheel build today (and so on). I built up a rear wheel using an AL22W rim for rim brakes. All materials came from our shop's inventory, but whereas an A…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Winghub 20H black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing Rainbow-pattern (VAS pattern) nipple…
Continental Grand Prix 5000 In Stock
Continental's Grand Prix 5000 has finally arrived in stock after a long period of being out of stock, with shipments coming in sequentially from the end of Marc…
I Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5 with a Disc Hub
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for disc brakes using the Nomu Lab Wheel #5 rim. Revo Disc Hub 24H black semi CX Sprint 64 reverse I…
R-SYS SLR
The front wheel of the R-SYS SLR that I replaced the rim on the other day I also had the rear wheel of the matching wheel in for inspection. The area around the…
Built the rear wheel for Nomulabo Wheel No. 5 with a disc hub
Another day working on wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomulabo Wheel No. 5. Per the customer's request, with a tubeless-incompatible narrow rim,…
Olives and Inserts and Such
I bought two sets of Shimano's shift outer caps with nose + tube-type dust caps that go over them, which come in sets of 50 pieces each. In the image above, I'v…
Mr. 404
A customer dropped off the rear wheel of a ZIPP 404 for me to work on. This is from an era before full-carbon WO rims became standard, so there's aluminum in th…
Built a Fixed Gear Rear Wheel with RT520 Rim
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built a rear wheel with an RT520 rim. Gran Compe small flange hub, GC-SF fixed gear d…
Built a fixed gear front wheel with RT520 rim
Wheels again today (and so on). With an Araya RT-520, a double-wall rim, and a Gran Compe small-flange fixed gear hub I built the front wheel. ↑Focus on the rim…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #33
Another wheel day (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #33. HB-7600 Single-threaded rear hub, 36H, laced full Campagnolo Italian style. I'll do …
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, May 11th (Friday), I have some pressing matters to attend to, so I'll be taking the day off. I apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you for your…
Rebuilt the front wheel of an old CREST rim as a rear wheel
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I'm rebuilding the CREST rim front wheel as a rear wheel, swapping out the non-BOOST stan…
Rebuilt rear wheel from old CREST rim as front wheel
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer dropped off a rear wheel built with a Stans CREST rim. This was one we assembled here at the shop years ago. Thi…
The 1.0mm Low Spacer Story
Since the previous article about the Racing Zero freehub body damage got long, I've split it into a separate post. This is about why the edge of the freehub bod…
Racing Zero
I received the front and rear wheels of a Racing Zero (track racing wheelset) from a customer. Apparently it had been sitting in the high school cycling club's …
Replaced the front rim on an R-SYS SLR
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in the front wheel of an R-SYS. This is the final generation of R-SYS, which was discontinued without ev…
Rebuilt the 404's rear wheel to convert it to 11-speed
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer dropped off a ZIPP 404 rear wheel with me. It was an FH-7900 24-hole all CX-RAY 4-4 laced setup, but due to Shim…
Rebuilt the Front Wheel on the CLX50
Another day with wheels (and so on). Following up on the rear wheel from the other day. I'm rebuilding the front wheel on the CLX50. The front hub bearings are …
Rebuilt the rear wheel on the CLX50
Another day working on wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a CLX50 wheel with disc brake compatibility for work. It's not a recent job, but this customer …
Riding a Disc Road Bike
Recently, I've been riding a disc road bike for early morning (or late night) training sessions and commuting but the ride quality is driving me crazy. I suspec…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on a CL50
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left a CL50 rear wheel with me. This is the newer specification, so the spoke heads are flattened into a sliced king o…
Rebuilt the CL40's rear wheel
Another wheel day (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. CL50 Rebuilding the CL40's rear wheel. ↑Corrected after noticing the mistake in a comment Both sides h…
Rebuilt the Front Wheel on a CL40
Another wheel day (and so on...). I took in a front wheel from a Rovale CL40 for a customer. It's a rim brake wheel The hub is standard spec that doesn't crush …
Rebuilt the rear wheel of the Alpinist CLX
Another day with wheels (etc.). I rebuilt the rear wheel of the Alpinist CLX with the black ROVAL logo. I'm only storing the rear wheel for now. The white logo …
EA90SL
I hadn't planned to write an article about this, but the condition was so extreme I determined it had value as a post so I took some photos. A customer brought …
Rebuilt the rear wheel of the Alpinist CLX
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel of the Alpinist CLX. Got it built. You probably can't tell from th…
Rebuilt the front wheel of the Alpinist CLX
It's wheel day again (etc.). But before that. I was thinking about rebuilding the rear wheel, which is the pair to yesterday's CL50 front wheel, but I didn't ha…
Rebuilt a CL50 front wheel for rim brakes
The other day, a customer said to me 「You don't see many Roval wheel rebuilds these days, do you?」 but when I lined up all the Roval wheels we currently have in…
404 Firecrest
A customer brought in a pair of front and rear wheels for a ZIPP 404 Firecrest in WO rim spec. These are rim brake wheels from a while back. Actually, disc brak…
Rebuilt Nomulabo Wheel No. 5 and No. 2
Another day, another wheel (and so on...). I received the rear wheel of a Nomulabo Wheel No. 5 from a customer. The rim was a warranty issue, so it needed to be…
Built a rear wheel with Prime's 60mm high tubeless rim for disc brake
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the rear wheel to match yesterday's front wheel. Novatec D092 Center Lock hub, 24H Semi-comp 4-cross JIS lacing. I'll tens…
Aeolos Pro 51 TLR
I received Aeolos 51mm high rim tubeless ready wheels from a customer. First, the front wheel. Before that though. This is a trivial observation, but the text a…
Built a front wheel with Prime's 60mm tubeless rim for disc brakes
Back to wheels today (and so on). Built a front wheel with Prime's Black Edition 60mm tubeless rim. The rim isn't a takeoff from a complete wheelset—it's a bran…
Built a rear wheel with Passenti Brevet rim and Filwood single-threaded fixed gear hub
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built a rear wheel using a Passenti Brevet rim and a Filwood single-threaded fixed gear hub. 32H, all-competition lacing,…
Built a front wheel with Pasenti Brevé rim and Filwood hub
Another wheel day (long story...). A customer brought in a wheel we'd built for them previously. The rim is a Pasenti Brevé, and the hub is a Chris King R45 32H…
Built a rear wheel with AL31W rim
Another wheel build today (and so on). Built a rear wheel using Tni's AL31W rim. I'm building it with the offset rim but that's what the customer wanted. FH-790…
Shamal Ultra DB
A customer brought in a Shamal Ultra rear wheel for disc brakes. They bought it at auction but are suspicious about its condition, so they want a full inspectio…
Replaced the bearings in the freebody of Nomu Lab Wheel No. 7 and No. 5
A customer brought in the rear wheel of a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 7 (custom wheel brand) for service. The hub is a leaf hub, but there's play in the freebody and it …
Rebuilt the RRC525R Rear Wheel with a Proton Hub
Another wheel day (and so on). But first. There was once a handlebar manufacturer in Italy called ITM. Unlike Deda, which moved production to Taiwan to offer pr…
I converted the Reynolds KOM rear wheel to 11-speed
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer left me with the rear wheel from a Reynolds Siello SV KOM. This KOM (King of Mountain) is a lightweight compl…
Built a Disc Brake Rear Wheel with Tni's ROAD 35TL Rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a rear wheel with Tni's 35mm deep tubeless rim. The rim is marked as Equinox WH260, but this is actually the Tni ROAD 35TL …
I re-riveted the bottle cage bosses on an aluminum Emonda
The drill whines! ↑A photo so I don't forget what frame this was A customer brought in a Trek aluminum Emonda for repair. This wasn't the main issue they brough…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another day working on wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Campagnolo or SRAM XDR freebody equipped Evolite hub (this time Campagn…
My Computer Suddenly Died
The Gateway computer we had in the shop suddenly died. The screen froze suddenly and the cursor wouldn't move anymore. The Enter key and Windows key stopped res…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Silver rim version. 660 hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Replaced the rear wheel rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Another day working on wheels (and so on). A customer brought in the rear wheel from Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1 for repairs. The rim had a crack near the spoke hole, …
I Completely Replaced All the Non-Freewheel Side Nipples on Nomu Lab Wheel #1's Rear Wheel
The rear wheel of Nomu Lab Wheel #1, which I'd just built the other day, experienced not only initial loosening of the non-freewheel side nipples, but also a ca…
Built a front wheel with a Helium rear rim
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). Built a front wheel using a rim from Mavic's Helium—basically the ancestor of what we know as fully assembled whee…
Built a wheel with ETRTO 406mm and 50mm high rim (rear wheel edition—the sequel)
Wheel building again today (and so on). Built the rear wheel to match the front wheel from the other day. On the front wheel, there was something that didn't si…
Inspected the rear wheel of the CLX32 and then trued the spokes
The rear wheel of the CLX32 that I recently rebuilt from a black Aero Light to a black CX Sprint —the partner's rear wheel also needed rebuilding. I was plannin…
Built a front wheel with ETRTO 406mm 50mm high rim (front wheel, so part 1)
Wheels again today (and so on). I built a front wheel with an ETRTO 406mm, 20-inch HE diameter, 50mm high carbon rim. The hub is a disassembled front wheel from…
There's No IKEA in Hiroshima
Another day, wheels and all that (etc.). There is no IKEA in Hiroshima. They announced plans to open a store and even secured the land, but it all fell through …
I went out for a night ride (morning ride) knowing it would rain
Starting around before sunrise today I rode out to Okumizuma knowing it would rain— actually it was already raining when I left. I often take photos at the loca…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Customer-supplied Evo hub (free body upgraded from 10-speed to 11-speed) 28H Black…
Built a Keirin Front Wheel with HB-7710 Hub
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a Keirin front wheel with an HB-7710 hub. With just that information, the specs are basically locked in. The HB-7710 has a …
Built the rear wheel of the Nomu Lab Wheel #1 using the WH-RS300 hub
Wheels again today (and so on). I received a Shimano WH-RS300 rear wheel from a customer. Straight gauge spoke hub, 20H It has same-diameter aero spokes on both…
Bora WTO45
A customer brought in the rear wheel of a Bora WTO45 (Campagnolo high-end wheelset) for service. It's for rim brakes with a 2WAY-FIT rim. After pinching a tube …
Shamal Carbon DB
A customer brought in a Shamal Carbon DB... Well, that's not exactly how it happened.\br/> This rear wheel was attached to a bike that came in for a shift cable…
Zonda C15
A customer dropped off a Zonda rear wheel with me. One spoke is broken. This is a Zonda from the C15 rim era, built with G3 lacing but with the spoke tension we…
Rebuilt the front wheel for the CLX32
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer left me with front and rear wheels for a CLX32 rim brake setup. They're from a customer I'd previously rebuil…
I Rebuilt the Tni Dragon 50 Tubular Wheel (Part 2: Rear Wheel)
Another wheel day (and so on...). Continuing from yesterday's front wheel. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel on the Tni Dragon 50. Dragon Wheel Original Straight sp…
Mavic Speedcity CL
I received the front and rear wheels of a Mavic Speedcity CL from a customer. CL refers to the centerlock rotor mount specification. Both the hub and rim have g…
I Rebuilt the Tni Dragon 50 Tubular Wheels (Front Wheel, So Part 1)
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer dropped off a Tni Dragon 50 complete wheelset with us. The request was pretty vague—just "make it roll better"— but s…
Built a front wheel with Crest MK4 rim (650B)
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built a 27.5-inch MTB front wheel using a Crest MK4 rim. Although yesterday's post menti…
Ksyrium and Racing Zero and the WH-9000
A customer dropped off a Ksyrium (Mavic wheel) and Racing Zero (Shimano wheel) with me. The Racing Zero was pretty much fine. I was about to tell the customer t…
Built a rear wheel with Stan's Crest MK4 rim (650B)
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built a rear wheel using Stan's Crest MK4 in 650B rim size. The hub is a Boost spec model called P3 from ZTTO, a Ch…
Hologram 35 Carbon Wheels
A customer brought in the front and rear wheels from a Cannondale Hologram 35 Carbon wheelset for service. The front wheel bearings were rough and needed replac…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8. Revo disc hub, 24H, black half CX sprint 64 spoke reverse Italian lacing. I'll do t…
Fulcrum Speed 25 Had Arrived in Stock
Fulcrum's Speed 25 arrived in stock back in September last year! I'd set them aside for a sale (I was thinking maybe I'd put them out after the price increase),…
Speed 40 DB
Pre-sale preview part 2. Anyway. A customer brought in a Fulcrum Speed 40 DB for me to work on. It's brand new, never used, and they want an inspection. They sa…
HUNT Wheels
Pre-sale preview part 1. Anyway... A customer brought in the front and rear wheels from HUNT wheels. The image above is from after the work was done— you can se…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
Back to wheels again (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8. Revo Disc hub, 24H, black semi-comp 4/6 lacing with red aluminum nipples. I'll do …
Built a front wheel with Colima's 32 rim and Racing Light hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on). But first— Colima has a 20H rear wheel with asymmetrical spoke count on left and right, which in proportion is a 3:2 …
Sapim CX Sprint out-of-stock specification has arrived!
Sapim CX Sprint spokes have been restocked! The CX Sprint comes in two colors: silver and black · two lengths: 310mm and 270mm · two types of spoke head: bent a…
Shamal Ultra 2 WAY-FIT Rear Wheel
A customer dropped off a Shamal Ultra rear wheel with us. A spoke was broken. What the— There was some serious impact force wrapped around it. This is the first…
I replaced the rear wheel rim on the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day working on wheels (and so on). I received the rear wheel of a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 from a customer. One spoke is broken. What looks like rust in the…
Built a rear wheel with a 45mm high carbon tubular rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Forgot to take a close-up shot, but this unnamed rim with a cosmetic carbon finish appears to be from the same manufacturer as Fa…
First Generation Shamal Ultra
I took in the front and rear wheels of a first generation Shamal Ultra from a customer. What you'd call a gold Shamal Ultra. Based on the brake zone and the spl…
Air Shipped From Belgium
The wholesaler finally got stock in of a certain length of silver CX-RAY spokes that had been out of stock for a long time. I'd like to say our shop has plenty …
Bora Ultra 50
A customer dropped off the front and rear wheels of a Bora Ultra 50 (Campagnolo high-performance wheel) with me. According to the customer's assessment, 6 spoke…
I rebuilt the front wheel of an Alpinist CLX
Another wheel day (etc.). A customer left me both wheels of a Roval Alpinist CLX. Today I'm rebuilding just the front wheel, but the feedback was: "Even though …
Neutron Ultra
A customer brought in a pair of front and rear wheels for a Campagnolo Neutron Ultra for me to work on. This is the WO rim version. The customer wanted an inspe…
Built rear wheel with tubeless rim without valve holes
Another day with wheels (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. Built the rear wheel with a tubeless rim without valve holes. Revo disc hub, 24H, semi-comp 46 J…
Built a front wheel with a hole-free tubeless rim
Another wheel build today (and so on). I built a front wheel from a customer's unnamed rim of unknown brand with a carbon rim that has no holes on the outer edg…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Revo II hub, 20H, 4-cross Italian lacing with blue aluminum nipples only on eithe…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day with wheels (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Wing hub 20H that a customer left with me CX-RAY (Sapim CX-RAY spokes) w…
♪（Divine Intro）→Bang Bang Bang Bang！→Young life burning bright red～～
I swapped out the hub and rebuilt the wheel on a ZIPP 303 Firecrest a while back（→ here ）（→ here ）, and there was some mysterious sealant inside that had comple…
I Removed IRC's Last Tire
The other day, I noticed a crack near the center tread of my rear tubeless tire. I discovered it at the shop, but after making one more round trip from shop→hom…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 24 spokes, black semi-comp, 4-cross lacing with silver aluminum nip…
Bora Ultra 35
I received the rear wheel of a Bora Ultra 35 from a customer. One spoke was bent from a crash. ↑If it were just this, it would be a simple fix, but there was an…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Back to wheels today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
I Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
Another day, another wheel (you know how it goes). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8 using an XT hub. It's the pair to yesterday's rear wheel, but o…
Built a rear wheel with AL22W rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built a rear wheel with AL22W rim. FH-M8000 32H black Champion / Comp 46 JIS laced Blue aluminum nipples without cross-laci…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on the Princeton
Another wheel day (etc.). Continuing from yesterday. I'm replacing the hub on the rear wheel of the Princeton Wake 6560. The original hub was a Chune hub like t…
WH-R9270-C50-TL Inspection
A customer brought in a current-generation Dura-Ace 50mm high tubeless wheel for inspection. It's under 2000 km of riding and they want a full inspection. ↑Fron…
Racing 700
A customer brought in the front and rear wheels from a Fulcrum Racing 700. This is a model that's distributed as part of complete bikes—not normally sold throug…
I rebuilt Princeton's front wheel
Today, another wheel (and so on)... but before that. A customer left with me an IKEA storage bag with handles containing two wheel bags. It's a clear material, …
Replaced the front rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day, another wheel (et cetera). A customer brought in the front wheel of Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 for repairs. Apparently it got hit from the side by a mope…
Built a front wheel with a hookless tubeless rim
Another day working on wheels (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built a front wheel with a hookless tubeless rim. With blue aluminum nipples Revo disc h…
Bora WTO45 & 60
I received a pair of Bora WTO rim brake front and rear wheels from a customer. A pair consisting of the WTO45 front wheel and WTO60 rear wheel. Like Fulcrum's S…
Built a rear wheel with a hole-free tubeless rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the rear wheel with a carbon rim that a customer left with me. It's a tubeless rim with no holes on the outer edge except …
Built a rear wheel with XR361 rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built a rear wheel with an XR361 rim. White Industries CLD 135mm quick-release hub 32 hole, black s…
WH-7900-C35-TU Customer Wheel
A customer brought in the rear wheel from a WH-7900 with a full carbon tubular rim for service. I wrote "full" carbon because the WO rim version of this uses a …
Bora Ultra Two
A customer brought in the front wheel of a Bora Ultra Two for me to work on. One spoke was broken. These days I often don't bother taking photos for an article …
Built a front wheel with XR361 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a front wheel with a DT XR361 rim. The rim diameter is 29 inch, or 700C to be precise. White Industries CLD quick-release h…
About Campagnolo and DT Ratchet Rings
I was writing about the ratchet ring teeth on the rear wheel of the Racing Zero in my previous article, but it got quite long, so I made it a separate post. The…
I rebuilt the rear wheel of a first-generation Racing 1 with a first-generation Racing Zero rim
Another wheel day today (and so on). A customer dropped off a first-generation Racing 1 rear wheel with me. They wanted the rim replaced. The first-generation R…
Rebuilt the front wheel of the WH-R8170-C36-TL with a DT rear hub
Another day of wheel building (abbreviated from here on). A customer brought in a front wheel from a WH-R8170-C36-TL. Apparently this was one they managed to sn…
Installing a Rivet Nut Mounting Base for a Derailleur Hanger on a MOST Integrated Stem Handlebar
The drill whines! A customer brought in a carbon integrated stem handlebar from MOST (モスト), the parts brand owned by Pinarello. A Lezyne cycle computer mounting…
Summary of Ŕovål Rims!
When I say "summary" here, I mean in the general sense No "self-criticism" needed! Writing stuff like this makes me feel like I'm getting closer to the source m…
I Replaced the Hub on a 303 Firecrést (Part 2: Rear Wheel Edition)
Another day, another wheel (you know the drill). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel on the ZIPP 303 Firecrést. The hub freebody was SRAM X…
Replaced the hub on a 303 Firecrest (front wheel, so part one)
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer entrusted me with the front and rear wheels of a ZIPP 303 Firecrest. Today I'm working on the front wheel, but f…
Built a fixed gear front wheel with RC540 rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for a fixed gear using an Araya RC-540 WO rim. It's the matching wheel for the rear wheel I built a…
I replaced the rear rim on the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheel work (and so on). I received the rear wheel of a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 (custom bike wheel) from a customer. Black half-competition rim with …
Rebuilt the Rear Wheel on the CL50
Another wheel day (and so on). Continuing from the other day. Rebuilt the rear wheel for the CL50 rim brake bike. Before Both sides black Competizione Race spok…
Mr. Bora
I received a set of front and rear wheels from a customer — a Bora. The original Bora used Colima (コリマ製) carbon rims, and aside from spoke count ordering and co…
Rebuilt the Front Wheel on a CL50
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in the front wheel from a CL50. They wanted it rebuilt. Rebuilt it. Before (black Competizione lace) …
Rebuilt the rear wheel on the CLX50
Another day working on wheels (and so on). I rebuilt the rear wheel for rim brakes on the Rovalé (Rovalé is a Japanese bicycle brand) CLX50 from scratch. Before…
Rebuilt the CLX50 Front Wheel
Another wheel day (and so on). Yesterday, in the other Continental wheel bag there was a CL50 for rim brakes, but this is a different case altogether— not a CL …
Rebuilt the rear wheel of the Alpinist CLX
Another day of wheel work (and so on)... but first. ↑This is the front wheel of the Alpinist CLX that I rebuilt yesterday. A customer called the other day askin…
Rebuilt the front wheel of the Arpinist CLX
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I received a Roval Arpinist CLX from a customer. Today I'm only working on the front wheel, but they want both wheels rebui…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on the CL50
Back to wheels today (and so on). Continuing from the front wheel work the other day. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel on the CL50. ↑All-black Campagnolo Competizi…
Rebuilt the Front Wheel on a CL50
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in the front wheel from a Roval CL50 for rebuilding. They wanted it rebuilt from scratch. Since it's a CL and …
Replaced spokes on Nomu Lab Wheel #5
A customer brought in the rear wheel of Nomu Lab Wheel #5. There was a spoke that got bent when the rear derailleur was pulled into the wheel, and the customer …
Rebuilt the WH-R8170-C36-TL front wheel as a rear wheel
Another day with wheels (and so on). I received a front wheel WH-R8170-C36-TL from a customer. Just to note, it's not something we sourced from our shop. They w…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Revo II hub, 24H, half-comp 46-spoke lacing pattern. Will do the spoke threa…
Built a rear wheel with ONYX hub and WH-R8170 front rim
Another day, another wheel build (et cetera). I disassembled the front wheel from the WH-R8170-C36-TL and rebuilt it as a rear wheel using an ONYX Racing hub. T…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another wheel build today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial laced.
If You're Going to Talk About SDGs...
↑These are the boxes for Shimano's sprockets, the CS-R7000 and CS-R9200. The Dura-Ace version doesn't have any sense of luxury— they've unified the design with …
Built a rear wheel for rim brakes using a hole-less rim
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for my partner using the same hole-less rim from the other day. FH-RS400 28H black half CX Sprint 46…
Eighty C
A customer brought in a Black Ink Eighty C rear wheel for service. The numbers in the model name indicate rim height, and C stands for clincher rim. There used …
Built a front wheel with disc brakes using a hole-free rim
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). I built a front wheel for disc brakes using a carbon tubeless rim that a customer left with me. HB-RS470 28H black…
Rebuilt the front wheel of the WH-R8170-C36-TL as a rear wheel (Got all 4 spokes built)
Wheels again today (and so on). The 4th rim came in at 392g. Got it built. I'll do the final truing later. Retail price for the pair is ¥139,000 (tax included).…
Rebuilt the WH-R8170-C36-TL front wheel as a rear wheel (3 / up to 4 spokes)
Another day with wheels (and so on). That's the 3rd spoke. I was thinking I'd lace the last couple of spokes all at once, but in the end I only managed to lace …
Rebuilt the WH-R8170-C36-TL front wheel to rear wheel (up to the 2nd/4th spoke)
Another wheel day (and so on). I was thinking I'd get all the remaining rear wheel spokes built today, but I was too busy and couldn't manage it. Got the 2nd sp…
Rebuilt the WH-R8170-C36-TL front wheels into rear wheels (1/4 wheels done)
It's wheels again today (and so on). I've stocked 8 Altegra tubeless rim front wheels. I completed the purchase last year. That's because this wheel underwent a…
Bora Ultra 35 Tubular
A customer dropped off the front and rear wheels of a Bora Ultra 35 with me. As you can see, they're brand new. The customer requested an inspection. Non-WTO Bo…
Continuation of the Previous Article (About USE Lights)
This is a continuation of my previous post. First, let me add some supplementary information. This is the power cord that came with the Campagnolo EPS charger, …
I Bought a Front Light from Exposure
There is a British parts manufacturer called USE that makes handlebar components, seatposts, and so on. ↑These characters The image on the left is a seatpost ca…
About the Front Wheel of WH-R8170-C50-TL
A while back, I re-laced the front wheel with a 50mm-high rim of the current Ultegra tubeless wheel to the rear position（→ here ）. As I've written in the linked…
About the Grand Prix 5000 Brown/Tan Sidewall Specification
Today I went out for sushi with someone from a certain bike parts distributor. In the image above, from left: green onion, bird clam, and yellowtail. Below that…
Year-End and New Year Business Hours
This is a sudden announcement, but we're closing up shop for the year today. We'll be taking a break from December 28th (Wednesday) through January 5th (Thursda…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 24H, black semi-competition laced in a 4-cross pattern with purple …
Rapide CLX40
A customer brought in the rear wheel from a Rovaal Rapide CLX40 for repair. It's a rim brake wheel. It's from the era of internal nipple design, and the spoke n…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on the CLX50
Another day with wheels (and so on). Continuing from yesterday's front wheel. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel on the CLX50. This wheel was brought in by a custome…
Rebuilt the front wheel on a CLX50
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in the front and rear wheels from a Roval CLX50 for rebuilding. They wanted them rebuilt, and today I'm workin…
Built a rear wheel with Tni's ROAD38 rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I built a rear wheel with Tni's ROAD38 rim. Though that's what the title says, the rim is actually the same one as Nomla…
Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing Purple aluminum nipples.
The CLX32
A customer brought in a Roval CLX32 rim brake wheelset for service. We determined that hub bearing replacement was necessary, and the customer also requested re…
Assembled the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I assembled the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolight hub, 24-hole, semi-comp four-cross lacing. I'll do the …
Rebuilt the WH-R8170-C50-TL front wheel as a rear wheel
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a front wheel—a current-generation Ultegra 50mm high disc brake tubeless rim wheel. Along with this, the cu…
Replaced the rear rim on my original Racing Zero
Another day with wheels (and so on). This is the rear wheel that pairs with yesterday's front wheel. I'm replacing the rim on this one too. I won the dust cap c…
I replaced the front wheel rim on the original Racing Zero
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left me the front wheel of an original Racing Zero. The truly original Racing Zero has rim/spoke/hub in red/red/red, b…
About the Model Change of Silca's Titanium Bottle Cage
Silca's titanium bottle cage, SICURO (Sicuro), now has V2 (Version Two) added to the end of the model name with changed specifications. The packaging changed fr…
Bora WTO33 Sunny Sunny Sunny
I received a Bora WTO33 rim brake wheel from a customer. They want an inspection and tubeless tire installation. For the front wheel, they asked me to take step…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8 (Probably)
Another day with wheels (and so on). Can't write more yet since I can't spoil details. I'll write about it once I'm able to. Update: On Sunday, December 18th, I…
Rebuilt the F4R Rear Wheel
Another wheel day (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. Rebuilding the rear wheel on the late-model F4R from FF Yamaguchi. Looking at the rim's brake zone and…
Rebuilt the F4R Front Wheel
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer brought in an F4R from FF Yamaguchi. A friend of theirs bought it but then decided to sell it right away, so they got…
I Replaced the Non-Freewheel Side Spokes on Nomu Lab Wheel #1's Rear Wheel
I received Nomu Lab Wheel #1's rear wheel from a customer. It's a rear wheel built in the Molanbon lacing pattern. Originally it was built in a standard way, bu…
Racing Speed 35
A customer left me with the front and rear wheels of a Racing Speed 35 tubular. It's a narrow rim model with a 20mm rim width. Bora and Racing Speed initially c…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another day of wheel building (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. 660 hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lace.
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. This is the hub that was set aside per the customer's request when they or…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on the CL50
Another day of wheel work (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel on the CL50. Rovar 16+8H hub, all-black competition lacing equiv…
Aiolos XXX4
A customer dropped off the front and rear wheels of an Aiolos XXX4 for service. They wanted the front and rear wheels checked for trueness. The front wheel had …
Alpinist CLX
A customer dropped off the front wheel of an Alpinist CLX with me. They were stopped at a red light at night with their front light on, when a bicycle with no l…
Rebuilt the Front Wheel on a CL50
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer dropped off the front wheel from a Rovel CL50. All-black Competence Race straight spokes, 2:1 lacing pattern,…
Replaced My Tubeless Tires
I only use tubeless-ready tires on the rear wheel of my personal bike, and about three weeks ago I noticed there was a hole where sealant was seeping out. Even …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 with a 7400 hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 using a 7400 rear hub. Since it's not a freewheel hub, it's not an FH m…
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, December 8th (Thursday), I have some unavoidable business to attend to, so I'll be taking the day off. I apologize for any inconvenience, and thank yo…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Though this time it's as a wheel for disc road bikes. Revo disc hub, 24H,…
Built a front wheel with AL22W rim and 7400 hub
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built a front wheel with an AL22W rim. If this were a disc brake rim, I'd be calling it Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8, but since i…
Built a rear wheel with DT240 hub and 650B hookless rim
Another wheel build today (and so on). Continuing from last time. The front wheel used a left-hand drive hub, but the rear wheel is a standard 142mm through-axl…
Recovered the fixing bolt from a Hollowtech II left crank
The drill is screaming! A customer brought in their bike because the hex socket on the fixing bolt of the FC-9100 left crank got stripped. They said it's okay t…
Built a front wheel with DT240 hub and 650B hookless rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a front wheel with a DT240 hub and a 650B size carbon rim. There's a warning sticker at the valve hole position that I of…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheel work (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. I haven't peeled off the rim sticker yet—just didn't get around to it. I…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. To make it easy to tell apart from the ghost wheel I built yesterday, I delibe…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 24H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with black aluminum nipples. So I b…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another day with wheels (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with red aluminum nipple…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1 with a PowerTap hub
Back to wheel building today (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1 with a PowerTap hub. G3 hub, 20H, black half-Campagnolo pattern lacing with…
SES 4.5 NEW
A customer brought in the rear wheel of a Smart Envision System 4.5 NEW for service. The "NEW" after SES 4.5 is part of the official model name, for what it's w…
Bora Ultra WTO 45
I received the rear wheel of a Bora Ultra WTO 45 from a customer. One spoke is broken, and based on the rotation direction, the next spoke is also deformed, so …
Built a rear wheel with AL22W rim
Another wheel build today (and so on). Built a rear wheel using an AL22W rim (for rim brakes). I define the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8 as specifically the AL22W rim f…
Found a super rare AL22W rim! (Technically classified as a defective product)
Yesterday, when I was building Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8, I discovered a rim with an interesting specification. This is a standard 24H AL22W rim, and on this rim, th…
C38
I received the front wheel from a Roval C38 from a (sort of) customer. One spoke is bent, and they're asking me to replace it. ↑This one In the image, I've reli…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub, 24H, semi-CX sprint 64-spoke reverse Italian lacing patter…
Cosmic Pro Carbon UST
I received a Cosmic Pro Carbon UST (Mavic carbon wheelset with UST tubeless-ready rim) from a customer. He picked it up at an auction, but the condition is terr…
I replaced the rear wheel rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
More wheel work today (you know the drill). A customer left me the rear wheel from a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 (custom Japanese wheelbuilding brand) for service. Evo…
I Built the Rear Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Evo Disc II hub, 24H, black Champion/Competizione rim JIS lacing, no bracing…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8. Evo Disc II hub, 24H, black Campagnolo spokes / Campy nipples 64-spoke re…
I Built the Rear Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheel building (etc.). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. I'd set aside an Evolite hub 24H for this purpose, to use with a Campagno…
Introducing One Crazy Sale!
I stocked up on Pearl Izumi (パールイズミ) cloth masks. The manufacturer ships them in bags with 10 pieces each. Of course, I'll be selling them individually too. Sto…
CRD351SL
A customer brought in a wheel that came with a BMC complete bike. Both front and rear wheels have equal-count tangent spoking on both sides, with the front whee…
Replaced the front rim on Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another day, another wheel (you know the drill). A customer dropped off both wheels from Nomu Lab Wheel #1 for me. The hub is a Blackk Hub (←not a typo). Appare…
Zero Light Wheels
A customer left me with a set of Spinergy Zero Light wheels for service. They have Zyron spokes in a color that looks like Tubolito (polyurethane tube). The fro…
Racing Zero
A customer brought in a Racing Zero rear wheel for service. The front wheel only needed inspection, so I didn't photograph it. They'd picked up both wheels as a…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (et cetera). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with red aluminum nipples.
AL22 Rim Rear Wheel
A customer brought in a rear wheel built with an AL22 rim for repair. It's the same rim and hub as the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5, but it wasn't built by our shop. Th…
Kysirium Pro Exalid SL
A customer dropped off a Kysirium rear wheel with us. A spoke broke during a lap around Lake Biwa — what they call a Biwai-chi ride. Thinking the bike might get…
Assembled the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheels (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 24H, black half-competition 4-cross lacing pattern with red alum…
Built a fixed gear rear wheel with an RC540 rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built a rear wheel with an Araya RC540 WO aluminum rim and a Dura-Ace track hub HB-7600-R. 36H, all Campagnolo 88-spoke …
Rebuilt the ITLAB45 wheel (rear wheel, so part 2)
More wheels today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday's front wheel. Tearing down and rebuilding the ITLAB45 rear wheel. DT180 straight-pull spoke disc hub 2…
I Rebuilt the ITLAB45 Wheel (Front Wheel Edition)
Another day with wheel work (details omitted). A customer brought in an ITLAB45 wheel for work. Today I'm only touching the front wheel though. DT180 straight s…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Chris King R45 hub, 24-hole, semi-comp lacing with 46mm spokes and spoke over…
44 Aerodynamicist Carbon Disc
A customer brought in a wheel from HUNT (ハント) called the 44 Aerodynamicist Carbon Disc for me to work on. It's a complete wheel build with flat-section carbon s…
Built a Cyclocross Rear Wheel with AL31W Rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built a cyclocross rear wheel with a Tni AL31W rim in 135mm quick-release width. Haven't peeled off the sticker yet—just…
Built front and rear cyclocross wheels with CX22 rims
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought me aluminum tubular rims for front and rear wheels. The image is of the rear wheel, but there's a sticker at a…
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, October 27th (Thursday), I have some unavoidable business to attend to, so I'll be taking the day off. I apologize for the inconvenience, and thank yo…
Racing Zero
A customer brought in a Racing Zero rear wheel for me to work on. Though I don't remember it being damaged, the spokes were bent and there was enough runout tha…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Today it's wheels again (and so on). The rims for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8 have been restocked. Not in sufficient quantities, but the wholesaler's inventory is depl…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 24H, black semi-comp, 4-cross pattern Same rainbow spoke arrangem…
Recovered a Broken Bolt from a SRAM Crank
Update: This is an article from October 20th but I've moved it up in the posting order so the customer with this crank can find the article more easily. The dri…
Campagnolo Socks Have Arrived in Stock
You sometimes see the ingredient "Sodium" listed on foreign food packaging, which is actually sodium. While Sodium is English, what first came to Japan was the …
Alpinist CLX Rear Wheel
A customer brought in an Alpinist CLX rear wheel for repair. There was one spot where it was rubbing badly. On the right side (the radial-laced side with fewer …
IT LAB 45 Wheels
I received IT LAB 45 wheels from a customer. I could write my honest opinions about these, but I can see it coming—getting dragged into annoying back-and-forths…
Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day, another wheel (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced with rainbow-sequenced n…
About the Dugast Tubular Tire from the Other Day
About the Dugast cyclocross tubular tire from the other day There was an obviously retrofitted label at the valve area. This "11 STORM (Eleven Storm)" is the cu…
Racing Zero Back Wheel
A customer dropped off a Racing Zero rear wheel for me. The spokes got bent from a crash, and the wheel was out of true. Three spokes are missing because I remo…
Creating an Evolite Hub with Campagnolo-Compatible Free Body
The Tni (Tni) Evolite Hub is already discontinued, but a while back I managed to stock up on—or rather, procure— the final remaining inventory of XDR free body …
Built the front wheel for Nomulab Wheel No. 8
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomulab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub, 24H, black half CX sprint 64 reverse Italian lacing with bl…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (details omitted). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced.
Return It to a Certain Permanently Neutral Country
I recently built up a LOOK 795 BLADE RS. It's a disc brake spec. This one is already finished and delivered to the customer, but this is a photo I took to repor…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on Prime's tubular wheelset
Wheels again today (and so on). Following the front wheel rebuild from the other day, I'm rebuilding the rear wheel too. Just like the front wheel was originall…
Rebuilt the front wheel tubular rim for Prime
Another wheel day today (and so on). I accidentally deleted the before-rebuild photo with a camera operation error, so this time I'm jumping straight to the aft…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
Today, another whee... (long story). But before that. Previously, I was supposed to build the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8 with silver spokes and red nipple…
Replaced the rear wheel rim on Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day working on wheels (and so on). I took in the rear wheel from a customer's Nomu Lab Wheel #5. They said it had some runout, but when I inspected it, …
Built a rear wheel with CX22 rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built a rear wheel with a CX22 rim. Revo disc hub, 24 hole, semi-competition 46-spoke JIS pattern lacing. I'll do the…
Built a front wheel with CX22 rim
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built a front wheel with a CX22 tubular rim. Revo disc hub 24H half CX sprint 64-spoke reverse Italian cross lacing. I'll…
I Rebuilt the Front Wheel of the CLX50 Too
Another day of wheel work (and so on). A customer brought in the rear wheel of a CLX50. It was something we'd previously rebuilt at the shop. They'd had a crash…
I Went to Nabeyatoge Pass in the Rain (Explanation Edition)
This is a continuation of the live commentary from the other day (→ here ). As for why I did such a crazy thing as climbing Nabeyatoge Pass in the middle of a t…
I rebuilt the rear wheel of a 3T with a different rim
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a 3T rear wheel for me to work on. Standard straight-spoke hub, 24 holes. All black CX-RAY straight, force-…
Moving a Campagnolo 10S Chain to a Different Frame
I'm transferring components and need to cut a Campagnolo 10S chain and rejoin it on a different frame, Campagnolo's 10S chain maintains strict standards about t…
Glad I had the Aero Mighty
A customer dropped off a fixed gear bike with me. The fixing bolt washer was left in place, and when I used the cotterless crank puller tool, the thread engagem…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Wheels again today (and so on). Lately, for some reason I've been building Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2 a lot. Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Tni Revo …
The Alphabet Code on Shimano Component Products
This is content I mentioned at the end of yesterday's WH-RX830 rear wheel article, but I've made it a separate post. About the alphabet code on the stickers on …
Built a disc brake front wheel using an SES3.4 rear rim originally designed for rim brakes
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). A customer entrusted me with an SES3.4 rear rim that was originally used to build a rim brake rear wheel. The rim …
It Was Our 10th Anniversary
I wasn't aware of it, but September 27th was exactly nominally and officially 10 years from when our shop opened. So, I've already been doing this for 10 years.…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on a Standup Iron Cross Rim
Another wheel day (etc.). A customer brought in a rear wheel built with a Standup Iron Cross Rim (Standup アイアンクロスリム). This is actually the very rear wheel I've …
The Black Onyx
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built a rear wheel with a WTB carbon rim and Onyx hub. This is for the same customer whose left-side front wheel we…
WH-R9270-C50-TL
I received a complete WH-R9270 50mm high tubeless rim wheel set from a customer for inspection. It's been used a bit, and they wanted an inspection. Both front …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
The Times Have Changed
↑This is an 11-34T sprocket. These days, it's become common enough to be spec'd onto production bikes, and road bikes with low gears as big as 34T or ridiculous…
Built the front wheel for the nom Lab Wheel Certified #5
A customer brought in the rear wheel of a nom Lab Wheel Certified #5. The hub is a Novatec 482, the same as the Tni Evo hub or rather, it's the original source.…
CLX50
A customer left me the front wheel of a CLX50 rim brake wheel with me for repair. It seems something got caught during a crash, and several spokes on one side o…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4
Another day of wheel building (you know the drill). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4. DT 350 straight spokes hub, 24H Campagnolo CX Sprint with forc…
SES 6.7 Rear Wheel?
A customer brought in a rear wheel with a Smart Envi System (SES) 6.7 WO rim for us to service. The wheel was making noise, so they took it to a nearby shop fir…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4. DT 350 straight-pull spoke hub, 24H Semi-CX sprint forced left-right 2-cross l…
Climbing Nabeyatoge Pass in the Rain (Live Coverage)
Early morning on September 20th, I climbed Nabeyatoge Pass in typhoon rain, not a direct hit but still considerable. There's a reason I did something this reckl…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. 660 hub, 24H, black semi-comp, 4-cross lacing pattern. I'll do the spoke tie-in…
More and More: The Instant Fall Road Bike Guy
Gravel bikes... when you think about it rationally there's no way they'd catch on in Japan lol somebody help me stop copying other people's posts (→ here ) (→ h…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Another day with wheels (details omitted). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. 660 hub, 24 spokes, black semi-comp 4-cross lacing with silver alumi…
Bora Ultra WTO 45
I inspected a Bora Ultra WTO 45. This is one we sold at the shop. The image above is after the work. I often align the center of the tire label with the valve h…
Rebuilt the Arch Rim Rear Wheel
Another wheel day (etc.). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel on this Stans arch rim with a BOOST hub. The original setup was FH-M8010 32H …
I hate these half-baked component specs on complete bikes
A customer brought in the front wheel from a Scott complete bike. It's a wheel with an ALEXRIMS rim labeled Syncros— a parts brand that once was a premium brand…
Rebuilt the front wheel with an arch rim
Another day of wheel building (abbreviation follows). But before that. A customer brought in a super-lightweight carbon rigid MTB frame from a certain brand (we…
Cosmic Pro Carbon SL UST
I received a front wheel from a Cosmic Pro Carbon (Fulcrum wheel) from a customer. The image above is after the work. I'll explain the meaning of the marking ta…
Rebuilt the rear wheel using Tune's in-house wheel set
More wheels today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the Tune in-house rear wheel. Like the front wheel, it uses a 28H BOOST-standard hub wi…
Rebuilt the front wheel for a Tune manufacturer in-house wheel
Another wheel day (details omitted). A customer dropped off a set of wheels from Tune, a German lightweight parts manufacturer. I have both front and rear wheel…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Back to wheels today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. A now-rare Evolite hub, 28H Built in semi-comp four-cross pattern. I'll do th…
Reply to Comments (About Anodizing on Rims Being Stripped)
This is a continuation of my previous post. At the time I'm writing this article there are 2 comments showing publicly, but including private comments there are…
I Replaced the Rear Rim on Nomu Lab Wheel #8 (The Behind-the-Scenes Story)
This is a companion article to the rim replacement work I did on the Nomu Lab Wheel #8 on August 11th (→ here ). I'm writing about things I couldn't mention at …
Built rear wheel with 30mm high carbon WO rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. Built the rear wheel with a mystery brand (playing dumb) 30mm high WO rim. White Industries T11 …
Just Say It Straight: "We Can't Do It"
A customer brought me a rear wheel built with an ENVE 25 rim. Evolight hub, 24H, black, half-comp, 46-spoke lacing with spoke nipple tension connections. I buil…
Not Shamal Ultra...It was Racing Zero!
I received front and rear wheels from a customer that were Shamal Ultra. But actually they were Racing Zero! My apologies! Thank you for pointing that out in th…
Built a front wheel with 24mm-high carbon WO rim
Another wheel day (and so on). This is the rim for the second Nomu Lab wheel, It's an Equinox WH199 model branded with Tni stickers. I'm not sure whether the WH…
I Built a Gundam Plastic Model That Came as a Magazine Bonus
I found a magazine with a Gundam plastic model as a bonus, so I picked it up. This is the first-ever kit of "Gundam-kun," the promotional and educational mascot…
I Replaced My Tubeless Tire
This morning, I went out riding around Mizuma (水間) knowing it would rain, but before that. The IRC tubeless tire I'd mounted on the wheel got a flat on the thir…
Built a front wheel with Tni's 35mm high carbon tubeless rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a front wheel with a Tni 35mm high carbon tubeless ready rim. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Rebuilt the Pashente Brevé Rim rear wheel as a front wheel
Another wheel day (and so on). The other day, when building front and rear wheels for the HED Belgium, 16 spokes were removed from the 20H front wheel and 12 fr…
Checking the Specific Gravity of DT's Star Ratchet Grease and Various Sealants
Previously I wrote about how DT's Star Ratchet grease switched from a cylindrical plastic container (25ml) to a tube container (20g), and since the units were d…
I rebuilt the rear wheel on the Assault
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I took in a Reynolds Assault rear wheel from a customer. The rim is tubeless ready. I got too close and ended up photogr…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub, 24H, semi-comp 46 JIS lacing with red aluminum nipples. I'l…
Rebuilt the CLX50 Rear Wheel
Another day with wheels (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel on the CLX50. All-black aero light straight spokes, 21H, 2:1 cross…
Rebuilt the Front Wheel on a CLX50
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in a Ровал CLX50 rim brake wheelset for me to work on. The rear wheel is the one that's so bad it abs…
Built the front wheel for Nomulabo Wheel No. 8
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomulabo Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub, 24H, semi-CX sprint 46-spoke reverse Italian lacing. I…
Rebuilt the ZIPP 303 rear wheel with a 660 hub
Another day of wheel work (and so on). I received a ZIPP 303 rear wheel from a customer. It's from an era with a silver hub shell where converting to 11-speed v…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
It's wheels again today (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. 660 hub, 24H, semi-comp 46 pattern lacing With red aluminum nipples. I'll do th…
Built a rear wheel with HED Belgium disc rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. Building a disc brake rear wheel with HED Belgium rim. The hub is Paul's single-speed fixed gear rear…
Business Notice (Will delete later... maybe won't)
There were issues like the Hollowtech II crank not passing through smoothly and the crank spindle protrusion being clearly insufficient, so I was worried, but i…
Bora WTO33 San San San
A customer left a Bora WTO33 with me for service. It's a rim brake model with WO rims. Since the Ultra WTO only comes in disc brake spec, if I look back years f…
Building a Front Wheel with HED Beryllium Disc Rim
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a 32H rear wheel built with a Chris King R45 hub that we built here in the shop back in the day. The hub is…
Replaced a carbon rim that cracked from buckling
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left me a rear wheel built with a carbon hookless rim. It's a 700C rim, but with an internal width of 25mm, so it's mo…
Replaced the rear rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day working on wheels (and so on). A customer dropped off the rear wheel from their Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 (custom wheel build). It's built up with a Chri…
I Built a Rear Wheel with Open Pro
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built a rear wheel with Open Pro rim and a 7400 rear hub. FH-7403 32H, fully crossed lacing pattern with bracing, con…
Built a front wheel with Open Pro
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built a front wheel using a Mavic Open Pro rim. HB-7400 32H, fully comp 6-spoke Italian lacing. Really love the labels from…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Another wheel day (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub, 24-hole, half-CX sprint 64-spoke reverse Italian lacing Red alumin…
I Replaced the Rear Wheel Rim on Nomu Lab Wheel #8 (Front)
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I replaced the rear wheel rim on Nomu Lab Wheel #8. I'm moving the rim over to a new wheel. I haven't removed the sticker f…
L05A Finned Disc Brake Pads Have Arrived in Stock
We've received bulk stock of the L05A, the successor model to the L03A finned brake pads (resin) for road components. There are 25 pairs per box. The tax-includ…
For Those Who Got Stuck With a Shimano Paperweight
Among Shimano's 12-speed groupsets, the R9200 and R8100 series, the disc brake levers ST-R9270 and ST-R8170 can be configured in a semi-wireless setup without r…
Recovered the Hollowtech II Left Crank Fixing Bolt
The drill whines! A customer brought in a Shimano Dura-Ace left crank where the hex socket of the fixing bolt had been stripped, and they were completely stumpe…
I Rebuilt the Rear Wheel of the CLX40
Another day of wheels (and so on). Following the front wheel the other day, I also rebuilt the rear wheel of the CLX40. In the image above, one spoke on the fre…
Built a front wheel for Pashenti Forza C 30W rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built the front wheel using a Pashenti Forza C 30W rim. It's been 11 days since I built the rear wheel with a half-Champion hub…
Rebuilt the front wheel of CLX40
Wheels again today (details omitted). A customer brought in the front wheel of a CLX40. They also left the rear wheel, which is actually the main job, but since…
Don't Adjust Your Crown Under the Plum Tree
There's a classical Chinese proverb that goes "Don't adjust your crown under the plum tree." The idea is that if you're standing under a plum tree and reach up …
I rebuilt the rear wheel of the final-generation GP4 with a Campagnolo Sigma Pavé rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I received a rear wheel from a customer that was built with a Mavic GP4 rim. The hub is a PowerTap, one that I had built myself i…
Built a front wheel with SES 3.4 rim and ONYX hub
Wheels again today (you know the drill). Built a front wheel using an SES 3.4 rear rim (with brake zone) and an ONYX Racing Vesper hub. 20H CX-RAY outpoke radia…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. 660 hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with gold aluminum nipples.
Bora Ultra WTO 45
We received the Bora Ultra WTO 45 in stock at our shop. It's a customer's order. In my view, this Bora Ultra WTO represents the optimal solution for current ste…
Built a rear wheel with Pashente Forza C W30 rim
Wheels again today (and so on). I built a rear wheel using the Pashente Forza C W30 rim. Pashente has an aluminum rim with the model name Forza, and the carbon …
Built a front wheel with a 35mm high-carbon WO rim
Wheels again today (you know the drill). Built the front wheel with a 35mm high lightweight WO rim, the same one I used for the rear wheel the other day. 660 hu…
Built the Rear Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Evo Disc Hub II (quick release, 135mm width) 24 holes Half-comp four…
Bora One 50 Dark Label
A customer dropped off a Bora One rear wheel with me. Two spokes are broken. He fell off a three-roller trainer and the wheel caught on something indoors. ↑Thes…
Built a rear wheel with 35mm high-end carbon WO rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I received a 35mm high-end carbon WO rim from a customer. It's quite light for a WO rim with a brake zone, and it doe…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Reif hub, 24H, semi-competition 4-cross spoke pattern With deep blue aluminu…
Built the rear wheel with a 45mm deep tubeless rim with no spoke holes
Today, more wheel building (and so on). Building the rear wheel with a tubeless rim—the kind I built the front wheel with recently—that has no spoke holes (no h…
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, July 22nd (Friday), I have some unavoidable business, so I'll be taking the day off. I apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your understa…
Rebuilt the front wheel of the SLR1
Today it's wheels again (and so on). The front wheel of the GIANT SLR1, but according to the customer it didn't feel crisp enough, so I'm rebuilding it. The spo…
Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT
A customer dropped off a Racing Zero for me to work on. They wanted a full overhaul. Starting with the rear wheel. The hub rotation felt a bit rough, but it was…
The discounted helmet has sold out
The OGK Kabuto discounted helmet that accidentally appeared in the background (playing dumb) of the other day's Maxxis tube arrival announcement has sold out. I…
Built a front wheel with a 45mm tubeless rim without valve holes
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). Built a front wheel with a 45mm deep Chinese carbon rim. Revo disc hub, 24H, half-CX sprint 6/4 reversed Italian l…
Built a rear wheel with a CX22 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a rear wheel with a CX22 rim. Revo disc hub, 24H, semi-competizione, 46-spoke JIS pattern build. I'll do the truing later.
Maxxis Flyweight Tubes (Bag Packaged) Have Arrived in Stock
Maxxis's lightest-weight grade tube, the Flyweight for 700×18～25C (48mm valve length) has been out of stock for a long time with restocking expected mid-August,…
I Rebuilt the Rear Wheel of the SLR1
Wheels again today (and so on). I'm rebuilding the rear wheel of a GIANT SLR1, which also has the spoke DBL (double-butted lacing) I wrote about the other day (…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Another day working on wheels (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. It's an Evolite hub, 24H, with a semi-comp 4-cross lacing pattern…
On Left-Right Reversed Different-Diameter Spoke Builds as a Counter to Asymmetrical Spoke Count Builds
The other day, I inspected a Campagnolo Racing Zero Competizione DB in its Japan-limited color. ↑This little beauty When I checked the rear wheel's temporary ce…
About XR331 Rim Stickers
The other day I finished truing the front and rear wheels on a 27.5-inch XR331 rim. With DT rims, the sticker on one side is positioned in phase with the opposi…
Built a front wheel with CX22 rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Built a front wheel for disc brakes using a CX22 rim. Revo disc hub, 24H, half CX sprint 64 reverse Italian pattern laced with r…
Built a front wheel with XR331 rim
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built a front wheel with an XR331 rim. HB-RS770 28H black half CX sprint 64 reverse Italian lacing. The rim diameter is 27.…
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, July 12th (Tuesday), the entire apartment building that our shop is in will have a water outage for most of the day, so we'll be closed. There are oth…
Dimensions of the 660 Rear Hub
About the rear hub of the 660 (roku-roku-maru) hub, also known as the Six60 (シックスシックスティー) hub. ↑The top image is an Evolite rear hub, the bottom is a 660 rear h…
Built a rear wheel with XR331 rim
Another wheel build today (and so on). Built the front wheel with a DT XR331 rim. HB-RS770 28H black half-CX sprint 46 JIS lacing. I didn't go with full competi…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Today it's wheels again (et cetera). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. 660 hub, 24H, black semi-competition laced in 4-cross pattern. I'll do the…
About DBL
Regarding yesterday's GIANT SLR1 wheel, I wrote that DBL—Dynamic Balanced Racing spec—was "not" present, but there was some error in that statement. ↑This is a …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
More wheel-building today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
About Colima's Piercing Hubs
Today I was talking with a customer on the phone and the conversation turned to Colima hubs. On the wholesaler's website that's the only one handling Colima in …
Racing Zero Carbon-san
A customer brought in a Racing Zero rear wheel for repair. One spoke is broken, but first let me explain the backstory. The spoke got bent from a chain drop, so…
SLR1
I received a GIANT SLR1 complete wheelset from a customer. It's a model that keeps getting minor revisions under the same name, and the rim cosmetics change fre…
Rebuilt the WH-R8170-C36-TL-R
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel with a current-generation Altegra C36 tubeless rim. Just to be clear, the TL-R at the…
I took yesterday off
Yesterday, I had some unavoidable business to attend to, so I took the day off. Though technically, Wednesday is already my regular day off anyway. Usually the …
I Built a Track Cycling Front Wheel
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built a front wheel for track cycling. This is a separate job from the 2 pairs I built a while back. HB-7600-F 36H #15 Ae…
Minimizing Absolute Offset Amount When Using Offset Rims
I'd like to start by discussing the rear wheel of the Cannondale AI that I built the other day, but first. Let me talk about the relationship between how much t…
Rebuilding the Rear Hub on an AL22W Rim
Another day, more wheels (and so on). This is the rear wheel counterpart to yesterday's front wheel, and I'm swapping out the hub for a different one here too. …
Bontrager Aeolus RSL 37
I received the front wheel of a Bontrager Aeolus RSL 37 from a customer. They made contact during the Niseko Classic race and broke some spokes. This is complet…
Bora Ultra 50 Clincher Dark Label
A customer brought in a Bora Ultra wheel for repair. The chain dropped and bent some spokes, causing the wheel to wobble. Since it was a chain drop, naturally w…
Racing Zero Carbon Rear Wheel
A customer brought in the rear wheel from a レーシングゼロカーボン (Racing Zero Carbon) wheel for repairs. There's a broken spoke caused by chain drop, but the spoke fract…
Rebuilt the front wheel hub for AL22W rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer dropped off a front wheel built with AL22W rim. Since it's a disc brake spec rim side, it's technically Nomo …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. I was thinking it might be tim…
Counter-Clockwise Only Tire
A customer dropped off a rear wheel built with the same rim as the F2R from FF Yamaguchi. This is a wheel I built back then. I'm too modest to go around boastin…
I Rebuilt the 303's Rear Wheel
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a ZIPP 303 rear wheel for me to work on. Even though it's small, our shop's name sticker is on it, so…
Tires That Attract Magnets
About those tires that attract magnets I wrote about the other day. Oddly cheap from overseas retailers, oddly delivered in an unfolded state without a box, odd…
Mr. Zonda
A customer brought in the front wheel of a Zonda for us to work on. In the image above, you can see a magnet attached to the spoke at roughly the 12 o'clock pos…
Recovered the broken nipple from a Ksyrium ES
The drill whines! A customer brought in the front wheel from a Ksyrium ES (high-end wheel set by Mavic). The images above are from after the work. I forgot to t…
Built the rear wheel for track cycling (front wheel was part 1, so rear wheel is part 2)
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the rear wheel for track cycling (the one in the foreground of the image). 7600 rear hub, single-sided flange…
Stocked ZIPP SL-70 Ergo Handlebars
For a particular reason, I've stocked some aluminum handlebars from ZIPP (a Japanese handlebar manufacturer). The current model of ZIPP's aluminum handlebar is …
Bora WTO 45 Dark Label
I received an order from a customer and stocked up on Bora WTO 45 wheels for rim brakes. I sell the occasional complete wheelset too. It's not exactly the "thre…
I Built a Keirin Front Wheel (It's the front wheel, but that's not really why—Part 1)
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I built a front wheel for keirin racing. The rim is an Araya 16B Gold, 36H radial lacing per JIS standard— this is a fix…
Cosmic SLR 45
A customer brought in a Mavic (French wheel manufacturer) Cosmic SLR 45 for service. ↑Usually I don't include this in posts— it's just a reference photo of the …
No Time to Let My Guard Down
Oh no! Hey! How many times do I have to tell you not to climb on top of the sale items! When are you finally going to learn, you silly cat!
Changed the Cannondale 650B rear wheel to 700C
Wheels again today (et cetera). Continuing from yesterday, I'm rebuilding the rear wheel. The rim is the same as the front wheel. Hub from the stock wheel: 28H …
Changed the front wheel of a Cannondale 650B to 700C
Today it's wheels again (etc.). I received wheels from a customer that came stock on a Cannondale Topstone gravel bike complete bike. Today I'm just working on …
Tange Hub Return Sale
This is a follow-up to a post I wrote a while back about hubs that absolutely cannot be built into wheels . The day after that article, I got a phone call from …
Built a wheel with AL22W rim and Shimano hub (rear wheel, so this is part 2)
Another day of wheel building (details omitted). Continuing from yesterday. I built the rear wheel using a Shimano RS hub. A customer saw yesterday's post and b…
Eyeglass Stands Included
At companies with nice office buildings you sometimes find eyeglass stands set up next to the bike parking area.
Built a wheel with AL22W rim and Shimano hub (front wheel, so part one)
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel with an AL22W rim and RS400 hub. HB-RS400 28H CX-RAY 66-crossing Italian lacing. The RS400 hub shel…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #7
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #7. Evolite hub, 24H, black half-comp 4-cross lacing. I'll do the spoke tie-ins l…
Mr. Zonda
A customer dropped off a pair of front and rear wheels for Zonda (a wheelset with C15 narrow rims). They wanted the hub and rim label cleaning, and roundness ch…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #7
Another wheel day (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #7. This one, and the rear wheel I'll build later, is genuinely the final pair. Evolit…
Rebuilt the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another day, another wheel (long story). A customer dropped off the front wheel from Nomu Lab Wheel #1. One spoke is broken. I actually just replaced spokes on …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 24-hole, semi-comp 4-cross lacing pattern. I'll do the spoke lac…
Moving the Rim on the Previous Article's Wheel
This is useful, so I'm making a note of it here. This isn't something I usually post here, but having it up makes things convenient for me too. About the wheel …
Rebuilt Nomu Lab Wheel #5's Rim to AL22W (Part 2—Even Though It's the Front Wheel)
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the front wheel of Nomu Lab Wheel #5 with an AL22W rim-brake rim. The fact that I'm ev…
Grateful Words
Inside Tengachaya Station on the Osaka Metro (formerly Osaka City Subway), there's a notice posted with the following text written in English. ↑This is it. Use …
I Visited the New Shimano Bicycle Museum
It was fortunate that yesterday happened to be our regular closing day. I had some business to attend to, so I made the trip to the Shimano Bicycle Museum, whic…
Rebuilt the Nomulabo Wheel No. 5 Rim to AL22W (Rear Wheel, Part 1)
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer left me the rear wheel of Nomulabo Wheel No. 5 for work. It has an Evo Lite hub, 24 holes, half-comp four-cross …
The Rally's Longest Record Falls
Back in the day, Campagnolo had a touring component group model called Rally (RALLY). I don't have the original vertical Rally, so I prepared a Nuovo Record fro…
That's Dark
A customer placed an order, so I ordered in a Park Tool spoke length gauge. ↑This one It's so dark! Is a brand new one really this dark in color?! By the way, t…
I Built a Rear Wheel with an Ultra-Lightweight Rim and Carbon Spokes
It's wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built a rear wheel with an ultra-lightweight rim and carbon spokes. Extra Light Cyber Rear SP …
Built a front wheel with ultra-lightweight rim and carbon spokes
Another day with wheels (and so on). The "ultra-lightweight" in the title applies not just to the rim but also to the carbon spokes. As for the rim, I checked t…
Rebuilt the Front Wheel on a CL50
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a front wheel from a Roval CL50. Besides the CL50, the customer also owns front and rear wheels for a Rapid…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
You Can Say My Name Freely
A customer left a Racing Zero (Fulcrum Racing Zero wheel) front wheel with us. Yesterday they called and asked, "It looks like about three spokes are bent — can…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 24-hole, semi-comp four-cross lacing pattern. I'll do the spoke tens…
I Rebuilt the Rear Wheel on the CLX50
Today's wheel work too (and so on). I rebuilt the rear wheel on the CLX50. It's the pair to yesterday's front wheel. Like the front wheel, all the spokes are Ae…
Do Not Speak My Name in Vain
A customer brought in the rear wheel from a WH-7900 for repair. The photos above are already after the initial repair, but a kickstand with hooks that catch on …
Rebuilt the front wheel on the CLX50
Another wheel day today (and so on...). A customer brought me the front wheel from a CLX50. According to the customer, with their GIANT TCR (rim brake model) eq…
Hyperion One
A customer entrusted me with the front and rear wheels of a Hyperion One (Campagnolo high-performance wheelset). They requested an inspection. This is a budget …
Replaced the rear rim on Nomulab Wheel No. 5
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer dropped off the rear wheel of Nomulab Wheel No. 5. There were reflective tape strips in 4 places on the rim, …
Rebuilt the Rear Wheel of the CL50
Today, it's wheel-building again (and so on)... but before that. Yesterday I rebuilt the front wheel of the CL50, and I wrote: "I don't think it's worth changin…
Rebuilt the Front Wheel on a CL50
Another day of wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a Roval CL50 for me to look at. It doesn't ride well enough to just "make do if possible"— they want it…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheels (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Mystery red hub, 24H black half-comp 46-spoke lacing with nipple wrench r…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5 with a Gokiso hub
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5 using a Gokiso hub. Gokiso hub, 32H, CX-RAY four-cross Italian lacing pattern. …
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, May 13th (Friday), I have some urgent business to attend to, so I'll be taking the day off. I apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you for your …
Built the rear wheel for Nomulab Wheel No. 5 with a Gokiso hub
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built Nomulab Wheel No. 5 with a Gokiso hub. I've had the hub for quite a while now, but the 32H rim took a long time to …
Repaired the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 Rear Wheel Under an Undocumented Warranty
Another day with wheels (abbreviation omitted hereon). A customer brought in the rear wheel of a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 for me to work on. I won't go into the det…
Built a rear wheel with Prime's 60mm deep carbon WO rim
Another wheel build today (and so on). Built a rear wheel with Prime's 60mm deep carbon rim. Customer-supplied Evolight hub, 24-spoke Black half-comp 4-cross la…
Built a front wheel with a 20mm high carbon tubular rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). A customer handed me a 20mm high so-called Chinese carbon rim, so I built the front wheel. The hub is a Novatec AS511…
Shamal Ultra 2WAY-FIT
I received a Shamal Ultra 2WAY-FIT from a customer. They requested an inspection and spoke cosmetic work. Starting with the rear wheel. The centering was spot o…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 28H, black semi-comp, 4-cross lacing pattern with spoke tensi…
Recovered the Broken Bolt from a FORCE Crank
The drill whines to life! A customer brought in a right crank from a SRAM Force crankset with a power meter attached. They mentioned that they'd broken one of t…
Rebuilt Ultra-Lightweight Chinese Carbon Hookless Tubeless Rim Wheel
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel with a rim in the 270g range that we built about half a year ago (→ here ). They had a f…
I Rebuilt the Rear Wheel on a VENN
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel from a brand called VENN called the 507TCC—a 50mm deep rim. This is a rim brake model, but the…
Work (Unrelated) News Continued
In my recent article about Luc Leblanc, I got some feedback from someone at a certain distributor, so I'm making a correction here. Laurent Jalabert did not com…
Rebuilt the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
It's wheels again today (and so on). Oops—forgot to shoot a photo before the rebuild. But you can see from the brake zone on the rim that it's clearly not new, …
Moving Forward with the 660
I've been using Tni's Evo Lite Hub (Evolution Lite Hub) for years in our Nomulab wheels, and while the 20H rear hub has been officially announced as discontinue…
Eight Eight
The title is just what happens with an 88mm rim height. This is the fourth instance in this article, but there's no deeper meaning to it. Now then, about wheel …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Another day working on wheels (and so on). The Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8 I built the other day— the customer is coming to pick it up today, so I did the spoke twist …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Back to wheel building today (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 28H, black semi-comp 4-cross lacing pattern with black alumin…
Ksilium Carbon SL Autoroute — Re-changed Spokes and Laced the Final Crossover
Another day of wheel work (hereinafter abbreviated). A customer brought in a rear wheel that was a Ksilium Carbon SL Autoroute. Huh, the blue sticker's peeled o…
Work (Actually Unrelated) Notice
Yesterday, when I was talking on the phone with someone from a certain wholesale distributor, we were discussing how French rider Luc Leblanc rode a LOOK KG176 …
Bora One 35
Before I get to the main topic. The other day I went to a trade show at a certain wholesaler. When one of the staff members from the wholesaler—who knows Campag…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. White Industries T11 hub, 20H, CX Sprint rim Outpoke radial lacing.
Ryobi (Kyocera (Kiso Power Tools))
The router we use (used) at the shop is ↑A Proxxon MM100 model, the standard of mini routers. Proxxon is a brand name, and the manufacturer is Kiso Power Tools.…
Recovered Broken Bolts from FORCE Crank
The drill screams! A customer brought me a SRAM FORCE right crank. This is... no way... Out of eight M4 bolts securing the chainring, four of them are broken al…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub, 24H, black semi-competition 46 JIS lacing with red aluminum nipp…
A Tubeless Tire Got Punctured
You might be thinking "Here we go, another Imezi shill article!" Well, I won't deny it. But before that, let me tell you about something else. A customer (loose…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
A customer who came in today got mad at me over the previous post. They said "I read it and my lunch break ended." Anyway, moving on... wheels again today (and …
Reply to Comments
The other day, I received a rather amusing comment regarding the Roval (ロヴァール) wheels that I'm always criticizing. Here's the original text: Regarding the C24 a…
Racing Zero
A customer dropped off the front and rear wheels from a Racing Zero. Starting with the front wheel. Fair warning: my camera lens was dirty, so the images that f…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolight hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. This is a repeat order …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4. Evolite hub, 24H, black half-comp 4-cross lacing with silver aluminum nipple…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4
Wheels again today (you know how it is). I built up the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with silver alum…
Repackaged R55C4 Aluminum Rim Brake Shoes from Bulk Packaging into Individual Packages
I've been selling Shimano R55C4 brake shoes (2 pairs per box) at a bargain price for quite some time (→ see here ) but due to repeated price increases on Shiman…
Replaced the front wheel rim on Nomulab Wheel #5
Another day working on wheels (and so on). A customer dropped off the front wheel from their Nomulab Wheel #5 (a custom wheelbuilding service). A while back, th…
I rebuilt the front wheel of the Rapide CLX
Another day of wheelbuilding (and so on). I received a front wheel of a Rovall Rapide CLX from a customer. I had taken it in along with the rear wheel of a CL50…
KRU's C-60
A customer left me a KRU C-60 wheel for service. Besides wheels, this manufacturer also makes carbon handlebars and other components. The rim is labeled C-55, b…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on a CL50
Today it's wheels again (etc.). A customer brought in a rear wheel from a Roval CL50. They want me to rebuild it so it rolls a bit smoother. The CL50's rim is t…
Continental Grand Prix 5000 23C Tires Now in Stock (Limited Quantity)
The Continental Grand Prix 5000 23C tires that were out of stock for an extended period have arrived. They have that sticker on them (→ see here ). This shipmen…
Built a wheel with a GEL280 rim
Super important information (at least to me) Starting April 2022, I've decided to include "rim relocation" projects in "Today's wheel-building" (abbreviated her…
CLX64
A customer brought in the rear wheel of a Roval CLX64 for service. They got hit and broke one spoke. ↑This one Our shop isn't their nearest dealer, and they pas…
I rebuilt the rear wheel on the Alpinist CLX
Another wheel day (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel on the Alpinist CLX. These are the stock wheels from an Aethos compl…
Three Times the Normal Brightness
The bike I usually commute on, for some unknown reason, when I attach a vibration-sensing light that screws onto the valve stem it glows three times brighter th…
Rebuilt the front wheel on an Alpinist CLX
I received a Roval Alpinist CLX from a customer. It's a bonus wheel from Ethos, but it's so light that it just doesn't ride well, so they asked me to do somethi…
I repaired a broken spoke on a Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5 front wheel
A customer dropped off a Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5 (Japanese wheel brand) front wheel with me. Apparently it got hit from the side by something Two spokes are broken. …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3. Evolight hub, 24H, semi-competition 4-cross lacing. I'll do the truing lat…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheel (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 20H black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with black aluminum …
Built a rear wheel with XR331 rim
Today's another wheel day (and so on). Built a rear wheel with the XR331 rim. FH-RS770 28H black semi-comp Yonroku JIS lacing. I'll do the spoke tie-in later. T…
My Tubeless Tire Got a Puncture
Early yesterday morning, I noticed my tubeless tire was flat. The Effetto (tire sealant) was leaking out in liquid form. After that, the location of the punctur…
Built a Front Wheel with XR331 Rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built a front wheel with the XR331 rim. This rim isn't in our shop's stock. Now that it's gone, I regret not collecting mor…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Evo disc hub II, 24H, semi-CX sprint 64 reverse Italian lacing. I'll do the sp…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Built the rear wheel for Nomulab Wheel No. 5
Back to wheel building today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomulab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 24H, black semi-competition lacing with spoke junction, 2…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 7
Back to wheels today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 7. Evolite hub, 24H, black, semi-comp lacing in a 46-spoke pattern. I'll do the …
Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #7
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #7. Evolight hub, 20H black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. I applied Stan's tape …
Built a rear wheel with a 40mm high 20-inch WO rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I built a rear wheel using a 40mm high 20-inch WO rim. Unmarked hub brought in by the customer, 2…
I carefully verified the spoke length
Not another wheel day (and so on). I received some ultra-lightweight tubular rims from a customer. Just so you know, the image above is the weight of "2 rims." …
Restocked Silica Mattone Saddle Bags
About the Silica Mattone saddle bag I posted about the other day (→ here ), a customer (well, sort of) said they wanted one too, so I restocked a few of the non…
Built a front wheel with a 40mm-deep 20-inch WO rim
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left a 20-inch WO (Wired-On) rim with me. 20-inch is a size designation where both WO (Wired-On) rims and HE (Hooked E…
Rapide CLX
I received the front and rear wheels of a Rapide CLX from a customer. They came in a box labeled Alpinist CLX, but from this image alone I can definitively say …
Built a rear wheel with XR331 rim and FH-9000
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a rear wheel with an XR331 rim and a 9000 Dura-Ace rear hub. As you can probably tell from the combination of a disc brak…
Everyone's Favorite Rovaal
Rovaal somehow keeps showing up Stop taking commemorative photos There's plenty more where that came from. Anyway, today a customer came in who was using a whee…
The CLX64
A customer brought in a rear wheel for rim brakes from a Roval CLX64. The spokes are bent and they wanted me to straighten them. I know exactly what caused this…
Built a rear wheel with XR331 rim
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built a rear wheel with XR331 rim. FH-RS770 hub, 28H, black semi-comp, 46-cross JIS lacing With spoke wrapping done. I did …
Built a front wheel with an XT hub for touring components
It's wheel day again (and so on). I built a front wheel with an XT hub and AL22W rim. HB-T780 32H, fully competition wheel lacing. With the current XT as MTB co…
Matryoshka
From Silca, the pump brand, a saddle bag model called "MATTONE (Mattone)" has come out with a BOA dial for tightening the strap. A customer ordered one, so I st…
Built a Front Wheel with XR331 Rim
Another day on wheels (and so on). Built a front wheel with a DT XR331 rim. HB-RS770 hub, 28H, black half CX Sprint 64-spoke lacing, reverse Italian-style. I'll…
Be Careful with Snap Rings on Disc Brake Mounting Bolts
I took in a Ridley bike from a customer. Due to a handlebar replacement, I needed to remove the brake hose that runs through the drop bar, which naturally also …
Built a rear wheel using an XT hub as a touring component
Wheels again today (and so on). Built a rear wheel with an XT hub and AL22W rim. FH-T780 32H, full competition pattern lacing with no brake cable routing. The h…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4. Evolight hub 24H with half-competitive 4-cross lacing pattern The nipples are…
Built a front wheel with a Duke rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built a front wheel with a Duke rim. Continuing from yesterday. Tune BOOST hub, 28H, semi-CX sprint 64-spoke reverse …
Built a front wheel with SES 3.4 disc rim (it's the front wheel, but here's the conclusion)
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built a front wheel using an SES 3.4 disc rim. Crisking R45D hub, 24 spokes, black half CX spokes Built reverse Italian 6…
The Reason for Japanese-Language Stickers (Probably)
I had stocked this while planning to write an article about bottles It's the long version of Elite's FLY, a lightweight bottle. Recently, a more affordable mode…
Rebuilt the rear wheel of WH-R9100-C24 with AL22W rim
Another day working on wheels (and so on). I received the rear wheel of a WH-R9100-C24 from a customer. It's already been disassembled. It fell into a ditch and…
It Was Trek
In my recent article about through-axles, I posted an image of a 1.75mm pitch axle that DT doesn't carry but I'd completely forgotten which brand it was from. b…
Built the SES 3.4 Disc Rear Wheel (It's the rear wheel, but part one)
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a rear wheel using the SES (Smart Envision System) 3.4 disc rim. The part number for the 38mm high front rim is 38ACD, an…
About Speed Release
Mavic introduced a through-axle standard called "Speed Release." Frame brands like Cannondale and LOOK use it, and ENVE adopts it for standalone forks. ↑This is…
Repaired EPIC X-12 Through-Axle Hole with Helicoil
The drill screams! A customer brought me a Specialized EPIC frame to work on. The threads on the through-axle hole had stripped, and they couldn't secure the re…
I replaced the bearings in a Roval front hub
I recently replaced the bearings in the front hub of a CLX50 that I'd rebuilt. ↑Right side (disc rotor mounting side) ↑Left side (rotor mounting side) I've writ…
I rebuilt the rear wheel on the CLX50
Another day with wheels (and so on...). I rebuilt the rear wheel on the Roval CLX50. 2:1 laced, 24H all Aero Lite straight spokes— I'm swapping out the non-driv…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Back to wheels today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with gold aluminum nipples…
222
A once-in-a-hundred-year chance! If we could stop it at exactly 222 applause We'd run a limited sale of 222 units of road bike tubes for 222 yen. ＿人人人人人人人人人＿ ＞ …
Rebuilt the front wheel on the CLX50
Another day of wheel work (and so on). A customer dropped off a Roval CLX50 front and rear wheel for me. They want me to rebuild them better than they are now. …
I Fixed the Threaded Holes on Lake Cycling Shoes
The drill is singing! A customer dropped off a pair of Lake CX402 shoes with me. One of the cleat mounting holes has become stripped, so the cleat bolt just spi…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Back to wheels today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 24H in black semi-competition 4-cross lacing with red aluminum n…
Continued: The Road Bike That Falls Hard
Honestly, when you think about it rationally gravel bikes would never catch on in Japan lol somebody help me stop copying someone else's bit (→ here ) and just …
I rebuilt the rear wheel of the Elite 38mm high rim
Another day with wheels (and so on...). A customer dropped off a rear wheel from Elite Wheels (the bottle cage brand Elite is not related to this). By the way, …
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, February 18th (Friday), I have some unavoidable business to attend to, so I'll be taking the day off. I apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate…
Retrieving Thread from the Freewheel Pawls
A customer brought in the rear wheel from a のむラボホイール５号 (Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5) because something felt off with the pawl engagement on the freewheel body. From a …
Built a rear wheel with Open Pro rim and ENO hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I received a White Industries ENO hub from a customer. The maker's website also lists it as ENO HUBS, so the official…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Back to wheel building today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evo Lite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
I Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4
Another day on wheels (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4. Evo Lite hub, 20 spoke, CX-RAY in four-cross Italian lacing pattern The nip…
I Sealed the Holes in My Dexshell Skull Cap
From Dexshell, the brand somewhat famous for waterproof socks they've released a windproof fabric skull cap product. I already owned one, but I picked up anothe…
I replaced the front derailleur mount on a Super 6 Evo
The drill was screaming! A customer asked me to replace the front derailleur mount on their Super 6 Evo. The slot where the front derailleur attaches is cracked…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with purple aluminum nipp…
Racing 1 Customer
A customer brought in the front wheel from a Racing 1 (track bike). Something got caught and bent the spokes, so they asked me to straighten them. There was mar…
I Rebuilt the Rear Wheel on the C38
Another day of wheels (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel on the Roval C38. DT 350 disc hub, 24H, black Competition Lace 4-cro…
Rebuilt the front wheel of the C38
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left me a Roval C38 wheel. I'd promised to rebuild it once the CX Sprint spokes arrived. Today I'm doing the front whe…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub, 24H, black semi-competition 46-spoke JIS lacing. I'll do the spo…
Imajii Sealant is Recommended (←I'm being persistent about this)
I recently replaced my tubeless tire. I only run tubeless tires on the rear wheel, and I didn't have to replace it as a result of a puncture— this is actually t…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub 24H black semi CX sprint 64-spoke reverse Italian lacing. I…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 24H, semi-comp 4-cross lacing pattern. I'll do the spoke tens…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on a ZIPP 303 Firecrest
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a ZIPP 303 rear wheel for me to work on. It's set up for rim brakes. They feel the current rear wheel they'…
Repaired a rear wheel with an FH-MT400-B hub
A customer dropped off a rear wheel built with a Shimano MT400 hub and a WTB rim for repair. Since the parts needed for the repair didn't come in, I've been hol…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day on wheels (you know the drill). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 24-hole, half-comp lacing pattern. I'll do the nipple …
Campagnolo 11S Sprocket Spacer Specification Changes
Regarding the spacers for Campagnolo 11S sprockets, there are two types: the 2.2mm thick circular spacer "2-CS-612" and the 2.3mm thick pentagonal spacer "2-CS-…
Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day, another wheel (you know the drill). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. The one in the foreground of the photo is it, and the one in the…
Racing 1
I received a rear wheel from Racing 1 from a customer. It's a silver spoke model, but these spokes, like the gold spokes on the first-generation Shamal Ultra or…
Racing Zero Night
The title has nothing to do with the article content. That's not a lie, though. I inspected the rear wheel of the Racing Zero Night. You can faintly see a gray …
Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Built Front and Rear Wheels with Chinese Carbon Tubular Rims
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built front and rear wheels using Chinese carbon tubular rims. The front rim is 25mm deep, and the rear rim is 38mm…
I Rebuilt the Rear Wheel on the Alpinist CLX
Another wheel day (and so on...). Following the front wheel, I'm rebuilding the rear wheel on the Alpinist as well. It's a 24-hole rim with 16+8H, but it had so…
I Rebuilt the Front Wheel of the Alpinist CLX
Before getting to the main topic. The actual measured weight of the rear wheel of the CLX 50 with rim tape. Whether the manufacturer's stated weight of 770g inc…
Rebuilt the Rear Wheel on the CLX50
Since we're doing a partial disassembly and rebuild of the wheel today is also a wheel— (and so on). I won't go into details. I took in a CLX50 disc brake rear …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day, another wheel (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolight hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
About the Original Racing 3 Spokes
A personal note. ↑The spokes from the original Racing 3, shown here in silver (black versions also exist). ↑From left to right, two spokes each: Rear left 284mm…
Racing Quattro Carbon
A customer brought in a Racing Quattro Carbon for repair. The front wheel has a broken spoke and needs repair. The customer decided our shop was the closest one…
I rebuilt the front wheel with CL50 for rim brakes
Wheels again today (and so on). The other day I rebuilt the rear wheel on this CL50, and now I'm rebuilding the front wheel too. This is typical of manufacturer…
Rebuilt a Roval CL50 rear wheel for rim brakes
Another wheel day (you know the drill). Got a Roval CL50 rear wheel on consignment from a customer. It's set up for rim brakes. All-black Campagnolo Record stra…
Replaced All Inpokes on the Free Side of an Open Pro Rear Wheel
A customer brought in a rear wheel built with an Open Pro CD rim. They said it had been used for cyclocross. The rim is covered all the way to the rim side with…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Back to wheels today (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolight hub, 24H, black semi-comp 4-cross lacing with black aluminum nipples…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
Another day of wheels (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8. Revo disc hub, 24H, semi-competition 46-spoke JIS la…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8. Revo disc hub, 24H, half-CX sprint 46-spoke reverse Italian lacing Red aluminu…
I Replaced the Rear Rim on a Shamal Ultra
Another day with wheels (and so on). I received a rear wheel from a Shamal Ultra (a wheelset by Campagnolo) from a customer. The bead hook was deformed due to b…
I Replaced the Spokes on a Fulcrum Red Wind XLR50 Rear Wheel
A customer brought in a Fulcrum Red Wind XLR50 rear wheel for repair. This is the equivalent wheel to what Campagnolo calls the Bullet Ultra. To be precise, the…
Rebuilt a semi-Compe into a semi-CX Sprint
A customer left me the front wheel from their Nomu Lab Wheel #2. It's a 20H disc brake front wheel. A full CX-RAY would be way too sketchy no matter how you thi…
I Rebuilt Mercury's Rear Wheel
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel—an S3 model from a brand called Mercury. The rim is from the same manufacturer as the Nomu La…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolight hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub, 24-hole, black half-comp, 46-inch JIS lacing with gold aluminum …
Theoretically the Strongest nomuLab Wheel #5
A customer dropped off the rear wheel of the theoretically strongest nomuLab Wheel #5. It's a 28H four-cross lace, with the non-freewheel side using true tangen…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Today's another wheel build (and so on...). The frame was completed in the previous post, but I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. Revo disc hub, 2…
I'm Planning to Start Operations Again from January 8th
As mentioned in the title, we'll be closed until January 7th. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding. In the meantime, I might …
Ksyrium Pro Exalith
A customer brought in a Ksyrium Pro Exalith (Mavic wheel) for service. ↑A photo so I don't forget what the wheel model is called I don't usually post these in m…
Stans ZTR Olympic Rim Wheel
I received a rear wheel built with a Stans Olympic rim from a customer. It's a 26-inch wheel built with an XTR hub. The customer said a spoke broke, but to be p…
Cassini's Division
When I apply the front brake （well, actually I only brake with the front wheel）, there's this metallic grinding sound like metal scraping metal, so I took a loo…
Built the rear wheel for Nomulab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheels (etc.). Built the rear wheel for Nomulab Wheel No. 5. Evol-Lite hub, 24H, semi-comp four-cross lacing pattern. I'll do the spoke nipple te…
Bora Ultra Two
I received a Bora Ultra Two (high-end carbon wheelset) from a customer. When this wheel was the latest model, Bora only existed in the 50mm deep rim version, so…
Replaced the hub shell and other components on the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
A customer entrusted me with the rear wheel of a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. I've already disassembled it. I built this wheel a little while back, but there was a def…
Built a track bike rear wheel with a Cosmic Carbon rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer entrusted me with the rear wheel of a first-generation Cosmic Carbon (late-model version). You might wonder what…
Built a rear wheel with an ENVE 1-45 rim
Another wheel day (et cetera). I'd been holding onto a front wheel built with a 1-45 rim that a customer left with me. For nine months. Before that, CX Sprint s…
CX Sprint Bent Spoke Spokes Now in Stock
The Sapim CX Sprint bent spoke spokes that have been out of stock since around February this year have finally arrived! It's been a long wait... The lead time w…
Ksyrium K10
I received a Ksyrium K10 from a customer. They said they haven't noticed any particular issues, but they requested an inspection. At this point, I had no idea I…
I Rebuilt the Rear Wheel of Deda's SL48C
Another day with wheels (and so on). I rebuilt the rear wheel of a Deda SL48C wheelset. This wasn't a customer request— it's a rim brake wheelset that I sourced…
303 Firecrest DB Wheels
A customer brought in a pair of ZIPP 303 Firecrest disc brake wheels for inspection. These were purchased at a shop, not online, and the customer wanted them in…
Shamal Ultra 2 WAY-FIT Rear Wheel Repair
A customer brought in a Shamal Ultra rear wheel. The rear derailleur got caught up and the spokes on the freehub side are completely shattered and bent. It wasn…
Built a rear wheel with ENVE's 1-45 rim
Another wheel build day (and so on). I received an ENVE 1-45 rim from a customer. Back on March 28th of this year. It's been about 9 months since then—or rather…
Telephone Card
I organize morning training sessions at Jūsan Tōge every Saturday, and on the final Saturday of the year (which happens to be today), we hold an annual awards c…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on the white logo CLX50
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from the other day. Rebuilding the rear wheel on the white logo CLX. Using this color Pirelli tire on this wheel feel…
Rebuilt the rear wheel for a 404 NSW
Today it's wheels again (and so on). A customer brought in the rear wheel of a ZIPP 404 NSW rim brake model. It's not the current model but the previous generat…
Instantly Smitten Road Bike Guy
Gravel bikes... if you think about it rationally there's no way they'd catch on in Japan lol someone help me
I Rebuilt the Front Wheel of the White Logo CLX50
Today it's another wheel... (etc). But first. Back in April this year, I did an inspection on a Roval Alpinist, but since the customer brought it to our shop ri…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Today it's wheels again (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 24-hole, black half-competition 4-cross lacing pattern. I'll …
Schwalbe CX TLR Regular and Edge Models In Stock
The other day, the new Schwalbe CX tubeless ready tires from IRC that were listed as "in production" from mid-December, I think I wrote something like "producti…
Replaced the rear rim on a Campagnolo Racing Zero Competizione
More wheel work today (and so on). I received a rear wheel from a customer from a Racing Zero Competizione. The bead hook had buckled and deformed, so we decide…
Built a Lefty front wheel with WTB's CZR i23 rim
Iro Ikkai Zutu (sic) It means "one color at a time," but the proper writing is "Zutu" not "Dutu". To be more precise, it's "Iro Ikkai Su゛tu......" but anyway. I…
Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Recovered Broken Bolts from SRAM XX1 Eagle DUB Crank
The drill whines to life! A customer left me with a right crank from a SRAM XX1 Eagle. Out of the eight M4 bolts securing the chainring, five of them are broken…
Did you understand?
Today (December 16th) I climbed Nabeyatoge Pass before dawn as well, but before I get to that story. I was also doing a morning climb at Nabeyatoge Pass on Dece…
Bora Ultra WTO 45 DB
A customer brought in a Bora Ultra WTO—not just the regular Bora WTO—the 45mm high rim model for service. The Ultra only comes in disc brake versions. The front…
I Flipped the Rear Wheel Rim of the 303S
I forgot to bring my digital camera from home to the shop so the images in this article and the next one were taken with my smartphone. As long as I'm not doing…
Original R-SYS Sir
A customer left the rear wheel of an original R-SYS with me. While the rear wheel was spinning, a kickstand got caught up in it, and one spoke broke. ↑This one …
Rebuilding the Front Wheel on a CL50
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left me a Roval CL50. Today I'm rebuilding the front wheel. 21H all-black Campagnolo Record straight spokes, 2:1 lacin…
Rebuilt the front wheel of the CL50 Disc
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a Roval CL50 Disc for service. Today I'm only doing the front wheel, but since it feels sluggish and …
Good Thing I Didn't Throw Away That Cracked SRAM Pulley
And so, the bearing inner and outer races from the pulley of a RED 10-speed rear derailleur and the rear derailleur pulley from a Rival 1 remained. This is the …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day, another wheel (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Built a fixed-gear rear wheel with a Chris King front hub
Another wheel day (abbreviated hereafter). A customer handed me a Chris King BOOST-spec ISO front hub that had been converted to a 120mm-width fixed-gear rear h…
Built a rear wheel with the SES3.4
Wheels again today (and so on). Built a rear wheel using the SES3.4 rim. White's black T11 hub, 24H, semi-comp crossed pattern— with silver spokes next to the v…
I rebuilt the rear wheel of the Orion II with a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1 rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in an Easton Orion II rear wheel for service. Easton acquired Velomax and started their wheel busines…
I Bought a Front Wheel for the WH-R9270-C36-TU
I purchased a WH-R9270-C36-TU front wheel for myself. I didn't buy the rear wheel because it has a spline rear hub dedicated to 12-speed, so I'd need to upgrade…
I Replaced the Rim on the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
A customer dropped off the rear wheel of a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 with me. There was one spot with runout that just wouldn't come out, so they took it to a nearby…
Built the front wheel with SES 3.4 rim
Wheels again today (and so on). I built a front wheel using the SES 3.4 front rim. Building a "front wheel with a front rim" sounds obvious enough, but Smart En…
Deer Seeker 2 (Supplementary Notes on Nabeyatoge Pass)
The previous article on deer seeker (Shika Seeker) is (→ here ). Despite the title, there are no deer in this article. I recently wrote an article about Nabeyat…
Replaced the front rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer left the front wheel of Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1 with me. There's an ENVE sticker on it, but don't mind that. The sp…
Rebuilt the front wheel of Prime's Attaqueur with Nomo Lab Wheel No. 1
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I received a front wheel from Prime's Attaqueur from a customer. For some reason the model name is in French. The "Attaki" …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day on wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 24 spokes, black, semi-competition, 4-cross lacing with spoke c…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another wheel day (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Climbing Nabeyatani Pass After Repairs
Note: This article won't make sense to anyone outside of South Osaka. Since the bypass (car-only tunnel) on National Route 480 opened, Nabeyatani Pass became th…
Grand Prix 5000 arrived in limited quantities
Continental's Grand Prix 5000 WO tires have arrived in small quantities. Especially for the 23C—I had been telling customers "they won't arrive until spring" （t…
Bora Ultra 35
A customer brought in a Bora Ultra 35 for repair. The cosmetics differ from the standard model— this is a custom-spec wheel that came with a Canyon Movistar Tea…
Built a front wheel with XR240 rim and dynamo hub
More wheel building today (you know the drill). Built a front wheel with a Kinlin XR240 rim and a Shimano dynamo hub. Obviously has to be the front wheel since …
You'll Get Arrested
Just got a call from an acquaintance in the trade, and he asked me, 「How do you machine the shiitake mushroom-shaped spoke head when making spare spokes for Rov…
I Replaced the Carbon Spokes on a HUNT Wheel
A customer dropped off a HUNT rear wheel with carbon spokes for me. There was a splinter on the spoke marked with tape, and they asked me to replace it. The cus…
I Bought a Tni Chromoly Cog in Rainbow
As of today, Shimano's 11-speed sprocket inventory situation is as follows: Except for the R9100 11-25T and 12-25T, and the R7000 12-25T, all other tooth counts…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Wheels again today (and so on...).) I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evolight hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced with black aluminum nipp…
Built a fixed gear front wheel with vintage Super Aero rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought me a front wheel built with a vintage Super Aero rim for work. Shimano 600 Ultegra front hub HB-6400 28H…
Cosmic Carbon UST
A customer left a Cosmic Carbon UST hub with us for service. It was shipped from a distance, but beforehand they consulted me about the symptoms: the freebody w…
Pearl Izumi's Ear Warmer Model Change Has Me in a Bind
I've been using a Pearl Izumi ear warmer for many years that I've grown attached to. ↑This one Pearl Izumi actually calls it an "Ear Warmer" (イアーウォーマ), not "Ear…
Building a fixed-gear rear wheel with a vintage Super Aero rim
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a wheel that was built with an Araya Super Aero rim. They want it re-laced. There are front and rear wheels…
Built a fixed gear rear wheel with an old Aero 1 rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. Built the rear wheel. At first glance it looks like the same wheel, but This is the rear hub. Since i…
Bora WTO 45
A customer dropped off a Bora WTO 45mm deep rim brake wheelset with us. Brand new. They want a CULT upgrade and a full inspection. Let's start with the front wh…
Built a fixed gear front wheel with a vintage Aero 1 rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I built a front wheel using a vintage Aero 1 rim from Araya. The hub is a large flange fixed gear hub from a Shimano Tou…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolight hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing Silver spokes only next to…
Ultra-lightweight Chinese carbon hookless tubeless rim — wheel build
Wheels again today (rest omitted). There was an article with almost the exact same title a while back, but the rim source and customer are the same. It's not ju…
About HUNT's Carbon Spokes
A customer brought in a HUNT carbon spoke wheel for me to work on. This is a separate case from the wheel I recently repaired by replacing carbon spokes. I insp…
I Built the Rear Wheel of a Racing Zero
Today it's wheels again (abbreviated hereafter). I'm building the rear wheel—the companion to the front wheel from the Racing Zero I worked on the other day. Th…
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, October 30th (Saturday), is the last Saturday of the month, so I'll be taking the day off. The last Saturday is normally a closed day anyway, but sinc…
Replaced Carbon Spokes on HUNT Wheels
A customer brought in a HUNT wheel with carbon spokes for repair. Starting with the rear wheel. This is the carbon spoke model. About three months ago, I rememb…
I Rebuilt the Front Wheel of a Racing Zero
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer left me with a Racing Zero front wheel. The current owner isn't the first owner, and the previous owner might no…
Rebuilt the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
A customer brought in the front wheel of Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. It hadn't been that long since I handed it over, but it got caught in a grating and developed a w…
MSN 0 2 (Otsu Zero Otsu) Rim
A customer dropped off a rear wheel built with a rim called ＭＳＮ乙０乙 (Otsu Zero Otsu). Looking at the part number, I wondered if it had some connection to Zeong o…
Built a rear wheel with CX22 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer dropped off a rear wheel built with a WTB Crisscross rim. It's one I built in the past. It's hard to see in the image,…
Replaced the rear rim on the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
I received a rear wheel from Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 from a customer (probably). Got caught in a truck's left turn The frame was reincarnated into another world, a…
Built a wheel with super-lightweight Chinese carbon hookless tubeless rim
Another wheel build today (the rest is implied). I built a wheel with a hookless carbon rim that measured about 250g by scale. The title says it all, but the mo…
Built a front wheel with CX22 rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built a front wheel with a CX22 wide tubular rim. When you factor in the time needed to glue on the tubular tire, it's touc…
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, October 22nd (Friday), I need to take the day off due to some unavoidable circumstances. I apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you for your und…
Easton's Circuit
A customer brought in a Velomax rear hub wheel for me to work on. Since the customer isn't the original owner of this wheel, there's no sticker on the rim, so t…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Wheels again today (etc.). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evo Lite hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing Green aluminum nipples.
Flyweight VS Supersonic
Hey there, good evening! It's KANI TUBE! So today we're doing a lightweight tube showdown! We've got Maxxis's "Flyweight" and Continental's "Supersonic" Let's d…
I Disassembled and Rebuilt the Shamal Ultra Front Wheel
Another day working on wheels (and so on). A customer left me a Shamal Ultra (a high-end road wheel by Campagnolo) front and rear wheel. The rear wheel just nee…
Zonda and Sprint 350
I received a front wheel from a Zonda from a customer. One spoke is broken. ↑This one Aside from spoke replacement, the hub rotation was grinding roughly. On hi…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8. Revolver disc hub, 24 hole, black half-comp, 46-cross JIS lacing Rainbow-colo…
I Bought a RYDER Slider
There are several makers producing compact versions of motorcycle tubeless tire puncture repair kits. One such product is the SLUG PLUG (Slug Plug) from a brand…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built a front wheel with an AL22W DB rim. Once Sapim's CX Sprint spokes are in stable supply, I'm planning to make this the…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. FH-RS300 28H built in semi-comp 4-cross pattern with turquoise nippl…
Usagi Express
The other day, a customer (sort of) came in saying 「I've got a car club race coming up soon and I haven't raced in ages, but I don't have a number plate mount, …
I repaired the spike screw hole on a Northwave shoe
The drill is whining! A customer left me a Northwave SPD 2-hole cleat shoe for repair. It's being used for cyclocross, not MTB. One of the M5 screw holes for mo…
Bullet Ultra
A customer brought in a Bullet Ultra rear wheel for service. Not directly related to the main topic, but there are 2 versions of the Bullet Ultra wheel model th…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheels (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 24H, semi-comp 4-cross lacing. I'll do the spoke tension adjustme…
Replaced the rim on a Racing Zero
Another day with wheels (and so on). I can't go into the details because it wouldn't be in the customer's interest, but I disassembled the front wheel of a Raci…
Built a rear wheel with a CX22 rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel from a GP4 rim to a CX22 rim. The front wheel had a shop namepl…
Got My Seatpost Back (Forced Recovery)
A friend brought their road bike in for me to work on. This frame used to be mine. Currently it doesn't have a bottle cage on it, but I often drill a third hole…
Built a Front Wheel with CX22 Rim
Another day, another wheel (etc.). A customer left me a front wheel built with a Mavic GP4. Since there was a shop name sticker on the rim, I'm being considerat…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evolite hub, 24 spoke, black semi-competition 4-cross lacing pattern. I'll do…
Donation! The 7801!
A customer sent me a 7801 hub freeebody. This person is a reader of this blog and has left comments before. The freeebody that arrived had two issues: The beari…
Rebuilt the front wheel of Nomu Lab Wheel #2 to disc brake specification
Another day working on wheels (and so on). ↑The images above are of the front wheel (you can tell just by looking), A customer left me Nomu Lab Wheel #2, and as…
Built Nomu-Lab Wheel No. 5 with a 7700 hub (front wheel, so part 1)
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a front wheel built with a 7700 hub and an American Classic CR350 rim. HB-7700, 28H, laced in standar…
I Bought a Forlears Chain Guide
I'm currently running my everyday road bike as a front single chainring （actually, I've been doing this since before narrow-wide chainrings became widespread）, …
Foreign Material Found in ZIPP340 Rim
A customer (probably) brought in a ZIPP340 rim (an old Japanese distributor-exclusive model). It makes a rattling noise when you shake it. That's neither here n…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer left Nomu Lab Wheel #5's front wheel with me. Can't see the hub and spokes? Must be your imagination. I ended…
I Built the Rear Wheel for Nomulab Wheel #5
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomulab Wheel #5. Evolight hub, 24H, half-comp four-cross lacing pattern. I'll do the spoke nipp…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on the CL50
Another day with wheels (and so on). Rebuilding the rear wheel on the Roval CL50. 24H 2:1 lacing all-black Competizione Laced straight. Where the CLX's freebody…
Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. I'd planned to rebuild the rear wheel on the CL50 today, but had to suddenly s…
F4R Japan Limited
A customer brought in an F4R from FF Yamaguchi—a Japan-limited model that appears to have been inspired by the Japanese flag. Since the wheel itself doesn't hav…
I Replaced the Front Hub Bearings on the CLX50
The front wheel of the Ｒｏｖａａｌ CLX50 that I reassembled the other day—after wiring it up, I replaced the bearings. The image above shows the CeramicSpeed bearing…
Aeolos 3
A customer brought in a rear wheel from a Bontrager Aeolos 3 for repair. The rear derailleur got tangled up, breaking spokes on the freewheel side. Three spokes…
Rebuilt the front wheel on a CL50
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in a Roval CL50 for repair. Today I only worked on the front wheel, though. This is a CL50, different…
Supplementary Notes on the New Dura-Ace
This is a continuation of a previous post (→ here ). There's some overlap with earlier content, but I'm going to dive deeper specifically into the front wheel r…
Rebuilt the front wheel on the CLX50
Wheel work again (and so on). Following the rear wheel, I ended up rebuilding the front wheel on the CLX50 as well. All-black Aerolite straight 2:1 radial lacin…
Rebuilt the rear wheel of the CLX50
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought me the rear wheel of a Roval Rapide CLX50 to work on. The rear wheel has runout, so they wanted it fixed, whic…
I Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day, another wheel (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
About Marni's Black Tire Levers
About Marni's black tire levers— I've received multiple comments asking whether they're the same as the ones included in puncture repair kits sold at 100-yen sh…
I Hastily Stocked Up on Maruni Tire Levers
There's a Japanese manufacturer called Maruni (マルニ) that specializes in puncture repair supplies, and the tire levers I use at work are made by Maruni. I've bee…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 24 spoke, black semi-competition 4-cross lacing pattern, and si…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another wheel build today (you know the drill...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolight hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
I Want to Race Cyclocross on a Gravel Bike!
In the early days of MTB, before the concept of MTB even existed, there naturally wasn't any "MTB-specific componentry." Shimano's Deore was originally touring-…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 28H, black half-comp 4-cross lacing pattern. I'll do the spoke tensi…
Racing Zero Night Repair
I received a rear wheel from a customer — a Racing Zero Night. Shot from the non-freehub side. The rear derailleur got caught up, bending a spoke, and now there…
Built a front wheel with CX22 rim and RS770 hub
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built a front wheel with a CX22 wide tubular rim and RS770 disc hub. The hub is on consignment from a customer— it's been…
I rebuilt the rear wheel on the SES 4.5
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel from a Smart Envi System 4.5 for me to work on. The rim is a tubeless-incompatible clincher, a…
Built a disc brake rear wheel with Grail CB7 rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built a disc brake rear wheel using the Grail CB7 rim. The rim is dedicated for disc bra…
I replaced the rim on the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
A customer brought in the rear wheel of a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 (custom wheelset brand) for me to work on. The rim was damaged, so I'm replacing it. I usually pe…
About the WH-R9270-C36
The previous article got pretty long as I kept writing, so I split it up. These are the actual measured weights of the rim alone and the front wheel from the Gr…
I built a disc brake front wheel with a Stans Grail CB7 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I got a Stans Grail CB7 in stock per a customer's (so to speak) order. They want me to build it the same way as my personal rear …
303NSW Disc Wheel
A customer brought in the front wheel of a ZIPPS 303NSW Disc bike for me to work on. This is one I'd rebuilt previously. The spokes are bent—probably from a cra…
About Imaje Sealant
The other day, an IRC tubeless tire got a sidewall cut, so ↑I hurriedly removed the same tire from another wheel and brought it home (strictly speaking, it went…
The New Dura-Ace
Regarding the R9200 series Dura-Ace, it quietly pretends that various problems which were commonly seen up through the R9100 series don't exist. First, there's …
Shamal Ultra DB
A customer left a Shamal Ultra DB with us for inspection. To be more precise, an old acquaintance of mine brought in a wheel that someone else had entrusted the…
CN-HG53 is More Expensive Than CN-HG54
With Shimano chains, probably because they're not made in-house and if the outsourced manufacturer raises prices it becomes practically impossible for the compa…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another day of wheel-building (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lace.
Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, with purple aluminum nipples.
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evorite hub, 24H, black half-comp 4-cross lacing with red aluminum nipples. …
About Fulcrum Aluminum Spoke Markings
Regarding what I wrote in the previous article: "The rear wheel spokes have a marking of '70' on the freewheel side and '68' on the non-freewheel side. There we…
I redid the "rim replacement pretense" on Racing Zero wheels
A customer brought me the front and rear wheels of a Campagnolo Fulcrum Racing Zero Competizione. Starting with the rear wheel. The customer said there's radial…
Built a rear wheel with AL22W rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Recently I've been building wheels with the AL22W rim — a 20-spoke front wheel and a 28-spoke rear wheel with a Power…
Stocked Up on IRC Shiraku CX Tubeless Tires
I've stocked up on a larger than usual quantity of IRC's Shiraku CX tubeless tires. Every year, these tires tend to sell out before and during cyclocross season…
Built a rear wheel with AL22W rim and PowerTap hub
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built a rear wheel with an AL22W rim and PowerTap hub. G3 hub, 28 hole, semi-comp 4-cross lacing Rainbow-colored nipples…
That's Bottas, innit
I was doing some research to write an article about a Polar heart rate monitor ↑This guy showing up on the manufacturer's site looks dead like F1 driver Valtter…
Built a front wheel with an AL22W rim
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). Built a front wheel with an AL22W rim. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing The nipples are arranged in …
Rebuilt the rear wheel with a slightly lighter aluminum rim than the measured 323g
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a 20-inch WO rim rear wheel. It came as part of a frame + front and rear wheel set from a certain small-whe…
Built the rear wheel for the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day with wheels (et cetera). I built the rear wheel for the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5, which pairs with yesterday's front wheel. Evolite hub, 24-spoke, semi-…
Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial laced Black aluminum nipples for the b…
Assembled the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for the Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5. Evolite hub, 24H, black, semi-radial lacing pattern. I'll do the spoke thread…
I Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evolite hub, 24H, black CX-RAY in 44-Italian lacing, with silver aluminum ni…
Racing Zero
A customer brought in a rear wheel from a Racing Zero bike. They noticed it was out of true and asked me to fix it. This wheel had its freebody swapped to an XD…
Built the Rear Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Today's all about wheels (etc.). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Evorite hub 28H black semi-comp 4-cross lacing pattern Silver aluminum nipples. …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolight hub, 24 spokes, black half-comp 4-cross lacing with black aluminum nipple…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolight hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with black aluminum…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Another day of wheel (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Evolite hub, 24H, semi-comp 4-cross lacing. Gold aluminum nipples. I'll do th…
Added an Extra Water Bottle Cage Hole to the Down Tube of Opera's Canova
The drill is screaming! I added an extra water bottle cage hole to the underside of the down tube on an Opera Canova—Opera being a sub-brand of Pinarello that e…
Built a rear wheel with TX-633 rim
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel to match the 26-inch (HE) front wheel with the dynamo hub that I built the other day. The rim and nipples…
I Bought a GERRY Pocketable Backpack
Before the main topic. I've been using a waterproof-zipper backpack from the brand GERRY (ジェリー) for about 10 years now. Not to the point of saying I'm devoted t…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with gold aluminum nipples. The…
Eureus Rear Wheel
A customer dropped off a Eureus (Japanese bicycle brand) rear wheel for repair. The rear derailleur got caught and deformed some spokes, but apparently there wa…
Replaced the Inpoke Spokes on Nomu Lab Wheel #5's Rear Wheel
A customer dropped off the rear wheel from Nomu Lab Wheel #5 with me. At this point, the freewheel body had already been removed. Now, about this wheel—I'm just…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 24H, half-competition 4-cross lacing pattern. I'll do the spoke tr…
I Rebuilt the Rear Wheel on the 404
Another day, more wheels (and so on). A customer dropped off a ZIPP 404 rim rear wheel. The rim is tubular-specific. ZIPP hub, 24H, all-black CX-RAY straight, l…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheel work (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Kanji Light Hub 24H black semi-comp 4-cross lacing. I'll do the spoke ty…
Bora Ultra 80 (Track) Wheel
A customer brought in a Bora Ultra 80 front wheel for track use. There used to be a road wheel with the same name. With the 50mm and 35mm depth Bola wheels, the…
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, July 29th (Thursday), I have some unavoidable business to attend to, so I'll be taking the day off. I apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate y…
Replying to Comments (With Additional Note from July 27)
This article was posted on July 19 as an addendum to the July 18 article (→ here ), but since there are further updates, I've backdated it to July 20 and moved …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheel-building (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Ritey hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Racing Zero Night
A customer brought in the front wheel of a Racing Zero Night for service. Along with Campagnolo's Shamal Mille, it's a model that quietly disappeared after the …
Built a rear wheel with Xiamen rim (it's the rear wheel edition, so it's the second part! ☆)
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I built a rear wheel using a Xiamen carbon rim. As I mentioned before, this is a tubel…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day, another wheel (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Built a front wheel with Xiamen rims (Part 1 — not that it matters for the front wheel)
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a front wheel with rims from Xiamen (Xiamen). Xiamen is a place name, and in Japan it's commonly referred to as the city …
Assembled the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I assembled the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 24H, CX-RAY 4/4 Italian lacing pattern.
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheel building (abbreviated from here on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 24-hole, black semi-competition 4-cross …
Bora WTO45 Rim Brake Spec - Service Report
For example, there are situations where people say "liquid milk." You might think milk is already liquid, right? But to distinguish it from powdered milk that c…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY with outpoke radial lacing, and gold aluminum nipple…
That's Actually Pretty Different
The rear wheel with the Ellipse hub I built the other day— I wrote that the spoke lacing might not be necessary, but when I did just one side and squeezed both …
Rebuilt the rear wheel of Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2 to disc brake spec
Another day working on wheels (and so on...). I received the rear wheel of a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2 (a custom bike brand) from a customer. Evo-Lite hub, 24H, semi…
SPD-SL Cleat Packaging Has Changed
Shimano's SPD-SL pedal cleat packaging has been redesigned. The image above shows the fixed cleat SM-SH10 in a clear blister pack where you can see the contents…
Built a rear wheel with an Ellipse hub
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). I built a wheel with a hub and rim that a customer left with me. The rim is a carbon WO (clincher). The hub is a M…
Racing Zero Carbon
A customer left a Racing Zero Carbon (high-end racing wheelset) with me for service. I have both the front and rear wheels, and they were inspected at our shop …
I Rebuilt the ENVE 1-45 Rear Wheel That I Already Rebuilt (tears of blood)
Another day of wheel building (you know the rest). About the front wheel I built yesterday— the customer's request was for silver spokes. The front wheel I alre…
Rebuilt the Rear Wheel with ENVE's 1-45 Rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel built with ENVE's 1-45 rim. Chris King R45 hub, 24H, all bl…
The Ellipse
A customer left me with a Mavic Ellipse practice track wheel. Let me start with the front wheel. The customer says it's barely been used. These days, competitio…
Built a rear wheel with AL22W rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a rear wheel with an AL22W rim. Avolite hub, 24H, black half-competition, 4-cross lacing. I'll do the spoke wrapping later.
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 with an ONYX Racing hub
Back to wheel building today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 using an ONYX Racing rear hub. 24H black semi-comp 46-spoke lacing pat…
Rebuilt the ENVE 1-45 Rim Front Wheel
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in a front wheel built with an ENVE 1-45 tubular rim. It's built with a Chris King R45 hub, 20H, blac…
Thanks, Beatles
This is from a little while back, but I picked up a Shimano Professional Disc Brake Bleed Kit. It comes with two types of funnels and four types of yellow block…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheel work (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Used Evolite hub (Campagnolo freebody) 24H Semi-competition four-cros…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolight hub 24H with Campagnolo freebody Semi-comp 4-cross lacing pattern. I'll …
Shamal Ultra 2WAY-FIT Front Wheel Repair
A customer brought in a Shamal Ultra front wheel for repair. A shopping bag hanging from the handlebar got caught in the wheel, resulting in bent spokes and whe…
Racing Quattro Carbon
A customer brought in the front wheel of a Racing Quattro Carbon (carbon road bike) for repair. By the way, this is one we sold at our shop. A spoke snapped dur…
Rebuilt the rear wheel for an EC90SL
Another day working on wheels (and so on). A customer brought in an Easton EC90SL rear wheel for me to work on. The rim is tubular. The hub is an R4SL, and true…
The ONYX Hub
Continuing from the story about the ONYX hub. Come to think of it... DT... Nope, that wasn't it It's inside this case According to this document So the first mo…
Taking Tomorrow Off
Today is Wednesday, which is already our regular closing day, but tomorrow, July 1st (Thursday), I have some unavoidable business to attend to, so I'll be takin…
Replaced the Rim on Nomu Lab Wheel #5
A customer dropped off the rear wheel of Nomu Lab Wheel #5 with me. This is a rim transplant job, so today it doesn't count as wheel building (omitting the rest…
Built a front wheel with AL22W rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built a front wheel with an AL22W rim. Evolite hub, 24H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with black aluminum nipples.
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Eyelite hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Built a rear wheel with AL22W rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a rear wheel with an AL22W rim. Evolight hub, 24H, semi-comp 4-cross lacing with black aluminum nipples. I'll do the spoke …
Built a rear wheel with AL22W rim and Surly hub
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). I built the rear wheel using a Surly fixed/freewheel dual-sided single-speed hub and an AL22W rim. Continuing from…
Shamal Ultra 2 WAY-FIT Rear Wheel Spoke Repair
A customer brought in a Shamal Ultra rear wheel for repair. The derailleur got caught and bent several spokes. The braking surface still shows no signs of use, …
Built a front wheel with AL22W rim and Surly hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built a front wheel with a Surly large flange front hub and an AL22W rim. 32-hole, full competition three-cross Ita…
Replaced the rear rim on Nomu Lab Wheel #5
A customer brought in the rear wheel of a Nomu Lab Wheel #5 (custom wheelset). The rim got bent like a potato chip after an accident. The quick release shaft is…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another wheel day (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 24H, all black CX-RAY, 46-spoke lacing. Purple aluminum nipples. I'…
Built a rear wheel with AL22W rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). Built a rear wheel with an AL22W rim. Evolite hub (light-weight hub brand) 24-hole black semi-comp 4-cross lacing …
I rebuilt the rear hub of the Racing Speed XLR using a Racing 3 hub
Another day of wheels (and so on). A customer left me a rear wheel from a Racing Speed XLR. Apparently the left flange exploded during riding and became unusabl…
Replaced the rear rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3
I replaced the rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3. I've mentioned this before (→ here ), but the current owner of the wheel brought a spoke wrench so I ended up doing …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evo Lite hub, 24H, semi-comp 4-cross lacing. I'll do the spoke wrapping later…
Air Leaks from Tire Sidewalls
The other day I built up a wheel with an XR331 rim, and mounted the tire that had been on the original wheel. Same tire, same size. Both tires had clumps of sea…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. ※I've corrected the numbering—it was labeled as #1 before. Thanks to everyon…
First Generation Racing 1 2WAY-FIT
A customer dropped off the rear wheel from a Racing 1. This is the original generation Racing 1 2WAY-FIT model. Instead of evenly-spaced rim holes, it has rest-…
Built a rear wheel with SES 3.4 rim
Another wheel build today (and so on). Built a rear wheel with an SES 3.4 tubular rim. Evolite hub, 24 spoke, black semi-competition lacing with cross-lacing ti…
Prime's 50mm High Rim Front Wheel
This is the front wheel, counterpart to the rear wheel I rebuilt the other day. It's built with a disc brake hub There's a cover on the centerlock mount, but th…
Built a front wheel with SES 3.4 rims
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built a front wheel using Smart Envy System 3.4 rims. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced. The internal …
Shamal Ultra 2WAY-FIT Rear Wheel
A customer brought in a Shamal Ultra rear wheel for service. They attempted to true it themselves and ended up snapping a spoke. They mentioned there might be s…
Zonda Front Wheel
I received a Zonda front wheel from a customer. One spoke is broken. The fracture is at the rim end, and The fracture surface is uniform in color, though it doe…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolight hub, 24 hole, black semi-comp, 4-cross lacing with bracing wires Pu…
Built a front wheel with XR331 rim
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built a front wheel with the XR331 rim. HB-RS770 hub, 28H, black semi-comp, 64-cross lacing pattern, reverse Italian, with …
Built a rear wheel with XR331 rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built up the rear wheel using a DT XR331 rim and Shimano RS770 hub. Neither the rim nor the hub are new. FH-RS770 2…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evo Lite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced with black aluminum nippl…
I Rebuilt the Rear Wheel with Prime's 50mm High Rim
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel with a Prime 50mm high tubeless-ready rim for servicing. It has a disc brake rear hub, and fro…
CLX50 Customer Bike
A customer brought in a Roval CLX50 for me to work on. They brought it in for front and rear wheel inspections, and I hadn't planned to write about it, but sinc…
Replying to Comments
I received a comment on my previous post asking, 「Doesn't Caffélatex dry really quickly?」 something along those lines. Yeah, I think it does dry fast. And when …
Tubeless Tires and Sealant Talk
I installed IRC tires on Grail CB7 rims In the photo above, the front is mine, and the back is a customer's wheel I built the other day. Mine is Formula Pro S-L…
Built the Rear Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evolite hub, 24-spoke, Campagnolo freebody Half-comp 4-cross lacing. I'll do …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evo-Lite hub, 24 spoke, black, semi-comp four-cross lacing pattern. I'll solder…
I replaced the front rim on the NomuLab Wheel No. 5
A customer (sort of) brought in the rear wheel from NomuLab Wheel No. 3. They trashed the rim, so they're telling me to replace it. Unbelievable. By the way, th…
Racing Zero Competizione
A customer placed an order, so I sourced a Racing Zero Competizione wheelset. Rather than the customer bringing it in themselves, I sourced it from a distributo…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 24-hole, semi-competition four-cross lacing pattern with gree…
Rebuilt XR200 Rim Front Wheel with AL22W Rim
Following up from the rear wheel the other day. A customer dropped off a front wheel built with an XR200 rim. Novatech 291 hub, 20H, Pillar key slot black aero …
Built a rear wheel with AL22W rim
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built a rear wheel with an AL22W rim. Evolite hub, 24-hole, black, semi-comp laced in a 4-cross pattern with silver aluminu…
Switched to XTR!
I switched the press-fit bottom bracket for the Pinarello MTB frame to XTR! ↑This one For the width that fits this frame, Shimano's genuine press-fit bottom bra…
Rebuilt rear wheel from Kinrin XR200 rim to AL22W rim
Another day of wheel work (details to follow). A customer brought in a rear wheel built with a Kinrin (Japanese rim brand) XR200 rim. Based on the hub and spoke…
I Rebuilt the Rear Wheel with SES's 42AC Rim
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought me a rear wheel built with a 42AC rim from Smart Envy System. It's a rim that was adopted in the earlier SES 3…
60 P.O.E.
The other day, I had to replace the freebody on the rear wheel hub made in-house by Schmolke with a SRAM XDR freebody. ↑Removed the Shimano 11-speed version. ↑T…
Built a rear wheel with AL22W rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built a rear wheel with an AL22W rim. EvoLite hub 24-hole, black semi-comp lacing pattern, 4/6 arrangement with silver alum…
Built a rear wheel with R390 20-inch WO rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built a rear wheel with an R390 20-inch WO rim. FH-RS300, 32-hole, all Champion 14/15 gauge, four-cross lacing with n…
Built a front wheel with R390 20-inch WO rim
Another day of wheel building (etc.). I built a front wheel using the ALEXRIMS R390 ETRTO 451mm rim (WO). HB-6800 32H spoke count, all #15 Campagnolo Croce Ital…
Aeolos 5 TLR
I took in an Aeolos 5 Tubeless Ready wheel from a customer. Starting with the front wheel. As the rim marking indicates, this is a tubeless ready rim. I've writ…
R-SYS SLR
I received an R-SYS SLR from a customer. Starting with the front wheel. The customer mentioned an odd noise when braking on descents, and while the main issue i…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another wheel day (you know the rest). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Built a rear wheel with LEW's 32mm high rim
Another wheel day (details omitted). I built a rear wheel using LEW's 32mm high rim. Evolite hub, 24 holes, black half-competition 4-cross lacing pattern. I'll …
Built a front wheel with LEW's 32mm high rim
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a LEW 32mm high tubular rim for me to work with. The serial number label embedded in the tire bed also star…
Built a rear wheel with an M50 rim
Another day, another wheel (you know the drill). Built up a rear wheel using an ENVE M50 rim. Chris King R45D hub, 28H, black, semi-comp 4/6 JIS lacing. I'll te…
Bora WTO 33 Rear Wheel
A customer dropped off a Bora WTO 33 (high-performance carbon wheelset) rear wheel with me. They'd bent one spoke. ↑That one in the middle Even with the tension…
Built a Front Wheel with AL22W Rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a front wheel with an AL22W rim. Evolight hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. I don't think I'll be running it tubeless…
The Relationship Between ENVE Rim Width and Tire Width
Right now, I'm building front and rear wheels with the M50, an MTB rim from a previous generation of ENVE, and here's what I've researched about this. First, EN…
Built the rear wheel for Nomulab Wheel No. 5
It's wheels again today (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomulab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 28H, semi-comp 4-cross lacing pattern Silver spokes with black n…
First Generation R-SYS
A customer brought in the front wheel from an original first-generation R-SYS. To be precise, this is the model after the front wheel was recalled and replaced.…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY inpoke radial lacing with green aluminum nipples.
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing Silver spokes with black nipples— …
Ridiculously Oversized Lever (with addendum—repost)
FORCE's etap lever is way too big. I might write more about this later. Addendum In the image above, the lever really is oversized, but the handlebar drop is so…
Bora One 50 Dark Label Tubular
A customer brought in a Bora One rear wheel for repair. You can clearly see in the image above that the spokes are bent. Unlike the previous post, I haven't rel…
Racing Zero Night
A customer brought in the rear wheel from their Racing Zero Night (high-performance wheelset) for repair. While doing maintenance at home, they accidentally stu…
TLO-san
A customer brought in a complete wheel assembled with Schmolke's TLO rim by the manufacturer in-house. Both front and rear wheels are built with Extralight disc…
Upper ZS44 / Lower ZS56... No, Actually ZS55
I once rode an Orbea Aqua, a budget aluminum frame bike. The reason I chose it was that among the dozens of complete bikes at my previous workplace, I searched …
Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT
A customer brought in a Racing Zero for repairs. Starting with the front wheel. Apparently it got tangled with a mama-chari (utility bicycle) and something wrap…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2 with a PowerTap hub
Today it's wheels again (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2 with a PowerTap hub. PowerTap final generation PRO hub, 28-hole, laced in a…
Assembled the Rear Wheel for Nomunlab Wheel #8 (Tentative)
Another day of wheels (and so on). I assembled the rear wheel for Nomunlab Wheel #8. Revo disc hub, 24-hole, semi-comp 46-spoke JIS lacing. I'll do the wire lac…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #8 (tentative)
Another day of wheel building (and so on). But first. This is the rear wheel of Nomu Lab Wheel #5 that I built on April 23rd, I chose it as a frame simply becau…
Nomu Lab Wheel Knockoff
A customer brought in a wheel built with an AL22W rim for inspection. Starting with the rear wheel. The hub is from the BITEX brand and built to roughly semi-co…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Back to wheels today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 20H, CX Sprint outpoke radial lacing Basically silver aluminum ni…
Rebuilt a wheel with DT's R500 rim (rear wheel, so part 2)
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). This is a continuation from the other day. Rebuilding a rear wheel that was built with a DT R500 rim. FH-R7070 32H…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 24-hole, semi-comp four-cross lacing. I'll do the spoke…
Rebuilt a DT R500 rim wheel (front wheel, part 1)
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer dropped off a front wheel built with a DT R500db rim. The differences from the RR series like RR411db are: ・The …
Built a front wheel with a CXP40 rim
Another wheel build today (and so on...). I built a front wheel using a Mavic CXP40 rim. Looking at the rim itself, it really seems like they just took a rim de…
I Switched to Ekar Bottom Bracket
I mentioned previously that I bought only the crank from Campagnolo's gravel component set, 「Ekar」. Shimano's GRX has a stated Q-factor of 151mm for both single…
The 98.9% Win Rate Guy
A customer brought in a Fuji chromoly frame fixed gear bike for city riding. The seatpost is seized and won't come out. I've got my 99% win rate tool here, but …
Shamal Mille
A customer dropped off the front wheel from a Shamal Mille (Italian road wheel brand). I didn't ask for all the details, but apparently some chain—not the bicyc…
Racing Zero Front Wheel
A customer brought in the front wheel from a Racing Zero for repair. One spoke is broken. ↑This is a straightforward break, but compared to how often I see spok…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 24H, black semi-competition 4-cross lacing. I'll do the spoke nipple…
DT R460 Rim Wheel
A customer dropped off a wheel built with a DT R460 rim. In addition to wheel inspection, a complete disassembly down to the frame was necessary, and this wheel…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another wheel day today (you know the drill). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Today I'm also working on a separate job—a wheel that some hack sho…
Searching for a Fulcrum Rear Right Red Spoke
A customer left me with a red spoke from a Fulcrum rear wheel to source a replacement. It's from a Racing Zero rear wheel with rim brakes, a freewheel-side spok…
Rebuilt a wheel assembled with XR361 rim (it's the front wheel, but here's the conclusion)
Another day working on wheels (details omitted). Continuing from last time. I'm rebuilding the front wheel that was assembled with an XR361 rim. 32H, all-black …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolight hub, 24H, semi-comp four-cross lacing pattern. I'll do the spoke tensi…
Rebuilding a Wheel Built with XR361 Rim (Rear Wheel, Part 1)
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel built with a DT XR361 rim. It's 29 inches, by the way. FH-M9000, 32H, all-black competition si…
More About the C38
The Roval C38 that I reassembled the other day was picked up by the customer, so I hurriedly finished the remaining spoke lacing. While doing that, I heard an i…
CLX64
A customer brought in a Roval CLX64 wheel for repair. It's a rim brake model with a non-tubeless compatible rim. The customer bringing it in wasn't the original…
Rebuilt rear wheel with DT350 hub using DT350 hub
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer dropped off a rear wheel from a brand called Farsports with a carbon tubular rim. It's fitted with a cyclocross tire, …
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, April 12th (Monday), I need to take the day off due to some unavoidable business. It's extremely rare for this to fall on a Monday. I guess that was t…
Sonya is Ridiculously Classy, Darling
I found a Defeet sock with an interesting model name and decided to pick some up. ↑This one. On the distributor's website, part of the model name was censored a…
I rebuilt the Roval C38 (rear wheel edition since it's the back)
Another day with wheels (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel of the Roval C38 as well. The hub is a DT350 with a dual-brand…
Rebuilt the Roval C38 (Front Wheel, So Part 1)
True: "Today's wheels too" (and so on). I received a Roval C38 wheel from a customer. I believe it was mentioned as a bonus wheel with a complete bike, though i…
Replaced the rear rim on a Ksyrium Pro Exalith SL
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a Ksyrium rear wheel. Though it's called a Ksyrium by model name, the actual wheel itself is completely R-S…
I rebuilt the hologram wheel (it's the rear, but that's not why—part 2)
More wheels today (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel that came as a bonus with the complete bike. 28H black Competition-g…
Aeolus 3
I received a Bontrager Aeolus 3 on consignment from a customer. It's a complete carbon WO rim wheelset. The hub is DT-made, and the freebody is for Campagnolo. …
I Rebuilt the Hologram Wheel (It's the front wheel, but this is part one)
Another day working on wheels (and so on). A customer brought me a Cannondale Hologram disc brake wheel to rebuild. I'll be rebuilding both front and rear, but …
Built a rear wheel with an AL22W rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a rear wheel with an AL22W rim. Evolite (Japanese brand) hub 24H black half-comp four-cross lacing with gold aluminum nippl…
On Second-Generation Valve Bushings and Compatibility with Specific Tube Valves
I decided against making the title "Bora Ultra 35 Bright Label Clincher" because I thought it would be hard to find this article later. I received a Bora Ultra …
Prime's 60mm High Rim Front Wheel
The front wheel, partner to the rear wheel I rebuilt the other day I'm doing an inspection. Novatec straight spoke hub, 20H Black Aero Lite straight radial laci…
Kshyrium Pro Carbon UST Disc
A customer dropped off a Kshyrium Pro Carbon UST Disc for me. It's brand new, never used since purchase. They wanted an inspection done. ↑The usual pattern. The…
SES 3.4 Front Wheel
This is the partner wheel to the rear I rebuilt the other day. Chris King R45 hub, 20H Black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. The customer asked if there's any mor…
Bora One 50 Dark Label
I received a Bora One (high-end wheel set) from a customer for inspection. They wanted a full checkup. The front wheel was perfectly centered with only minimal …
Built a rear wheel with an LWC rim and Fulcrum hub
Another wheel day (details omitted). A customer left me an LWC 30mm deep (actually measured at 30.5mm) tubular rim with me. It's a 24H rim with evenly spaced ho…
Built a front wheel with an AL22W rim
Another day, another wheel build (you know the drill). Built a front wheel with an AL22W rim. Evo Lite hub, 20H, CX-RAY spokes, outpoke radial lacing Gold alumi…
I converted the rear wheel of the original Hyperon Ultra to CULT bearings
Continuing from the front wheel work the other day. Converting the rear wheel of the original Hyperon Ultra to CULT bearings. The freewheel body is missing beca…
Rebuilt the rear wheel of the Prime with a 60mm high rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in a Prime rear wheel. It's got a 60mm high tubular rim, and apparently they've only used it for 100 …
Adaptive Final Shipment
We're in the middle of our Fizik Versus EVO Antares Adaptive festival, and I stopped by the wholesaler again today and picked up more stock. The inventory shown…
When the Ratchet Feel of 3rd Generation (Current) Ergopower Levers Starts to Fade
The "3rd generation" in the title is my own arbitrary classification. ↑Large bracket body with a sharp tip — this is the 1st generation, ↑Next, the bracket body…
Rapide CLX 13062
I took in the latest Rapide CLX from a customer. It's a wheelset with rim depths of 51mm front and 60mm rear. The rim width is even wider than the previous mode…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on the SES3.4
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer dropped off a Smart Envy System 3.4 in tubular rim spec for me to work on. I'll do a check on the front wheel an…
I converted the front wheel of the original Hyperion Ultra to CULT bearings
Another day with wheels (and so on). I took in an original Hyperion Ultra from a customer. It was Campagnolo's first model to adopt ceramic bearings, but it was…
The Adaptive Festival is Winding Down Soon
Stopped by the distributor again today and picked up some Fizik Adaptive saddles. Stock to replace what sold over the weekend, plus some special orders. The 00 …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Today it's wheels again (et cetera). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 24H, black half-comp 4-cross lacing with gold aluminum nipple…
I Rebuilt the Rear Wheel of a Reynolds Attack Rim
A customer dropped off a Reynolds Attack rear wheel for me. It's a standard stock rear wheel, purchased at auction for a specific purpose. All we really need is…
Built the rear wheel for SES4.5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built up the rear wheel using a tubular rim for the Smart Env System 4.5. The model name for the rim as a standalone comp…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
I received a rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 (custom wheelset) from a customer. For reasons, we decided to replace the rim. Also, there was some deformation…
Replaced the rear wheel rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
I received the rear wheel of Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2 from a customer. Unusually for this rim, the brake zone has bulged from heat damage. ↑For example, this Based …
Built the front wheel for SES4.5
Another day on wheels (and so on). Built a front wheel on the SES (Smart Envi System) 4.5 tubular rim. The rim's standalone model name is A48. The SES3.4 rim fr…
Responding to Comments
Regarding the recent article about the GVOLT70, I received a comment pointing out that the 70 and 100 are in lux, not candela. Thank you for the comment. I'll m…
GVOLT140
I bought a CatEye GVOLT70. I know someone will say "didn't you already buy one before?" but I bought that one just to write an article about it, used it a bit, …
About Shimano Parts
Recently we've been experiencing unbelievable delays. The whole world's been stirred up by that situation, and while it's probably not unrelated, I have a feeli…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on the SES 3.4
It's wheel day again (and so on). A customer brought in the front and rear wheels from a SES 3.4 with tubeless-ready rims. I didn't take a photo of the front wh…
Replying to Comments
Regarding the traces from the valve hole expansion the other day, I received three comments suggesting: "Wasn't that a taper reamer rather than a drill?" Ah, I …
It's been a while since I drank something other than distilled spirits
I bought this rosé sparkling wine as article material, and it had a smooth taste — perfect as an aperitif. Now, when I say aperitif here, I don't mean it in the…
Built a rear wheel with a Rhino Lite rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer entrusted me with a Sun Rhino Lite rim. It's a DH-type rim from back when tubeless tires and disc brakes were…
Zero Zero Zero Zero Zero Zero Rose Zero Zero
Regarding the Fizik adaptive saddle, I picked up 00s and R3s today as restocking for what sold over the weekend and for orders I've received. Since the distribu…
Built a wheel with a Duke rim (front wheel, so part one)
Another wheel build today (you know the drill). Don't stand behind me... Snap! Built a front wheel using a super-lightweight 29-inch MTB rim from the Duke brand…
Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Back to wheels today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, and blue aluminum nipples.
I Built a Front Wheel Using a Zonda DB Hub and Racing 3 DB Rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I received a front wheel with a Racing 3 DB rim from a customer. The rotor mount uses center-lock, but most manufacturer…
Strike SLG
I received a Reynolds Strike SLG from a customer. The customer is not the original owner of this wheel. Let me start with the front wheel. The spokes are twiste…
The CLX50
A customer brought in the rear wheel for disc brakes on a Roval CLX50. The rear derailleur pulley cage suddenly snapped, and the shock caused the chain to fall …
Racing Zero Carbon Check-up
Today I'm doing inspections on two Racing Zero Carbon bikes for different issues, and one of them had a bent spoke that needed replacing. There was noticeable w…
Rebuilt the Open Pro CD Ceramic Rim Rear Wheel
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel with the Open Pro CD ceramic rim. FH-7700, 32H, #15 plain True Starbrig…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on the AR58
Today it's wheels again (and so on) But since I'm building a separate one anyway, I can skip counting this one. Rebuilt the rear wheel on the AR58. Got it built…
Rebuilt the Open Pro CD Ceramic Rim Front Wheel
Another wheel day today (etc.). A customer left me a front and rear wheel set built with Open Pro CD Ceramic rims. Today I only dealt with the front wheel. HB-7…
I Rebuilt the Rear Wheel on the AR58
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel on a Reynolds AR58. Reynolds brand hub, 24H, all black race…
Rebuilt the SES 4.5 rear wheel
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel from a Smart Enve System 4.5 for me to work on. Actually, I'd had them ask me before to do an …
Rebuilt the Front Wheel on the AR58
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer dropped off a Reynolds AR58 for service. The rear wheel was loose, so they wanted me to rebuild it, The front wh…
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, February 18th (Thursday), I'll be taking the day off due to pressing personal matters. I apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understan…
Rebuilt the Prime AT01 rear wheel
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in a Prime AT01 rear wheel for me to work on. The rim is made by ALEXRIMS, but there's no AT01 model …
Rebuilt a 38mm High-Carbon Rim Rear Wheel
Today it's wheels again (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel built with a 38mm high-carbon WO rim (tubeless incompatible). Novatec FS522 straight-pul…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolight hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with purple aluminum nipple…
All About Texture: Mostly Tacky Bar Tape Talk
About the 2.0 Tacky Hybrid bar tape—the half-textured/half-smooth version from Extraum— the other day when I wrapped it on a handlebar type that finishes wrappi…
Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Rebuilt the rear wheel of the CL50
Another day of wheel work (details omitted). I received a rear wheel from a Rovāru CL50 for service. It's CL, not CLX — an oddly specific cost-cutting measure t…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day with wheels (etc.). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 28 hole, black semi-comp, 4-cross lacing with blue aluminum nipple…
Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT
I received a Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT from a customer. Starting with the front wheel. There's a note on the rim's outer edge saying "Only Hutchinson tubeless tires …
Bora One Front Wheel
A customer brought in the front wheel from a Bora One (high-end racing wheelset) for repair. One spoke is completely broken, and apparently it just snapped with…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 24 holes, all black, full CX-RAY, 46-cross lacing pattern. I did…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evo Lite hub, 20H, black CX Sprint outpoke radial lacing.
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Another day of wheelbuilding (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Evolite hub, 24-spoke, black half-champion lacing pattern. I'll do th…
Built a rear wheel with AL22W rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Unlike the front wheel, this one started with completely disassembling the original wheel. The customer left me an OpenPro rim re…
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, February 5th (Friday), I'll be taking the day off due to unavoidable circumstances. I apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you for your understa…
Built a front wheel with AL22W rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a front wheel with an AL22W rim. HB-9000 28H black CX Sprint with 4-cross Italian lacing Orange aluminum nipples. Since DT …
Built a rear wheel with XR240 rim
Another wheel build today (etc.). Built a rear wheel with the XR240 small-diameter rim. Evolite hub 24H black Champion #14 46-spoke lacing, spoke nipples hidden…
Built a rear wheel with XT hub and Crest MK3 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a rear wheel with a Crest MK3 rim and XT hub. FH-8110-B 28H semi-comp four-cross JIS lacing. I'll do the spoke nipple tig…
Built a front wheel with XT hub and Crest MK3 rim
Another wheel build today (and so on). Built a front wheel with a Stans Crest MK3 (tubeless-ready rim) 29-inch rim. HB-M8110-B 28H semi-CX sprint 64-spoke rever…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX Sprint outpoke radial lacing with red aluminum nipple…
Racing Zero Night Rear Wheel
A customer dropped off the rear wheel from their Racing Zero Night for repair. A spoke had broken. It snapped during a hard pedal stroke on a climb. This wasn't…
Built a front wheel with the Kinlin XR240 rim
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). Built a front wheel using a Kinlin XR240 rim. There's a 700C rim with the same name out there, but this one is for…
CLX32
I received a rear wheel from a CLX32 from a customer. They said they inherited it from an acquaintance, and it has some runout. The amount of runout was so seve…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. Mounted the tire with rim cement.
Built a rear wheel with the WH-7801-C rim and WH-R9100-C24 hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built a rear wheel using the tubular rim from the WH-7801-C and the hub from the WH-R9100-C24. 20H black Champion s…
I Bought Pearl Izumi Toe Shoe Covers
I bought Pearl Izumi toe shoe covers. ↑This thing I had stocked them intending to use them as prizes for a year-end raffle drawing I had been using Lizardskin t…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evolite hub, 24H, black semi-competition 4-cross lacing pattern. I'll do the …
Rebuilt the Rear Wheel on the CLX50
I say "rebuilt" in the title but since I didn't do a complete disassembly today I also won't meet the wheel (and so on) quota. Anyway, a customer brought in the…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day, another wheel (etc.). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with red aluminum nipples.
Built a rear wheel with Wininium Plus rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a rear wheel with a Kolima Wininium+ rim. The pre-built wheel spec has rim holes in a pair-spoke-ish dense-sparse phase pat…
Rebuilt the front wheel of a GIANT SLR
Another day of wheel work (and so on). A customer brought in the front wheel of a GIANT SLR. It's a 30mm high carbon tubeless-ready rim. Compared to the Nomu La…
About DT Champions and Other Spoke Types
Currently, the DT wholesaler only stocks two types of spokes in regular inventory: Champion and Competition. The manufacturer's website still lists Revolution, …
Built rear wheel with RR411db rim
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built a rear wheel with an RR411db rim. Revo disc hub, 24H black semi-comp, JIS lacing pattern with silver aluminum nippl…
Built a Front Wheel with DT RR411db Rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a front wheel with a DT RR11db rim. I removed the stickers from the rim per the customer's request. With this particular ri…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced with red aluminum nipples…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheel building again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolight hub, 24H, black semi-comp 46-cross lacing, and red aluminum ni…
AL31W Rim and PowerTap Hub Wheel Build
Another wheel day (and so on). Built the rear wheel with a Tni AL31W rim and PowerTap hub. Like the AL22W rim, the number indicates rim height, and it's a wide …
Racing Speed Dark Label
I received a rear wheel from a Racing Speed bike from a customer. One spoke in the freewheel direction and one spoke in the opposite direction are both broken—t…
About the Compatibility Between Ass Savers Mudguards and Saddles
About the Ass Savers (mudguard) that we sold here previously, Due to the FLIP-TIP design unique to Ass Savers, tension is applied so that the rear end of the mu…
Built a rear wheel with a carbon tubeless rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Following up from the other day. I built a rear wheel with a carbon tubeless rim. Revo disc hub, 24H, semi-comp 46-spoke JIS lac…
Built a front wheel with carbon tubeless rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a front wheel with a 42mm high carbon tubeless rim that a customer left with me. It has an offset rim and the shape aroun…
Built a front wheel with a 404 WO rim (front wheel, but the latter part)
Another wheel day (etc.). Continuing from yesterday. I built a front wheel with a 404 WO rim. Revo disc hub 24H black half-CX sprint 404 reverse Italian laced. …
Built a rear wheel with a ZIPP 404 WO rim (rear wheel but part one)
Another wheel day (details omitted). Built a rear wheel using the ZIPP 404 WO (non-tubeless) rim that Neda-seijin brought over. It has a brake zone, so it doesn…
Rebuilt Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 with AL22W Rim
A customer brought in their Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 for work. Starting with the rear wheel. They wanted to rebuild it with an AL22W rim, and since the rim inner di…
Built a front wheel with a Bontrager hub and Easton rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I took a Bontrager front wheel in from a customer. The rim is a WO narrow aluminum rim, and the hub is 20H large flange with phas…
Built a rear wheel with SES4.5 tubular rim
Today another wheel build (and so on). But before that. ↑This is the measured weight of an Evo Lite front hub, and the manufacturer spec is also 60g, same as th…
Top Ten Quick Tip (Just One Sip)
About Sato Pharmaceutical's Top Ten (energy drink), when you've drunk it down to the very last drop put it upside down in your jersey pocket for a while, then l…
Stop telling Zwift top rankers "Wow, that's amazing! It's like being better at Taiko no Tatsujin than an actual professional drummer!"
The title has nothing to do with the article content. Over the new year, I was making pixel art animations of "a two-legged carrot walking around inside a plast…
Built a front wheel with SES 4.5 tubular rim
Another wheel day yesterday (and so on). Yesterday (January 6th) I was quietly working away in the shop. I built a front wheel with a Smart Envy System 4.5 tubu…
Year-End and New Year's Holiday Hours
Regarding our year-end and new year's hours, we will be closed from December 31st through January 6th. Thank you for your understanding. ↑This is a Seiko Premie…
Ksyrium Pro Exalith SL
A customer brought in a Ksyrium Pro Exalith SL for service. It's a wheel we've inspected before at the shop, but there's an odd noise during pedaling that they …
Built a disc brake front wheel with CX22 rim
Wednesday is normally our day off, but a customer who can only be in Osaka until today came by, so I opened the shop. Since I opened up, there's no way I'm leav…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Gran Compe II hub, 32H, all-black, strong lacing, JIS cross-laced, no spoke n…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another day on wheels (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evolite hub, 24H, black Campagnolo outpoke radial laced.
Built a front wheel with AL22W DB rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built a front wheel with an AL22W rim. It's the matching pair to the rear wheel I built the other day, with the rear …
Built a rear wheel with AL31W DB rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built a rear wheel with an AL31W rim. It's disc brake spec with no brake zone, and while offset rim versions are avai…
I Rebuilt the Marchisio Wheel (Part 2: Rear Wheel)
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Tnî aluminum rims that had been out of stock for about three months finally came in. The Nomulab Wheel #5 rims were also on…
WH-R9100-C24-CL Customer
A customer brought in an R9100 C24 for inspection. They've quietly discontinued the tubeless (TL) wheels, so I don't think they need to include "CL" at the end …
I rebuilt the Marcksio wheel (front wheel edition since it's the front)
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left me a wheel from the Marcksio (Italian wheel brand) brand, the T700 model. It says it's made in Italy, but one thi…
Cosmic Pro and Ksyrium Pro
I received a Cosmic Pro Carbon UST (Unidirectional System Technology) from a customer for inspection. It's brand new, and they want a full inspection. Let me st…
I Built a Front Wheel with a Dynamo Hub
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built a front wheel with a Shimano dynamo hub. The rim is an ALEXRIMS CX24 32 hole, fully competizione Italian-style laci…
Built a rear wheel with DA16 rim
Another wheel build day (and so on). A customer left me a rear wheel built with a 700C aluminum rim. There's a sticker with the shop name on it, so it's one of …
Replaced the rear wheel rim on a Racing Zero
Another day working on wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a Racing Zero rear wheel for work. The rim had buckled and was deformed, so we decided to repla…
What's Trending These Days — YouTube, Go To, Fake Enve
The title is just a play on the opening of the Nijokawaraharagaki graffiti, though I'm not sure if fake Enve systems are actually trending. A customer dropped o…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5. Evolite hub, 18H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. The front 18H Evo hub and Ev…
Rebuilt a Montreal Rim Rear Wheel
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel built with an Ambrosio Montreal rim. I've got the same rim myself—mine's the silver version th…
Pearl Connection
A customer sent me a box with a wheel inside ↑and it looked like this, I had a feeling I'd seen it before It was the Pearl Metal brand. I've used their frying p…
Yesterday Was a Day of Pressing Business
Since it was a regular closing day anyway, I didn't post any announcements. Not the 12-year-old Chivas Regal, but I finally got my hands on the "18-year". Setti…
Do You Know the Kani-Kosen Sticker "Red Label"?!
↑You don't need to know about it, really. So about this Kani-Kosen sticker— originally it was for the owners of wheels I built and as a visitor perk (→ here ). …
Built a rear wheel with Tni's 38mm high carbon rim
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built a rear wheel with Tni's 38mm high carbon rim. It's the same rim as the one on Nomu Lab Wheel #2. FH-6700 24H semi-c…
Built a rear wheel with Formula Crono rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built a rear wheel with an Ambrosio Formula Crono rim. Evolite hub, 28H, black half comp, 4x lacing pattern with spoke b…
The 202
I received the rear wheel of a ZIPPI 202 from a customer. From either a chain drop or the derailleur getting caught, two spokes were broken, Calling those two b…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4. Tni Wing Hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. This hub was entrusted to me …
Cosmic Pro Carbon SL UST Customer Wheel
A customer brought in a Cosmic Carbon wheel for service. They mentioned noticing inconsistency in spoke tension, and requested truing work. Even for a Mavic off…
Built a rear wheel with RR411db rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built the rear wheel with an RR411db rim. Revo disc hub, 24 holes, black semi-comp, 46-spoke JIS lacing pattern. I'll…
WH-R9100-C40-CL
A customer brought in a WH-R9100, essentially a C35 WO rim model wheel for inspection. They wanted the hub and rim trueness checked. Let's start with the front …
Built a rear wheel with DA16 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a rear wheel with a DA16 rim for a 20-inch fixed gear. Record hub, 32H, black plain spokes in a 46-cross pattern DT Champio…
Rebuilt the CLX50DB Rear Wheel
Another day of wheel building (etc.). Not only did this fail to meet the conditions, but the work itself went way beyond just wheel building itself and was actu…
Replaced the ENVE Rear Rim
Today it's wheel-building (and so on). It doesn't meet the criteria, but what I'm doing is wheel-building itself. A customer brought in a rear wheel built with …
Built a rear wheel with AL22W rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built a rear wheel with an AL22W rim. It's a Novatec 482SL hub, 24-hole, laced in a semi-comp pattern, but because it's an …
Built a rear wheel with FH-9000 and Open Pro
Another day building wheels (and so on). Built a rear wheel with an Open Pro rim in hard anodized color. FH-9000 32H Campagnolo/4-cross lacing. I'll do the valv…
I've decided to stock and sell Imidji sealant
Before getting into the main topic. The other day, I rebuilt the front wheel of a Roval CLX64 Disc that was unusable because the rim was thrashing laterally at …
Built a rear wheel with a Crest 29-inch rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built the rear wheel to match yesterday's front wheel. FH-RS770 28H half-comp 46-tooth JIS laced with solder wraps. This hub is…
The Pro 3 Race Tire Catastrophe
A customer brought in a Cosmic SL for service. It's a wheel that was marketed as Cosmic Carbon SL, but apart from cosmetic rim differences, it's essentially the…
Built a front wheel with Crest 29-inch rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Built a front wheel with a Crest 29-inch rim. HB-RS770 28H, semi-CX sprint 64-spoke reverse Italian lacing. I'll do the spoke th…
Built a rear wheel with DT RR411db rim
Wheels again today (and so on). I built a rear wheel with a DT RR411db rim. Revo disc hub, 24 holes, black semi-competition 4x6 lacing pattern. I'll do the spok…
Built a front wheel with an AL22W rim
Another wheel day (et cetera). Built a front wheel with an AL22W rim. The hub is basically a different color variant of the Evo-Lite hub, originally a Novatech …
CLX64 Rear Wheel (the rear wheel edition)
A customer brought in the rear wheel from a CLX64. It's the companion to the front wheel I rebuilt yesterday. The companion to the front wheel I rebuilt yesterd…
Notes on Whether Cyclocross Tire Width Measures Under 33mm
For my road bike's rear wheel that I ride daily, I use a DT XR331 rim with 25C tires, or with 23C tires at my own risk and outside manufacturer recommendation b…
Built a front wheel with an Aero 2 rim
Another day, another wheel build (etc.). Built a front wheel with an Araya Aero 2 rim. Tradizione Classic hub (←typo on the brand's website that never gets fixe…
CLX64 Guy (Front Wheel Edition Since It's the Front)
A customer dropped off a Roval CLX64 with me. This is a wheel that came on an S-Works Tarmac worth around 1.4 million yen. I received both front and rear wheels…
Rebuilt the trike front wheels (both of them—part two)
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Following yesterday's rear wheel, I'm rebuilding both front wheels too. Originally the plan was just to rebuild the rear wh…
I Rebuilt the Trike Rear Wheel (Part 1: The Rear Wheel)
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel built with a 120mm-high tubular rim. It's a trike rear wheel—and by trike (three-whee…
Taking Time Off the Day After Tomorrow
I'll be taking a day off on Thursday, November 19th the day after tomorrow, due to some unavoidable matters. I apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you fo…
Built a fixed gear rear wheel with Open Pro rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built the rear wheel with a Dura-Ace track hub and Open Pro rim. HB-7600, single-threaded, 36 holes, fully comp, 88-Italian lacin…
Built a fixed gear front wheel with Open Pro
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built a front wheel using a Dura-Ace track hub and Open Pro rim. HB-7600 36H Campagnolo Record lacing in Italian (3-c…
Built a rear wheel with CX22 rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Built a rear wheel with a CX22 rim. Evolite hub, 28H, laced in a semi-competition 4-cross pattern. I'll do the spoke tying later…
Built a front wheel with CX22 rim
Another day of wheels (and so on). Built a front wheel with a CX22 rim. Evolite hub, 28H, CX-RAY 4x Italian cross lacing pattern.
Built a rear wheel with Sun's M19A rim
Another wheel build day (and so on). I received a Chris King rear hub from a customer (sort of). It's an MTB rim brake hub with a 135mm quick-release dropout, b…
Disassembled Reynolds 46 knockoff rear wheel and rebuilt the rear wheel
Another wheel day (etc.). A customer left me with an object connecting a DT 240S hub and a Reynolds Forty-Six rim with Pillar spokes. Both sides with Pillar squ…
WH-7900-C24-CL Customer
I received a WH-7900 C24 WO wheel from a customer. They wanted a hub overhaul and inspection. Let me start with the rear wheel. The dust cap on the left side is…
Racing Speed XLR
I received a Racing Speed XLR from a customer. In Bora terms, this is the model equivalent to the Ultra, with a carbon hub shell and CULT bearing model. It's no…
R-SYS
The drill screams! A customer entrusted me with the front wheel of an R-SYS. In the image above, I'd already removed the hub axle and taken out one spoke, but t…
Neutron
A customer brought in a Neutron rear wheel for repair. It got hit from behind by an acquaintance's bike, and one spoke is bent. The customer had already marked …
Racing 3
A customer brought in the rear wheel from a Racing 3 for repair. One spoke is completely bent, apparently from the rider taking off with the wire lock still eng…
Racing 3
I received a rear wheel from a customer's Racing 3 for service. ↑Image oriented roughly at 12 o'clock position; the spoke that looks unusually thin is because I…
Replaced the front rim on a Campagnolo Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT
Another day with wheels (and so on). I received a front wheel from a customer—a Racing Zero. ↑The valve hole had expanded due to corrosion, so they wanted to re…
Built a wheel with WH-RS80 components (Part 2)
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel using WH-RS80-C50 components. Apart from using nipples made for Bora hubs, I built it in the standar…
I Bought an Ekar Crankset
Most of the bikes I use regularly these days are front single-speed setups. When Shimano's GRX came out a little while back, I thought about buying just the cra…
Hand-Built Wheel Restoration: Colima WO Rim with Chris King Disc Hub
A customer brought in a rear wheel built with a Colima WO rim and Chris King disc hub. The tension on the non-drive side has gone completely slack, so the custo…
Built a rear wheel with a hub from the brand founded by a former Nankai hub developer (← shameless plug)
Another wheel day today (and so on). Built a rear wheel for a BMX. The hub is a CH-MX hub from NYB Japan. Available in 36H only, hub shell color is either black…
Built a rear wheel with SES AD35 rims
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I rebuilt the front wheel from my earlier semi-CX Sprint 6-cross lacing into a 4-cross pattern. With the CX-RAY side …
Built a front wheel with SES's AD35 rim
Unrelated to the title, but: Today I did a rim swap on Nomu Lab Wheel #5 —the one with a PowerTap G3 hub and silver spokes. Separately, I've also been fixing th…
Speed 40T
I received a Fulcrum Speed 40T from a customer. The Speed 40T (tubular) comes in the CULT specification, which corresponds to the Ultra in Bora terms, while the…
Built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 Rear Wheel
Another day of wheel building (and so on). A customer brought in a WH-R9100-24-CL rear wheel (a rare one, since it's barely selling). We'd done a truing job on …
Built a rear wheel with RR411db rim
Another day, another wheel (you know the drill). Built the rear wheel with a DT RR411db rim. Revo disc hub, 24H, black, semi-competition with 4-cross lacing pat…
Racing Zero Tubular
I received a Racing Zero from a customer. They wanted hub inspection and truing work. Starting with the front wheel. The rim is tubular spec. The wheel had bare…
Top Ten Wasn't Discontinued After All
Top Ten came in stock. The wholesaler's inventory had been out of stock for a long time, and I was starting to suspect it had been discontinued, but since order…
I rebuilt a Zentis rim brake rear wheel into a disc brake front wheel
Another wheel day (and so on). From a customer A Zentis Squad 2.5...no, 2.5SL rear wheel that I'm working on. In this industry, specs touted as particularly lig…
Pista Front Wheel
A customer brought me a Campagnolo Pista front wheel for service. I'm not sure if this is the matching pair for the rear wheel from that Araya ADX 1-S I worked …
Rebuilt the CLX50 Tubeless Rear Wheel
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer left me with a Roval CLX50 rear wheel. Carbon tubeless rim. I'll write this clearly even though some people won'…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #3
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #3. I haven't peeled off the stickers on either the front or rear wheel because the adhe…
I rebuilt the rear wheel of the XRC1200
Another day of wheel building (and so on). A customer brought in a DT complete wheel, the 29-inch model of the XRC1200. It's a carbon tubeless-ready rim with no…
About Araya Aero Rims
Some additional notes about Araya aero rims. I've got this many in the shop just from my personal collection. From top to bottom: Aero 2 and Aero 1, ADX1-S and …
Rejected CX-RAY spokes for defects
I'm using CX-RAY spokes on the wheel from my previous post, but I found 2 defective ones so I rejected them. ↑These guys First one. The flattened direction of t…
Rebuilt rear wheel assembled with ADX1-S rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). I received a fixed gear rear wheel assembled with an ADX1-S rim from a customer. The rim says ADX-1, but this is the later-…
6¹+6²+6³
Another day of wheels (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel with the Mechnico 25mm high rim. A sibling hub to the Reif hub—20 sp…
2 to the 8th Power, or √65536
Back to wheels again today (and so on). A customer brought in a front wheel—a Mechanico 25mm high carbon tubular rim. 16-hole, black CX-RAY with washers under t…
Replying to Comments
Regarding my previous post, I received a comment asking: 「Wasn't Mavic's first carbon brake zone road wheel the Comete?」 Regardless of whether it was specifical…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #3
Back to wheel building today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #3. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX Sprint outpoke radial lacing.
Cosmic Pro Carbon SL UST
I received a Cosmic Pro Carbon SL UST from a customer. Brand new. Since it came in with its original box, I assumed it was from overseas mail order, and I was r…
Racing Zero
A customer dropped off the front wheel of a Racing Zero bike. One of the spokes was bent, so I fixed it. ↑The replaced spoke The real story here is "what got ca…
Euraus
I received a Euraus from a customer for service. There's nothing particularly worth noting about the inspection. The Fulcrum wheel that corresponds to this is t…
Rebuilt the rear wheel for a Prime
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in the rear wheel from a Prime—a 50mm tall tubeless-ready carbon rim wheel. Novatec straight-pull hub, 24-hole…
Built the rear wheel with Pasenti's Buré rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built a rear wheel with Pasenti's Buré rim. A Record large flange fixed gear hub with the world mark…
I Built a Front Wheel with Pasenti's Brevet Rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a front wheel with Pasenti's Brevet rim. BREVET is a French word meaning "patent," so normally when you see this marking …
Built the rear wheel for Nomulabo Wheel No. 5
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomulabo Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 24H, semi-competition 4-cross lacing. Black spokes with black…
Glico Sports Caramel Has Arrived in Stock
Glico Sports Caramel has arrived in stock. Each bag contains approximately 18 pieces, and the wholesale unit from our supplier is a box of 7 bags, as shown in t…
I Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with red aluminum nipples…
About Rim Tape for Tubeless-Ready Rims
Recently, I've been telling customers more often that "please use tubeless-specific tape for tubeless-ready rims." To which they often reply, "But the tires I'm…
Now it truly lives up to its name!
I came up with a riddle. (↑This image was shot for a future post and isn't really related to this article) Question: Suppose Prime makes wheels in 20H, 24H, 28H…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Evolite hub, 24H black semi-comp, 4-cross lacing with J-bend spokes.
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H, laced radial with outpokes Spokes are CX Sprint, not …
Built a Rear Wheel with CX22 Rim
Another wheel build today (etc.). Built a rear wheel with a CX22 rim. Evolite hub, 24-hole, black semi-comp lacing pattern, 4-cross with black aluminum nipples.…
TORN ME OFF!
About the ASR special color model from Ascenders I've been getting requests to hold this color for me via email from an acquaintance, but I don't think that kin…
I Stocked Up on Limited Edition Ass Savers Models
I believe the pioneering product in the category of simple rear fenders inserted from the back into the saddle rail was the Mud Flap from Single Track Solutions…
Built a front wheel with CX22 rim
Another wheel build today (and so on). Built a front wheel with the CX22 rim. The Tni CX22 is an aluminum tubular rim with width and spoke hole count designed f…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Wheels again today (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Work Update
BLIP Sprinter switch operation check completed. When you press the switch the rear derailleur lights up. It moves. I'm never doing that again (covering my bases…
I rebuilt the rear wheel for the Formosa
Another wheel day (long story). I took in a rear wheel built with a WO rim from a customer, branded Formosa (Chinese carbon rebranded) . Formosa is the old Port…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evolite hub, 24H, semi-comp 46-spoke lacing pattern. I'll do the spoke nipple wrap…
For the Bull
Among Campagnolo spare parts, I lined up bearing kits for hub bodies. From top to bottom: steel ball, USB, and CULT. Each has names like Hub Renewing Kit, Hub K…
Built a rear wheel with RR411db rim
Wheels again today (etc.). There was an article with the same title three days ago, but this is a different project. That one was a CX75 hub, 28H, silver spokes…
R-SYS SLR Service
A customer brought in an R-SYS SLR for service. Back in the day, R-SYS was pushed so hard by the manufacturer that it was basically "if you buy a Ksyrium with t…
Rebuilt the Racing 3 rear wheel with Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1 rim
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer—well, actually my teammate too— brought in the rear wheel from a Racing 3. ↑The bead hook on the rim is deformed. As …
Built a rear wheel with DT RR411db rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a rear wheel with a DT RR411db rim. The front rim prioritizes lightness, while the rear rim prioritizes rigidity with an …
Built a front wheel with XR331 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a front wheel with DT's XR331 rim. Discontinued and hard-to-find CX75 series hub HB-CX75 28H (actually, this hub only comes…
I Stocked Up on Vredestein Latex Tubes
The tire brand VREDESTEIN—I think it used to be written as ヴレデステン in the past, but these days ヴェレデスティン seems to be the standard way to write it, so I'll go with…
I Built My Own Rear Wheel with a Stans Grail CB7 Rim
What's wrong with building my own wheel on my day off?! (defensive) I built a rear wheel using a Stans Grail CB7 rim. It's rated at 300g, and this particular on…
Built a rear wheel with XR361 rim
Another day, wheels (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built a rear wheel with an XR361 rim. R45D hub 32H all-black competition four-cross JIS lacing, un…
Built a front wheel with XR361 rim
Another day of wheel work (and so on). Unrelated to the title, but DT has an XR331 rim. Probably the lightest rim in the XR series, which stands for cross-count…
Black Edition 28 Carbon Rear Wheel Rebuilt
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in a Prime 28mm high tubular rim rear wheel for service. I actually just inspected the same wheel the…
Racing Quattro LG Rear Wheel
A customer brought in the rear wheel or what's left of it from a Racing Quattro LG. All the spokes on the non-freewheel side are completely broken. The bike got…
I Rebuilt the VCYCLE Wheels (Front Wheel Was Part 1, So Rear Wheel Is Part 2)
Another day with wheels (et cetera). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding my partner's rear wheel too. Since I changed the front wheel to silver spokes, I'…
Rebuilt the VCYCLE Front Wheel (It's the front wheel, but here's part one)
It's wheels again today (and so on). From a customer I received a wheel from a brand called VCYCLE called nopea38. It's a non-tubeless WO (wide clincher) carbon…
Competition 2222222222
I've got a tire stretcher—the Stretcher Y double model—but I don't use it much normally (since I rarely run into tires that are a hassle to mount), so I thought…
Built rear wheel with AL22W DB rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). Built the rear wheel with an AL22W DB rim. Revo disc hub, 24H (actually this hub only comes in 24H spec) Black sem…
Black Edition 28 Carbon-san
A customer brought in a set of Prime 28mm high tubular rim wheels for me to work on. It's a model that's solid black except for white "Prime" branding. Starting…
About Skewers
I touched on skewers in the previous post but since then I've written a lot more about skewers so I've made it a separate article. In the case of this freebody …
Right at the Expiration Date Limit
It doesn't happen very often, but some of our in-stock Glico CCD (one bag per bottle) supplements had expiration dates coming up fast, so I handed them out for …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolight hub 24H in black semi-comp with a 4-cross pattern and red aluminum …
Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on). In the background of the photo is the rear wheel I built the other day for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Today I built its matching front w…
Taking Tomorrow Off, and the Day After That Too
Tomorrow, August 28th (Friday), I have some unavoidable business to attend to, so I'll be taking the day off. And the day after tomorrow is the last Saturday of…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheel building (etc.). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evo Lite hub, 24H, half-competition four-cross pattern with red aluminum …
About Shimano Center-Lock Disc Rotor Lock Rings
The other day, I sourced disc rotors for a wheel I built with a BOOST-standard XTR hub . A customer mentioned that XTR seemed unnecessarily expensive so I went …
I Stocked Up on Absolute Black Metal Stickers
One of the manufacturers making non-circular chainrings, I've restocked the metal stickers from Absolute Black. I usually keep about 2-3 pieces on hand at the s…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lace with red aluminum …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolight hub, 24 holes, black, semi-comp lacing in a 4-cross pattern with …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4
Another wheel day (details omitted). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4. Leaf hub, 20H, CX Sprint outpoke radial lacing with red aluminum nipples. Th…
Replaced the rear rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
A customer brought in the rear wheel from a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 (a custom wheel brand) for repair. There's marking tape on it, but the rim was deformed from bu…
Shamal Ultra Dark Label
A customer dropped off a Shamal Ultra with me. The image is the front wheel. The rear wheel had the USB bearing on the right side of the hub body completely wor…
Racing Zero — The Fashionable Spoke Swap
A customer brought in a front wheel from a Racing Zero. They missed engaging their cleat properly and drove their toe into the front wheel, bending some spokes …
Built a front wheel with Crest 29-inch rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I built a front wheel with a Crest 29-inch rim. The hub is HB-M9010-B. The over-locknut dimension …
Rebuilt the front wheel of Ambrosio's Metamorphosis
Another day of wheel work (and so on). I rebuilt the rear wheel of the Ambrosio Metamorphosis the other day, and now the customer wants the front wheel rebuilt …
TC (Tubeless Complete)
We received a shipment of Goodyear tires the other day, and I almost made a pricing mistake. ↑These tires are NOT Eagle F1... They're Eagle F1 Tubeless Ready. G…
Building a Wheel with the AL22W Rim
Another wheel build today (and so on…). Built up a wheel using the AL22W rim for rim brakes. Front wheel—as you'd expect—non-offset rim Evolite hub, 20H, black …
Additional Notes on How to Wrap Extraruum Hybrid Bar Tape
Regarding the Extraruum hybrid bar tape, when wrapping with the initial inside-drop method (starting the wrap on both left and right sides toward the inside of …
Rebuilt the Rear Wheel on an Ambrosio Metamorphosis
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in an Ambrosio Metamorphosis (Metamorphosis) rim rear wheel to be rebuilt. The hub is a Campagnolo Re…
Vector
Goodyear has added new tire models to their lineup. Since the information release and in-store display authorization is August 18th, I can finally write about i…
Built a Front Wheel with AL22W DB Rim
It's wheels again today (and so on). Built a front wheel with Tni's AL22W DB rim. Revo disc hub, 24H, black semi CX sprint 46-spoke lacing in reverse Italian pa…
Built a rear wheel with Crest 29" rim
Today, another wheel build (and so on). But first. This is my personal Neutron Ultra front wheel, but I've replaced the internal nipples with universal nipples …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Built a fixed gear rear wheel with R-50 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built the rear wheel to match yesterday's front wheel. Shimano Superbe Pro fixed gear hub, 36H, black laced in an 88-pattern cr…
Built a fixed gear front wheel with R-50 rims
Another day of wheel work (and so on). I built a fixed gear front wheel using Araya's R-50 rim. The back is a bit of a mess because I haven't had time to work t…
About a Certain Company's Bar End Caps
Continuing from yesterday's article This is a follow-up to my post about a certain company's bar tape bar end caps being cheap. I've collected several chromed p…
Bora One
A customer brought in the front wheel from a Bora One for us to work on. Back when Bora only came in a 50mm high-rim version, the model name didn't include the …
Neutron
I received a Neutron rear wheel from a customer. The hub is the same as the Nucleon (ニュークリオン), and the spokes have changed from silver to black. The machining b…
Cosmic Carbone Ultimatum Tubular TDF 2019
I received a Cosmic Carbone Ultimatum (Mavic high-end wheelset) from a customer. The model name includes "Tubular," but currently or historically, there is no c…
Give Me All Velvet
Extralum makes a bar tape called Tacky Hybrid 2.0mm. ↑This one The base color is black only, and the text color comes in Dark gray and White and red—three color…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Built a front wheel with AL22W rim
A customer left me the rear wheel from their Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. The rim got crushed from the leverage of a tire lever when mounting the tire. I'm not sure if…
Bora One 35 Dark Label Clincher
A customer brought in a Bora One (high-performance carbon wheelset) for me to work on. They wanted both wheels inspected, but were particularly concerned about …
Racing Zero Carbon DB
A customer brought in a Racing Zero Carbon DB for inspection. It's brand new and the customer wanted a full inspection. Let me start with the rear wheel. The wh…
Zonda Check-up
A customer dropped off a Zonda for me to work on. It's got about 500km on it, and they wanted a full inspection. Starting with the front wheel. The temporary ce…
I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another wheel day (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolight hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced with red aluminum nipples.
Bora Ultra 35 Bright Label Clincher Rear Wheel
A customer dropped off a Bora Ultra rear wheel with us. In the image above, looking at the spoke at the very top— apparently during a ride, a branch or somethin…
Built the Rear Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
It's another wheel day (and so on...). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Evolite hub 24H semi-competition 4-cross lacing with spoke end connections…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (you know the drill). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolight hub, 24-spoke, semi-comp 4-cross lacing with cross-bracing.
Tomorrow I'm Taking a Day Off
Just to write it down occasionally, but the last Saturday of the month is our closed day. Though I sometimes forget myself and accidentally show up at the shop …
Replaced the front rim on a Racing Zero Competizione
Another day working on wheels (and so on). A customer dropped off the front wheel from their Racing Zero Competizione. The bead hook was deformed from buckling,…
Response to Comments
Regarding yesterday's Easton rear wheel post, I received a comment saying: "For rear wheel building, shouldn't you drive in the radial tension first, and handle…
Shamal Mille
I received a Shamal Mille (Campagnolo wheel set) from a customer. It's brand new. The image above is already after the work, At the customer's request, I did a …
EA90 Aero
A customer brought in an Easton EA90 Aero wheel for service. Starting with the front wheel. There's tape marking the bent spoke, but based on the rotation direc…
Built the Rear Wheel for the Nomu Lab Wheel T Series Counterpart
Today's another wheel day (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 24H, semi-comp 4-cross lacing pattern with red aluminum nippl…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Back to wheel building today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evo hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. I'll peel off the rim s…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evo-lite hub, 24 holes, laced in semi-competition four-cross pattern…
It Takes That Careless Moment to Strike
A customer brought in the rear wheel from a Kishirium Elite UST. There was a violent, jerky wobble, and it's impossible to fix with just truing work— to do it p…
Cosmic Pro Carbon UST
A customer left me a Cosmic Carbon Pro UST for service. The missing "SL" isn't a typo—this is a different model from the SL UST. There are two wheels because th…
Rebuilt the 303NSW Disk (Part 2: Front Wheel Edition)
Another day with wheels (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the front wheel of the 303NSW. Cognition hub, 24H, all-black CX-RAY, 4-cross reve…
Rebuilt a ZIPP 303 NSW Disc (Rear Wheel, Part 1)
Another day working on wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a ZIPP 303 NSW disc wheel for me to work on. Today I only touched the rear wheel. The NSW does …
Continental Grand Prix 5000 Tour de France Limited Edition In Stock
The Continental Grand Prix 5000 Tour de France limited edition model has arrived. It's a clincher tire exclusive to 700×25C size. The tire sidewall is cream-col…
I Converted the First-Generation Bora Rear Wheel to 9-Speed
A customer brought me a first-generation Campagnolo Bora to work on. This is the photo after the work was completed. The rim size is 26 inches and it's a tubula…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, with orange aluminum nipple…
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, July 16th (Thursday), I won the lottery for limited concert hall seating, so something urgent has come up and I'll be taking the day off. I apologize …
CLX32 Disc
A customer brought in the front wheel of a Roval (the distributor and general trade name is Roval) CLX32 Disc for me to work on. I forgot to take a full shot of…
Rebuilding the Front Wheel for the Moulton
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. The front wheel would work as-is without rebuilding, but since I'd end up with a spare Record rear hu…
Rebuilt a rear wheel for a Moulton
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I rebuilt the rear wheel for an Alex Moulton. This is a 17-inch rim for a Moulton. Some of you might recognize it— the prev…
AL22W DB Rim Wheel Build (Part 2)
Another day with wheel building (and so on). I built the rear wheel with the AL22W DB rim. FH-M975 32H Campagnolo/Comp 4-cross JIS laced with no crossed section…
Built a rear wheel with DT RR411db rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a rear wheel with a DT RR411db rim. With a Revo Disc hub, 24H, semi-competitive 46-spoke lacing pattern with J.I.S. wirin…
On Red Spoke Availability for Fulcrum Limited Edition Models
Since Fulcrum's Racing Zero got the oversized rear hub right flange in 2013 （the manufacturer's official name is Oversize Flange）, they haven't released a regul…
Built a wheel with LWC's 25mm high carbon tubular rim
Another wheel day (and so on...). A customer dropped off an LWC 25mm high carbon rim with me. When I take on work like this, it doesn't get archived in the crab…
Box Cost ¥5,000 (Tax Included) - Article for Trade Professionals - Part 2
This is a follow-up to the article I wrote the other day about the box cost for the OT-SP41 shift outer cable, and since there was interest in it, I'm writing t…
Rebuilt the rear wheel of a 202 Firecrest
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer dropped off a rear wheel from a ZIPP 202. It's a WO (tubular) rim spec. This customer owns ZIPP 101, 202, and 30…
Racing Zero Competizione DB Custom Red Spoke Festival
When you think of the original Racing Zero, it's the red rim, but aside from the original WO and 2WAY-FIT versions of the Racing Zero red rim, the only reissue …
Box Cost ¥5,000 Tax Included (Article for Trade Professionals) Part 1
Shimano shift outer cable, OT-SP41 50m spool (boxed) Stock was running low, so I decided to restock it. The part number is Y6009858O. But the OT-SP41 50m spool …
Italy Became Austria
A customer asked me to order a replacement roller for their Elite Arion (アリオン) three-roller trainer because one of the rollers had cracked. So I ordered it. But…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolitehub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with red aluminum nipples.
Rebuilt the Rear Wheel on a 303 Firecrest
A customer dropped off the rear wheel from a ZIPP 303 with us. After rebuilding another wheel for this customer—a ZIPP 404—with result laced spokes, they said t…
Rebuilt the SES 3.4 Tubular Rear Wheel
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel from a Smart Envy System 3.4 tubular. The rim model designation is A42, at 42mm heigh…
Shamal Ultra
A customer brought in a Shamal Ultra rear wheel for repair. They messed up releasing their clipless pedal and drove their left shoe heel into the rear wheel. Yo…
Zonda Wheel
A customer brought in a Zonda rear wheel for repair. As you can see one spoke on the freewheel side is missing, and when the customer showed me the spoke they r…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I've completed the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 24-hole, black semi-competition 4-cross lacing with re…
Reassembled the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
A customer left the rear wheel of a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 with me, but I judged that to fix it properly, the hub would need to be replaced, so I rebuilt the whee…
Swapped the F4R front wheel to a Nomu Lab Wheel 2 rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer left me with the front wheel from an FF Yamaguchi F4R. A spoke flew off while riding, which on its own I coul…
I Built the Front Wheel for a Hooligan
Another day of wheel building (and so on). A customer brought me a Cannondale Hooligan (small-wheeled bike) front wheel to build, along with a front hub for a L…
Built a rear wheel with Fastop's 55mm high carbon tubeless-ready rim
Back to wheel building today (and so on). I built up the rear wheel with a Fastop 55mm high carbon rim. Both front and rear wheels use non-offset rims, with the…
Squid and Sushi
Today, a customer (technically) came by in a car and brought sushi as a treat. The "squid and sushi" in the title is actually unrelated—it's a crime prevention …
Rebuilt the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in the front wheel from Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 for service. I built this wheel at least five years ago,…
Naboya-san Visited the Shop
Today, Naboya-san (→ here ) came to the shop. He thought the senbei (rice crackers) (→ here ) might still be in stock and came to pick some up. I took in a Cosm…
I Built a Front Wheel with FasTop's 55mm High Carbon Tubeless Ready Rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a front wheel with disc brakes using FasTop's 55mm high rim. Revo disc hub, 24 spoke, black half CX sprint 46 reverse Ita…
Racing Zero Sir
A customer brought in a Racing Zero rear wheel for me to work on. They'd lent it to an acquaintance for about half a year, and apparently it developed some runo…
I replaced all the spokes on the Zonda front wheel
The matter from the previous article still doesn't meet the conditions today (wheel inspection abbreviated). So today is the same (wheel inspection abbreviated)…
Rebuilt XR300 Rim Front Wheel with AL300 Rim
A customer brought in a front wheel built with a Kinrin (キンリン) XR300 rim. The rim color is silver, and it's built with a dynamo hub. This is something I built m…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3. Paul double-ended single-speed hub (130mm width) 24H Black Champion 4 JIS la…
Built an MTB rear wheel with an FH-M760 hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on). A customer dropped off a rear hub, and I built a 26-inch MTB rear wheel. The rim is an Araya TM-840-F silver rim. I f…
Mysterious Mark
A message for a specific customer. ↑That's the one. On a different note, while I was bending wire, it brought back memories of the last day at のむラボ (→ here ).
That's Not a Reissue, It's an Homage
Hamilton makes military watches, and their civilian version line has a series called "Khaki." ↑This is one from the Khaki line, model number "9415A," which was …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
I received a front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel from a customer. The rim was buckled and deformed, so the rim needs replacing. In the process of transferring the ri…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Back to wheels today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 28H, half-comp four-cross lacing pattern. I'll do the spoke tens…
Annual Senbei Expenses: 150,000 Yen
That was two years ago, and last year it was around 100,000 yen. I'm talking about those iron-plate grilled senbei (rice crackers) from Oguraya Seikaasha (confe…
Rebuilt the front wheel of the Eurus with a Zonda 2WAY-FIT rim
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left me with the front wheel of a Campagnolo Eurus. The reason I call it "Eurus" rather than "Yulaus" is my own arbitr…
Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day building wheels (details omitted). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolight hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with silver …
Built a wheel with a Cosmic Carbon UST rim and PowerTap hub
This isn't related to the article content, but the discounted HG901 chain sold out completely. The 2 chains in the image are separate from the remaining 4, and …
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 and Others
Four more to go. Anyway, wheels again today (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 24H, black semi-comp lacing with black alum…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
This is unrelated to the article content but here's a comment reply that only people who commented will understand. ↑That's the one! Or rather for that purpose,…
Built a disc brake wheel with an Assault T rim (front wheel – part 2)
Another day of wheel building (and so on). A customer left me a Reynolds Assault T front wheel for service. Reynolds hub, 20H, black, laced with outpokes in rad…
Racing Zero
I received a Racing Zero from a customer. It's a tubular version of the Racing Zero that's already been discontinued. Let me start with the front wheel. The cus…
Built a Rear Wheel with Assault T Rim and Disc Brake (Part 1)
This has nothing to do with the article content, but for some reason today my inventory of 11-speed chain connector pins increased at a crazy pace. Anyway, back…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day, another wheel (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced.
Completely Replaced All Nipples on the RR411db Rim Front Wheel
Continuing from yesterday. The front wheel of the RR411db rim that I built previously I'm completely replacing the generic aluminum nipples with Squorx nipples.…
Dura-Ace Chain Didn't Go Up in Price
In mid-March this year, we received notice that Shimano products would have a price adjustment effective May 1st. Among the items on that list, the only chain w…
Let Me Show You the Illustration That Got Mailed to Me
The other day, a different wholesaler (not the one with the customer-attracting giant panda drawn on the whiteboard) sent us a delivery invoice, and there was a…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY, radial outpoke lacing.
Completely Replaced All Nipples on the RR411db Rim Rear Wheel
A customer dropped off a wheel built with a DT RR411db rim. Today I'm working on the rear wheel. It was built without using Squorx nipples, so the usual spoke b…
Assembled the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I assembled the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolight hub, 24 spokes, black, semi-comp 4-cross lacing pattern. I'll…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolight hub, 24H, laced in semi-comp four-cross pattern with red aluminum nipp…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5 Built it. Evolite hub, 28H, black semi-comp 46-cross lacing with green aluminum nipples. I'll do the spoke tension tu…
I completely replaced all the spokes on an early Rolf Vector Pro
Another wheel day (and so on...). I received a front wheel from a Rolf Vector Pro from a customer. It's hard to tell because it uses paired spokes, but one spok…
Rebuilt the front and rear wheels for Prime
Today it's wheels again (and so on). A customer left me a set of Prime 50mm high carbon tubeless-ready rim wheels for service. The sticker is holographic—it gli…
Researching CX Sprint 1st ST / 2nd ST Curves
I took a couple days off to create a conversion table for Sapim's CX Sprint 1st ST / 2nd ST —spokes I've been using more frequently since they became consistent…
I Ended Up Buying Out All the 300mm+ Four-Pack Compé Spokes
Currently in Japan, the wholesale unit for DT spokes comes in packs of 4 and 10, but only Champion (the longest length) comes in boxes of 100 and 500. Since the…
Taking a Break from May 13–15
Today, May 13th, is Wednesday, so it's already a regular closing day, but there's something I want to try and something I want to look into, so I'll be taking a…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Back to wheels again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Reynolds straight-pull spoke hub, 20H Black CX-RAY straight radial lacin…
I Showed Up at a Pirelli Tire Wholesaler Wearing Goodyear Tires
Today I stopped by a wholesaler to pick up some Campagnolo parts and there was a whiteboard with some crab-laser doodles (→ here ) that somehow never get erased…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day, another wheel (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, with gree…
Built a front wheel using Nomu Lab Wheel #7 rim
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer brought in a Token Resolute C45 front wheel for repair. The rim got bent from buckling while it was hot from brake he…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 24H, semi-competition 46-spoke lacing. I'll do the truing lat…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4. Front wheel: Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evolite hub, 24H, sem…
Changed Spokes on Ksyrium Carbon SL Autoroute
Another wheel day (and so on). I received a Ksyrium Carbon SL Autoroute from a customer. The base model was the Ksyrium Pro Carbon SL C, where the C at the end …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
A customer dropped off the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. It's laced with a Hope Pro RS4 hub 24H, half-comp 4-cross lacing with cross-pattern ties It has sil…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
I Replaced the Rear Hub on the Reflexx Rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I'm replacing the rear hub on the Reflexx Rim with a through-axle version. The original hub was an…
Replaced the Front Hub on a Mavic Ksyrium SL Reflexlite Rim
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer brought in a front wheel built with a Mavic Ksyrium SL Reflexlite rim. HB-M985, 32H, full CX-RAY, reverse Italian lac…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 24H, black half-comp four-cross lacing. I'll do the spoke twisting l…
Cosmic Pro Carbon SL UST Disc TDF
A customer brought in a Cosmic Professional Carbon Super Light Universal Standard Tubeless Disc Brake Tour de France 2019 wheel set for service. It arrived in t…
Built a fixed gear rear wheel with a 60mm carbon WO rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built a fixed gear rear wheel with a 60mm high carbon WO rim. The rim isn't new — it apparently had a road bike rear whee…
I Replaced My Tubeless Tire
The old IRC Formula Pro Tubeless RBCC arrived. The old packaging wasn't in a box, ↑The tire wrapped in plastic had these kinds of warning labels. The tire that …
Rebuilt the rear wheel for the EDGE 1.38 rim
Another day of wheel work (etc.). Continuing from yesterday's front wheel. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel too. The hub is Goldtec, same as the front wheel, all-b…
Rebuilt the front wheel on an EDGE 1.38 rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in a wheel built with an EDGE 1.38 rim. One of our regulars had actually consulted me about this whee…
Built a rear wheel with an ALEXRIMS R390 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a rear wheel using an ALEXRIMS R390 rim. 20-inch WO, ETRTO 451mm rim. Evo disc hub, 32H, black strong / #15 leader 4-cros…
I've developed a taste for it, so I stocked up on a second one
The title says "second one," but I've actually never written about the first one here. If you've visited the shop in the last couple of months, you've probably …
I Bought Formula Pro Tubeless Ready Superlight
Since this is a personal purchase, I won't categorize this article as "News!" Quite the fancy box. Because it comes boxed, there's a warning not to use a box cu…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Back to wheels today (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolite hub, 24 spokes, black semi-comp, 4-cross pattern. I'll do the spok…
I Got a Flat Tire Again
Last night, or more precisely early this morning around the witching hour, while I was riding home in the rain I heard a "pshhh!" from the rear wheel, followed …
Eurash
A customer brought in a Eurash (Japanese bicycle brand) rear wheel for me to work on. Apparently one spoke is bent. ↑That's the one the customer marked Fixed it…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Another day of wheels (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evrolite hub 20H with CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Replaced the rear wheel rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
I received the rear wheel of Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 from a customer. Originally, this was a prize from the lottery drawing event I hold at the end of the year. Th…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evolight hub, 24H, semi-competition 4-cross lacing pattern. I'll do the spoke…
Replaced the CXP14 Rim on the Front Wheel
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer entrusted me with a front wheel built with a Mavic CXP14 rim. It's a 650C rim, by the way. There was uneven brake bite…
Don't Throw Away That Left Glove
I used the courier service "Usagi Express（→ here ）" that our shop contracts with to arrange a late-night delivery out to the Higashinada area of Kobe. Since I w…
Rebuilt the Front Wheel on an ENVE 1.65 Rim
～Heads Up!～ Lately, I've heard reports that some shops have been using some pretty smooth talk when building wheels— specifically about the spokes on the left a…
Goodyear Tires Have Arrived in Stock
Goodyear tires have arrived in stock. When it comes to European famous brands that handle automobile and motorcycle tires and manufacture bicycle tires in-house…
You shouldn't go around casually saying "world's first"
Topeak has released a model called the Air Booster G2, claiming it's the world's first CO2 inflator with an air gauge, but doesn't Barbieri's Vision Air fit tha…
Rebuilt the front wheel on the Reynolds Attack
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in the front wheel from a Reynolds Attack for me to service. I'd already rebuilt the matching rear wheel…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing Black aluminum nipples.
Look, This Is It
Yokoyama Mitsuteru's manga "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" is probably what introduced most people to the genre for the first time, but it's based on Yoshikawa …
Zonda
A customer brought in the front wheel of a Zonda from when it used hook-style hub flanges with quite flat aero spokes. One spoke is broken. It's broken at the h…
Rebuilt the rear wheel with ENVE's 1.65 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I received a rear wheel built with an ENVE 1.65 rim from a customer. This rim's catalog model name is 1.65, but during the EDGE e…
Zonda
I received a Zonda rear wheel from a customer. The right side hub bearing had spalling, and they'd been managing it by greasing for now. There was center offset…
Built a rear wheel with RR411 rim
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built up a rear wheel using an RR411 rim. DT 370 track hub, 24H, CX sprint Built 6-cross JIS lacing with no spoke crosses…
I installed bottle cage bosses on a LOOK AC364 fixed-gear frame
The drill is singing! I received a LOOK AC364 frame from a customer. This is a fixed-gear frame, but it's not designed exclusively for pure track use, so it has…
Replaced the chain tool pin and picked up an additional chain cutter
The pin on my chain cutter tool had accumulated cutting debris, so I knew it was time to replace it soon, but I'd been putting off ordering from my supplier for…
I Stocked Up on imeZ Sealant
The other day, someone from a brand called imeZ (イメジ) called me up and asked if I'd be interested since they'd started making sealant, so I decided to stock it.…
Built a wheel with Stans' Arch rim
Another day of wheel... (you know the drill). A little while back, I built a wheel using a Stans Arch 29-inch rim. The customer has a 29-inch wheeled MTB, and w…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial laced. This customer ordered fiv…
Built the front wheel for a utility bike
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built a front wheel with a Shimano hub dynamo. The hub is DH-C3000-3N-NT with 36 holes laced radial with all Campagnolo …
Fulcrum (フルクラム)
I received a front wheel from a customer — a Fulcrum (フルクラム). As you can see from the phase in the top view of the image a spoke is broken. The customer had tri…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Today it's wheels again (you know the drill). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolight hub 20H black CX-RAY with outpoke radial lacing and black …
Replaced the rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
I received Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 from a customer. Starting with the rear wheel. Both front and rear wheels hit a pothole while riding, and the rims were damaged.…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolight hub 24-spoke semi-comp 4-cross lacing pattern. I'll do t…
The 99.2% Win Rate Guy
A customer asked me to remove a seized seatpost. The frame is a BH Prisma. （I corrected where it said "Plasma." It wasn't that I didn't know, but... Thanks for …
TUFO Also Seems Pretty Casual About It — Pirelli Status Unknown
The other day, I wrote about Vittoria and TUFO tubular tires where installing them according to the general convention for tread pattern direction results in so…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Gran Compe II Track double-threaded rear hub, 32H CX Sprint, 66 JIS lacing…
I Replaced the Front Rim on the Prime (2nd Time)
A customer brought in the front wheel with a Prime hub for service. I said "Prime hub front wheel," but this wheelset was originally a complete Prime wheelset. …
Completely Replaced All Nipples on XR331 Rim
A customer left me with a rear wheel built around an XR331 rim. This was one I'd built myself back in the day. The original Stan's Ironman got crushed by spoke …
Shamal Ultra 2WAY-FIT Rear Wheel Spoke Repair
A customer brought in a Shamal Ultra rear wheel for repair. You can see from this distance that the spoke on the non-drive side in the phase directly above the …
Built a rear wheel with XR361 rim
Another wheel day (etc.). I received a 700C aluminum rim rear wheel built with an Alfine hub from a customer. The hub is an SG-S7001-11, the successor model to …
Built a front wheel with the XR361 rim
Another day working on wheels (and so on). I built a front wheel with a DT XR361 rim. This rim comes in 29 inches as well, but this one is a 27.5 inch rim. Shim…
Hyperon Ultra Two
A customer brought in a Hyperon (high-end carbon wheelset) for service. This isn't the original owner of the wheel, and they're requesting inspection and other …
Rebuilding the Rear Wheel on the Reynolds Assault T
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I received the rear wheel from a Reynolds Assault T from a customer. They want me to rebuild it with a hub replacement. …
Mr. Racing Zero
A customer brought in the rear wheel from a Racing Zero for repairs. A spoke suddenly broke while riding. Since the customer isn't the original owner of this wh…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evoright hub 24H, semi-comp lacing 46-spoke pattern with connection.
I Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
The rebuild from the previous post is incredibly tedious, so today I'm also working on a wheel (and so on). Here's what today's wheel (and so on) project looks …
Rebuilt Centry MK3 rear wheel with Flow MK3 rim
I took in a rear wheel built with a Stan's Centry MK3 rim from a customer. The rim's bead hook got deformed from impact damage, so the customer wanted a rim rep…
Rebuilt the front wheel of the 303
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer dropped off the front wheel of a ZIPP 303 with me. It's the companion wheel to the rear wheel I recently conv…
I've Decided to Stock CX Sprint Black Straight Spokes
My spoke wholesaler has started carrying the CX Sprint. It's slightly thicker than the CX-RAY, or as we say here, a spoke with "larger spoke specific gravity". …
Ksyrium Pro Exalith SL
I received a Ksyrium Pro Exalith SL from a customer for service. I've corrected "Exalithd" in the title and body text to "Exalith." Thank you for pointing that …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another wheel day (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial laced.
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolight hub, 24-hole, black semi-competition 4-cross lacing, and red aluminum nip…
I rebuilt the rear wheel on the 404
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in the rear wheel of a ZIPP 404 for me to work on. With the latest Firecrest It's a NSW rim setup. The h…
I Built a Wheel for the Moulton (Rear Wheel Edition)
More wheel building today (you know the drill). Built the rear wheel for an Alex Moulton. Hub is Campagnolo Record 32H, all radial lacing on both sides—no tied …
NMB46 (46mm rim height from Nomu Lab)
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a wheel with Reynolds Forty-Six tubular rim. Front wheel: Evo Lite hub 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evo L…
I Built a Wheel for a Moulton (It's the Front Wheel, but That's Not the Only Reason This is Part One)
Today was supposed to be my day off, but work on things "other than" wheel building hasn't been progressing at all, so I came to the shop to get some of that do…
Rebuilt Nomu Lab Wheel #4 into #1 (Rear Wheel, So Part 2)
More wheel work today (you know the drill). Continuing from last time. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel from Nomu Lab Wheel #4 into #1. Gran Compe 32H hub, full Co…
Taking Time Off the Day After Tomorrow
I'll be taking the day off on February 27th (Thursday), the day after tomorrow, as I have some unavoidable business to attend to. Also, next Saturday is the fin…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Ebolite hub 24H, black, semi-comp 4-cross lacing Purple aluminum nipples. I'll fi…
Built a rear wheel with Stans Arch rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built up a rear wheel with a Stans Arch 29-inch rim. FH-M8010 32H semi-comp 4/6 pattern JIS lacing. I'll do the valve line inst…
Rebuilt Nomulabo Wheel #4 into #1 Configuration (Front Wheel - Part 1)
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer left Nomulabo Wheel #4 with me. Whether it's because tubulars are a hassle or not, I couldn't say, but they'r…
Built a front wheel with Stan's Arch rim
Yesterday too wheels (abbreviated hereafter). I brought home a digital camera to write an article verifying the specs of the POLAR V800 2 (discontinued now), bu…
SES 4.5 AR Disc
A customer brought in a Smart Envision System 4.5 AR Disc for service. The SES 4.5 has a compatible tire width of 23–28C, and when mounted with a 25C tire, the …
SES 3.4 Disc
I received a Smart Envision Systems 3.4 disc wheel from a customer. Starting with the rear wheel. Both front and rear wheels are stock wheels made in-house by E…
Shamal Mille
I took in a Shamal Mille from a customer. Starting with the front wheel. The main work is on the rear wheel, but since we're doing a near-complete overhaul I'm …
Rebuilt the rear wheel on a ZIPP 404
Another day working on wheels (long story). A customer brought in a rear wheel from a ZIPP 404. Not that it matters for the work, but it's a WO rim. It was lace…
Rebuilt rear wheel with 51mm high carbon WO rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer dropped off a rear wheel with a carbon WO rim measuring 51mm high in actual measurement. The part number labe…
About Full CX-RAY 6-Cross Lacing
The other day, when I re-laced the rear wheel with full CX-RAY 6-cross lacing (in the image above) into a semi-competition 4-cross lacing, I wrote something lik…
Aioros 3
I received a Bontrager Aioros 3 from a customer for inspection. They want a full checkup. Let's start with the front wheel. ↑This is after inspection, but the c…
Built a Fixed Gear Rear Wheel with 75mm High Carbon WO Rim
Another wheel build today (and so on). Built a rear wheel with a 75mm high carbon WO rim. Suzue PROMAX double-threaded hub, 32-hole Full CX-RAY stainless spokes…
I Disassembled the SLW2 Dial on Northwave Shoes
The drill is humming! A customer left me with a pair of Northwave winter MTB shoes. About the drill humming this time— it's just the Bosch drill in the image "W…
Rebuilt Rear Wheel with AL22 Rim
Another day of wheelbuilding (and so on). A customer dropped off a rear wheel built with a Tni AL22 rim and Evolite hub. Specs-wise it's the same as the Nomu La…
Replaced the rear rim on Nomulabo Wheel No. 5
I received the rear wheel of Nomulabo Wheel No. 5 from a customer. It has a PowerTap G3 hub 28H, semi-comp with 4-cross lacing and internal wiring. It wasn't th…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Back to wheels today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolitehub 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced with green aluminum nipp…
Announcing Exactly 7 O'Clock
「There is a clock that "tells the correct time exactly twice a day, without a single second of error." That would be "a stopped analog clock." The problem is yo…
Cosmic Pro Carbon UST
A customer brought in a Cosmic Pro Carbon UST for service. They took it to a nearby shop for wheel truing, but the shop couldn't get the runout out and said thi…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheels (and so on...). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolight hub, 24 hole, black CX-RAY semi-comp, 46-spoke lacing with green alum…
Built the front wheel for NomuLab Wheel #4
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). Built the front wheel for NomuLab Wheel #4. Evolight hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced with black alumin…
Resolute C45
I received a rear wheel from TOKEN to work on. It's a Resolute C45, a 45mm-high carbon WO rim rear wheel, and depending on the sales route and age, the spokes a…
The Pulley Exploded
Regarding the OEM pulleys that came on the Sram RED rear derailleur the other day ↑I mentioned that the retainer had some clearance, but that's because the bear…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another wheel day (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with blue aluminum nipples.
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. With an Evolitehub 24H black half-comp 46-spoke lacing pattern and blue al…
I did a "Frankenbike" build with a SRAM rear derailleur
So the other day, I had a customer's bike in for an overhaul and the pulley cage on the SRAM RED derailleur had literally snapped off, so I swapped it out with …
Caliper Mounting Bolt C
About the mounting bolts for Shimano's flat-mount disc brake calipers. Starting with the front. The bolt that secures the caliper to the 160/140mm adapter is ca…
Racing Zero Carbon
A customer brought in a Racing Zero Carbon (high-end racing wheel) for me to work on. Starting with the rear wheel. The image is after work. Apparently, the cus…
Built the rear wheel for のむラボホイール No. 2
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for のむラボホイール No. 2. Revo disc hub, 24-hole, semi-competition 46-spoke JIS lacing with crossed spokes…
Built a rear wheel with SES 4.5 rim
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built up a rear wheel using a SES 4.5 rear rim. Paired with a 24H Leaf hub, semi-CX 46-spoke lacing pattern with J-bends.
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Back to wheels again today (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolight hub 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced One gold al…
Competition TDF LTD Tubular Tire Tube
About the inner tube for Continental's limited edition tubular tire the Tour de France Limited Edition, compared to the regular Competition model, the sidewalls…
Built a Wheel with SES4.5 Rims
Another day, another wheel build (you know how it goes). Built up a rear wheel using the rear-specific SES4.5 rim. SES (Smart Envy System) is this pushy specifi…
Ksyrium ES
A customer brought in a Ksyrium ES wheelset for service. The sprocket mounting marks on the freehub body splines are almost non-existent, and while the braking …
Built rear wheel with DM18 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a rear wheel with a DM18 rim. FH-T610 32H with all competition 2-cross spoke pattern With spoke tying. It looked like it …
My Link Was Removed
Honestly, I don't really care, but recently several customers have told me 「The link from that blog called 'Jussan Pass Thirteen Minutes' to my thirteen shop in…
Shamal Ultra
I received a rear wheel from a Shamal Ultra from a customer. Apparently the rear derailleur got tangled in it and a spoke is broken. It's fixed. Usually when on…
Built a front wheel with DM18 rims
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built a front wheel using ALEXRIMS DM18 rims. The hub is a T610-series Deore, and since it's a touring groupset, the par…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. DT350 hub, 24H, CX-RAY in a 4-cross Italian lacing pattern. It's the match f…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evolite hub 24H, semi-comp four-cross lacing with twisted crossing spokes Red a…
Bora Ultra Two
A customer left a Bora Ultra Two with me for service. This is a Bora from the era with narrow tubular rim and internal nipple construction. Inspection and tire …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #6
Back to wheels today (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I'm removing the hub from the wheel I built with the SES 4.5 rim I'm extracting the Philwood hu…
Rebuilt Wheels with 12mm Thru-Axle Hubs
Another wheel day (and so on...). I built a wheel with an ENVE 1-45 tubular rim. Originally this rim was built up with a quick-release hub, but due to unforesee…
Removed Seized Bottom Bracket
A customer dropped off a Cannondale frame with me. right side left side The bottom bracket cups on the square taper shaft were seized up pretty bad. Apparently …
Built a front wheel with the SES 4.5 rim
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built a front wheel using the SES 4.5 rim with the hub pulled from Nomu Lab Wheel #6. Chris King R45 hub, matte slate color…
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, January 17th (Friday), I'll be taking the day off due to some unavoidable business. I apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you for your understa…
The Mystery of the Chinese Carbon Rim Front Wheel
A customer brought in a front wheel with a wide tubular rim for me to work on. The hub is a DT350 disc straight-pull model with 24 spokes and the spokes are bla…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer left me with a front wheel built with a Fillwood hub and an SES 4.5 tubular rim. Black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced—on…
Ksyrium SL
A customer brought in a Ksyrium SL for me to work on. They wanted an inspection. Let me start with the front wheel. This is a generalized version of the 2006 Ks…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Back to wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evololite hub 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 24H, black semi-comp 4-cross lacing pattern. I'll do the truing l…
Shamal Mille
I received a Shamal Mille (wheel set) from a customer. They requested inspection and the "fashionable theft" treatment. Brand new. Dead centered, basically no r…
Shamal Ultra Front Wheel
A customer brought in a front wheel from a Shamal Ultra (high-end road wheel) for repair. It got caught in a pothole and one spoke broke as a result. The rim is…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day with wheels (and so on). I filled in the frame in the previous post I tried to figure out the spoke length for an Onyx rear hub × Easton R90SL rim a…
Rebuilt the rear wheel with an ONYX Racing Products hub
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel built with a hub from ONYX Racing Products. I've written about this before, but ONYX is defini…
Rebuilt a Reynolds 32 front wheel
Another wheel day (etc.). A customer brought in a front wheel built with a Reynolds 32 rim. It was all-Campagnolo 20H outpoke radial laced with rim brake specs,…
Bora One Point Five (1.5) 35mm
I received a Bora One 35 Tubular Dark Label wheel set from a customer for inspection. I've only photographed the rear wheel here, but I inspected both front and…
I rebuilt the rear wheel for the 808
Another day, another wheel (and so on). This is a follow-up to the wheel I couldn't build the other day (→ here ). The spokes arrived, so I built the rear wheel…
Rebuilt the 404 front wheel
Wheel work again today (and so on). I received a rear wheel with a ZIPP 808 tubular rim from a customer. ZIPP V7 188 hub, 20H — can't be converted to 11-speed. …
Even 9000 Dura-Ace Can't Be Repaired
I replaced a customer's chain. This was over a year ago (according to the image metadata: July 15, 2018), when I replaced a 9000 Dura-Ace chain with a new one. …
On the Structural Vulnerability of Shimano's Carbon Hybrid Tubeless Rims
The day has finally come to write this. I've been holding onto a front wheel WH-7900-C24-TL from a customer for some time now. Since Shimano wouldn't offer a fr…
Year-End and New Year Holiday Notice
Regarding our year-end and New Year holiday, Boar (Inoshishi) → Rat (Nezumi) We will be closed from December 31st through January 5th, and resume operations on …
Built a front wheel with AL22W rim
Another wheel day (you know the drill). Built the front wheel with an AL22W rim, disc brake version with offset. HB-M8000 32H semi-aero 2-cross spoke pattern. I…
Built a rear wheel with XR331 rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Built a rear wheel with an XR331 rim. FH-RS770 28-hole semi-competition 4-cross JIS lacing pattern. I'll do the spoke threading …
Eurus 2WAY-FIT (After)
Another day at the workshop (and so on). A customer brought me an Eurus rear wheel. It has a DT quick-release skewer, but leaving aside the cup and cone hub bea…
Built a front wheel with XR331 rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built a front wheel with an XR331 rim. HB-RS770 28H all CX-RAY 64 reverse Italian lacing. I'll do the spoke wrapping later.
Stan's Releases Rim Spare/Custom Color Stickers
Stan's has released original replacement or custom color stickers for their Crest MK3, Flow MK3, and Grail MK3 rims. What I picked up this time (or rather, boug…
Built a wheel with AL22W DB non-offset rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). What's wrong with building a stock wheel (non-custom) on my day off?! (defensive)\ ...Tni (a Japanese rim manufacturer) …
About the Continental Grand Prix 4000 S II Tubular
A customer had a question for me, but before that. I've been keeping something like this from that customer, and it's not a tool box ↑it unfolds like this and w…
Zonda
A customer dropped off a Zonda rear wheel with us. One spoke on the freewheel side broke during riding. The broken spoke is jammed in the nipple that fell insid…
Shamal Mille
I received a Shamal Mille (Campagnolo wheel) from a customer. The wheel had runout, and nearly all 7 spokes on the non-drive side showed damage, so something mu…
I replaced the rear rim on a first-generation Racing Zero
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left me the rear wheel of a first-generation Racing Zero. The strictly original first-generation Racing Zero in terms …
Racing Zero
I received a Racing Zero from a customer. They want a CULT upgrade, spoke replacement for aesthetics, and a general inspection. Let's start with the front wheel…
Built a rear wheel with DT RR411 rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built a rear wheel using a DT RR411 rim. Specs: rim brake compatible / offset rim. FH-6800 32H Strong / 4-cross lacing patt…
Built a rear wheel with RR411db rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a rear wheel with an RR411db rim. Revo disc hub, 24-spoke, semi-competition, JIS lacing pattern with spoke nipple ties. A…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on a ZIPP 404
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer dropped off a rear wheel from a ZIPP 404. It's hand-built with an Evolight hub rather than stock from the manufa…
Built a front wheel with RR411db rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a front wheel with RR411db rim. Revo disc hub 24H, all CX-RAY spokes, 64 reverse Italian lacing with spoke wraps. I want to…
I Sense Philosophy in Continental Tires Too
About the Continental Grand Prix TT, in the past month I've had a flat tire situation twice where "I went to go out and it was completely flat (punctured)" In b…
Converted Full CX-RAY to Semi-Comp Build
A customer dropped off a rear wheel with a lightweight, low-profile carbon rim that I'd built for them previously. It's a wheel I built back then, Reef hub 24H,…
Rebuilt SES2.2TL to SES4.5TU (Part 2)
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from last time. I'm rebuilding the SES2.2 rear wheel with an SES4.5 rim. ENVE carbon hub 24H. By hole count it's 2-cr…
Racing Zero (Part 2)
The rear wheel of the Racing Zero, whose front wheel I disassembled and repaired the other day. Unlike the front wheel, there are no twisted spokes, but this is…
CLX32 Disc
Yamato Kanemitsu brought in a rear wheel with a broken spoke. This is a separate issue, but the other day he emailed me asking for the model name of the prototy…
Rebuilt SES 2.2 TL to SES 4.5 TU (Part 1)
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Got a wheel from a customer built up with an SES (Smart Envy System) 2.2 tubeless-ready rim. Starting with the front whe…
Built a rear wheel with Velocity A23 rim
More wheel building today (and so on). Built a rear wheel using a Velocity A23 rim. R45 hub, 32H, semi-competition 4-cross lacing with coupling.
Built a front wheel with a Velocity A23 rim
Another wheel day (you know the drill). Built a front wheel with an A23 rim. Chris King R45 hub, 32H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. With Chris King and Dura-Ace…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3. The customer who ordered this already has a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3 rear whee…
Ksyrium Elite UST
A customer left a Ksyrium Elite UST with me. It wasn't from an auction or anything like that—a teammate bought new wheels, so they passed this one along. Since …
Replaced the Front Wheel Rim on My Single-Speed Bike
Relocated the rim the other day The match to the rear wheel. Large flange hub 32H with nut-threaded axle. Laced in JIS-pattern, plain 14-gauge. While I'd like t…
Built a rear wheel with Ambrosio RV30 rims
Another day of wheel building (etc.). I built a rear wheel using Ambrosio RV30 rims. This is the companion to the front wheel with RV26 rims I built the other d…
Taking a Day Off
Tomorrow, December 12th (Thursday), I need to take a day off due to some urgent matters. I apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you for your understanding…
That Well-Known Manufacturer Everyone Knows!
I keep special tools like this in a "good boy's toolbox," and a customer gave me a tote bag with the same design. ↑"I think most people have seen it before, but…
Writing this down for once
Tomorrow is the last Saturday of the month, so we're closed. Thank you for your understanding. I set up a POLAR account with the first name as a polar bear emoj…
Replaced all nipples and (as it turned out, spokes too) on the Speed 40T (Part 2)
Back to wheel work today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday, the rear wheel of the Speed 40T. The freewheel side has a hook-type flange, while the non-freew…
Wrapped Art Gecko Bar Tape from Arundel
The Extremum limited camo bar tape is out of stock in Chameleon and Blue. The remaining colors have very limited inventory. I was thinking about wrapping one of…
Racing Zero
A customer brought in a Racing Zero for me to work on. After a crash that caused both wheels to go out of true, they took it to a nearby shop for truing. The sh…
Replaced All Nipples (and Consequently Spokes) on the Speed 40T (Part 1)
Another day working on wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a Speed 40T for repair. Starting with the front wheel. They mentioned that a nipple cracked fro…
DV46UL for T.
A customer brought in a Reynolds DV46 for service. The request was to tighten the spoke tension up more if possible. Since it's laced with an outpoke radial pat…
Rebuilt RR411 Rim Wheels with Squorx Nipples Instead of Generic Ones
A customer brought me a wheel built with an RR411db rim. It's a wheel I built in the past, but because I used generic colored nipples, the nipples have broken p…
Built the Rear Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 24-spoke black CX-RAY semi-comp 4-cross lacing. I'll do the fina…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 24H, semi-competizione 4-cross lacing pattern Red aluminum nipples.…
Limited Color Bar Tape from Extremum Has Arrived
Limited color bar tape from Extremum (エクストラム) has arrived in stock. Wait, it's not Extrememe? According to the wholesaler "We've decided to go with Extremum aft…
I Enlarged the Through-Axle Hub Bore by 3mm
A customer dropped off an Iron Cross front wheel with us. We'd just built it up a few days ago with RS-770 front and rear hubs, but The customer told me: "I got…
Rebuilt the rear wheel with XR300 rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel built with an XR300 rim. Apparently it was built by some shady old guy from the neighbor…
Remarkable Accuracy Rate
「MAVIC Quick Release」 When you hear that, what did you think of...? ↑This one, right? This is Metallism
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Back to wheels today (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 20H with CX-RAY outpokes in radial lacing and red aluminum n…
About Spoke Tension on Disc Wheels
A customer left me a so-called Chinese carbon disc wheel for inspection. Since I can't do truing work on it, I only checked the hub. ↑There's a sticker I see al…
Test Saddle
Saddle manufacturers rent out saddles as trial samples called "test saddles," and Fizik was the first to start this system. Choosing a saddle is basically a gam…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Apparently I don't need to peel off the sticker. EvoLite hub 24H with semi-co…
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, November 21st (Thursday), I have some urgent matters to attend to, so I'll be taking the day off. I apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you for…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6. Cani-light hub 24H in semi-comp 46-spoked lacing. I'll do the spoke nipple thread…
There Are Two More Left
As I wrote the other day, the black CX-RAY 286mm I bought the last 6 units from the wholesaler's inventory, but yesterday I noticed I had a missed call from the…
Built a Wheel with AL22W Rim
Another day of wheel building (you know the drill). Built up a wheel with an AL22W rim. Front wheel is an Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY spokes, outpoke radial laced …
"That's your name, isn't it? Calvin Klein."
That's what it says on the wheel bag." Another wheel job today (and so on). A customer dropped off the front wheel of a Fulcrum Racing Zero Competizione. The ri…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Front wheel is Evo Lite hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, Rear wheel is Evo Lite hub 24H semi-…
About the SM-AD91
I've stocked the Shimano front derailleur band, the SM-AD91. ↑This one To be precise, it's SM-AD91-L as indicated on the band itself. The letter at the end come…
CN-6600 but treated as Dura-Ace
The first 10-speed Dura-Ace 7800 series chain was the CN-7800, but for some reason it kept breaking in the Southern Hemisphere (to be precise, Australia), and a…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another wheel day (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evo Lite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lace. I use an odd-numbered spoke len…
Moving the 310's rim
Continuing from the other day. So here we go—in the middle of moving the rim... Once I swapped exactly half—14 holes out of the 28 holes— to their new home, I c…
Racing Zero Carbon
I took in a Racing Zero Carbon from a customer. Starting with the front wheel. The customer destroyed the new hub shaft and needs me to fix it. Since the custom…
Ksyrium SL
I received a silver Ksyrium SL from a customer. They're requesting inspection and repair of both wheels, but especially the front hub is rotating abnormally hea…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Back to wheels today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolight hub (Japanese hub brand), 24H, black, half-comp 4-cross lacing patte…
About ZIPP Hubs
In my previous article, I ended up writing so much about ZIPP hubs that it became longer than the main topic (which happens often), so I've separated it into it…
Built a front wheel with Suéchan's Recordo du Monde rim
DT Competition spokes came in stock. I've got more planned to order in, but for now I grabbed just what we need right away. I'd really like them to bring back t…
Bullet Ultra
A customer brought in a Bullet Ultra for me to work on. The hub had play in it, but two local shops couldn't fix it, so they brought it to our shop. The "Bullet…
Racing Zero Carbon DB
I received a Racing Zero Carbon DB from a customer. Brand new. I inspected the rear wheel first, so let's start there. Perfect centering, virtually no runout. T…
Replaced the rear rim on the XT wheel
Another day of wheels (and so on). A customer dropped off a rear wheel from a WH-M8020 for me. The WH-M8000 has a rim height of 18.8mm and rim width of 23.9mm, …
CLX64
A customer left a CLX64 rear wheel with me. An "acquaintance who claims they can work on wheels" messed it up, so they asked me to fix it. Since the person who …
CLX50 Disc Wheel
A customer dropped off the rear wheel of a CLX50 Disc for me. There's a phase where there's a noticeable wobble, and the spoke directly below it shows significa…
Bora One 50
I took in a rear wheel from a Bora One (high-performance carbon wheelset) from a customer. They mentioned there was damage to a spoke. ↑One spoke on the non-dri…
Built a front wheel with AL22 rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Built a front wheel with an AL22 rim. It's the matching set to yesterday's rear wheel. HB-T780 32H, laced with Campagnolo-style …
Built a rear wheel with AL22 rim
Another wheel build today (and so on). Built a rear wheel using a customer's Tni AL22 rim. Wasn't asked to remove the sticker, so I left it on as is for now. FH…
Built a rear wheel with XR26T rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the rear wheel with the XR26T rim. The matching pair to the front wheel from the other day. Shimano FH-RS400 28H hub, Cham…
Campagnolo and Fulcrum Spare Spokes Have Arrived
We've received spare spokes from Campagnolo and Fulcrum. Fulcrum only The package design has changed, but they're still pointlessly shipping air inside. It's no…
Racing Zero
A customer brought in a Racing Zero for service. They had a crash and requested wheel truing and, well, some aesthetic theft prevention too. But when I looked f…
Aiolos Pro 3
A customer dropped off a Bontrager rear wheel for us. There's lateral runout in one spot. It's pretty obvious on the truing stand, but when I spin the wheel by …
Racing Zero
A customer left a Racing Zero with me for repairs. Let me start with the front wheel. One spoke is pretty badly bent. It's amazing the hub and rim came through …
Chris King Hand-Built Wheels
One of the early computer RPG titles is Wizardry, and among the monsters that appear in it is ARCH MAGE （the original Apple II version is all uppercase, the Fam…
Racing Zero Night
A customer dropped off a Racing Zero Night for us. They wanted an inspection and a stylish makeover, but there's still a sticker in the brake zone with a warnin…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day with wheels (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Ebolite hub 24H black semi-comp 4-cross lacing pattern. I'll do the spoke …
Built a front wheel with XR26T rim
This is somewhat unrelated to the title, but there's a disc brake manufacturer called Formula in Italy. Separately, there's a Formula brand in Taiwan that mainl…
Built a rear wheel with AL22W rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a rear wheel with an AL22W rim. Yesterday's front wheel used a rim brake rim with a brake zone, but the rear rim additional…
I Tripled the Ratchet Teeth on My DT Hub
Regarding the DT star ratchet, In addition to the standard 18-tooth ratchet per revolution, there's a 36-tooth ratchet with double the number of teeth, and rece…
I Sold My Personal Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
A customer brought in the rear wheel from a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. The sprocket attached freewheel body was extremely eccentric, so I immediately realized the hu…
Built a front wheel with an AL22W rim
Back to wheels again today (and so on...). Built a front wheel using an AL22W rim (with brake zone). Evolite hub 20H with CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing and green…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced.
Built a rear wheel with HUNT rims
Today, I cut up about 10 old rims. Among them was a Kesrium ES rim, so let me add to yesterday's story. Under the sticker that hides the rim seam processing, it…
Built a front wheel with a HUNT rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built a front wheel with a HUNT rim. For more on HUNT, please check here . The rim model name is... not this one It…
Replaced the rear rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
The job we couldn't do the other day because we were out of rim stock I finally got around to replacing the rear rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1's PowerTap hub. In …
I rebuilt the rear wheel for the Zentis Squad 2.5
Another day of wheel... (and so on). Lately with Evolite hubs, there are batches coming in with slot-hole specifications for flat spokes. If you're not building…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
I received a rear wheel from a Zentis Squad 2.5 from a customer. It's loose, so they want it rebuilt. Loose compared to what? Compared to Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. …
Built a wheel with CX22 rim
Another wheel build today (details below). Built a wheel using the Tni CX22 tubular rim. It's a slightly wider rim with nearly the same rim depth as the Nomu La…
Replaced the front wheel rim on the Nomu Lab Wheel #5
I received the front wheel of a Nomu Lab Wheel #5 from a customer. Novatech 291 hub, 20H, CX-RAY spokes laced Italian 4-cross with red nipples on both sides of …
(Can you hear me, Sunbolt...?)
A RIVAL crank with the crank arm sides polished to a shine —anyway, not the point here— The chainring cover from Sunbolt (a cycling wear brand) that was being m…
MCC S+ from Colima
I've taken in a Colima MCC S+ from a customer. Since it has carbon spokes, I can't true it. Both front and rear wheels use carbon spokes in only the porcupine d…
About Phase Offset When Building Wheels with Different Hub and Rim Hole Counts
Not just with a 36H hub and 24H rim, but I'm writing about the phase offset that occurs when building wheels with different hole counts on the hub and rim. My b…
Rebuilt the front wheel with a measured 325g aluminum rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). I'm leading with a catchy title and an image that ignores the timeline, but the measured 325g is light for an aluminum rim …
Built a front wheel with AL22W disk rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a front wheel using Tni's AL22W disk offset rim. Tni REVO (I'll call it REVO from now on) disk hub, 24H All CX-RAY 64-spo…
Continental Race 28 Tubes Have Arrived
Continental Race 28 tubes have arrived! For 700×20–25C, with a 42mm valve— truly just your "ordinary tube." As you can tell from the somewhat large box, the cla…
Bora WTO 45 Disc Brake 2-Way Fit
We sold a Bora WTO 45 DB at our shop. Currently, all Bora WTO models come in 2-WAY-FIT specification. The wheel bag appears to have changed starting with the 20…
Zonda Rear Wheel
A customer brought in a Zonda rear wheel for inspection. They wanted a full inspection. The hub shaft with freewheel body was removed when I received it, so I r…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #3
Another day working on wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #3. 20H black CX-RAY straight radial lacing, The hub is a Novatech AS61CB …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for the Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5. Evolite hub 24H, semi-competitive 4-cross lacing. I'll do the spoke nipple wr…
Racing 3
A customer dropped off the rear wheel from a Racing 3 for repair. A spoke broke while riding, but it broke on the rim side at the thread base, not at the hub. W…
Racing Zero Carbon
A customer dropped off a Fulcrum Racing Zero Carbon (high-end Italian wheel brand) with me. Just to clarify, this is a different case from my previous post. The…
Racing Zero Carbon
A customer left a rear wheel from a Racing Zero Carbon (high-end carbon wheelset) with me. The chain had dropped and bent a spoke. ↑Here it is. Looking from the…
First Generation Shamal Mille Early Model
A customer brought me a Shamal Mille (Campagnolo wheel) in for service. I just did a quick truing job. The front spokes on first generation Shamal Mille wheels …
Ksyrium SL
A customer brought in a Ksyrium SL for me to work on. It's "brand new," but they wanted a full inspection. Model name verification photo And here's my obligator…
Built a rear wheel using the XR331 front rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a rear wheel with an XR331 rim. FH-RS770 28H black semi-competition 4-cross lacing. I'll do the spoke wrapping later. As I'…
Rebuilding the Rear Wheel on X7S 06⊃ヨ
Today it's wheels again (and so on). A customer brought in wheels with the model name X7S 06⊃ヨ NO⊥S∀ヨ （If you're viewing on a smartphone, you can read it upside…
Built a Front Wheel with XR331 Rim
Another day on wheels (and so on). Built a front wheel with an XR331 rim and RS770 hub. Just the other day I built a wheel with the same hub and rim combination…
Built a rear wheel with AL22W disc rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built the rear wheel with an AL22W disc offset rim. Revo hub 24-hole, semi-competizione 46-spoke JIS lacing. I'll do the spoke ni…
Colima Disc Wheel
A customer brought in a Colima (carbon disc wheel) disc wheel for service. The sticker has been removed, so I can't tell if it's HR (High Resistance) or HM (Hig…
I rebuilt the rear wheel for the Attack
Today it's wheels again (and so on). A customer left me a Reynolds Attack rear wheel to work on. Since they said the wheel felt loose and wanted something done …
Built a front wheel with a ZIPP 310 rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer left me a ZIPP 310 rim to work with. From this era, there was a "340" version for 700C rims, and the "310" is it…
Built rear wheel with XR331 rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built the rear wheel using the XR331 rim. FH-RS770 28H semi-competition four-cross JIS lacing. I'll do the spoke nipple tig…
I Replaced the Lever Part on an Ergopower Shifter
Preamble Part 1 It must have been about 15 years ago now. At a corporate racing event in Hiroshima, light rain kept falling and the road surface was constantly …
Built a front wheel with XR331 rim
Another day of wheel building (abbreviated hereafter). I thought September would turn into a cyclocross wheel-building hell, but man, it's not progressing at al…
Extram (or Extreme?) Bar Tape Has Arrived in Stock
Are you familiar with a bar tape brand called Extram? Well, I'd say very few people know about it at this point. While the brand itself is new, the manufacturer…
I Replaced the Racing Zero Rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I received the front wheel of a Racing Zero from a customer. They wanted truing work from a crash. Initially it was just supposed…
Original Racing 3
I received the front wheel of an original Racing 3 from a customer. One spoke is missing. It fractured at the start of the threads on the nipple side, and the c…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on the SES 3.4
A customer brought in an ENVE 3.4 tubeless-ready rim rear wheel for service. They wanted it rebuilt because the brake shoes are rubbing. The brake zone has a fi…
Rebuilt the rear wheel for an Attack
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought me a Reynolds Attack rear wheel to work on. The rear hub is from two generations back in terms of age, b…
Built the rear wheel for Nomulabo Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheels (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomulabo Wheel No. 5. Evolitе hub 24H black semi-comp 4-cross lacing with silver aluminum nipples. I…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheel building again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY with outpoke radial lacing, and silver al…
Continental Competition Limited Edition Arrived but Sold Out
We received the limited edition Continental Competition tubular tire, the TdF LTD (Tour de France Limited). It's an official licensed product. In commemoration …
The 303
I took in a ZIPP (aerodynamic wheel manufacturer) 303 from a customer. Starting with the rear wheel. There was noticeable lateral runout and the center was off,…
Rebuilt the SES 2.2 rear wheel that was rebuilt that was rebuilt
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel with a Smart Envie 2.2 WO (tubeless ready) rim. This customer said the stock wheel ha…
True Front Single Setup (Repost)
Let me say this upfront—I'm not angry. Really, believe me. Due to circumstances, I'm reposting an article that went up on August 20th, as mentioned in the title…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evo Lite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Cosmic Pro Carbon
A customer dropped off a Cosmic wheel—a modernized version of the old Cosmic Carbon. When the parts were assembled at a nearby shop, it should have been inspect…
Racing 5 LG Customer Repair
A customer brought in the front wheel from a Racing 5 LG for repair. They had bent spokes near the hub during a crash. ↑I thought it was just these 4 spots (or …
Racing Zero
A customer brought in a Racing Zero rear wheel for repair. One spoke on the left side has snapped off from the hub flange. The customer apparently started ridin…
Vigor Alpha
A customer brought in a Rolf Prima Vigor—no wait, not the 〆 (shime) version but the α (Alpha) model for me to work on. They said it got hit from the side in an …
Bora WTO 45
We sold a Bora WTO 45 at our shop. Look, I was honest about it — I told them "overseas online shops are cheaper." As a bicycle parts retailer, maybe I shouldn't…
I Replaced the Rim on the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
I received a rear wheel from the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 from a customer. With what looks like a tire lever tool (whether it's actually a tire lever itself ( see h…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 24H in black, semi-competition 46-spoke lacing pattern. I'll do the…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheel day again (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced with red aluminum nipples. …
I rebuilt the rear wheel on the Assault
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer left me a Reynolds Assault tubeless rear wheel. They do use the shoe brake regularly, but the gap between the ri…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evo Lite hub, 24H, black semi-comp 4-cross lacing. I'll true it later. To be cont…
Built a rear wheel with EC90 Aero rim
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). A customer brought in what used to be the rear wheel with an Easton EC90 Aero rim. It's a full carbon clincher rim…
I Built the 25" Rear Wheel for the ENVE
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the rear wheel to match the front wheel from yesterday. Evolite hub 24H, all-black CX-RAY with 46-cross lacin…
SES 3.4
A customer dropped off a wheel set from a Smart Envy System 3.4 for me to work on. Tubular setup with DT 240S hubs front and rear. The rear wheel is 24-hole, al…
Built a front wheel with ENVE's 25 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a front wheel using an ENVE "25" rim that a customer left with me. Leef hub 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced. Before …
Racing Zero Carbon Wheel
A customer brought in a rear wheel from a Racing Zero (high-end carbon road wheel) for service. Someone attempted to true the wheel, but the spokes got twisted …
Bora One 50
A customer dropped off the front wheel from a Bora One (high-end racing wheel). One of the spokes was bent. There was already a piece of tape marking it. Appare…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evo Lite hub, 24-spoke, black semi-competition 4-cross lacing with silver al…
Rebuilt a S○XTY S○X rim rear wheel
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel built with a Reynolds 66 tubular rim. To be clear: a rear wheel "built with a 66 rim,…
Replaced all spokes on the front wheel with black ones
Another wheel day (and so on). The typo in the title is intentional. A customer brought in the front wheel with a WO rim from a Zentritos (Zentritos wheel hub b…
Replaced the rear rim on Nomu Lab Wheel #1
I received the rear wheel of Nomu Lab Wheel #1 from a customer (probably). They stepped in a pothole and crushed the rim's bead hook. I thought the rim's arc an…
Built a front wheel with Light Bicycle's carbon rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built a front wheel using a Light Bicycle carbon tubeless-ready rim. The hub is a Prime R0020 front…
Built a rear wheel with Light Bicycle's carbon rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I received a Light Bicycle carbon rim from a customer. It's a tubeless-ready rim with a depth of 45.3mm (measured). N…
Racing 3 2WAY-FIT
I received a Racing 3 from a customer (sort of). Not sure why they only left the 2WAY-FIT sticker on there. Oh well. The freewheel body has some play in it, app…
Built a rear wheel with Chrono 20 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I built a rear wheel using the Ambrosio Formula Chrono 20 rim (my former front rim). The hub isn't…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Evolite hub 24H with a semi-comp four-cross lacing pattern. I'll do the sp…
Beyond Good and Evil
When you gaze into the abyss of the rim, the abyss is also gazing back into you. It is.
I Rebuilt a Front Wheel Built with a Sansin Micro Light Hub
I received a front wheel built with a Sansin hub from a customer. 32 holes, and the rim is an Ambrosio Formula Crono 20. The "CRONO" lettering is from an era wh…
Built a front wheel with FLO carbon WO rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a front wheel today with a FLO carbon WO rim that a customer entrusted to me. The rim is 50mm tall and weighs an insane 561…
Built a front wheel with XR300 rim and dynamo hub
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a front wheel with an XR300 silver rim and a dynamo hub. The hub is a Shutter Precision SV-9 20H and I laced it in CX-RAY I…
Replaced the rear hub on an ELITE wheel
Another day of wheel work (et cetera). A customer dropped off a rear wheel from a brand called ELITE (apparently pronounced "elite"). It's got Pillar's square a…
Bora One
A customer brought in a Bora One for service. Starting with the rear wheel. This is exactly what you'd call a "Bora One." What I mean is, this is the little sib…
I inspected a wheel built with GP4 rims
A customer dropped off a wheel-in-progress built with Mavic GP4 rims. Starting with the front wheel. They asked for both front and rear wheels to be "inspected,…
Built a front wheel for 29" MTB with Crest MK3 rim (It's the front wheel, but this is the final part)
Another wheel day today (and so on). This is a continuation from the other day. I built a front wheel for a 29" MTB using a Crest MK3 rim. Evo Disc Hub II, 28H,…
While I'm at it, fixing Chris King's wasteful spending – Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 built
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in a wheel built with a Stans Alpha 340 rim. They say everyone they meet tells them "that rim's gonna…
Racing 3
I received the front wheel from Racing 3 from a customer. Two spokes are broken. Including those, five consecutive rim holes have spoke deformation as well — th…
Bora One 50 Dark Label
A customer dropped off the front wheel from a Bora One (Boro Uno - Italian road wheel brand) for me. This is unrelated to the Bora One 50 from my previous post.…
Bora One 50 Dark Label
A customer brought in their Bora One for service. They didn't want anything done to the wheels themselves— the front wheel vibrates when descending, so they ask…
Built an MTB rear wheel with Crest MK3 rim (rear wheel but part one)
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built a rear wheel with Stan's Crest rim. FH-RS770 28H all CX-RAY Satin Gray JIS laced with eyelets. The RS770 hub …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6. Evolite hub 24H, black semi-comp 46-spoke lacing pattern. I'll do the spok…
Racing Zero Competizione Red Custom Custom (Part 2)
Continuing from the other day. Let me wrap up the title. I installed Mikashima (MKS) Lambda pedals on the bamboo frame, but when I ordered these pedals, what ar…
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, July 25th (Thursday), I need to take the day off due to some unavoidable business. I apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6. Leaf hub 20H black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
I rebuilt the rear wheel on an Assault
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer entrusted me with the rear wheel from their current Reynolds Assault. Reynolds original hub, 24H Black CX-RAY straigh…
Italy's Criminal
One of the displayable metrics on the Polar V800 is "Lap VAM." VAM is an Italian acronym that translates to something like "average climbing speed" in Japanese,…
Built a wheel with SES4.5 WO rim (rear wheel, so part 2)
More wheel building today (details omitted). Continuing from the other day. I built the rear wheel with the SES4.5 WO rim. The front rim is 48mm deep and the re…
Built a front wheel with the 25 rim (final version)
Another day, another wheel (you know the drill). Here's an ENVE 25 rim—what's now called the Classic 25. The 45 and 65 come in two types: the light "1" and the …
Built a wheel with SES 4.5 WO rim (not because it's the front wheel, but here's part one)
Another day, another wheel (you know the drill). Built a front wheel with a SMART ENVE 4.5 WO rim (non-tubeless). Chris King R45 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke …
Racing Zero Competizione Red Custom Build (Part 1)
That bamboo frame bike I mentioned is finally finished. The center of the handlebar and the center of the front wheel are aligned with the frame's centerline, b…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
A customer dropped off the rear wheel from Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Even though I'd just built this wheel the other day, it had gotten all wobbly, so they asked me to…
Built the Nomu Lab Wheel #1 with the HB-7700
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer dropped off an HB-7700 front hub from the 7700-series Dura-Ace for me. They wanted me to overhaul it and then build i…
Built a Nomu Lab Wheel #5 with a Double-Threaded Fixed Gear Hub
Another day, another wheel (and so on). ↑A double-threaded fixed gear hub with 32 holes from that brand I built the Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Per the customer's reques…
Our Phone is Broken
Our shop's phone is broken right now. To be precise, it's not the phone itself but the line that's the problem. There's this incredible snow noise (sounds like …
WH-RS81-C35-○○ Customer
I received a WH-RS81 rear wheel from a customer. After an overhaul at a nearby shop, they wanted me to take another look at it. It looked like the wheel had a c…
Zonda
A customer brought in a Zonda rear wheel for me to work on. There's severe radial runout in one spot, and it's immediately obvious when you put it on a fixed ro…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 24H with semi-comp four-cross lacing. I'll do the spoke wrappi…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evolight hub, 28H, half-champion lacing pattern. I'll do the spoke twisting l…
Bora One 50
No images yet The title is Bora One 50 (working title), with just the 8 characters above as the content, but I left it sitting for about half a day and somehow …
Bora One 35
A customer handed me the front wheel from a Bora One 35 (high-end racing wheel). When I applied a 5mm Allen key to the axle nuts on both sides, the right end ca…
Shamal Ultra
A customer brought in a Shamal Ultra rear wheel for repair. It's hard to see because it's white, but I've marked the spokes that need replacing with tape. Start…
Racing Zero Carbon Rear Wheel
A customer brought in a rear wheel from their Racing Zero Carbon bike. Their foot had contacted the rear wheel, causing a wobble. One spoke was bent. You wouldn…
Soft Crank Buddy
I replaced a customer's FC-9000 left crank. This is a photo from before the replacement. Though I don't actually have a photo from after. The adhesive on the wa…
I Bought a Supernova Airstream
I wrote about the Supernova Airstream as a bonus in the G VOLT70 article, but that also got pretty long, so I've made it a separate post. The title says "I boug…
About the "G" and "70" in G VOLT70
This is a continuation of my previous post. I received multiple comments saying that the "70" in G VOLT70 comes from 70 lux. Thank you for that—I was clearly ou…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another wheel day (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Leaf hub 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial laced with red aluminum nipples.
Found an FC-7800
I'm building a bike with a bamboo frame for a friend, Since I want to keep costs down, I was looking through my spare parts at home to install my own crank and …
Racing Zero Tubular
A customer dropped off a Racing Zero with me. It's got that stylish red-spoked look with just one black spoke on both wheels front and rear—something I'd servic…
Built a wheel with AL22W rim, 6800 front hub, and AC rear hub
Another day of wheel building (you know the drill). Built a wheel with an AL22W rim. Front wheel: HB-6800 Ultegra 32H, fully bladed cross with Italian lacing, R…
Rebuilt the rear wheel of an old Crest rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). I rebuilt the rear wheel, which pairs with the front wheel of that old Crest rim I worked on the other day. The original hu…
I rebuilt the front wheel from an old Crest rim
True. Today is also a wheel day (and so on). A customer brought me a 29-inch wheel built with a Stanzi Crest rim. The current Crest model is called Crest MK3, b…
Replaced the front rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
So, another day of wheels (and so on). A customer brought in the front wheel of Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1 for work. It's a Reife hub, 20H, black CX-RAY, built with o…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer left a front wheel with us that was built with an XR200 rim. It's a Tni Wing Hub 20H laced radial with outpok…
WTB Scraper i40 Rim - Rear Wheel Build
Another wheel day (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built up a rear wheel with the Scraper i40 rim. FH-M8010-B 32H full competition two-cross lacing pat…
I installed an additional bottle cage boss on the underside of Amira's down tube
The drill whines away! A customer asked me to install a bottle cage boss on the underside of the down tube of his Specialized Amira frame. The reason is that he…
Usagi Express Again
I used our shop's exclusive nighttime delivery service, Usagi Express (rabbit express). This time it's going to a private residence, so unlike last time (→ here…
Glico's Extra Survive Seems to Be Trending
Glico supplements, or rather, among all the supplements I know of, ↑the Extra Amino Acid in the middle of this image is the supplement where I can most distinct…
Building a Front Wheel with WTB Scraper i40 Rim
Another wheel day (you know the rest). I built a front wheel with the WTB semi-fat rim, the Scraper i40 rim. I had planned to build both front and rear wheels t…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on the 808
Another day of wheel work (details omitted). A customer left me a rear wheel from a ZIPPI 808 to work on. 20H rear hub with silver hub body that can't be conver…
Taking a Day Off
Tomorrow, June 20th (Thursday), I have some unavoidable business to attend to, so I'll be taking the day off. I apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you f…
CLX64 Customer Bike
A customer brought in a Roval CLX64 for service. No photos of it unfortunately. I should've at least taken one overall shot. Both front and rear wheels were dea…
It Got Even Better
"It got even better." You see this phrase all the time on convenience store pasta and sandwiches, but if you knew you could do it that way, why didn't you do it…
Replaced the Front Hub on a Corima Aero Plus
A customer brought in the front wheel of a Corima Aero Plus for me to work on. They'd brought it in a little while back for a front and rear wheel inspection, b…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H, black CX-RAY, outpoke radial lacing with red aluminum nipples…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Evolight hub 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Replaced the rim on a Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT
A customer brought in the front wheel of a Racing Zero for service. The reason for my concern is that there's a team name sticker stuck on the rim. The rim's be…
Replaced the rear rim on the Racing 1 Prototype
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Finally got the spokes in (some of them are for restocking the shop), so I can now replace the rim on the Racing 1 Proto…
Racing 1 2WAY-FIT Front Wheel
I received the front wheel of a Racing 1 2WAY-FIT (Fulcrum wheel) from a customer. One spoke is broken, but this spoke has deformation separate from the fractur…
Ksyrium SLS
A customer brought in a Ksyrium SLS (Mavic wheel) for repair. A truck swerved into them (unclear if intentional), and to avoid the collision, they hit the curb …
Built a wheel with an AL22W disc rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a wheel with a Tni AL22W disc rim. The hub is an M3000-series Alivio disc hub. Front wheel: HB-M3050 32H all-black champi…
Cosmic Carbon Ultimate
A customer brought in a Cosmic Carbon Ultimate for me to work on. They want an inspection done. The front wheel can't have truing or centering work done, though…
Rebuilt a wheel with ENVE 25 rim
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). A customer brought in a wheel built with an ENVE 25 rim—now considered a classic Envy model, though all versions h…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing Since it's the matc…
A Warrior Transformed in Three Days — How Quickly Things Change
This is basically a continuation of my previous post. The title is taken from an episode about Lü Meng, a general of Eastern Wu from the Romance of the Three Ki…
I went to Koyasan
I went to Koyasan. I was planning to write an article about this, but the composition of the images in the article was completely ripped off. The article that r…
Set a fork on a Specialized frame
A customer brought me a Specialized Roubaix SL4 frameset for work. It was something they acquired through a private transaction, so no matter which shop they to…
Lowered the bottle cage hole position on the GUSTO frame
The drill screams! I took in a complete bike built on a GUSTO RCR Team frame from a customer (probably). When they asked me for advice on whether to buy this fr…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evo-Lite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. FH-9000 24H semi-championed lacing with lead-through Basically si…
Bora WTO 45
A customer brought in a Bora WTO (World Trade Organization) 45 for service. First, the front wheel. It says WTO 45, but the naming with WTO (World Trade Organiz…
I Partially Rebuilt the Rear Wheel WO Rim on the F4R
I took in an F4R from FF Yamaguchi (presumably from a customer). The brakes feel loose—even when I open the quick release and pull the brake lever until it touc…
Built a Carbon WO Rim Wheel for Brompton (Front Wheel, Part 2)
Back to wheels today (you know the drill). I received a 16-inch WO aluminum rim wheel for Brompton from a customer. The front hub is a Shutter Precision dynamo …
Built a Carbon WO Rim Wheel for Brompton (Rear Wheel, Part 1)
Another wheel build today (and so on). I built the rear wheel with a carbon WO rim for a Brompton. Hub: Novatec FS522SB straight spoke specification Left and ri…
The BB-UN55's Left Adapter Was Metal
The other day, I replaced the bottom bracket on a customer's commuter MTB with a square taper shaft ※Since it's 29 inches (700C), it's a bit ambiguous whether i…
Shamal Ultra 2WAY-FIT Wheel Spoke Replacement
A customer dropped off a Shamal Ultra front wheel with us. One spoke was clearly bent, they said. ↑Already removed from the flange — here it is. As for what cau…
Built a front wheel with XR200 rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer left a front wheel built with an XR200 rim for me to work on. It's the counterpart to the rear wheel I built …
Shamal Ultra
A customer brought in the rear wheel from a Shamal Ultra (high-end road wheel). While riding on some gravel-like terrain, the rear derailleur hanger broke off a…
Shamal Mille Customer Work
A customer brought in a rear wheel from a Shamal Mille for repair. There was one noticeable lateral runout, and when they took it to a nearby shop, they said th…
Built a rear wheel with XR200 rim
Another day working on wheels (and so on). I received an XR200 rim from a customer. It has spoke build marks on it and a Hope sticker attached. I'm going to bui…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another wheel day (et cetera et cetera). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evo Lite hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. Silver spokes with silve…
About the Hose Rupture on the SAPO Pump
Our shop is currently using a floor pump called ONE from SAPO (サポ), an Italian manufacturer, but this pump has its hose outlet right at ground level, and the ot…
On Intentional Wheel Center Offset
I wrote something the other day about whether to accept wheel center offset, and I received the following comment: You say wheel center offset isn't something y…
Building a Danso Bamboo Frame
The other day, a friend asked me to build up a bamboo frame that he got from a Ghanaian friend, and he also mentioned that if possible, the friend is asking if …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Not another wheel day (and so on). I'm not building the wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 24H, full competition four-cross lacing, Freewheel side with…
Cosmic Pro Carbon SL UST
I received a Cosmic Pro Carbon SL UST (Mavic road wheelset) from a customer. Starting with the front wheel. It had center offset and slight lateral runout, so I…
Bora Ultra 35 Clincher Dark Label
I received a Bora rear wheel from a customer (sort of). It was wobbling, they said, but this kind of abrupt, unnatural runout is caused by spoke deformation. In…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
More wheels today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 24 spokes, semi-competition four-cross lacing with spoke connections. …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolight hub, 24 spokes, semi-competition four-cross lacing pattern. I'll do th…
Rebuilt the front wheel of Tni's ROAD 38 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Rebuilt the rear wheel from a brand with a ridiculous name. Evolite hub 24H, black semi-comp, 4-cross lacing with spoke tension e…
Racing Zero Front Wheel
Correction: The original title was "Shamal Mille," but that was incorrect so I've fixed it. The reason for the mistake was that the four replacement spokes ment…
Zonda Front Wheel
I received a Zonda front wheel from a customer. I've already loosened the tension to make it easier to see, but one spoke is bent. Spoke deformation generally f…
Racing Zero Competizione's Front Wheel
A customer dropped off the front wheel from a Racing Zero Competizione (high-end racing bike). They're asking for preventive measures against new shaft catastro…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Front wheel is an Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, Rear wheel is an Evolite hub 24H b…
I Replaced the Front Rim on a Fulcrum Racing Zero Carbon
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought me a front wheel from a Fulcrum Racing Zero Carbon. There's a yellow tape marker at the 8 o'clock positi…
I Couldn't Replace the Rear Rim on the Racing 1 Prototype
It's wheels again today (and so on). I received a rear wheel from a customer for the Racing 1. It's a tubular rim spec, which makes sense since this was the top…
Wednesday Morning, 3 AM
Yesterday, my mentor asked me to source some bike parts for him, but I already had them in stock, so I decided to send them over. I wrote up a little letter... …
Rebuilding the Prime 28mm High Carbon Rim Wheel (Part 2)
Another day on wheels (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. Rebuilding the rear wheel with Prime's 28mm high carbon rim. RD020 rear hub, 24H, all black compon…
I Lost
A frame arrived from the wholesaler that's the only one in Japan handling LOOK but The shipping label to my shop's ATHENA was addressed to Dark Bicycle Workshop…
I built Nomo Lab Wheel No. 5 with a PowerTap hub
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel built with a Tni 50mm high carbon rim. The rim is the same one used on the Nomo Lab Wheel No. …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheel-building (details omitted). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing Basically red aluminu…
Built a rear wheel with AL22W rim
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built a rear wheel with an AL22W rim. To be precise, it's the rim brake version with offset shape specification for the AL2…
Built a Front Wheel with AL22W Rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built a front wheel with an AL22W rim. Evolite hub 20H with CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
I Built the Rear Wheel for the ENVE 3.4
Yesterday was wheels again (and so on). Yesterday, April 24th (Wednesday) was our regular day off but I went to a Campagnolo technical seminar at Japan's most k…
Taking a Day Off
Today, April 24th (Wednesday) is our regular closing day, and tomorrow, April 25th (Thursday), I'll be taking the day off due to unavoidable circumstances. I ap…
The ENVE 2.2 Front Wheel
The other day I rebuilt the rear wheel on the ENVE 2.2, so I decided to do an inspection on its partner—the front wheel. It's an ENVE carbon hub, 20H, black CX-…
Rebuilt the rear wheel of the WH-RS80
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left me with a rear wheel from a WH-RS80. They wanted the rear hub swapped out and upgraded to 11-speed. It's a 20H wh…
Panaracer is
Panaracer canned rim cement arrived in stock. With the current specifications, the bottom of the can has a mysterious sticker on it. Without exception. The half…
Built the front wheel for ENVE's 3.4
Another wheel day (and so on). I took in a set of ENVE 3.4 WO rims from a customer. A combination of a 38mm-deep, 20-hole front rim and a 42mm-deep, 24-hole rea…
Campagnolo and Fulcrum Aluminum Spokes Have Arrived
Campagnolo and Fulcrum aluminum spokes have arrived. There are Racing 3 spoke kits (one wheel's worth per box) mixed in, but most are aluminum spokes for Racing…
Bora One 50 Tubular Bright Label
A customer dropped off a Bora One rear wheel with me. As you can see, the spokes are completely snapped. Five spokes broke on the freewheel side — 1, 2, 3, 4, 5…
Fixed a loose rim joint with a screw
The drill is screaming! A customer brought me the front wheel from a Cosmic Elite. The rim weld had come loose and was making noise. On the opposite side of the…
Rebuilt the Rear Wheel on an ENVE 2.2
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in an ENVE 2.2 wheelset for service. We'll check the front wheel another day, but they want the rear …
Built a wheel with Campagnolo Omega 19 WO rim
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left me a wheel built with a Campagnolo Omega 19 WO rim for servicing. The size is 650C. All spokes front and rear are…
Shamal Mille Mille Mille Mille
I've taken in several Shamal Mille (Campagnolo high-end wheelset) wheels from customers. Job #1. I took in the rear wheel of a Shamal Mille. The customer had a …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5 as well
Another day of wheels (abbreviated hereafter). The title says "also" built Nomu Lab Wheel #5 and that's not a mistake. A customer brought in a rear wheel built …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 24-hole, semi-comp lacing, 4-cross pattern with spoke nipp…
Racing 7
A customer brought in the rear wheel from a Racing 7 for repairs. A kickstand that hooks onto the quick release lever got tangled up and bent some spokes. I fou…
Racing Zero Rear Wheel
A customer brought in a Racing Zero rear wheel for repair. The rear derailleur got caught in the wheel, and at least one spoke on the freewheel side is bent. Yo…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evolite hub 24H, not semi-comp but semi-championship 26-spoke lacing with wir…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolight hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing Red aluminum nipples.
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3
Today it's wheels again (you know the drill). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3. Evolight hub, 20H black, half champion lacing pattern. I'll do th…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5. HB-9000 18H black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced.
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
More wheel building today (you know how it is…). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial laced— with deep red aluminu…
Nastro
I took a Cat's Eye wired cycle computer and trimmed it to the minimum necessary length, then split the cord in the middle. I've been thinking it would be nice t…
Built a wheel with a Chris King Classic hub and Open Pro rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Built a wheel with a Chris King pink anodized hub and an Open Pro rim. The front wheel is a Classic Low Flange hub, 32H, black C…
The Long Road to Building Nomu Lab Wheel #5's Front Wheel
Another day of wheel work (and so on). A customer brought in Nomu Lab Wheel #5, which was built with a PowerTap G3 hub. When I tried to install the tire using G…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 with 7700 Hubs
Another wheel build today (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 using a customer's 7700 hub. Front wheel: HB-7700 28H CX-RAY with 4-cross Italian lacing, Rear…
The lockring appeared to be eccentric
I noticed it while truing a customer's wheel, I didn't install this sprocket. The reason is (→ here ) Even when I didn't install it, there are examples of insta…
Rebuilt the front wheel using a 20H rear rim
Another wheel day (and so on). The other day I built a rear wheel with a 24H, 24mm high carbon tubular rim, but I hadn't gotten around to building my partner's …
Front Wheel Spoke Count
Since I wrote about thinking through rear wheel spoke counts, I'll take the chance to write about "front wheel spoke counts." For example, a CX-RAY 32H front wh…
Rebuilding the Rear Wheel of Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1 (2:1 Lacing)
Another day with wheels (and so on). Today is the last Saturday of the month, so I know the shop is closed, but there are some jobs I can rarely get to during r…
Ksyrium SL and Ksyrium SL Premium
I received a Ksyrium SL and a Ksyrium SL Premium from a customer. There are various Ksyrium SL models out there, but this one is the 2007 and onward model that …
Racing Zero Carbon
A customer brought in a Racing Zero Carbon (high-end racing bicycle) for service. Starting with the rear wheel. Full overhaul and The customer wants me to repla…
I Didn't Rebuild the Front Wheel Using the 20H Rear Rim
Another day working on wheels (you know the drill). A customer brought in a rear wheel built with a 24mm high carbon tubular rim. It's an Evolite hub 20H, semi-…
ZIPP Disc Wheel Issue
A customer (technically) brought in a ZIPP disc wheel. They brought it in mounted on a TT frame without proper cup-and-cone dropouts, but there's a clearly visi…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. I've been building the rear wheel to match the front wheel I built the other day, using up my front hub stock, bu…
Rebuilt the rear wheel with Corima's 47mm rim
Another day of wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel built with a Corima "47mm" rim. It's a carbon rim with 47mm rim height (WO versions exist …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Evolite hub 24H black semi-comp 46-spoke lacing Black aluminum nipples. I'll…
Racing 3
A customer brought in a Racing 3 for me to work on. They want a complete overhaul of both the front and rear wheels. I hadn't planned to write about this, so I …
Built rear wheels for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1 and No. 6
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Evololite hub 24H black semi-competition 4-cross lacing with purple aluminum nipp…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolite hub, 24H, black, semi-comp 4/6 lacing. I'll do the spoke wrapping later.
I Replaced the Rim on a Prime Carbon Wheel
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought me a front wheel with a Prime carbon tubeless ready rim. Apparently the rim completely shattered when they tri…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Back to wheels today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolite hub 24H with a semi-comp 4-cross lacing pattern. I'll do the spoke th…
Stocked RP-001 WAHOO
Lezyne's base plate for WAHOO, I've stocked the RP-001 WAHOO. ↑This base plate is for GARMIN, but you can convert it like this for WAHOO use. Note that the slot…
Racing Zero
A customer dropped off the rear wheel from a Racing Zero (a bike model) for me. A branch got wrapped around the rear wheel and bent one spoke. ↑Here's the culpr…
Shamal Mille
A customer left the front wheel of their Shamal Mille (Italian wheel brand) with me for repair. They failed to engage their clipless pedals properly and their f…
Bora One 35
A customer dropped off a Bora One rear wheel with us. One spoke was bent, apparently. ↑Of the G3, on the freewheel side, on the left as you look at it— that spo…
WH-7701
A customer dropped off a WH-7701 with me. They wanted a hub overhaul and truing work. Currently cleaning... Cup and cone hubs often show different wear patterns…
First Generation Racing 1
I received a first generation Racing 1 from a customer. They're requesting an overhaul "and such." Cleaning in progress... I didn't check the preliminary center…
Shamal Ultra
A customer brought in a Shamal Ultra rear wheel for service. When spinning the freewheel body by hand, there was a rough, heavy sensation, but when the customer…
Built a wheel with DT RR411db rim
Another wheel build today (and so on). I built a wheel with a DT RR411db rim. Front wheel: HB-M9010 hub, 32H, semi-comp pattern four-cross reverse Italian lacin…
Built rear wheels for Nomulab Wheel #5 and #6
More wheels today (et cetera). Built the rear wheel for Nomulab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 24H black semi-comp four-cross lacing with spoke connections, and green al…
Built front wheels for Nomu Lab Wheels #2 and #6
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Reife Hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. The one I built yesterday had black …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Back at the wheel build again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Leaf hub 20H black CX-RAY outpoke radial lace.
A Pussy That'll Work With Anyone If You've Got the Cash
I recently got my hands on a tool can with this title for writing articles, and since a customer wanted it, I took these photos before giving it to them. It's m…
BORA WTO 60
A customer brought in a BORA Wind Tunnel Optimized 60 wheel set for service. I've only got a photo of the rear wheel, but I'm doing a full inspection of the bra…
Racing Zero Carbon
A customer left me the rear wheel from their Racing Zero Carbon (high-performance carbon road bike). They also wanted wheel truing, but that's more of an aftert…
Built a rear wheel with FLO's 95mm tall carbon WO rim
I built a rear wheel with a FLO carbon rim. It's a 95mm tall WO rim. The reason the sticker on the rim's side looks like the stars and stripes is unclear. I've …
Pacenti's "Patent"...!? Front Wheel Build with the Rim
A customer dropped off a Pacenti rim with me. It's a silver rim with the model name BREVET. This model comes in 700C and 650B sizes, but this one is 700C. It's …
Taking the Day Off
Tomorrow, February 28th (Thursday), I have some urgent matters to attend to, so I'll be taking the day off. I apologize for the inconvenience, and thank you for…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 24H black semi-comp, radial spoked configuration Black aluminum nipples. I'll lace the spokes later.
Built a front wheel with a 3T hub
Another wheel day (and so on). The spokes came in on schedule, so I was able to build the matching front wheel to go with the rear wheel I assembled the other d…
Speed 40C
I received a Speed 40C from a customer for service. They're looking for an inspection. The image above is the rear wheel, but I forgot to photograph the front w…
I replaced the front rim on a Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a Racing Zero front wheel for service. There's a warning that says to only use Hutchinson tires with …
I Stocked Up on AL22W Rims
Tni (Japanese rim manufacturer) has released three types of AL22W rims as derivative models of the AL22 rim: AL22W (with brake zone / non-offset rim) AL22W (wit…
Eurus
A customer dropped off a Eurus front wheel with me. This is the top-of-the-line Eurus with a medium profile rim, the first model to switch from steel spokes to …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheels (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 24H black half-competition 46-pattern lacing Silver aluminum nippl…
Rear Derailleur, Where Are You Going?
I'm currently working on transplanting components onto a frame here at the shop The replaceable derailleur hanger that came with the frameset turned out to be d…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 24-hole, semi-competition 46-spoke lacing pattern with cross c…
Out of Stock: Evorite Front Hub 20H
Important Notice The Tni Evolution Light Hub (ティーエヌアイのエボリューションライトハブ) that we regularly use when building Nomu Lab wheels has been out of stock at the distributo…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Both use Evolight Hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, silver spokes / silver nipples, and black spokes / silver n…
Built a rear wheel with a 3T hub
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I received a hub from a 3T complete wheelset from a customer. It's a hub for straight spokes, with the front and rear non-d…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. The rear wheel in the background is the matching one I built the other da…
Carl's Flying House
「アナと雪の女王」という邦題の映画がありますが、 There's a movie with the Japanese title "Anna and the Snow Queen," but あれの原題は「ＦＲＯＺＥＮ」です。 its original English title is "FROZEN." シンプルです…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 24-hole, black, semi-competition four-cross pattern with red alumi…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
～Notice～ The Racing Zero Competizione festival bonus sale sold out as of the day before yesterday. Thank you for your purchases. The next one (if there is one) …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 24H, black semi-competition 4-cross spoke pattern with red aluminu…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with gold aluminum nipples.
Stocked Up on TyreKey
The other day, a customer asked me to stock a tire lever called TyreKey (brand name) in the shop. It's a tool (apparently) that makes it easier to install the s…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheel building (etc.). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 24H, black semi-comp, 4-cross lacing. With spoke ties. Silver alum…
Racing Zero Competizione Festival - Second Round
N: So the Rase Zero Compe wheels I acquired for political reasons the other day sold out in 2 days. F: I told you to stock up more back then. N: Can we still go…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day, another wheel (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite 20H hub, black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced and all. Silver…
R-SYS SLR
A customer brought in an R-SYS SLR for service. They're requesting an inspection. Starting with the rear wheel. When I spun the freewheel body by hand in revers…
Cosmic CXR60
A customer brought in a Cosmic CXR60 for service. The spokes are bent, so they need replacement. ↑Here it is. The customer provided the spokes, but naturally th…
Built a wheel with XYZ rims
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built a wheel with XYZ rims. The rim I built before (→ here ) was 30mm deep, but this time the rim is 45mm deep. Front wh…
Converted the WH-7900-C35-TU rear wheel to 11-speed
Another day of wheel work (etc.). I received a rear wheel with a carbon tubular rim from a customer's 7900 C35. They wanted me to swap out the 10-speed rear hub…
Replaced the rear rim on Nomu Lab Wheel #1
I received the rear wheel of Nomu Lab Wheel #1 from a customer. I thought about just replacing the cracked nipple, but since there was a dent in the rim, I ende…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolight hub 24H, semi-competition 4-cross lacing with black aluminum …
Built a rear wheel with SES 4.5WO rim
Another day with wheels (et cetera). I built up a rear wheel with the Smart Envisystem 4.5 rear rim (A56 rim). The dark, shadowy appearance is because there's a…
I rebuilt the rear wheel with Nemesis Rim components
Another day, another wheel (abbreviated from here on). A customer dropped off a rear wheel built with Ambrosio Nemesis Rim components. The hub is a Record 32H. …
Built a rear wheel with RR411db rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I want to build the rear wheel, which is the match to yesterday's RR411db rim front wheel, but first, I'm taking care of this one…
Built a front wheel with RR411db rim
Another day working on wheels (and so on). Built a front wheel with an RR411db rim. HB-RS770 28H all black CX-RAY 6/4 inverted Italian cross lacing. I'll do the…
First Generation Racing Zero
I took in a first generation Racing Zero from a customer. While the rim/spokes/hub aren't red/red/red, they are black/red/black, but spec-wise it's the same as …
Bora One 35 Dark Label
A customer left a Bora One with me for inspection. It's brand new, recently purchased from an overseas online shop, and they wanted a full inspection. No center…
Rebuilt the SES 7.8 rear wheel
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). A customer dropped off the rear wheel from a Smart Envision System 7.8. In the customer's words, it "seems to flex…
Shamal Ultra Dark Label
A customer dropped off the rear wheel from a Shamal Ultra (high-end racing wheel) for repair. One spoke was broken midway through. The way it's wrapped around t…
Rebuilt the Reynolds 32 rear wheel
More wheel work today (and so on...). A customer brought me a Reynolds 32 rear wheel. They said it was loose and wanted me to rebuild it. The hub is a DT-made o…
Built a rear wheel with R470db rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Built a rear wheel using a DT R470db rim. This is a continuation from the other day. The hub is a Novatech D792SB with reverse h…
Built a front wheel with the R470db rim
I built a front wheel with a DT R470 rim. The hub is a Novatec D791SB, 24H black Champion / Competé Roxi with reverse Italian lacing. I'll do the spoke end tapi…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. I was supposed to build Nomu Lab Wheel #1 with silver spokes and gold nipples, but …
I Replaced the Rear Rim on a Racing Zero Japan Limited Model
Today it's wheels again (etc.). I received a rear wheel from a customer for a Racing Zero (レーシングゼロ) Japan limited model. While it doesn't have a tie-laced spoke…
Rebuilt the front wheel with XR331 rim
A front wheel I built earlier with a DT XR331 rim and HB-RS770 hub has never been ridden, so I rebuilt it from semi-comp to full CX-RAY spokes. Had to replace t…
DV46T Front Wheel
A customer brought in a Reynolds DV46T front wheel for me to work on. This is the partner wheel to the rear wheel I rebuilt the other day. They asked me to do s…
Racing Zero Rear Wheel
I received a rear wheel from a Racing Zero bike that a customer brought in. There was a bent spoke, so I attempted to true the wheel but it turned out a spoke h…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Another day building wheels (et cetera). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Avolite hub, 24-spoke, semi-competition 4-cross lacing with spoke ties G…
I Recovered the Bottle Cage Bolts on the Emonda
The drill screams to life! A customer brought in a Trek Emonda where the bottle cage bolt that comes with the frame had snapped below the neck and couldn't be r…
Rebuilt the DV46T Rear Wheel
Back to wheels again today (and so on...). A customer brought in a Reynolds DV46T rear wheel. It's not at the point of needing truing, but the tension is loos…
About Prime's ATD01 Rim
About the Prime ATD01 rim from two posts back I looked into it. The image above is unrelated to the article content. First, regarding the AT470 and ATD470: the …
I rebuilt the rear wheel with a PowerTap hub
Another wheel day (and so on). I received a rear wheel built with a PowerTap hub from a customer. The rim is currently a Mavic Open Pro, but they'd like me to r…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another wheel day (and so on). But first. I swapped the rear rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. This falls under an unwritten warranty claim, so it's not really the k…
Racing Zero
A customer brought in a Racing Zero rear wheel for me to work on. Starting with the front wheel. They wanted an overhaul, but both the front and rear hubs had p…
Shamal Mille
A customer brought in a Shamal Mille rear wheel for repair. One spoke is seriously bent, it got tangled up in a wire rope. This one definitely needs replacing, …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evo Lite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with gold alumi…
Open Pro Rim Explosive Failure
A customer brought in an Open Pro rim... I received a rear wheel built with an Open Pro rim. It was being used on a cyclocross bike with cantilever brakes, but …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Eyelite hub 20H black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing Black aluminum nippl…
Supplementary Information on the V800 2
Regarding the Polar V800 2, I've done more research and have some additional findings to share. First, I've confirmed that you cannot disable (or stop using) th…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. EvoLite hub, 24H, black semi-comp 4x6 lacing pattern with spoke threading, an…
Bora One 50 Dark Label
A customer dropped off a Bora One (Campagnolo wheelset) for inspection. Since it's not the original owner, they wanted me to give it a thorough once-over just i…
I Replaced the Rim on the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
A customer brought in the rear wheel of their Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 (custom wheel model). They brought it in a while back for a truing, but what we're feeling in…
Year-End and New Year's Holiday Schedule
For our year-end and New Year's holiday, we'll be closed from December 31st (Monday) through January 6th (Sunday). In last year's similar post (→ here ) I menti…
Built the rear wheel for Nomulabo Wheel #5
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomulabo Wheel #5. FH-9000 28H black half-championship lacing (チャンピヨンロク組み) with spoke connection…
Mr. Aksium
A customer dropped off an Aksium (Shimano training wheelset) with me for service. Starting with the front wheel. There was a subtle centering issue, so I fixed …
Aksium Race Wheels
A customer brought me a pair of Aksium front and rear wheels. To be precise, these are wheels they brought in for component assembly work. I don't want to have …
Merculio 60
A customer dropped off the front wheel of a 3T Merculio 60 for repair. It's a wheel with a special structure featuring hub-side nipples and rim-side spoke heads…
Bora Ultra Two
A customer left me with a Bora front wheel. It's from the narrow-rim era with internal nipples, and it's also from around when CULT bearings (Campagnolo bearing…
I Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. HB-9000 24H black CX-RAY with Italian four-cross lacing pattern and silver …
Built a Fixed-Gear Front Wheel with a 50mm Carbon Rim
I built the front wheel to match the 88mm-high-rim fixed-gear rear wheel I assembled the other day. This one uses a 50mm-high carbon tubular rim. HB-7600, 28-ho…
Replaced nipples and hub ends on Nomu Lab Wheel #4
Today it's wheels again (abbreviated from here on)—this isn't really related to that, so I probably shouldn't be posting it here, but I received a rear wheel fr…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
More wheels today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 24H, semi-competition 4-cross lacing with spoke twisting.
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
I was planning to build the front wheel today—the match for yesterday's fixed gear rear wheel—but I didn't have enough spokes in the length I needed, so it didn…
Racing Zero
A customer brought in the rear wheel of a first-generation Racing Zero for service. Strictly speaking, the first-generation Racing Zero refers to the model with…
Now selling CO2 cartridge foam rubber covers individually
So with this Park Tool VP1 patch kit box, it's really useful. With this patch kit, the individual blister packs are readily available at any shop, but the box v…
I Stocked Up on Dexshell Ultralight Socks
The Dexshell waterproof socks — the thinnest model is the "Ultralight" They come in gray as well as black. The black pair in the photo is a customer's order. It…
Built a Fixed Gear Rear Wheel with 88mm High-Profile Carbon Tubular Rim
Another wheel day (details omitted). I built a fixed gear rear wheel with an 88mm high-profile carbon tubular rim that a customer entrusted me with. It's an HB-…
PowerTap's In-House Wheel
I received a wheel made in-house by PowerTap (a power meter and wheel manufacturer) from a customer. The rim is a DT R460. I'm saying it's PowerTap in-house bec…
Built a rear wheel with XR331 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a rear wheel with XR331 rim. FH-RS770 28H semi-competition 4-cross lacing. I'll do the spoke lacing later.
I replaced the rim on the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
A customer brought in the rear wheel from a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1 for repair. On a downhill section at a mountain pass, the rear wheel dropped into a gap between…
Built a front wheel with XR331 rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built a front wheel with XR331 rim. HB-RS770 28H semi-competition 4-cross pattern with spoke connections.
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. It's an Evolite hub 24H in black, laced half-comp 4-cross. I'll do the spoke ni…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Built the Nomu Lab Wheel #1 with a PowerTap Hub
Another wheel day (you know the drill). A customer left me a PowerTap rear hub to work with. The rim is also a PowerTap brand piece, and it's all black with a c…
Shamal Ultra Titanium Gray
A customer brought in the rear wheel of a Shamal Ultra for repair. A spoke had suddenly broken. These are Campagnolo/Fulcrum aluminum spokes, but they don't jus…
R-SYS SLR
I took in an R-SYS SLR from a customer. The front wheel had a centering deviation of about one sheet of paper, but it's such a small amount that some centering …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolight hub 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with red aluminum nipples.
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheel building (you know the drill). A customer brought in the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. HB-RS400 28H silver and black alternating CX-RA…
Flight Carbon Has Arrived
The other day, I ordered parts from a certain distributor and in the shipment there was a saddle and some snacks that I hadn't ordered, so I called to ask about…
Built a rear wheel with XR331 rim
Continuing from last time. I built a rear wheel with an XR331 rim. FH-RS770 28H, black half-comp, 4-cross JIS lacing with spoke twist, though a 6-cross pattern …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4. I applied rim cement before taking a shot of just the wheel, so I'm photo…
Built a wheel with XYZ rims
Another day of wheel building (and so on). A customer left me with a rim from a brand called XYZ. It's a disc brake-only carbon tubeless rim. Tubeless, not tube…
R-SYS SLR
I received an R-SYS SLR from a customer for service. Since it's not the original owner, the detailed service history is unknown, but it's certain the bearings h…
Built a front wheel with SES 5.6 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left me a pair of Smart Envision System 5.6 rims, front and rear. The image above is the front rim, with a 54mm depth …
Grand Prix 5000 Stock Arrived
Continental's new model, the Grand Prix 5000, has arrived in stock. Ordered way too much — help me out (not panicking though) It blends in like camouflage — the…
Built a rear wheel with a rim from a brand with a ridiculous name
Following up from the front wheel. I built up the rear wheel with a rim from a brand with a ridiculous name. Evolite hub, 24-hole, semi-comp four-cross laced wi…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Ebolite hub 24-spoke, semi-competition lacing with solder connections. A fell…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #6
Another wheel build today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #6. It's my personal bike, but. What's wrong with building my own wheel on …
Built a front wheel with a rim from a brand with a shitty name
Another day, another wheel build (etc.). A customer handed me a rim from a brand whose name you're not supposed to say... Oops, wrong one— this was a different …
Racing Zero
I received a Racing Zero from a customer. They tried to fix the rear wheel centering themselves, but got confused and asked me to correct it. The rim is general…
Ksyrium SLR
I received a Ksyrium SLR from a customer. I only photographed the rear wheel. The front wheel was perfectly centered (rare!) but had a slight wobble. The rear w…
I Replaced the Front Wheel Rim on a Shamal Mille
Another wheel day (and so on). I received a front wheel from a customer's Shamal Mille (シャマルミレ - Campagnolo road wheelset). The bead hook was deformed from buck…
BB30 Crankshaft Was Eaten Away
A customer dropped off a bike saying "the rear shifting is acting weird," but the derailleur itself had no problems. The specific symptom was a clicking noise—"…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with gold aluminum nipples.
Racing Zero
A customer brought in a Racing Zero (high-end wheel set) for service. They wanted truing work done, but there was a nipple that felt seized—very stiff to turn— …
Rebuilt the rear wheel for Prime
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a Prime rear wheel for me to work on. It's a Novatec hub, 24 hole, all-black CX-RAY straight spokes, …
WH-RS170
A customer ordered a rear wheel for the WH-RS170, so I sourced one. No centering issues, just a slight wobble, but pretty much fine overall. The rear hub spec i…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 24H black semi-comp 4-cross lacing with gold aluminum nipples.…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4
Another wheel day (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4. Tradizione Classico hub (as per their website), 32H Built entirely with competit…
On the Length of Single-Speed Chainring Bolts
I'm going to write about front single-speed chainring bolts. The image above shows front single-speed chainring bolts from the same manufacturer, but these are …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Back to wheel building today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, with turquoise aluminum n…
Equivalent TL-BR51 Arrived
A mysterious organization sent me an equivalent to the TL-BR51. The top image is the original, and the 3 pieces below are equivalents with the same material, th…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
It's wheels again today (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 24-hole semi-comp lacing pattern Turquoise aluminum nipples. I'l…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6
Back to wheels today (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6. Evo Lite hub 24H, black semi-comp four-cross lacing. I'll do the spoke twi…
Bora One 50 Dark Label
A customer brought in a Bora One rear wheel for me to work on. As you can see one spoke is broken. Separately, there was some roughness in the hub rotation. Wit…
Racing Zero Sir
A customer dropped off a Racing Zero rear wheel with me. When a friend who "can handle wheels" did the truing check, it turned out the wheel was indeed out of t…
Replaced the Rear Hub on a TB25 Rim Wheel
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel built with a Kinrin TB25 rim. If this were a rim we'd sold at the shop, it would be t…
Rebuilt the Crest MK3 front wheel with XR331
Time to relocate the rim. Following up on the Crest MK3→XR331 swap from before, they wanted me to do the front wheel too. Rim relocation in progress... Since th…
Bora Ultra 80 Bright Label
A customer dropped off a Bora Ultra 80 for inspection. They requested a full check. This Bora Ultra 80 was the latest spec when it came out, but now it's become…
Speed 40/55C Wheels
A customer dropped off a Speed 40C front wheel and a 55C rear wheel for me. It looks like overseas online shops sell this combination. Both wheels had slight wo…
Trimax 30
I received a Vision Trimax 30 from a customer for inspection. As for the inspection itself, there wasn't really much worth writing about. The Trimax 30 has mult…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6. Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
More wheels today (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 24H, semi-competition 4-cross lacing. I'll do the final spoke wrapping…
Built the rear wheel for a shopping bike
More wheels today (and so on). I received a Ksyrium Pro UST from a customer (technically speaking). I'm doing work on both wheels, but I only took photos of the…
Hyperion Ultra Two
A customer dropped off a Hyperion wheel with us. The Hyperion has finally been discontinued. For Campagnolo's low-profile rim wheels, it's now just Neutron Ultr…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 with a PowerTap hub
Another day with wheels (you know the drill). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 with a PowerTap hub. G3 hub, 24-hole, semi-comp 4x6 lacing pattern…
Replaced the rim on a Mavic Allroad Elite
A customer brought in the rear wheel of a Mavic Allroad Elite for me to work on. The "Allroad" is a series of wheels designed for gravel riding. The rim was in …
Soft File Wins!
About a Specialized Stumpjumper FSR from around 2000 (meaning the 2000 model year, not the 2000s era), when the seatpost length is adjusted to stick out just sl…
The WH-BUU002 Valve Bush Shape Has Changed Again
The valve rattle prevention guard used on Campagnolo Bora wheels and similar rims—the valve bush WH-BUU002—has undergone another specification change. This is n…
Rebuilding the front wheel from that brand we don't name
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a front wheel built on that brand's rim—you know, the one we don't speak of. The image above is already aft…
Replaced the Zonda's front rim (separate issue from the other day)
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in a front wheel built with a ZIPP 400 rim. Based on the rim logo (late 90s) and rim height, I'd thou…
Racing Zero
I received a Racing Zero (Campagnolo wheel) from a customer. In earlier model years with white flange hubs and white label rims, when equipped with red spokes, …
PowerTap Rear Wheel
A customer brought in a rear wheel built with a PowerTap hub for service. They only requested spoke tension truing, not a complete rebuild. The rim is an Ambros…
I Built a Practice Wheel with a Specification I Might Use More Often Going Forward (Part 2)
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel to match the front wheel I assembled the other day with a 36H hub and 24H rim. RR411db rim 24H FH-R7…
I Built a Practice Wheel with a Specification That Might Become Frequently Used Going Forward (Part 1)
Apology and Correction Regarding the assembly method of this wheel The article states "spoke phasing twist does not occur" but this was an error. I sincerely ap…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4. The front wheel from the previous post is in the shot together because it's a wheel for the same customer. HB-9000 …
Rebuilt the Reynolds front wheel
Another day, another wheel (you know the drill). Got a Reynolds Stratos DV front wheel in from a customer. This is a Reynolds from an era when LEW manufacturing…
I Replaced the Front Rim on a Zonda Wheel
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a Zonda front wheel for me to work on. They said they hit it on a parking barrier, and sure enough, the rim…
Changed Pioneer Onigiri to Tuna Mayo
The reason I went with tuna mayo is because if I used Sea Chicken® Mayo, I'd have to include the registered trademark ® mark and match the typeface for "Sea Chi…
I Bought Maware's Rapid Mini
I bought a Cat Eye rear light, the Rapid Mini (TL-LD635), in a collaboration model wrapped in a leather case. It's a collaboration between Maware, a leather bra…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3
It's wheel day again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3. Evolite hub 20H, black half-four-cross lacing. I'll do the truing later, but …
Rebuilt front and rear wheels for the SES 3.4
A customer dropped off a Smart Envy System 3.4 in WO spec. Starting with the rear wheel. Both wheels are built with DT 240S hubs, but the rear wheel has been sh…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced. This is the match to yester…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
It's wheels again today (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 28H, black semi-comp 46-cross lacing. I'll do the spoke tyi…
I Stocked Silca's Titanium Bottle Cage, But...
A new titanium bottle cage has come out from Silca, the pump manufacturer. Ever since I confirmed the announcement on the manufacturer's main site a while back,…
Cosmic Pro Carbon SL UST
I received a Cosmic Pro Carbon SL UST from a customer. It's a 2019 model. I didn't forget to shoot the front wheel—I just couldn't be bothered. The rim is off-c…
Shamal Ultra 2 WAY-FIT
I received a front wheel from a Shamal Ultra from a customer. Two spokes are bent. ↑One of them. They were riding a cyclocross bike, and the cleat didn't engage…
The Original Racing Zero
A customer brought in a Racing Zero rear wheel for repair. The very first original Racing Zero, including color specification, has a rim/spokes/hub all in red, …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolite hub 24H semi-comp four-cross lacing pattern. I'll do the spoke ten…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolitehub 20H CX-RAY 44 Italian lacing.
Added Shimano Di2 JC bracket mount to pedaling monitor (redux)
The drill is screaming! I took in a WH-RS21 rear wheel from a customer. Did truing and centering. The same customer also left me a WH-RS010 rear wheel. Did trui…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Back to wheels today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. It's the matching pair to the front wheel I built yesterday. Evolight hub, 24…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another wheel build today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolight hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with green aluminum nipp…
I Bought Out More Kolima Saddles Again
That Kolima saddle (→ this one ) — turns out there was still stock left at the main warehouse. The black was back in stock out of the black and yellow options, …
WH-9000-C24-CL Customer
A customer brought in a Shimano C24 rear wheel for us to work on. They came from quite far away (outside the Kansai region), and said that if we couldn't fix it…
I Replaced the Rim on a Racing Zero
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel from a Racing Zero Competizione. It developed some wobbling from contact with a car, and since…
Built wheels with XR331 and RR411 rims
Today it's wheels again (story abridged). Well, not exactly. The last Saturday of the month is our regular day off, but for the past several months I've been co…
Built a front wheel with ENVE 4.5 AR Disc rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a front wheel using the ENVE 4.5 AR Disc rim. The rim side sticker appears to have been replaced with a red one from the …
Racing Zero San
A customer left me a Racing Zero rear wheel to work on. It's got some runout, but looking closer, it seems to be the kind of runout caused by spoke deformation.…
Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT Rear Wheel Repair
A customer dropped off a Racing Zero rear wheel with us. The rear derailleur got caught and bent a spoke on the freewheel side. ↑There it is. There's impact dam…
Racing Zero Repair
A customer dropped off the rear wheel from a Racing Zero for repair. The rear wheel had runout, but there was a noticeable wobble in one spot— this wasn't just …
On Front Wheel Spoke Count
Spoke quantity, by my definition, is expressed as the percentage of spoke weight ratio × number of spokes. What I was thinking of writing has mostly already bee…
I Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2, but first— We've been stocking these Black Hubs at the shop as a workaround for our Evolite hub shortage, and spe…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. I'm sure you're thinking I just built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 recently, but i…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day, another wheel (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with red aluminum ni…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another wheel day (you know the drill). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evolite hub 24H…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (you know the drill). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evolite hub 24…
Built a rear wheel with Light Bicycle carbon rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Following up on the front wheel I built the other day, I was attempting to convert the Shimano freebody on the DT240S BO…
Built cyclocross wheels
So I said I'd be taking September 20th (Thursday) off... that was a lie. So the day before yesterday I was also doing wheels (and so on...). I holed up in the s…
Taking Time Off
Today, September 19th (Wednesday), is our regular day off, but I have some unavoidable business on September 21st (Friday), so I'll be taking a day off. So I've…
Butterfly Holes
A customer brought in the rear wheel from a Miyata Click Folding folding bike. ↑Not just the rear wheel brought in separately, but removed from the bike they ro…
Rebuilt the Rovale SLX24
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in a Rovale SLX24 wheel for me to work on. Totally inconsequential observation, but it's probably rar…
I Rebuilt Those Wasted Chris King Wheels
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer left me with some terrible wheels built with a Chris King R45 hub and a Stans Alpha 400 rim. Terrible wheels — t…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
True, wheels again today (et cetera). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evo Light hub 24H with CX-RAY spokes in Italian four-cross lacing patter…
Rebuilt the rear wheel of a child seat bicycle
Another day of wheel building (abbreviation omitted). Not counting this one. A customer brought in the rear wheel of a utility bike with a child seat. Mostly sp…
Built a front wheel with Light Bicycle's carbon rim
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left me with a Light Bicycle RM29C06 carbon tubeless rim. Light Bicycle has a logo shaped like the initials "LB", and …
Racing Zero (Our Store's Stock) Festival
We had a Racing Zero festival, but everything is now sold out. Thank you for your purchases. If we get another opportunity, we'll consider ordering larger quant…
Racing Zero
A customer brought in the rear wheel from a Racing Zero for repair. One spoke was bent. The cause is clear—right after transporting the bike, there was noticeab…
Built a front wheel with Nemesis Rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the front wheel using an Ambrosio Nemesis Rim. The rear wheel is already built, but I couldn't build the fron…
Racing Zero Festival
Not quite the volume the title suggests for a "festival," but for political reasons I've been forced to stock Racing Zero wheels. I was planning to flip them qu…
Noble Blood is Blue
This is a continuation of part of the previous article. The other day, I did a bleeding procedure on a Magura HS33 R Urban, which is a hydraulic caliper brake. …
Bora One 35 Clincher Dark Label
A customer brought in a Bora One for me to work on. Starting with the rear wheel. There's a reference tape on the G3 spokes (three of them, marked opposite the …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
More wheels today (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 28H, built semi-comp 4-cross lacing. I'll do the spoke wrapping later.
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day on wheels (you know the drill). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, Rear wheel: Evolite hub 24H semi-…
Built a rear wheel with XR200 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a rear wheel with the XR200 rim. PowerWay rear hub 24H — looks like it could be a sibling to the Reefhub Black half-comp, 4…
How to Adjust Mavic Press-Fit Hub Ends
A customer brought in the front wheel from an R-SYS SLR. The front hub had play, so I replaced the bearings. The play was confirmed both when shaking the wheel …
Built rear wheel with CX22 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built up the rear wheel with the CX22, a wide tubular rim from Tni (cyclocross-specific rim). The customer preferred to keep th…
I Basically Bought Out All the Colima Saddles
Before I get into the main story. I used to really like the CC-RD100 (wired, no cadence), the first model in CatEye's "Strada" series, but the click-tech mechan…
Built front wheels for Nomu Lab Wheels 2.5 and 6
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheels 2.5, which had been waiting for an 18H front hub to arrive. Evolite hub 18H, black CX-…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
It's wheel day again (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 24-hole, black half-comp, 4-cross pattern with cross-lacing an…
Cosmic Pro Carbon SL UST
A customer brought in a pair of Cosmic UST wheels for me to work on. These are brand new, but today I'm also inspecting another pair of the same model that's sl…
Built the front wheel for the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheel building (and so on). But before that. Despite what the title says, today I was planning to build an 18H front wheel for the Nomu Lab Wheel…
Rebuilding the Tni Dragon 35C Tubeless Rear Wheel
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer entrusted me with the rear wheel of a Tni Dragon complete wheelset. The wheel model is listed as 35C Tubeless, b…
Built the rear wheel for Nomulab Wheel #6
Another day of wheels (and so on). Built Nomulab Wheel #6. I thought the last Saturday of the month was supposed to be our day off, but work's been piling up ab…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Front wheel: Evo Lite hub 20H, all-competition outpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evo Lite hub 24H, …
Built a rear wheel with ENVE 1-45 rims
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from the ENVE post the other day. I think I've actually built two more wheels separately today but let's not dwell on…
Rim Relocation Work
A customer brought in a front wheel built with an Iron Cross rim. I built this one myself back in the day, but it looks like it got crashed pretty hard. The rim…
Neutron
A customer left a Neutron rear wheel with me. Since there's no machining between the rim holes and it's not an ultra high-flange design, this is a Neutron rathe…
Shamal Ultra Front Wheel
A customer brought in the front wheel from a Shamal Ultra (high-end Italian wheelset) for repair. Apparently, they had a front light mounted on the bracket that…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another wheel day (etc.). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Front wheel: Evolight hub 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, Rear wheel: Evolight hub 24H, semi-comp 4-cross l…
Racing 1 2WAY-FIT Rear Wheel
A customer dropped off a Racing 1 rear wheel for repair. A spoke snapped with a loud crack during riding, but there are traces of deformation before the break, …
Chris King In-House Manufactured Wheels
A customer dropped off a wheel with an ENVE rim manufactured in-house by Chris King. I wasn't planning to write about it, but there were things I wanted to ment…
I replaced the rim on a Shamal Ultra
Another day with wheels (and so on). I had a customer's Shamal Ultra front wheel in for repair. I ordered both a rim and stickers, but only the stickers arrived…
Racing 3
I received the rear wheel from a Racing 3 bike from a customer. The pawls on the freewheel body ratchet were slipping occasionally. It's probably a broken pawl …
Built a front wheel with Crest MK3 rim
I had a rear wheel built with a Stanz Crest MK3 (tubeless cyclocross rim) that a customer left with me in the shop. It was hastily assembled near the end of las…
I rebuilt the rear wheel on the Attack
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a Reynolds Attack rear wheel for me to work on. It looks brand new, but they wanted it rebuilt. Reynolds re…
I Replaced the Rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
I received the rear wheel of Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 from a customer. This is the rear wheel, and both front and rear wheels are built with Shimano RS400 hubs at 2…
Built a front wheel with ENVE's 1-45 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer entrusted me with EDGE or ENVE 1-45 tubular rims. One 18H and one 24H. Since there's no sticker, I can't tell from thi…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another wheel day (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel is Evolight hub 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, and the rear wheel is Evolight h…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the Nomu Lab wheel No. 1. Front wheel is Evolight hub 20H CX-RAY 4-3 Italian lacing, Rear wheel is Evolight hub 24H 4-6 …
The 404
A customer dropped off a rear wheel built with a ZIPP 404 rim. One of the nipples was broken and the wheel had runout. The hub has one side of the pole set up f…
Rebuilt the rear wheel with that Colnago-looking rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on...). A customer brought in a rear wheel built with a carbon WO rim that has an outermost cosmetic carbon finish looking pr…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5
It's another wheel day (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Front wheel is Evo Lite hub 20H black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, Rear wheel is Evo Lite hub 24H…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Back to wheels today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. Built the rear wheel for Nomu…
Philosophy in Pirelli Tires
A customer dropped off a ZIPP 202 clincher for me. Anyway (← is that really okay?), Hutchinson... nope Pirelli P ZERO VELO TT, a WO (wire-on) tire was mounted, …
Built the rear wheel for Nomulabo Wheel #5
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomulabo Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 28H, black semi-comp lacing pattern 4-cross with red aluminum ni…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on a Kolima piercing hub
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I took in a Kolima Medium rear wheel from a customer. It shares the same rim height as the company's "Aero," but initial…
Built a wheel with ENVE 1-45 rim
Another day, another wheel build (you know the drill). Built up a wheel using an ENVE 1-45 tubular rim. Front wheel: Evo Lite hub 24H (not 20H like I almost sai…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolight hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing Black spokes, but with silver aluminum nipples.
Built a Wheel with a Mystery Chinese Tubeless Carbon Rim
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). A customer left me a rear wheel that was built with HED Belgium rims. It's got a Crisking R45 hub, 24H, black CX-R…
R-SYS SLR
I received an R-SYS SLR (Mavic wheel) from a customer to work on. Starting with the front wheel. The spoke tension feels loose, and apparently they've replaced …
Racing Zero
A customer brought in a Racing Zero for me to work on. They brought it in as a wheel to use for component assembly from the frame—not for inspection— but since …
Built the rear wheel for Nomulab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomulab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 24H, half-comp radial lacing. I'll do the spoke tying later. One set u…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #6
Another day of wheels (and so on). The last Saturday of the month is supposed to be our regular day off, but since we barely get any customers, I came into the …
Built rear wheels for Nomu Lab Wheels No. 2.5 and No. 7
More wheels today (you know the drill). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheels No. 2.5. Evolite hub 24H, black semi-competition 4-cross lacing with spoke thre…
About DT Spokes
The distributor for DT spokes has changed. I can no longer stop by to pick them up on my way to work on commuter bikes. Since the product lineup and order quant…
Eight-Eight
I've been waiting a long time for spokes to come in stock, and I finally managed to build up an 88mm high rim (→ here ). Before the rebuild it had black spokes,…
Rebuilt the Ambrosio Excellight Rim Wheel
Another wheel day (abbreviated hereafter). A customer brought in a wheel built with an Ambrosio Excellight rim and a White Industries T11 hub. The customer live…
Built a wheel with Ambrosio Formula Chrono 20 rim
Another day of wheels (and so on). Built a wheel using the Ambrosio Formula Chrono 20 rim. Front wheel: Record hub 32H black all-Campagnolo, crossed Italian pat…
Original Bora Ultra 35 Tubular
I received a Bora Ultra 35 from a customer. It appears to be unused, but according to the customer it's a 2014 model, and indeed it is definitely the 2014 model…
First Generation Racing Zero Tubular
A customer brought in a first generation Racing Zero wheel for servicing. Strictly speaking, the first model had red/red/red hubs/spokes/rims, but this one has …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 7
Another wheel day (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 7. Evolite hub 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
The Rumor About the No. 6 Wheel
I received a comment the other day, and there were things I wanted to write about regarding it, but I didn't have a chance to get permission from the person inv…
Racing Speed XLR
A customer brought in a Racing Speed XLR for service. Both front and rear wheels had runout caused by bent spokes. Let's start with the front wheel. There was r…
Built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. We're planning to get back to the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 wheel-building marathon a bit later on, b…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4
Back to wheels today (et cetera). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4. Veloce 32H hub, all Competition spokes, Italian laced Gold aluminum nipples. This…
Tomorrow July 20th (Friday)
Due to unavoidable circumstances, I'll be taking the day off. I apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you for your understanding. The Pioneer "onigiri" (pe…
Built a rear wheel with Open Pro disc UST rim
Today, wheels again (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I built a rear wheel with an Open Pro disc rim. The hub is an Alfine SG-S7001-11 32H and I used …
Replaced the rear wheel rim on the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
A customer brought in the rear wheel of the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 for service. It's a rear wheel built with an Evolite hub, 28-hole semi-competition 48-hole laci…
Built a front wheel with Open Pro Disc UST rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a front wheel with an Open Pro Disc UST tubeless rim. The rim has a shape kind of like a Pondering Doughnut. The hub is a…
Cosmic Pro Carbon SL UST Customer
A customer brought in the rear wheel of a Cosmic Pro Carbon SL UST for me to work on. The front wheel's tubeless tire came off by hand without much trouble, but…
R-SYS Premium
A customer dropped off an R-SYS Premium with me. Usually if there's nothing special to write about, I don't bother taking photos for a blog post, and so there's…
Racing Zero Night Rear Wheel
A customer brought in the rear wheel from a Racing Zero Night. The rim looks like it's warped like a potato chip. But there's a badly bent spoke, so it looks li…
Racing 3
A customer brought in the rear wheel from a Racing 3 for repairs. A spoke broke from contact during riding. Fixed. Just adjusting the nipple on the replacement …
I Replaced the Rim on a Shamal Ultra
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in the front wheel of a Shamal Ultra (high-end Campagnolo wheelset). There's damage running roughly half…
I Built the Rear Wheel for Nomunlab Wheel No. 1
Hokuspokus (and that's all I'll say about that!) I've built the rear wheel for Nomunlab Wheel No. 1. Evolite hub 24H, half-comp 46-spoke lacing with spoke solde…
Berlin Thirty-Six (Campagnolo Record Pista)
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). Wait, I'm allowed to build wheels other than Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5? Yes! A customer brought in a Campagnolo Berlin …
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6
Back to wheels again today (and so on). Built 3 pairs of Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6. If I said I was closing yesterday so I'd open the shop today, it's clear I'd get …
Tomorrow, June 29th (Friday)
I have some unavoidable business to attend to, so I'll be closing the shop. The following Saturday is also the final Saturday of the month, so that's closed as …
WH-9000-C24-CL Customer
A customer dropped off a WH-9000 C24 WO wheel set with us. The front wheel had a slight wobble, and the rear wheel had some runout too. There was hub centering …
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
I can't leave after just building one Reynolds rear wheel. I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evo Lite hub 24H, semi-comp 4-cross lacing with nipp…
I rebuilt the rear wheel on an Assault
Another day of wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a Reynolds Assault rear wheel for me to work on. I can't just keep building Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 all th…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. I'd prepared 60 spok…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5 with a Chris King hub
Another day, more wheels (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5 (のむラボホイール) using a Chris King hub. R45 hub, 28…
Eurus
A customer entrusted me with their Eurus. Starting with the front wheel. It's got several thousand kilometers on it, but the customer is the second owner. Three…
Racing Zero Carbon
A customer dropped off the front wheel from a Racing Zero Carbon (high-end carbon wheel) with me. It's a "new shaft catastrophic failure" case. Things haven't d…
Racing Zero Carbon Front Wheel
A customer brought in the front wheel of their Racing Zero Carbon (carbon wheel set) for repair. They'd stuffed a shopping bag into the front wheel. They manage…
Racing Zero Carbon Wheel
A customer brought in a Racing Zero Carbon rear wheel for repairs. Just like the previous article, they ran over something like a nail, and there's a hole on th…
Shamal Ultra 2WAY-FIT Dark Label
I received a Shamal Ultra rear wheel from a customer. There was virtually no runout. There was just the slightest amount of centering drift, which I corrected. …
I Rebuilt the Rear Wheel with a PowerTap Hub
Another day of wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a PowerTap hub rear wheel with an Open Pro rim. It wasn't that they had any complaints about using it, …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5 with a Chris King hub
Another day of wheel building (details omitted). I received a rear wheel built with an LWC 88mm high rim from a customer. Since there's a huge sticker on it tha…
Built the rear wheel for Muralab Wheel #1 with a 7800 hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on). A customer handed me a 7800 series rear hub. They purchased it secondhand and wanted an overhaul, but since they boug…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 with 7700 Hubs
Another day of wheel building (and so on). A customer handed me some Shimano 7700 hubs. I'm building Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 with these, and they asked me to expla…
Relocated the external battery mount on BH's TT bike
The drill is screaming! This customer's (sort of) BH TT frame has an external battery mount, but Pioneer's left pedaling monitor was interfering with it. This i…
Rebuilt the Assault tubeless rear wheel
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer dropped off a Reynolds Assault rear wheel for me. The centering was suspiciously perfect, and for a stock wheel …
Built a rear wheel with RR411db rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. The RR411 is a tubeless-ready rim, but it has no hump (the protrusion that holds the bead). S…
Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5, But This Has Nothing to Do with Backorders
Up until now, I've been using the phrase "left-right different-diameter lacing corrects spoke tension differences," but I received a comment about that. "I thin…
Built a front wheel with DT RR411db rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Building a wheel with a DT RR411db rim. Starting with the front wheel. The RR411 comes in a rim brake version with a finished bra…
Rebuilt a 24H front wheel into a rear wheel
A customer dropped off a front wheel they'd had me build just the other day. It's an Evolight hub 24H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced front wheel, but you kn…
Rebuilt the Niseki Carbon Rim Wheel (Part 2)
Finally the conditions were right to build it. I built the rear wheel with a Niseki carbon rim. Evolite hub, 28H, half-competition four-cross lacing. I'll do th…
Rebuilt the rear wheel with ENVE's 25 rim
Another wheel day today (and so on). I received a pair of front and rear wheels built with ENVE 25 rims from a customer. Both wheels had extremely loose spoke t…
Rebuilt the rear wheel for the Reynolds Assault tubular
Another day on wheels (and so on). A customer brought me a Reynolds Assault rear wheel to work on. It's a tubular setup, not tubeless, and the Campagnolo freebo…
Using Only the Attack
When I deliver Nomu Lab wheels, I sometimes swap them onto the bike the customer rode in on, like changing shoes, but for some reason many customers lately don'…
Continuation of the Bonus: Replacing the ErgoPower V3 Lever
Finally I can document it. I wrote about the ErgoPower V3 before (→ here ) and in the bonus section at the end, I mentioned "The manufacturer's exploded diagram…
Just Building Wheels Already
Another day of wheel-building (abbreviated hereafter). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial laced with blue alu…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5 with a PowerTap Hub
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left me a rear wheel built with a PowerTap hub. The rim is a Mavic CXP33 Built with black Sapim Race spokes, 32H in 4-…
I Replaced the Racing Zero Rim
Another wheel day (hereinafter omitted). A customer dropped off a Racing Zero front wheel with me. The bead hook shows no deformation, but the rim itself is ben…
Built a rear wheel with an Atlanta 96 rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. This Campagnolo NJS rear hub features large flanges with single-threaded axle design. Dual-threaded h…
Tomorrow, June 1st (Friday)
I have some unavoidable business, so I'll be taking the day off. The Osaka Symphony Orchestra holds about 10 regular concerts a year (11 this year), roughly one…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another wheel day (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. It's the pair to the silver rim rear wheel I built the other day, but the front hub …
Racing Zero Rear Wheel
A customer brought in a Racing Zero rear wheel for repair. The bike tipped over while the rear wheel was spinning, and the spokes on the non-freewheel side snap…
The Meaning of Wheel Centering
About wheel centering "I read on some blog that if you inflate to high pressure and ride, centering issues resolve themselves. There's a view that says you don'…
I rebuilt the rear wheel on a Strike
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a Reynolds Strike tubeless-ready rear wheel for service. With such a high rim — meaning short spokes …
Cosmic Pro Carbon SL UST
I took in a Cosmic Pro Carbon SL UST from a customer. Starting with the front wheel. It was slightly off-center, so I fixed it. Next, the rear wheel. The fact t…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #7
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab wheel #7. Front wheel is Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, Rear wheel is Evolite hub 24H semi-comp f…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #4
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #4. The other day I was building Nomu Lab Wheel 5 with silver spokes and gold nipples, but after I …
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. The first one is a front wheel with an Evolite hub 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing…
Cosmic Pro Carbon SL
I received a Cosmic Pro Carbon SL from a customer. The wheels that came with the new complete bike — the tires definitely don't look like they're in new conditi…
Hyperion Ultra Two
A customer brought in a Hyperion rear wheel for me to work on. There's some runout, but I'll set that aside for now. Most of the stickers have been peeled off, …
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheel (and so on...). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Lately I've basically turned into a Nomu Lab Wheel #5 assembly machine, and until I finish with …
Third-party chainring for 7900
chainring, but ↑ there's stuff like this too. Since the tooth profile isn't narrow-wide, a chain retention device is absolutely necessary.
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolight hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial laced.
I Converted My Daily Road Bike to Single Chainring Setup
I converted the front chainring of my road bike for commuting and solo practice rides (※) to single-speed. ※solo practice rides done on the sly For the first ti…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolight hub, 24-hole, semi-competition 4-cross lacing with spoke joining.…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolight hub, 24H, black half-comp, 4-cross lacing pattern with red alu…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Back to wheels today (and so on). Yesterday I built one pair of Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 (black spokes with red nipples), but I still need to build two more pairs o…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #5. The front wheel is an Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, and the rear wheel i…
Replaced the hub on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Another day of wheel building (etc.). I replaced the front hub on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1 with a White Industries T11 hub and rebuilt the wheel. The previous hub w…
Zonda
A customer brought in a Zonda rear wheel for me to work on. It's a C17 rim, the latest model. They said it was passed down from an acquaintance, but some spokes…
Cosmic Pro Carbon SL UST
A customer brought in a Cosmic Carbon UST tubeless model wheel for inspection. They're requesting a full check-up. I'll start with the front wheel, though they …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #6
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #6. With this done, there should no longer be any wheels where only one of the front or rear pair has been built. Evoli…
Built a cyclocross rear wheel with Crest MK3 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a cyclocross rear wheel using a Crest MK3 rim. FH-RS770 28H with semi-comp 4-cross JIS lacing and spoke ties with green a…
Bontrager Aeolos Comp 5
A customer brought in a Bontrager Aeolos Comp 5 for service. It's Aeolos Comp 5, not Aeolos 5 Comp. When "COMP" is appended to a name, it generally indicates a …
404 Not Found
Same old wheel work today (and so on). I received a 404 rear wheel from a customer. It's a different job from yesterday's front wheel. The ZIPP logo color is di…
No Slipping
Our shop stocks LOOK's KeO cleats in gray and black at all times. The black (fixed) ones are partly because that's what I use. Due to customer requests, we've d…
WH-RS010
A customer brought in the rear wheel of a WH-RS010 for repair. A spoke on the freewheel side is broken. This rear wheel is the cheapest Shimano wheel with an 11…
404 Not Found
A customer brought in the front wheel of a ZIPP 404 (aerodynamic road wheel) for repair. It wasn't that a spoke broke—rather, a nipple fractured. I had done a r…
Built a cyclocross rear wheel with Crest MK3 rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built a rear wheel with Crest MK3 rim. FH-CX75 28H black half-comp 4-cross JIS lacing with rim tape. This CX75 hub, t…
Bora One Sir
A customer left me a Bora One rear wheel to work on. He said it's only been about a month since he bought it, but it got taken out by the lower fangs of a Metal…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 with Shimano Disc Hubs
Another day of wheelbuilding (and so on). Built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 using Shimano disc brake hubs. Front wheel: HB-RS770 28H black semi-comp 46x14 cross la…
I Accidentally Overbought Dura-Ace Chains (deadpan)
Starting May 1st, some of Shimano's components went up in price. For example, 780 series XT sprockets went from ¥6,420 to ¥6,444 (100%) before tax. I'm not sure…
About Hub Logo Orientation
The other day, on the White Industries homepage I mentioned that ↑this was a reversed logo, but I've received multiple comments from the same person saying "thi…
Bora One 50 Tubular Dark Label
I received a Bora One from a customer. The wheel has developed lateral runout from a crash. The spoke directly below the runout is bent—that's the culprit. To r…
I Replaced the Front Rim on a Racing 1/Zero
A customer dropped off a Racing Zero front rim with me for service. I'm saying "Racing Zero rim front wheel" rather than "Racing Zero front wheel" because the h…
Built a wheel with Velocity Major Tom rim (4/4)
Wheel building again today (and so on). Built the rear wheel with the Major Tom rim. Evolite hub 28H black semi-competition, 4x lacing pattern with spoke nipple…
Tomorrow, April 27th (Friday)
I have some unavoidable business to take care of, so I'll be taking the day off. The following day, the 28th (Saturday), is also our regular day off since it's …
Built wheels with Velocity Major Tom rims (2-3/4)
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built a front wheel with Velocity's Major Tom rim. One is the pair to the rear wheel from the other day: White Industries T11 …
I replaced the levers on my Ergopower V3
Before getting to the main topic. Campagnolo's Ergopower levers can be broadly divided into 3 generations based on bracket shape, but since EPS from the second …
Built a wheel with Velocity's Major Tom tubular rim (1/4)
Another wheel build today (abbreviating the details). A customer brought in a Velocity "Major Tom" tubular rim for me to work with. It's based on the company's …
On Portable Forms of Tubular Tape
Attached to cassette sprockets at shipment This cylinder, but it's extremely useful for another purpose entirely. From left in the image above The white film ca…
Racing Zero Front Wheel
A customer dropped off a Racing Zero front wheel with us. They had a crash near the Goban Tunnel in Yoshino and bent some spokes, but fortunately the damage was…
Fulcrum 2WAY-FIT Rear Wheel Repair
A customer dropped off a Fulcrum rear wheel for repair. Originally, the Fulcrum was the flagship model of G3 lacing with steel spokes and a medium-height rim, b…
Bora Ultra 50 Dark Label Clincher
A customer left a Bora rear wheel with me. Since it's a clincher, I was using the higher-precision center gauge, and when I removed the tire, it was rattling qu…
I Replaced the Rear Rim on a Racing Zero
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in the rear wheel of a Campagnolo Racing Zero (Italian high-end wheel brand) for me. It came in initially for …
Built a front wheel with Araya ADX1-S rim and Suzue hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built a front wheel with the new Aero 1 rim and a Suzue track front hub. The rim has a sticker with the customer's …
Built a wheel with Velocity A23 rims (Part 2)
Back to wheel building today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built the rear wheel. FH-9000 24H semi-comp 4-cross lacing. I'll do the spoke tie-in late…
Built a wheel with Velocity A23 rims (Part 1)
Another wheel build today (and so on). A customer brought me a Velocity A23 rim. It's a tubeless-ready rim without a hump. The A23 designation means "aero rim w…
Special Price 700C Tubes Have Arrived in Stock
In my earlier article about half-threaded valve stems, I wrote, "If we hit 300 applause, I'll do a 700C tube festival at ¥300 including tax," and I also wrote t…
Rebuilt the Reynolds 32 rear wheel
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a Reynolds 32 rear wheel for me to work on. The rim is pretty much the same as our lab wheel #6. It was bui…
Bora One 50 Tubular - Bright Label
A customer brought in a Bora One for me to work on. Apparently they got it passed down from someone they know. That's probably better than buying from a strange…
Cosmic Pro Carbon SL UST x2
I received a pair of Cosmic Carbon UST tubeless wheels from a customer. Update: The original article title was "Cosmic Carbon Pro SL UST," but the correct name …
Built a wheel with SES 2.2 rims and Chris King R45 hubs
Wheels again today (and so on). Built a wheel with front and rear rims from the Smart Envi System 2.2 and Chris King R45 hubs. It looks like only the rear rim h…
I Replaced the Rear Rim on a Bora Ultra
It's wheels again today (and so on). A customer brought in the rear wheel of a Bora Ultra 35 Tubular for service. ↑The rim is crumpled from buckling. The rims o…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheel (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evolite hub 24H, bla…
I Rebuilt the Ursus Rim Wheel
Another day with wheels (and so on). I took in a wheel from a customer (technically speaking) built with an Ursus TS58 carbon rim. This is the one I previously …
Original Cosmic Elite
A customer brought in the rear wheel of an original Cosmic Elite for repair. A spoke has broken, so they're looking for a repair. For information on the origina…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Today it's wheels again (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evolite hub 24H, semi-c…
Vittoria rim tape has arrived in stock
Since we install rim tape on assembled wheels so frequently here at the shop, our Vittoria rim tape consumption is just insane, but Starting around last month, …
On the Outer Diameter of Half-Threaded Valves
This is a continuation of my previous post. So why is it so hard to pump air into this valve? It's because the threads on the valve are only cut halfway around.…
New Assault
I received a Reynolds Assault from a customer for work. It's the latest model with a completely redesigned logo and everything. During inspection, it had only a…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. It's not my personal bike, but it's not for sale either. Reaf hub 24H, black half-leader 46-spoke lacing. I'll do th…
Built a front wheel with a dynamo hub on a HUNT rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer left me with a rim from HUNT Bike Wheels, a British brand. When you search the katakana name, the brand's hom…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Today it's wheels again (you know the drill). I built the rear wheel for the old Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. It's the matching wheel to the front wheel I built yester…
"1=2" "4=6"
So a transfer is possible. L.E.D. lighting—done Well, I guess I have no choice. Let me pass it along. Added March 29th below I wanted to build the old Nomu Lab …
I Replaced the Shamal Mille Rim with a Shamal Ultra Rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). I received a Shamal Mille rear wheel from a customer. The rim is badly dented. This angle might make it clearer. It looks l…
WH-7801-C and WH-7850-C24-TU Front Wheels
I got myself a new center gauge. I didn't throw out the old one, so you could say I added to my collection, but since I'm not alternating between old and new de…
I Inspected a Wheel Built with XR200 Rims
I wasn't planning to write about this, but it turned out to be interesting. A customer dropped off a wheel built with XR200 rims. Same rim as Nomu Lab Wheel No.…
Shamal Ultra 2WAY-FIT
A customer brought in a Shamal Ultra for service. The titanium-colored anodizing comes after the original gold generation, so in terms of color this is the seco…
Could this be... discontinued?
This Chris King top cap, but I thought it might be the discontinued brown anodized version? But then It turned out the black had just faded in the sun.
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Another day, another wheel build (you know the drill). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2 today. The customer wanted to keep the rim stickers on, so I left them as-is. Fro…
Converted the King's Seat Tube Bottle Cage Holes to Rivet Nuts
The drill is screaming! I had a De Rosa King frame in for service from a customer, ↑(signature: Ugo De Rosa) This frame originally only had bottle cage holes on…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 with a PowerTap Hub
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel that had been built with a PowerTap hub. Mavic CXP33 rim, 28H, all Champion spokes (N…
Replaced the Ksyrium rim (front rim, so this is part one)
Another day of wheels (and so on). A customer left a Ksyrium Pro Exalith SL with me. Apparently it got hit by a truck and the wheel was damaged. There's lateral…
Nomunlab Wheel Pre 6 - Stock Update
The 20/24H pairs are completely sold out. Thank you for your purchase. Since we have 2 24H rims left as final stock, we can still build one more pair if both fr…
Shamal Ultra 2WAY-FIT Front Wheel
A customer dropped off a Shamal Ultra front wheel with me. From a crash, about 4 spokes needed replacing, and the customer had helpfully marked them with tape. …
Shamal Ultra
A customer brought in the front wheel of a Shamal Ultra (high-end racing wheel) for repair. One spoke has snapped. The customer is from another prefecture outsi…
Rebuilt the PowerTap Hub Rear Wheel
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer dropped off a rear wheel built with a PowerTap hub and an Open Pro rim. One spoke is missing, but rather than just rep…
Shamal Ultra 2WAY-FIT Rear Wheel
A customer brought in a Shamal Ultra rear wheel for repair. The spokes are severely scuffed and damaged. ↑Like this There are clearly 4 bent spokes, and as for …
Racing Zero Carbon
A customer brought in a Racing Zero Carbon (carbon fiber racing bike) for service. The spokes are twisted in various places, apparently. ↑Both front and rear wh…
Built the Nomu Lab Wheel Pre 6 (In Stock & Ready to Ship)
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). Built a Nomu Lab Wheel Pre 6 today. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: E…
Built the Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built the Nomu Lab Wheel #1, with all parts brought in by the customer. Let's say hypothetically a customer brought in a…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on the 303
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought me a ZIPP 303 rear wheel to work on. The ZIPP rear hub on the freewheel side with radial spoking has gone thro…
RP-50
A customer brought in a wheel from a brand we can call by name without issue （they're not the type to blow up at us and protest that we're interfering with thei…
R-SYS SLR
A customer brought in an R-SYS SLR for service. Usually I don't post the inspection photos I do right in front of the customer. This one's the same way, but I t…
Racing 5 DB
I received a Racing 5 DB from a customer. They requested an inspection. Let me start with the front wheel. Almost no runout, with just a slight centering offset…
Racing 3
A customer dropped off the rear wheel from a Racing 3. A couple of spokes broke from the crash. They said they never thought that after racing in the morning, t…
Built front wheels for Nomu Lab Wheel #5 and #2.5
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lace, and it's the match for yesterd…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 24H black semi-comp 4-cross lacing pattern. I'll do the spoke …
I ordered Oguraya Seika's teppanyaki senbei crackers
I bought that stuff again (→ here ) (→ here ). This time it's about 15,000 yen worth. It's already starting to look like some kind of "stockpile," but a custome…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day with wheels (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel: Evolight hub 20H black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evolight hub 2…
Zentius Squad 2.5
A customer dropped off the rear wheel of a Zentius Squad 2.5 with me. They said it's okay if I feel a rebuild is necessary based on my judgment, but since it's …
I Did "Theseus's Ship" on a Nomulab Wheel #5 Rear Wheel
A customer dropped off the rear wheel from their Nomulab Wheel #5 (のむラボホイール５号) for service. The rim and hub shell both needed replacement. That meant the spokes…
I Replaced the Rim on a Racing Zero
A customer dropped off the front wheel of a Racing Zero. This particular Racing Zero comes in several color schemes— the Bright Label and Dark Label versions st…
Terrifying! Metal Stag Beetle!!
A customer called to say that while riding along the Yodogawa River, something went "crack," and they'd bring it by later. This is what they brought in. A Carre…
On Sprocket Tooth Tip Phase Alignment
I've expanded the follow-up section into a separate article. （→ here ） I mentioned that with R8000 sprockets, useful non-OEM combinations would be around 14–32T…
Built a Mysterious Ultra-Lightweight Carbon Rim
There's a previous post with the same title (→ here ), and an acquaintance of that wheel's owner brought in a wheel with what they said was the "same" rim askin…
I Replaced the Rear Rim on an F4R
Today, another wheel (and so on). First appeared on March 1, 2013, and for the full five years since then there hasn't been a single day I've opened the shop wi…
Built a front wheel for the Tni ROAD35 TL
A customer left me a Tni tubeless-ready carbon rim and an Evolite hub, so I built the wheel. Today it's just the front wheel. Getting the timeline straight—the …
Rebuilt the Gokiso Hub ROAD38 Rim Front Wheel Without Black Spokes
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer dropped off a wheel built with a Tni ROAD38 rim and a Gokiso hub. This rim is the same as the one on my Lab Wheel #2, …
Built the rear wheel for the SES 4.5
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I built the rear wheel for the Smart Envy System 4.5. Using a Filwood Road Hub Rear 24…
About the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6 Rim
Regarding the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6 rim, I've already written that it's an unnamed version of the Reynold's 32. Even after stripping away all labels and such, th…
Noma Lab Wheels Price Increase (Third Price Revision)
Regarding the Noma Lab wheels we sell at our shop, we will be increasing prices starting April 2nd, 2018. We're not doing this on April 1st to avoid people thin…
2951 (Good Fortune)
I can't say exactly where, but one of our suppliers has an abnormally slow invoice issuance process—they're supposed to invoice on the 20th with payment due the…
I've Been Seeing a Lot of BXP Lately
I didn't take photos for the article, but I did an inspection on a Racing Zero Night wheel. It wasn't just the wheel being brought in alone — it was a wheel rem…
Caution with High-Pressure Washing
A customer brought in a WH-9000-C35-CL rear wheel for service. The rotation was heavy and something seemed off, but when I spun the rear wheel and let the freew…
Built the front wheel for the SES 4.5
A customer brought me a tubular rim from an SES (Smart Envy System) called the "4.5". From the model name you'd think it means 40mm and 50mm depth, but it's act…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another wheel day (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite 20H hub, black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced with red aluminum nipple…
Taking a Day Off
On Thursday, February 22nd, I have some pressing business to attend to, so I'm taking the day off. I apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you for your und…
The Gleaming Trapezohedron
Ah! In the box! In the box! When you lay a 28-spoke rear wheel on its side and look at just one flank, the hub appears to float in space, suspended by the final…
Built the rear wheel for Nomulabo Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomulabo Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 24 holes, half-comp 4-cross lacing. I'll do the spoke n…
Center Drift from Long-Term Use and Rim Lateral Movement Per Nipple Rotation
I've empirically observed that a rear wheel, which was definitely perfectly centered when built, will show the rim drifting slightly toward the freewheel side w…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 24H CX-RAY semi-comp four-cross lacing with tie/glue, ha…
WH-6800
A customer dropped off the rear wheel from a WH-6800 for service. There's an odd squealing noise coming from the rear hub. When I removed it from the frame and …
Built the Nomu Lab Wheel 5 front wheel (and more!)
Another day of wheel-building (etc., etc.). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel 5. All of them are Evolight Hub CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, From left i…
Did the spoke tensioning work on the Assault rear wheel
Today was more wheel work (and then some) It doesn't fall under the usual category, but it actually took even more work time than that. A customer brought in a …
Zonda Rear Wheel
A customer dropped off a Zonda rear wheel for repair. They mentioned one spoke was bent, but setting that aside, the hub bearing cone adjustment seemed off some…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evolight hub 24H, black semi-comp 46-laced pattern. I'll do the spoke bra…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1 and the front wheel for #2
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Continuing from yesterday. Evolite hub, 24H, half-comp 4-cross lacin…
Ksyrium SLR
I had a frame in for component swap that had a Ksyrium SLR wheel on it, but the tension on the freewheel side of the rear wheel felt abnormally loose, so I insp…
Assembled the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Wheels again today (and so on). I've got wheel bags lined up that are scheduled to ship tomorrow, but since the order matters, I spared myself the hassle of mov…
I Replaced the Rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Today it's wheels again (hereinafter omitted). ←questionable call I took the rear wheel of a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2 from a customer (probably). They wanted the ri…
Built wheels with Record hubs and Mavic rims × 2
More wheelbuilding today (details omitted). I received a wheel built with silver Open Pro from a customer. Starting with the front wheel. HB-7400 32H hub, stain…
Built a wheel with WTB i23 rim
Continuing from last time. I built a front wheel with the WTB i23 ASYM (asymmetric = offset rim). HB-CX75 28H, all-Campagnolo reversed Italian lacing. I'm build…
Built a rear wheel with Reflexe CD Ceramic
Another wheel day (and so on). I've been holding onto a rear rim replacement for my mentor (the racing guy). It's been quite a while since I took it in, but he …
Built and rebuilt Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2 and some others
Wheels again today (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Front wheel is Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, Rear wheel is Evolite hub 24H semi-comp …
Built Nomulabo Wheel No. 1 with an FH-M755 Hub
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I can't show the rim before the rebuild for various reasons, but a customer gave me a rear wheel that was built with XT'…
Attack Guy
A customer brought in a Reynolds Attack for us to work on. The shop in Umeda apparently did an inspection when they sold it, but they weren't trusted, so the cu…
I rebuilt the rear wheel on the Assault rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer dropped off a rear wheel built with a Reynolds Assault rim. Someone had gone to the trouble of disassembling a p…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on an F6R
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought me the rear wheel from an FF Yamaguchi F6R to work on. When doing hard efforts or standing climbs, it wa…
Rebuilt the rear wheel of a Strike SLG
Another day of wheel work (and so on). A customer left a Reynolds Strike Tubeless Ready rear wheel with me. Reynolds hub 20H, all-black aero comp straight spoke…
Rebuilt Wheels with X517 Rims
True, wheels again today (and so on). I received a wheel built with Mavic X517 rims from a customer (sort of). Both front and rear hubs are 950-series XTR 36H T…
I replaced the rim on the Nomulab Wheel No. 5
Another day, another wheel (etc.). A customer dropped off the front wheel from a Nomulab Wheel No. 5. It's built with a Novatech hub 20H, CX-RAY, four-cross Ita…
Rebuilt the rear wheel for ICAN (アイカン)
A customer dropped off a carbon wheel from a certain brand. I'll keep the specific brand name out of this post. They didn't mention anything being loose, but if…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
More wheels today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolight hub 24H black semi-comp lacing pattern 4-cross, with black aluminum nip…
Racing 1 Competition
A customer brought in a Racing 1 Competition for repair. The Racing Zero "Competizione" came out a while back, and this is the Racing 1 "Competition." The other…
Zonda Work
A customer brought in a Zonda for me to work on. They wanted a general inspection. Both wheels have virtually no runout, with just a slight centering issue—mayb…
Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolight hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with black aluminum nipp…
Rebuilt the Nomulab Wheel No. 5 Knockoff
Today it's wheels again (and so on). But first. Today I trued the rear wheel with the CycleOps in-house PowerTap hub. They're round spokes, and you can see mark…
I Replaced the Rear Rim on a First-Generation Racing 1
Another wheel day (details omitted). A customer brought me the rear wheel of a first-generation Racing 1. Being the original generation from the era when there …
Built a wheel with Iron Cross rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built a wheel with an Iron Cross rim. The rim I built last time with a Novatec hub was the final stock we had reserve…
Cosmic Carbon 40T
A customer brought in a Cosmic Carbon 40 in tubular specification for work. The front wheel had a slight runout with kind of a bang to it, but aside from that i…
I replaced the rear hub on the WH-7850
Another day of wheels (and so on). A customer brought in the rear wheel of a WH-7850. The previous 7800 model had a "no 9-speed sprockets" specification with a …
Why I Changed the Rim Tape
On the RR440 rim from the other day, I want to add some details about why I replaced the rim tape. The image above shows the front rim, but in the section where…
About Spoke Volume
I've written about "spoke volume" before and there's some overlap, but I'll write a bit about the relationship between left-right different diameter lacing and …
Built a wheel with Iron Cross Rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). A customer dropped off a Novatech D411/D412 hub with me. It's a straight spoke flange disc brake hub with a 6-hole ro…
Finally Fixed the Chris King Hub Waste
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought me a wheelset built with Chris King hubs. Front rim is DT's RR440, rear is RR440 Asymmetric with offset R440 s…
Ksyrium Elite
A customer brought in a Ksyrium Elite (Shimano wheelset) for work. The ride feels noticeably off, they said, and it vibrates excessively on descents in particul…
Kシリウム Pro Exalith SL
A customer dropped off a Kシリウム (Mavic wheel) for me. Brand new. I checked both front and rear wheels, but the customer was pretty sure the rear wheel was off-ce…
I Built the Rear Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 24 hole, half-comp 4-cross lacing with cross connectors. Now …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day, another wheel (et cetera). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. One of these is a front-wheel…
Ogura-ya Senbei's Iron-Plate Crackers Again
A customer gave me some iron-plate senbei crackers from Ogura-ya Confectionery (→ here ). It's the famous tokuyou amakaraversion, and of the 16 different flavor…
Zonda C17
A customer dropped off a Zonda rear wheel for me. The frame dropout had bent, catching the rear derailleur, and bent some spokes as a result. ↑These two on the …
Euras
A customer dropped off a rear wheel from a Euras (Dutch-style utility bicycle) with us. They rode off with the wheel lock still engaged, which bent the spokes. …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day with wheels (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 24H, semi-competition 4-cross lacing pattern with spoke nip…
The Legendary Model That Was Also Displayed in Specialized's Headquarters Lobby
I have a carbon frame, but it's 54cm in size, which is too large for me to ride. ↑This is an image from a 2012 headquarters tour that appeared on a site called …
Tomorrow, January 12th (Friday)
I have some urgent matters to attend to, so I'll be taking the day off. I apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you for your understanding. According to th…
Overhauled the FH-5800 Rear Hub
There's not really enough to warrant a full article on this, but since I promised to post before and after photos of work that wasn't done in front of a custome…
Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day in the wheel-building grind (you know how it goes). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Both are Evo Lite Hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial …
I've Stopped Using the Wishbone Ceramic Pulley
Time to call it quits. I've swapped out the Wishbone ceramic pulley (→ here ) and switched back to the OEM pulley. Campagnolo's 11-speed pulleys come in two typ…
New Year Holiday Business Hours
↑The zodiac animals that get weird halfway through (to be precise, they're weird from the start) I was planning to take today off, but I got some work done inst…
Racing Zero Carbon Rebuild
A customer brought in the rear wheel from a Racing Zero Carbon bike. There was a chain drop incident and a spoke snapped. The spoke next to it is also bent. I'm…
Zonda Disc Brake
I received a Zonda Disc Brake from a customer for inspection. On the day I checked this one, I was also looking at Racing Zero, Shamal Mille, and a brand new Bo…
Iron Cross Has Slightly Made a Comeback
The other day, I got a call from my wholesaler asking "We've got just a small amount of Iron Cross 28H rims in... do you need any?" So I answered "I'll take wha…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another wheel build today (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Front wheel: Rigida hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evolite hub 24H semi-c…
I Replaced the Rim on the WH-7800 (It's the Rear Wheel, But That's Not Really the Point—Part 2)
More wheel work today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. The rear wheel rim is also dished out, so it needs replacement. The rear hub also has nipples on t…
Replaced the rim on the WH-7800 (It's the front wheel, but that's not really the point — Part 1)
Another day with wheels (and so on). I took in a WH-7800 from a customer. In my assessment, this is Shimano's greatest wheel masterpiece of all time. It's hard …
WH-R9100-C60 (Just Kidding) – CL Rear Wheel Purchased (Part 2)
I rebuilt the rear wheel for the R9100 C60. Apart from the satisfying feel when tensioning, there was really nothing else to praise about this rim. With the C24…
WH-R9100-C60 (Big Lie) - I Bought a CL Rear Wheel (Part 1)
As the title says, I bought a rear wheel for the R9100 C60 WO wheel. Yep, I bought it. I can say with certainty this is the biggest waste of money this year. Th…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 7
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 7. A 35mm-high (to be precise, 34.5mm-high) tubeless-ready carbon rim wheel. Front wheel: Leaf …
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6
Another wheel day (you know the drill...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6. Front wheel: Evo Lite hub 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, Rear wheel: Evo Lite hu…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Back to wheels today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Evolite hub 24H, Campagnolo/Competizione 2-cross lacing. As for the lacing pa…
WH-RX05
A customer brought in the front wheel of a Shimano WH-RX05 for servicing. When applying the front brake, the front wheel tilts and shifts toward the left side (…
Built a rear wheel with Reflexrim
Another wheel day (and so on). I received a Mavic Reflexrim CD (hard-anodized version) rim on consignment from a customer. When I shook the rim, the cutting swa…
Hyperon Ultra Two Tubular
A customer brought in a Hyperon for us to work on. They're requesting a full overhaul, so I'm starting with the rear wheel. I'm taking photos from the freewheel…
Rebuilding the Tni ROAD50 Rim Rear Wheel
Another day, another wheel (etc.). A customer entrusted me with a rear wheel built with a Tni ROAD50 carbon rim. The rim is the same one used on the Nomulab Whe…
I Bulk Bought Challenge Valve Extenders (Article for Fellow Shop Owners)
Challenge, a brand that specializes in cyclocross and gravel tires, has valve extenders that are cheap— I realized this the other day, so I bulk bought them. Tw…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Today it's wheels again (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. This is the last front wheel to match the rear wheel I built five at a…
Reynolds Reynolds (Part 2)
The rear hub arrived, so I built up the rear wheel with a 46 AERO rim. Evolite hub 20H black half-radial with crossed spokes and a spoke nipple hole. The custom…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, with gold aluminum nip…
Built front wheels for Nomu Lab Wheel #6 and #5
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #6. It's the match for the rear wheel from the '46 AERO I did yesterday. Evolite hub…
Reynolds Reynolds (Middle Part)
Yesterday was Reynolds Reynolds (Strike and Stratos), and today was supposed to be Reynolds Reynolds (probably Stratos and 46 Aero), but I hit a snag partway th…
Bullet Ultra
A customer brought in a Bullet Ultra for me to work on. A friend got a flat during the Sakai-hama crit, so I lent them this Bullet Ultra. Apparently they crashe…
I Stocked ASHIMA's Centro Light (Part 2)
Since the adapter I stocked turned out to be the Centro Light, I figured I'd share the follow-up story. A customer brought in tubeless tires, a 6-bolt rotor, sp…
Reynolds Reynolds (Part 1)
Another day of wheel work (and so on). A customer brought in a Reynolds Strike SLG front wheel. The bead hook got bent from buckling and became unusable, so the…
I Stocked the ASHIMA Centra Light (Part 1)
I stocked the sprocket-type disc rotor fixed adapter for centerlock 12mm through-axle hubs that I mentioned before. It's the ASHIMA "Centra Light" part, which p…
404 NSW from ZIPP
A customer brought in the front wheel of a ZIPP 404NSW for repair. ZIPP's new series of full-carbon clincher wheels is called NestSpeedWeaponry, and this is the…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Back to wheels today (and so on...). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Front wheel: Evolight hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evolight hub 24H semi…
Built the new Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Back to wheels again today (and so on...). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. The front wheel is an Evo Lite hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, and the rear wh…
Zonda
A customer left me a Zonda front wheel for repair. They said it developed runout without them noticing, and when I inspected it, it looked like lateral wobble w…
Shamal Mille Rim Replacement
I think it was the 2005 Tour de Langkawi, but when a Bridgestone Anchor rider crashed on a bridge and the Anchor bike fell into the river, a Discovery Channel r…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evo Lite hub, 24H, semi-comp 4-cross lacing with spoke nipples. And one more. This…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Back to wheel building today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolight hub 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. I was planning to…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6
Another wheel day (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6. Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. It looks like the same wheel …
I Bought Chivas Regal Ultis
I bought a Chivas Regal whisky, "Ultis". It's a neologism combining the English word for ultimate (ULTIMATE) and the Latin word for strength (FORTIS), though th…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #6
True, another wheel day (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #6. Evolight hub 20H black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced.
Rim Swaps on Nomu Lab Wheels #2 and #5
Today it's wheel work (and so on). Or so I'd like to say, but rim replacement jobs are (by my own interpretation) not included in "wheel work (and so on)"—so th…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another wheel day (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial lace. I've been waiting for a chan…
Repaired the threaded hole on Giro shoes
The drill whines! A customer left me with a pair of Giro lace-up shoes. Of the three cleat holes, the rear outer one— the bottom hole in the image above—had str…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 24H, semi-comp lacing pattern (4-cross). I'll do the spoke pattern dr…
Built a wheel with a Ganwell carbon WO rim—38mm depth, actual weight 311g
Another wheel build today (and so on). Built a wheel using a Ganwell carbon WO rim. Front wheel: Chris King R45 hub, 20H, all Champion #15 outpoke radial lacing…
WH-RS81-C24 Wheels
A customer dropped off RS81 wheels with me. Oops, these are just before and after shots and they're both rear wheels, haha ...I actually received both front and…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3
Another day of wheels (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3. Everlite hub 24H, black half-laced 46-spoke lacing. I'll do the truing later. …
I Rebuilt the Rear Wheel for a 202
Another day with wheels (etc.). I received a rear wheel from a ZIPP 202 from a customer. It's the internal nipple type, and it's from the era of radial spoke pa…
Resolved the Broken Cleat Bolt on Sidi Shoes
The drill is screaming! This is recovered data from an SD card, so damaged images end up like this. A customer left me with Sidi road shoes with a carbon sole. …
I Drilled New Strap Holes in BONT Shoes
The drill is screaming! The drill is screaming! I have lots of photos for articles like that that I haven't posted yet, but I found one that was just right for …
I Created New Cleat Holes in BONT Shoes
The drill screams to life! A customer left me a pair of BONT shoes. BONT shoes often have surprisingly poor craftsmanship. Though it seems they've gotten somewh…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Back to wheels today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 28H, half-championship lacing pattern. I'll do the truing later. …
#The Sacred Site of Weight Reduction
The other day, a senior I admire who visits our shop several times a year asked me "You've already built that light bike, haven't you? Tee hee" so I decided to …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5 with a Power Tap hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. G3 hub, 24 spokes, half-champion laced with wiring connected.
99.1% Win Rate Tool
The "99% Win Rate Tool" extracts seized seatposts with almost 100% reliability, but from now on I'm going to have the win-loss record reflected in the name. Whe…
Built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 33 (Front Wheel, Part 2)
Back to wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from last time. Rebuilding a front wheel with a 7600 hub and a 16B gold rim. It's 15-16 gauge butted spokes w…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #33 (Rear Wheel, Part 1)
A customer left me a 36H track wheel to work on. They wanted me to rebuild it with a new rim and make it as stiff as possible. The hub is a 7600 36H. With Dura-…
Crossmax Enduro
I received a Crossmax Enduro (Mavic enduro mountain bike wheel) from a customer. It's a model with a yellow hub and yellow rim that closely resembles the compan…
Built the Rear Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 28H, half-comp four-cross lacing with spoke twisting. Hmm? Half…
Crossmax SLR Disc
A customer brought in a Crossmax SLR Disc for service. It's a 2007–2011 model. It's the MTB flagship model that matched the appearance of the red hub Kyserium E…
Shamal Ultra
A customer dropped off the rear wheel from a Shamal Ultra (high-end rim) for service. The derailleur cage on the rear derailleur—which had been upgraded with a …
Built Nomu Lab Wheels No. 5 and No. 1
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. It's the partner to yesterday's front wheel. Evolite hub, 24H, semi-co…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another wheel day (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolight 20H hub with CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
The New Considerate Guy Has Arrived
We got a delivery from a distributor who's the most knowledgeable about Campagnolo in Japan. There's a blue one lurking in the corner, but let's set that aside …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5 and the front wheel for #1
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 28H, half-champion lacing with spoke-twisting connection— quite …
First-Generation R-SYS
I received the first-generation R-SYS from a customer for service. They want both front and rear wheels thoroughly overhauled. Let me start with the rear wheel.…
I Rebuilt the Rear Wheel of a Brand Whose Name Shall Not Be Spoken
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in a wheel from a brand whose name I cannot speak aloud. Apparently something pretty serious is going…
Built wheels with Iron Cross rims
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built wheels with Iron Cross rims. The wheel-building requests I currently have on hand fall into categories like "…
Bora One 35
A customer brought in a Bora One for service. There's a massive failure happening with the new shaft on the front hub, so if necessary, they said I could replac…
Going Wide Rim
Another day in the wheel shop (et cetera). A customer brought in a pair of 50mm tall carbon tubular rims front and rear wheels. I built these myself back in the…
Ksyrium Pro Exalith SL
A customer left a Ksyrium Pro with me for work. There are almost no days without inspection work, though I've been writing up fewer articles lately (mostly beca…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. The hub is a customer-supplied BITEX (probably), 24H CX-RAY outpoke radial lace. An insanely wi…
I Bought a Silca Seat Roll Premio
Silca (ＳＩＬＣＡ) is an old Italian pump brand that used to be listed alongside Sidi shoes and Elite bottle cages in that "Italian brand association" kind of thing,…
Cosmic Professional Carbon Super Light Universal System Tubeless
A customer dropped off a Cosmic Pro Carbon SL UST with me. Both the front and rear wheels had moderate runout, so I specified the direction to tighten the spoke…
Built a wheel with Open Pro UST tubeless rim
I received an Open Pro UST tubeless rim from a customer. So far, it seems that most samples are lighter than the stated weight of 430g. The Open Pro traditional…
Converted the WH-7801C rear wheel to 11-speed (and Zonda too)
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer brought in a WH-7801C rear wheel. The freewheel body is dedicated 10-speed only, so 11-speed sprockets won't fit. The…
Tomorrow, October 26th (Thursday)
I have some urgent business to attend to, so I'll be taking the day off. I apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you for your understanding. Bonus A saddle…
I Bought a Flight Friction Free
This is completely unrelated to a certain beer yeast （EBIOS） , but long ago, Cinelli had a drop bar called Eubios (EUBIOS). As a lightweight derivative model of…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another day with wheels (you know the drill). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Front wheel is Evo-Lite hub 20H with CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel is Evo-Lite…
Built a wheel with CX22 rim (separate from yesterday's project)
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a wheel with a CX22 rim. This one uses a cantilever brake rather than disc brake. Evolite hub 28H, CX-RAY 4-cross Italian l…
Built wheels with CX22 rims
Another wheel day (and so on). I'm building wheels with Tni's CX22 tubular wide aluminum rims (designed for cyclocross), and since both of these separate jobs r…
The 99% Win Rate Tool
「A customer contacted me saying their seatpost clamp was cracked and stuck fast to the frame, so it won't come out.」 and they brought it in. The seatpost clamp …
Nomu Lab Wheel No. 7 (Provisional) Rim Has Arrived
Regarding Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6 (32mm high tubular), that's essentially the same rim as a certain R company's THIRTY TWO wheel. The reason I'm able to handle it …
I Rebuilt the Attack Wheel That I Had Already Rebuilt
Another day of wheels (and so on). A customer brought me a Reynolds Attack rear wheel for service. The nipples on the non-drive side were loosening. Actually, t…
Built the rear wheel for Nomulabo Wheel #2
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomulabo Wheel #2. Evolite hub 24H black semi-comp 4-cross lacing. I'll do the truing later.
Rebuilt the rear wheel on the SES 3.4
True, another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in tubular wheels from a Smart Envy 3.4. These are Japanese-made wheels from ENVE's former distrib…
Replaced the Rim on Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheels (abbreviated from here on). Rim relocations are technically counted under "today is also wheels (abbreviated)" per house rules, but since …
Building a rear wheel with WTB Frequency i19 rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Continuing from yesterday, it's the rear wheel. I'm swapping the rim that was built with a CX75 hub from an Iron Cross t…
Built a front wheel with WTB Frequency i19 rim
I received a wheel built with Stans Iron Cross from a customer. Old logo. The hub is CX75, so 28H is confirmed. Built with full competition hub, reverse Italian…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evolite hub 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Replaced the rim on a Bora One 50 Tubular Dark Label
A customer brought in a Bora One wheel for me to work on. The rim cracked with a sharp "crack" sound during a race crash, so they wanted the rim replaced. ／Crac…
I Replaced the Rim on a Shamal Mille (Penguin Bowl)
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer dropped off the rear wheel of a Shamal Mille. The Shamal Mille, only on its second use, and already... ...needed…
Amateur Bearing Puller and Campagnolo Crank Standards
I picked up a new puller for removing the left crank on Campagnolo Power Torque cranks. ↑The tip section needs some modification, but it can be used as a Power …
I rebuilt the wheel with PowerTap's GS hub
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a wheel built with a PowerTap GS hub. The rim is a carbon WO from Echinox. The customer built it themselves…
Speed 55C Festival
Went to the Fulcrum shop. Me: Hey, could you stock that thing for me? Them: You got it. They arrived. Speed 55C wheels. 2018 model, but I didn't write on the bo…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
This is an article that should have gone up just after 11 PM on Tuesday, October 10th, but I just realized it was left in draft mode. Except for when my truing …
Racing Zero Festival Sellout
The Racing Zero festival (→ here ) sold out in about three days after that. Thank you for your purchases. I've received some inquiries in the comments about pri…
About P-Tension on Road Shadow Rear Derailleurs
Shimano's R9100 and R8000 rear mechs use the same "shadow" type design as current MTB models— with minimal lateral protrusion. ↑This is an XT rear mech, and the…
I Replaced the Rim on a Shamal Ultra
Today, wheels again (and so on). I received a customer's Shamal Ultra 2WAY-FIT in titanium gray for service. First up: the front wheel. The customer had marked …
Racing Zero Festival
Visited the Fulcrum shop. Me: (I'll take that one and that one) Them: This guy, directly into the brain...! To be continued By writing just the opening like thi…
More on Sapim Nipples
I've stocked in some Sapim CX-RAY spokes. Quite a substantial order. Usually I restock in smaller batches, but this time I ordered more because the wholesaler h…
CC40T
A customer brought in the front wheel of a Cosmic Carbon 40 tubular for me to work on. The image above shows the state after I removed the hub shaft and retriev…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evolite hub 24H, sem…
I took a day trip to Tokyo
I had some urgent business and made a day trip to Tokyo. I've got my eye on LOOK's 2018 model, the 785 HUEZ RS. Separately, there's another model called HUEZ (n…
Terrifying! The Metal Stag Beetle!!
I'm going to write about the "Metal Stag Beetle" that I've been dragging on about up until now. ↑This is the bollard you see in the Yodo River (and probably oth…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Front wheel is Leaf hub 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, Rear wheel is Leaf hub 24H, half-competitio…
Replaced the rear rim on a Campagnolo Racing Zero Night
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in the rear wheel of a Campagnolo Racing Zero Night (レーシングゼロナイト). The inner side of the rim is dented, so it n…
EA50 Aero
Even though I didn't solve it, this story might help someone out there. I received a rear wheel from an EA50 Aero from a customer. They want to upgrade the free…
Racing Zero Carbon
I received a Racing Zero Carbon from a customer. It's been used quite a bit, but there's no runout—it looks fresh off a truing stand. The front hub had a new sh…
Two Bora 35s
I received a Bora Ultra 35 Clincher Bright Label wheel set from a customer for service. Apart from preventively addressing a potential catastrophic front hub ax…
Bullet
A customer (technically) left a Bullet with me for service. They said the spokes were loose and wanted them tensioned, so I was about to say "you got legs stron…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1 with a 7700 Hub
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in a 32-hole front wheel. The rim sidewall has a rounded dent, and the wear indicator dots are nearly…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another wheel day (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1, which I was supposed to put together yesterday. Front wheel: Evo Lite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke rad…
Aeolus 5
I received a Bontrager Aeolus 5 from a customer. Compared to the same wheel that an acquaintance uses, it's clearly loose, so they want me to tighten it if poss…
I Bought a Deda Superzero Stem
A Deda Elementi Superzero stem. I picked one up. I'm using it on a bike in the 4kg range, but this stem isn't particularly heavy, though it's not exactly light …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheels (and so on). Before that—after closing (officially), a customer came by asking for a full explanation on press-fit bottom brackets. ↑proba…
Taking a Day Off the Day After Tomorrow
I'll be taking a day off on September 21st (Thursday) the day after tomorrow due to some unavoidable business. I apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate …
Replaced the front rim on a Racing Zero Night
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in the front wheel of a Racing Zero Night (Fulcrum high-performance wheel). The rim has irreparable deformatio…
HED Disc Wheel
A customer brought in an HED disc wheel for me to work on. They want to upgrade the Shimano 10-speed freehub body to 11-speed. The disc portion on this wheel is…
Racing Zero 2WAT-FIT Front Wheel Spoke Repair
A customer dropped off a Racing Zero front wheel for repair. A bag got caught and bent some spokes. ↑Right here. It's barely visible to the eye, but there's not…
Replaced the blade on KeO Blade Carbon (1st generation)
There's a previous article with the same title (→ here ), and the work is identical. I received a first-generation KeO Blade pedal from a customer, but this isn…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Another day with wheels (etc.). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Evolite hub 24H, semi-comp lacing in a 46-spoke pattern with spoke nipples.
Tried out Reckmaunt's adhesive kit for the SW-R9150
Normally, the 9150 satellite shift unit is attached with cable ties, but Reckmaunt has released a kit for attaching it with double-sided tape instead. The instr…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Back at the wheel building again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial laced.
Built the Front Wheel with Iron Cross Rim
It's been a while since I built the rear wheel, but I've built my partner's front wheel. Evo Disc Hub II 28H CX-RAY 64 reverse Italian lacing with spoke nipple …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Racing 1 2WAY-FIT Customer Wheel
I received a rear wheel from a Racing 1 bike from a customer. The rear derailleur got caught up in the spokes. First, the spoke on the porcupine side was gouged…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
More wheel building today (you know the drill). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 24H, semi-competition 4-cross lacing pattern with s…
Various Campagnolo Spare Parts Have Arrived in Stock
Campagnolo spare parts have arrived in stock! First, the valve bushings for Bora and Bullet have transitioned from the old two-prong type to a pipe type. The pa…
Built rear wheel with XR31T rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). The counterpart to the front wheel I built the other day. FH-CX75 28H, half-comp 4-cross lacing. The rim holes on the of…
Built the Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another day on wheels (and so on). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Front wheel is an Evolite 20H hub, CX-RAY, outpoke radial laced, Rear wheel is an Evolite 24H …
Built a front wheel with XR31T rim
I built a front wheel using a Kinrin (キンリン) XR31T rim that a customer entrusted to me. HB-CX75 28H, all CX-RAY spokes, reverse Italian lacing pattern. Building …
Built the rear wheel with Iron Cross
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I built the rear wheel with an Iron Cross rim. Evo disc hub, 28H, semi-comp four-cross pattern, JIS lacing with spoke ni…
Bora One 35 Clincher Dark Label
I received a Bora One 35 from a customer. They wanted it converted to CULT bearings. （The top image shows the state after the work） It wasn't quite like-new con…
Roval Rapide CLX 32
A customer brought in the rear wheel of a Roval Rapide CLX 32 for service. They said that when they pump it up to around 7 bar, there's a creaking noise. Also, …
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1 rear wheel with PowerTap hub
I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1 with a PowerTap hub. G3 hub 28H, semi-comp lacing 4-cross pattern with spoke tension lines.
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 24H, semi-comp 4-cross lacing pattern with spoke joining FJT At the…
Speed 55C Festival (Tentative Plans)
I received a pair of Bora Ultra 35 and 50 wheels from a customer. These are wheels from the same customer. The rear wheel of the 35 had only a slight centering …
Give Me a Break
The other day, when I was extremely busy, a customer came in saying "my gears aren't shifting right, can you take a look?" but I had to turn them away because I…
Built a wheel with 27.5-inch carbon rim and XTR hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built a wheel with an XTR hub and 27.5-inch carbon rim. Front wheel: HB-M9010 32H All CX-RAY 64-spoke reverse Italian…
Built a rear wheel for the Iron Cross
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built a rear wheel for the Iron Cross. FH-CX75 hub, 28H, semi-competition four-cross JIS lacing pattern. I'll do the spoke …
Racing Zero Competition
A customer brought in a Racing Zero Competition (high-end racing wheelset) for repair. As you can see, the spokes are bent, and the ones held together with duct…
Shamal Ultra
I took in a front wheel from a Shamal Ultra (high-end racing wheelset) from a customer. The spokes got bent from a crash at Suzuka. ↑Three spokes are bent in th…
Built a front wheel with Iron Cross rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a front wheel with an Iron Cross rim. HB-CX75 hub 28H CX-RAY 64-spoke reverse Italian lacing with spoke connections. Per th…
Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
A customer left the rear wheel from their Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1 (custom wheel brand) with us for repair. They got caught up in a crash at Suzuka. （Apparently a s…
Rebuilt the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought me the rear wheel from their Nomu Lab Wheel #1. It's a Reaf hub 24H half-competition four-cross lacin…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Back to wheels today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolight hub, 24H, semi-comp pattern, 4-cross lacing with cross-overs.
Built rear wheels for Nomu Lab Wheel #1 and #3
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #3. Evolite hub 20H, black half-leader 4-cross lacing. I'll do the truing later. Di…
Racing Speed XLR 35 Tubular Dark Label
This is a wheel we stocked in-house, not a customer bring-in. Unlike the Bora, the Racing Speed doesn't have a wide rim, and the model that pairs with the Bora …
Metron 81
A customer brought in a rear wheel from a Vision Metron 81 for service. When people hear "Metron," they probably think of that scene with the chabudai table and…
Racing Zero Competizione
I've received a second-generation Racing Zero Competizione (abbreviated) from a customer. Aside from a slight center offset in the front wheel, everything is in…
Racing Zero Night Customer Bike
I received a Racing Zero Night (high-performance wheel set) from a customer for repair. They said the spoke is bent and the wheel has runout. ↑It's bent. This i…
Ksyrium SR
A customer brought in a Ksyrium SR for service. The front wheel had a slight centering issue, and for the rear wheel, I called out the direction of the centerin…
Built wheels with RR1.1 and Open Pro
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a front wheel with a DT RR1.1 rim. HB-6800 32H hub, Champion #15 plain spokes. Outpoke radial lacing. Everything except the…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evolite hub 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. And then, one more. Black hub 20…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on a Dragon 50
A customer left me a Tni Dragon 50 tubular rear wheel to work on. The Tni sticker has been removed and replaced with one featuring a team name, but since the cu…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolite hub 24-spoke, black semi-comp, 4-cross lacing pattern with integrate…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Another day, another wheel (etc.). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evolight hub 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced.
Oguraya Seika's Iron-Plate Crackers
This happened a little while back, but when a customer from Tokyo sent me some wheel parts, they also included a couple bags of crackers from a place in Zoshiga…
About Sapim Nipples
The Sapim CX-RAY comes with 14mm-long aluminum nipples, but I don't use them for a few reasons. I use DT's 12mm aluminum nipples instead. Anyway, I recently not…
Rebuilt the rear wheel for the 303
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer dropped off a ZIPP 303 rear wheel for me. It's an older rear hub from the radial lacing era on the freewheel side, but…
I Built a Rear Wheel with a Carbon Tubeless Rim
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built the rear wheel with the same rim. It's 28H like the front wheel, but with this …
On the Markings of Campagnolo and Fulcrum Aluminum Spokes
Regarding Campagnolo and Fulcrum aluminum spokes, There are line markings engraved on the edge of the spoke head. Treating the long direction as horizontal, I c…
Racing Zero Night
I received a Racing Zero Night from a customer. The image above is already after the work, but the customer wanted a "stylish thief" look and CULT conversion. I…
Racing Zero Competizione
I received a Racing Zero Competizione (wheel set) from a customer. The front wheel photo came out quite blurry, so I scrapped it. As for the precision of the of…
Attack Mr.
A customer dropped off a Reynolds Attack tubeless rear wheel with us. Apparently a nearby shop refused to do centering work on it. When I asked separately wheth…
Scirocco 35mm CX Wheel
A customer dropped off the rear wheel of a G3 version racing Quattro-style wheel for repair. The "CX" designation means it's designed for cyclocross, and this m…
Shimano Container
I stocked up on Shimano 11-speed chain quick links in bulk and I was planning to transfer them into the container that comes with Shimano outer cables and other…
Built a front wheel with carbon tubeless rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built a front wheel using a carbon tubeless rim that a customer left with me. Novatec D771 hub, 28H, all CX-RAY, 64-s…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Today it's wheels again (you know the drill). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Front wheel: Evo Lite hub 20H black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, Rear wheel: Evo Lite hub…
Taking a Day Off
Tomorrow, July 27th (Thursday), I'll be taking the day off due to unavoidable business. I apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. ～Bo…
Lezyne Mount Pedaling Monitor Bracket Received in Stock
We've received an adapter from Lezyne (Japanese bicycle parts manufacturer) for mounting pedaling monitor cycle computers to Garmin-compatible mounts. Strictly …
I Built the Rear Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evolite hub, 24-hole, semi-comp four-cross lacing. This is a separate project from…
Racing Zero Build
I received a Racing Zero from a customer. They want a stylish overhaul. First, I'll start with the rear wheel for a specific reason. I colored one spoke red on …
Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT Rear Wheel Repair
A customer brought in a Racing Zero rear wheel for repair. The spoke was bent, but since we had it in stock, we got it fixed up.
Racing Zero Front Wheel
A customer brought in the front wheel from their Racing Zero (a high-end racing bicycle) for repair. A spoke had broken, apparently. We had it in stock, so it g…
Shamal Mille
A customer dropped off a Shamal Mille (high-performance racing wheel) with us. The bike vibrates badly over 40 km/h, and there's an odd noise coming from somewh…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Back to wheels today (etc.). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolight hub, 24-hole, semi-competition four-cross lacing pattern. I'll do the tru…
Zonda's Front Wheel
A customer brought in a Zonda front wheel for repair. Some spokes were broken—apparently it fell into a drainage ditch. Since I had spokes in stock, it was fixe…
Shamal Mille
A customer dropped off the rear wheel from a Shamal Mille (Italian road bike) for repair. They asked me to replace the spokes since they're bent, but they're se…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Another day of wheel (et cetera). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial build.
The 404
I received a 404 from a customer for service. It's a WO rim. Both front and rear wheels are perfectly centered with virtually no runout—really impressive work. …
Ksyrium Pro Carbon and Cosmic Pro Carbon
A customer brought in a Ksyrium Pro Carbon wheel for service. It's a tubular version. Looks like the outermost layer of the Smart Envie rim has been given a cos…
Racing Speed XLR Dark Label
A customer left a Racing Speed bike with me for service. The rear wheel had some center offset and hub play, but the runout on both wheels was pretty minimal. S…
Racing Zero Carbon
Another day with wheels (and so on). I've received a Racing Zero Carbon wheel set from a customer. They want an inspection, front rim rebuild, change in wheel m…
About Campagnolo Direct Mount Brakes
To use with the lever from the S company (the major component maker that doesn't make direct mount brakes) I've procured a Campagnolo direct mount brake. Campag…
Rebuilt a 2:1 Laced Rear Wheel
Another wheel day (and so on). PowerTap GS hub 24H half-radial 46-spoke equivalent lacing... Oh wait, that one was a non-count entry for "another wheel day" (an…
Built a front wheel with a White Industries H2 hub (front wheel, part 2)
Continuing from last time. A customer brought me a front wheel built with a White Industries H2 hub. All-black Campagnolo Record Oro in JIS lacing. If we consid…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Evolight hub, 24-hole, semi-competition four-cross lacing pattern. I'll do the …
Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT
A customer left a Racing Zero with us for service. These are wheels we've previously worked on here at the shop, doing truing and spoke replacements, but this t…
Who is K.Y?
I took in a Racing Zero wheel from a customer (technically). The original owner of this wheel (let's call him T) had lent it to someone else (let's call him H),…
Bora One 50 Tubular Dark Label
A customer dropped off a Bora One with me. Brand new, basically no issues, nothing special to report on the inspection side of things. Since this was their firs…
About the "New Shaft Big Explosion"
A customer brought in a Racing Zero Carbon wheel for service. Nothing special to report—the usual model student behavior, but as usual, the right endcap on the …
Rapide CLX32
The drill screams! A customer brought me a Roual Rapide CLX32 wheel to work on. The image above shows the condition after the repair work. The rear derailleur g…
Built a rear wheel with Open Pro
Another wheel day (details omitted). Built a rear wheel with an Open Pro CD (hard anodized) rim. FH-5800 32H Strong / 4-cross pattern Brass nipples, no spoke ta…
I Stocked the VP-1 Patch Kit
I've stocked Park Tool's VP-1 emergency patch kit. The old VP-1 used to have white around the Park Tool logo, but the contents are the same. It's a patch kit th…
Racing Zero Carbon
A customer dropped off their Racing Zero Carbon for service. They wanted an inspection, but the spokes are bent. I noticed it before putting it on the truing st…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Another day working on wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolite hub, 24 holes, semi-comp 46-spoke lacing pattern. I'll do th…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on the Attack
I took in a Reynolds Attack rear wheel from a customer. This wheel had a lot of loose nipples on the rear, but this time they came completely loose and fell ins…
Closed Up What Was Open
Today's another day with wheels (and so on). A customer left me a PowerTap hub rear wheel to work on. This is one I built in the past. A bit unusual — a PRO hub…
Added Extra Bottle Cage Mounting Holes to the Super Six
The drill is screaming! A customer asked me if I could lower the bottle cage position on the seat tube of a 44-size Cannondale Super Six. Looking at the photo a…
Cosmic Pro Carbon SL
A customer brought me a Cosmic Carbon wheel to work on. There's a reason why it has a tire mounted on the rear wheel. First, some background. The customer bough…
Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT Rear Wheel
A customer dropped off a Racing Zero rear wheel for me to work on. One spoke was badly bent, and with the tension gone, the rim was wobbling "as if" it had twis…
Built a rear wheel for Bike Friday using a Capreo hub
Another day, another wheel (etc.). A customer brought me a Bike Friday rear wheel for service. I'm lacing it with a Joytech 24H hub, all Champion spokes, in rev…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
More wheel building today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evolite hub 20H with CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Built a rear wheel with ZIPP 440 rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built a rear wheel with a 440 rim. Evolite hub 24H, semi-comp lacing pattern with spoke nipple…
Bike Guy's COB Rear Light Stock Arrival
The other day, when I bulk ordered 350 CO2 cartridges, I took the opportunity to stock some rear lights as well. These are COB rear lights, and they come in fou…
WH-RS11
This is a wheel that came standard on complete bikes we sell. You might know about the RS21, but what the heck is an RS11? Some of you might be wondering that. …
Built a front wheel with a ZIPP 340 rim
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). A customer dropped off a pair of ZIPP rims with me—a 340 and a 440. In terms of rim depth, they're equivalent to t…
I understand—it's a Cougar
Haha, yeah. Never mind the title and opening—it's just a running joke with this customer. I took in an Easton EA90SL from a customer. In the previous generation…
Ksyrium Carbon SL - Auto Route Customer
A customer brought in a Ksyrium Carbon for me to work on. It's brand new, unused. It's a limited edition model with a serial number stamped on the hub shell. Cu…
Kysrium Pro Carbon SL
A customer brought in a Kysrium carbon tubular rim model wheel for service. When we talk about "Kysrium," it's not referring to the aluminum spokes, but rather …
Racing Zero
I received a Racing Zero from a customer. I realized I hadn't taken a photo of the rear wheel after mounting the tire, but it was too much hassle to remove it, …
Racing Zero
A customer left a Racing Zero (wheel brand) with me for service. Just as the customer pointed out, the wheel had runout, but the shop where they bought it said …
Bora One 50
I received a Bora One wheel from a customer. It's brand new. Both the front and rear wheels had slight hub centering offset—the kind of thing that would pass ot…
Shamal Ultra C17
A customer brought in a Shamal Ultra (high-end wheelset) for service. The wheels have seen some use, but honestly there wasn't much that needed doing. ...Seriou…
Rebuilt the CEEPO rear wheel
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a CEEPO rear wheel for me to work on. It's a 26-inch carbon tubular rim. It has a Chenhao-made Shiman…
Replaced the Rim on Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day in the wheel workshop (and so on). A customer left Nomu Lab Wheel #5's rear wheel with me. Recently while riding, the rear wheel picked up some nast…
I replaced the rim on a Shamal Ultra 2WAY-FIT
Another day, more wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a Shamal Ultra for me to work on. Both the front and rear wheel rims had severe wear in the brake zo…
Bora One 35 and 50
A customer left me a Bora One 35 Bright Label clincher for work. They want the USB hub converted to CULT and a general inspection. I removed the USB bearing fro…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Back to wheels today (and so on). Built my partner's front wheel from yesterday. Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with black aluminum nipples.
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite (エボライト) hub, 24 spokes, black semi-comp 4-cross lacing pattern with b…
Racing Zero Carbon
I received a Racing Zero Carbon from a customer. They wanted CULT bearing conversion and an inspection. The top image shows the wheel after work, but per the cu…
Racing Zero Carbon
A customer dropped off a Racing Zero Carbon (high-end carbon wheelset) with me. The front wheel was dead center with virtually no runout, but the rear wheel had…
Built a rear wheel for the Nomulab Wheel #5 using a PowerTap GS hub
A customer entrusted me with a PowerTap straight-spoke rear hub, the "GS". The original plan was to disassemble Nomulab Wheel #5, which was built not long ago, …
Racing Zero Night Rear Wheel
A customer brought in the rear wheel from a Racing Zero Night. Apparently the rear derailleur got tangled in it and bent some spokes. ↑Right here. If the derail…
Rebuilt Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer left me with Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4. I built this one before (→ here ), but what I didn't write about at the time …
Replaced the rim on the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in the rear wheel of their Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. I'll write about the cause later, but apparently the ri…
About Mavic's Fourth Spoke
I received a Ksyrium Pro Exalith (high-end Mavic wheelset) from a customer. However, the title of this article is not "Ksyrium Pro Exalith." Let me start with t…
Ksyrium Pro Disc
A customer brought in a Ksyrium Pro Disc for service. The front wheel had a history of truing work, and since they'd focused on lateral truing only, there was s…
Racing Zero Carbon
A customer left a rear wheel from a Racing Zero Carbon (carbon wheel) with me. Today on the Miyama Road, some guy rear-ended them and with a loud "crack," a spo…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolight hub, 24-spoke, black half-comp, 4-cross lacing. I'll do the sp…
R-SYS Rear Wheel
A customer brought in an R-SYS rear wheel for repair. One spoke on the freewheel side was bent, apparently. ↑That's the one. Fixed. ↑The replaced spoke All wavy…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Racing Zero
A customer left me a Racing Zero rear wheel. It's equipment from the cycling club. Apparently after the race finished, some old guy ran into it from the side, a…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Labo Wheel #2 with a Gokkiso hub
Another day of wheels (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Labo Wheel #2 with a Gokkiso hub. 24-spoke, black semi-competition, 4-cross lacing pattern. I'l…
About Aluminum Spokes
I've received numerous comments asking me to write about aluminum spokes, and I've also been asked about them by customers who've visited the shop. At the very …
Bora Ultra 50 and Bora One 35
I received a Bora Ultra 50 and Bora One 35 from a customer. Bora Ultra 50 （forgot to photograph the full rear wheel） Bora One 35 Both belong to the same custome…
WH-RS81-C35
A customer dropped off an RS81 C35 wheel set with me. They want me to increase the spoke tension as much as possible. When I asked why, they said that ever sinc…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2 with a Gokiso hub
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2 using a Gokiso hub. 18H black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. This hub has fla…
Élan α (Alpha)
I received a Rolf Prima Élan α from a customer for service. The wheel inspection didn't turn up anything major. The rear wheel center was just slightly out of t…
Built a wheel with an ONYX hub
Another day, another wheel (et cetera). ONYX is a brand hub I built a wheel around today. By all rights it should be read as "Onyx Racing Products," but in Japa…
I rebuilt the rear wheel for Nemesis
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel built with a Chorus hub and Nemesis rim. It came in for inspection, but the rim was bent and c…
Ksilium SLR
A customer left a Ksilium SLR (high-end wheel) with me for service. Since it's just the rear wheel, it's essentially an R-SYS. The tension on the freewheel side…
Racing Zero Competition
I received a Racing Zero in CULT (custom shop) spec from a customer. The customer had helpfully marked the problem areas with sticky notes beforehand—apparently…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3. Black hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lace.
Built a rear wheel with XR300 rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I built a rear wheel with the XR300 silver rim. A rear hub that looks like a Leaf hub,…
Tomorrow, May 18th (Thursday)
I have some unavoidable business to attend to, so I'll be taking the day off. I apologize for the inconvenience, and thank you for your understanding.
Built a Front Wheel with XR300 Rim
Another day of wheels (and so on). Built a front wheel with an XR300 rim. It's a silver anodized 20H rim, brought in by a customer. A hub that seems to be a sib…
Racing Zero
I received a Racing Zero from a customer for service. Yesterday (the day before, in terms of when I'm posting this), things were so hectic that the whole shop w…
Shamal Ultra 2WAY-FIT C17
I received a Shamal Ultra wheel from a customer. Unusually for this type of wheel, the rear wheel had some lateral center offset. Since I showed the customer th…
Shamal Ultra 2WAY-FIT
A customer brought in a Shamal Ultra for service. Starting with the rear wheel. There's definitely a history of truing work done on it (I confirmed this with th…
Built a front wheel with Iron Cross Rim
It's another wheel day (and so on). I built a front wheel with Iron Cross rim. HB-CX75 28H black CX-RAY 64 spoke reversed Italian lacing.
Cosmic Pro Carbon
A customer brought in a Cosmic Carbon (Mavic wheel) for service. I heard quite a story about the hardships it's been through at two different shops (I didn't as…
Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT
A customer brought in their Racing Zero for servicing. Both the front and rear wheels had centering issues, and they also had some wobble, but the amount of run…
Open Pro Exalith-san
This is a clickbait title. Sorry about that. Using this as the headline, I figured a decent number of people searching for information would end up here. I get …
Racing Zero Plain Carbon 2WAY-FIT Rear Wheel
I've been doing repairs on various Racing Zero wheels, and since they're all from the same customer, I'll bundle them together. Not all from the same owner—some…
There Was a "Name Blank"
I just noticed something remarkable. I did an inspection of the Kishirium SLR, but since there wasn't really anything worth writing about, I didn't take any pho…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6. Front wheel: Leaf hub 20H black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Leaf hub 24H black half-comp 2-cross lacing with wire cros…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Wheels again today (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evolight hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial laced. Got Continental Sprinter t…
I Bought Danner Lights
I usually wear Merrell Jungle Mocs as my everyday shoes, but a shoe-loving customer told me "You should try buying Danner Lights," so I bought them. Danner Ligh…
Shamal Ultra
A customer dropped off a Shamal Ultra (high-performance wheel set by Campagnolo) with me. It developed problems after a nearby shop did an overhaul on it. The c…
WH-6800
A customer dropped off the rear wheel of a WH-6800 for repair. They'd replaced the bearing balls themselves, but something went wrong, so they asked me to fix i…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolight hub, 24-spoke, semi-comp 4-cross lacing pattern. I'll do the spoke …
Replaced the rim on FiR's carbon wheel (Part 2: It's the rear wheel, but not because of that)
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Building the rear wheel to match the front wheel I assembled the other day. But first, let me explain something. When I pre…
Drilled holes in the LOOK 586 for Shimano electric components
The drill is screaming! A customer dropped off a LOOK 586 with us. They wanted holes drilled for electric components. Even though they brought it from far away,…
Racing 5 Evolution
I received a Fulcrum Racing 5 EVO from a customer. Among Fulcrum's initial lineup of Racing 1, 3, and 5 the steel spoke wheels are the 3 and 5, but the 3 had a …
About the Pedal Hole Threads on the ZEUS 2000 Crank
A customer (probably) left me a ZEUS 2000 crank to work on. ZEUS is a Spanish component maker that produced Campagnolo-style copies, but the 2000 (a component g…
Keeping Wiring Out of the Bottom Bracket
I'm currently building up a Pinarello Dogma F8 (not the DISK version), and ↑this is a photo after routing the cables. Having wiring inside the bottom bracket ca…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Front wheel is Evolight hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, Rear wheel is Evolight hub 24H semi-c…
Shamal Mille
A customer left a front wheel from a Shamal Mille with me. It collided with a car and the quick-release lever flew off, and the rim is apparently very out of tr…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another wheel day (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel: Evolight hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial lace, Rear wheel: Evolight hub 24H semi-comp 4x…
Cosmic Pro Carbon Exalith
I received a Cosmic Pro Carbon Exalith from a customer. It's been used just a tiny bit, but it's basically brand new. About twenty years ago, there was a Cosmic…
Strike SLG
A customer dropped off a Reynolds Strike for me to work on. The rear wheel was drifting toward the freewheel side, but they let me tighten up the non-freewheel …
I rebuilt the rear wheel on the Attack
Today it's wheels again (and so on). A customer brought in a Reynolds Attack rear wheel for me to work on. The nipples had loosened and lost tension, and in som…
Speed 40C Dark Label
A customer entrusted me with a Speed 40C... Actually, it's stock from our shop.\ It's a separate purchase from the Speed 40C sale event — came in later — but if…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evolite hub 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced.
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolite hub, 24 spoke, black half-competition 46-cross lacing pattern. I'l…
Iron Cross Rim Being Discontinued
Stan's NoTubes' tubeless rim, the Iron Cross, has been discontinued. While I'm at it, the Alpha 340 and 400 are also being phased out. Going forward, only exist…
666 Side All Rabbit Selcof Wheelset
A customer brought in a Selcof 666 side ∀ rabbit wheelset for me to work on. ↑This character alone was indecipherable. I'm provisionally calling it "rabbit". Se…
I Rebuilt the Rim on a FiR Carbon Wheel (It's the Front Wheel, But Not Because of That—Part 1)
Another day, another wheel (etc.). A customer brought in a FiR (Feel) Speedlight— a carbon tubular rim wheel. Among the carbon rims of that era, most European b…
Replaced with Mirage 11S ErgoPower Levers
The Campagnolo Athena 11S ErgoPower levers on my regular bike have become unusable due to a malfunction. ↑This is the right lever, but the left one is the one t…
Racing Zero
A customer dropped off a Racing Zero with me. Apparently it's a wheel that had been lent to someone, and it developed a wobble from a crash. I found deformation…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. I can't build the Pinarello I'm currently working on until this one's done. Front wheel: black hub…
I rebuilt the rear wheel on the Reflex (both rear wheels, but part 2)
Wheel time again (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding my master's rear wheel. I'm using an Open Pro tubular rim. This rim appears to have the …
I Rebuilt the Rear Wheels on the Reflex Rims (Both Rear Wheels, But Part 1)
I received some wheels—not from a customer, but from my mentor. I have various mentors, but this one is my mentor in the world of bicycle racing. These two whee…
Racing Zero
I received a Racing Zero (Campagnolo rear hub) from a customer. It's been used for quite a long time with no maintenance, and the rear hub rotation is clearly g…
Assault SLG from Reynolds
A customer brought in a Reynolds Assault for service. I received both front and rear wheels, but it only needed a minor truing. This Assault, unlike the current…
What a Thoroughly Dishonest Guy
The other day I wrote about the crappy work and shady dealings at Shinoyama Bicycle Workshop Highlander, and apparently the guy himself is going around saying i…
I Built Wheels with ENVE and EDGE 45 Rims
Another day of wheel work (and so on). I took in a wheel build from a customer featuring Planet X rims. The customer wanted a rebuild, so I'm only keeping this …
Rebuilt the front wheel on a 202
A customer brought in a ZIPP 202 front wheel for me to work on. They wanted it rebuilt for a specific reason. There's a recall on two types of flange-ring style…
About Novatec Freehub Bodies (Response to Comments)
The other day, I wrote that the bearings on Novatec freehubs were 15267, and I received this comment: "Regarding the bearings on Novatec freehubs, the ones that…
Racing Speed XLR
A customer brought in a Racing Speed for repair. A spoke is missing. It's broken right at the thread junction. This is actually a pretty rare case—a fatigue-rel…
I've Taken a Liking to the Little Rose
It's been a while since I've talked about wristwatches. Rolex has a diffusion brand (budget-friendly line) called Tudor. Rolex's headquarters is currently in Sw…
Speed 40C Festival
Following the Racing Quattro Carbon and Racing Zero Carbon we're doing the 3rd installment of Fulcrum's carbon WO wheel festival, the Speed 40C festival. They'v…
Rebuilt the rear wheel for an Attack
A customer brought in a Reynolds Attack rear wheel for service. I might have heard complaints about spoke rub or the wheel flexing in the corners, or maybe I di…
I rebuilt the rear wheel with a PowerTap hub
Another wheel build day (and so on). A customer dropped off a 24-spoke rear wheel built with a PowerTap G3 hub and an XR300 rim. It's all-black CX-RAY 4-cross l…
Shamal Ultra 2WAY-FIT
I received a Shamal Ultra 2WAY-FIT wheel from a customer. I can't quite write about the history here, but it's covered in sticky grime that looks like cigarette…
Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT
A customer brought in a Racing Zero for repair. The spokes on the freewheel side were severely bent. Bent badly Really bent Replaced them. ↑red bobble-head doll…
I Swapped Out the Hub on a Reynolds 32 Front Wheel
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer (sort of) left me with the front wheel from a Reynolds THIRTY TWO tubular wheel set. The rear wheel's partner ha…
Iodine 2 27.5
A customer brought in a Crank Brothers wheel, the Iodine 2, for service. Crank Brothers MTB wheels come in the "Cobalt" series for XC racing, and the "Iodine" s…
WH-9000-C35-TU Customer
I received a set of C35 tubular wheels from a customer. The front wheel checked out perfectly with a simple truing stand that works even with the tire mounted, …
Built a rear wheel with 20-inch rim and disc brake hub
A customer left me with an ETRTO406 20-inch HE rim to work with. ↑finished product above It's a 32-hole single-eyelet rim with black anodizing all the way to th…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolight (hub) 24H black semi-comp 4-cross lacing with spoke bridging.
Racing Zero Carbon
A customer brought in a Racing Zero Carbon (high-end carbon road bike) for me to work on. Someone brought it in on behalf of the actual owner, so I didn't get t…
Bora One 35
I received a Bora One wheel on loan from a certain FJT (Fellow Jetsetter/bike enthusiast). I had kept what I'm about to write under wraps, but the FJT in questi…
Bora One Bright Label
A customer dropped off a Bora One for me to work on. This is a Bora One, not a Bora One 50. The rim height is 50mm, from back when tubular was the only option a…
Bora One 35 Dark Label Clincher
A customer left a Bora One wheel with me for service. During inspection, there's nothing particularly worth noting. Unusually, I took some photos with the tire …
Bora Ultra Two and Bora Ultra 80
I received a Bora Ultra Two and an 80 from a customer. Like the Bullet and others, when you go to an 80mm high rim for the rear wheel the number of spoke bundle…
Bora One 35 Bright Label Clincher
A customer brought in their Bora One wheels for service. ↑Front and rear wheels... actually no. Both are front wheels. One needs truing work, and the other is b…
Bora Ultra Two Tubular
A customer dropped off a Bora Ultra with me. The wheels came with tubular tires installed, but since they have a built-in nipple design, I need to remove them. …
Bora One 50 Bright Label Clincher
I received a Bora One from a customer. It's the new model with a wider rim and external nipples. Perfect centering, virtually no wobble—in other words, there's …
I Replaced the Rim on a Shamal Ultra
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in the rear wheel of a first-generation Shamal Ultra (Fulcrum wheel). I've done a rim replacement on …
Rim Replacement on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
A customer dropped off the rear wheel of Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 with me. The front wheel has a silver hub with black rim, and the rear has a black hub with silver…
Replaced the rim on a Aksium 125
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer had left me an Aksium 125 that got caught up in a crash, with almost all the spokes deformed. Except for five consecut…
Resurrection! Crab Beam!! (Kisilium 500 sir)
The Crab Beam has all the realism of a comic book character when it comes to "dying," but the process of bringing it back to life is always a hassle. Though I s…
The Original Racing Zero
A customer brought in the rear wheel from a Racing Zero for service. It's the first generation model with red tie spokes, and it has a Campagnolo-compatible fre…
EC90 Aero
A customer brought in an EC90 Aero for service. The front wheel is perfectly centered with virtually no runout, and the rear wheel has virtually no runout eithe…
Rapide CLX32 and Alpiniste
A customer entrusted me with a Rovalレ CLX32 for servicing. Brand new. They brought it straight to the shop for inspection after buying it. Both wheels are perfe…
I Replaced the Rim on a Silver Wheel
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a silver rear wheel for repair. The rim manufacturer is unknown. The hub is Novatech brand, the spoke…
Built the rear wheel with Ambrosio Montreal Métaille d'Or
The day before yesterday, I built the wheel that I couldn't assemble before due to missing spokes. The rim is an Ambrosio Montreal Métaille d'Or. Regarding the …
Assembled the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Another day of wheel work (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. This is a continuation from the other day when I gave up after cleaning the…
VIVA MCC from Corima
I received a Corima VIVA MCC from a customer for service. Like batten wheels and disc wheels, there are no adjustment elements such as truing or centering. （Tho…
Built a front wheel with Montreal Metadoor Oro
Today, wheels again (and so on). The wheel I built today is for the same customer as yesterday's old Aero 1, but they also asked me to overhaul the 7400 Dura-Ac…
Reply to Comments (About Bead Hooks)
About yesterday's post regarding the Rolf Prima Racing Zero "tubular" I wrote that I checked for any deformation of the bead hook before work 「If it's tubular s…
Racing Zero Tubular
A customer brought in a Racing Zero for me to work on. Starting with the rear wheel. The customer wanted this discontinued tubular version and managed to get on…
I rebuilt the rear wheel for a Planet X
A customer brought in a Planet X rear wheel for me to work on. The outermost layer is decorative carbon similar to my Noma Lab Wheel No. 2, so it's easy to spot…
Using the Stretcher Y Double
A customer left me two Continental Competition 19C tubulars to work on, but I just couldn't get one of them to seat temporarily on the rim. There's definitely v…
Ksyrium SLR
A customer brought in a Ksyrium SLR for service. I forgot to take a full shot of the rear wheel. As for the front wheel, despite the rim being in near-new condi…
How Much Do They Weigh Front and Rear?
Customers sometimes ask me, "How much do the Nomu Lab wheels model ○ weigh front and rear combined?" but this is a difficult question to answer. I can't remembe…
Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT (Again)
A customer brought in a Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT wheel for me to work on. This was a wheel I repaired just about a month ago ( here ) when the customer was consider…
Nomunomu Lab Wheel No. 7 Candidate (Rejected) — Rim Assembly
Another day with wheels (and so on). Before I get started. I get questions from customers asking, "Why don't you make a Nomunomu Lab Wheel with a carbon tubeles…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Another day of wheel-building (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Front wheel: Evo Lite hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evo Lite hub, 2…
Racing Zero Night
I received a Racing Zero Night (a high-end wheelset) from a customer. Since it just arrived yesterday and they only rode it a bit, it's basically brand new. The…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another wheel day (and so on...). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel is an Evolite 20H hub in black, full Campagnolo components, outpoke radial laced, Re…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another wheel day (you know how it is...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evolite hub 24H half-…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evolite hub 24H black half-comp 4-cross laced with connectors. At this point, Nom…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6. Front wheel: Rafi hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Rafi hub 24H half-comp 4-cross…
Zonda
A customer brought in a Zonda rear wheel for repair. A spoke on the freewheel side is broken. Since the wheels have different diameters on each side, these are …
Built Nomu Lab Wheels #1 and #5
Another day on wheels (abbreviated hereafter). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, Rear wheel: Evolite hub 24H se…
Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT Hub Service
A customer dropped off a Racing Zero for me. I forgot to photograph the rear wheel as a whole, but I have both front and rear wheels in for service. The custome…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Black hub 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. Now, on a differen…
Shamal Ultra Dark Label
A customer brought in a Shamal Ultra wheel for repair. A spoke got bent when it caught a cycle computer sensor. ↑I thought it was just this one spoke, but there…
Built rear wheels for Nomu Lab Wheel #2 and #5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evolight hub 24H, semi-comp 4-cross lacing with spoke tension nipples. Also ten…
Added a Di2 junction bracket mount to the pedaling monitor
I received a Time frame from a customer (sort of). The cables running through the down tube don't have any cable ties to keep them in place, so they rattle and …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. I was planning to build around three wheels in one go, but other wor…
Built a Rear Wheel with SLX Disc Hub
I built the matching rear wheel to go with the front wheel I made the other day. The rim is a DM18 like the front wheel, and the hub is an SLX disc hub (though …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another wheel day (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 24H, black semi-comp lacing, 4-cross pattern, red aluminum nipples.…
Ksyrium SLR
I received a Ksyrium SLR (high-end wheelset by Mavic) from a customer. I didn't get a photo of the front wheel. It was perfectly centered with virtually no runo…
Front Wheel Build with XT Disc Hub
I built a front wheel using a customer's spare hub. The customer wanted me to build wheels for their commuter hybrid bike. They already had a hub on hand, so I …
Built a front wheel with the XR-31T rim
I built a front wheel using a rim and hub that a customer left with me. The rim is a Kinlin XR-31T, and the hub is an HB-7800 Dura-Ace with the slotted hole des…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evoluight hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced with red aluminum nipples.
Expanded the valve hole on a ZIPP disc wheel
A customer brought in a ZIPP disc wheel for service. They wanted me to modify the valve hole so they could use a Hirame (Japanese floor pump) side-cam pump head…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evolite hub 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lace. This is a separate job from what I …
Business Notice
A notice for a customer. Your low-profile sprocket is ready Come by again with your bike and we'll swap it in.
I Centered a Disc Wheel
A guy calling himself FJT left a disc wheel with me for work. It's an Araya Kevlar disc wheel. "I'm not the first owner so I don't really know, but when I put i…
SES 3.4 Build
A customer brought in a wheel built with a Smart Envision System 3.4 WO rim and PowerTap hubs front and rear. The front wheel has a 35mm deep rim and the rear i…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #222
Another wheel day (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evolite hub 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing— two black spokes and one sil…
Tiger Mask Color
I'm currently building up a De Rosa KING XS in Tiger Mask color that a customer brought in. ↑That's the one. Cinelli and Ridley have frames in this kind of colo…
Speed 40C
I received a Fulcrum Speed 40C from a customer. Campagnolo's Bora comes in 35mm and 50mm high rim depths, but Fulcrum's unique lineup with the Speed model adds …
Vision Team 24 Limited
A customer brought in a Vision Team 24 Limited wheelset for me to work on. I have a rule about keeping manufacturer names in post titles only for lesser-known w…
Built a front wheel with a 25mm high-modulus carbon tubular rim
I built a front wheel with a lightweight rim that a customer entrusted to me. Front wheel is built. Leaf hub 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. This rim h…
R-SYS
I took in an R-SYS from a customer. It's an R-SYS with just "R-SYS" as the model name— no "SL" or "Premium" or "SLR" suffix attached after it. There was a suspi…
Built a rear wheel with XR31T rim and Star hub
Another wheel day (you know the drill). This is a follow-up to the situation from the other day with a 24H Star hub and a 28H XR31T rim that I had on hold. The …
Racing Zero
A customer brought in a Racing Zero (high-performance hub wheelset) for service. After a crash, both front and rear wheels have runout, and the customer already…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4. Evorite hub, 28H black, semi-comp, 4-cross lacing pattern. I'll do the spoke…
Kyxerium Pro Exalith SL
I took in a Kyxerium (though the rear wheel is essentially an R-SYS) from a customer. Brand new. The wheels came from a pro shop, and since there's a shop name …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4. Evolite hub 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced with red aluminum nipples.
WH-7801-SL Sir
A customer brought in the front wheel of a WH-7801-SL for me to work on. It's the world's first road tubeless wheel, and quite an ambitious design with a scandi…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on an Angelino
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer dropped off a rear wheel from an Angelino. The Angelino is a child seat bicycle made by Bridgestone. Several spokes ar…
Removed the Yellow King Marks
The wheel on the bike we're currently doing a component swap on here at the shop is ↑this Bora, but you can see marks where the brake shoes have heat-fused to t…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5. Evolite hub 18H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Bora Ultra 35 Tubular Dark Label
A customer brought in a Bora Ultra wheel for service. They requested truing. And sure enough, the front wheel had some obvious runout that was visible even with…
I Removed a Shimano Cartridge Bottom Bracket
A customer (sort of) was trying to remove the BB on their younger brother's FELT bike to swap out the components, but when two people couldn't get it off no mat…
Built a PowerTap wheel with Reynolds 32 rim
Another wheel build today (and so on). A customer dropped off the front wheel from a Ksyrium 125. It's one we've serviced before at the shop, with cosmetic spok…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Today it's wheels again (you know the drill). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel: Leaf hub 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, Rear wheel: Leaf hub 24H…
Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT
I received a Racing Zero from a customer. It's not like I rushed to do this today just because someone nagged me in the comments yesterday. Both the front and r…
Zonda
A customer (someone from a secret guild with roots in stonemason associations) left a Zonda with me for work. Apparently, on a downhill mountain road, he hit an…
Built the Nomulabo Wheel #5 with R4SL Hub
Another wheel day today (details omitted). A customer left me with the rear wheel from an EA90SLX. The rim was warped, and when I tried to true it, there were n…
Racing Quattro LG CX - Rear Wheel Spoke Repair
I received a rear wheel from a Racing Quattro customer. The chain dropped to the inside and bent some spokes, so the customer asked me to fix them. There are sp…
Built a rear wheel with an XT through-axle hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). I built a rear wheel with an XT rear hub. The rim is a Tni CX22, and it will be the matching pair for the front wh…
Bora Ultra 35 Tubular Dark Label
A customer brought in a Bora Ultra for servicing. Since the customer isn't the original owner, they mentioned, "There are no CULT labels on the hub and rim, so …
Built a rear wheel with PLANET X rims
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a rear wheel using a hub and rim the customer brought in. The rim is a PLANET X (high-end carbon tubular rim brand) 50mm de…
Bora One Clincher Bright Label
I received a Bora One from a customer. It's a brand new, never-ridden unit. As a precaution against the new shaft catastrophic failure (→ here ), they asked tha…
R-SYS Premium Front Wheel
A customer dropped off the front wheel from an R-SYS Premium (a high-end wheel set). They wanted the spoke nipple to be replaced, but the concrete nature of the…
Built a front wheel with XR31T rim and Star hub
Wheels again today (and so on). Built a front wheel using a Kinlin XR31T rim. Star hub 20H black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with black aluminum nipples. I've …
Easton TT bikes
I received an Easton EA90TT from a customer. A front wheel equipped with a special narrow-flange hub. While lateral stiffness is low, the customer views it posi…
Replaced the rear hub on the Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day with wheels (and so on). I received a Nomu Lab Wheel #5 from a customer. The front wheel has runout because it was dropped from a mezzanine level (←…
Built a front wheel with Tni's disc hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the front wheel the day before yesterday, and the rear wheel today—though I can't show the front wheel here. …
I Rebuilt the Eurus into a Fake Bora
Another day of wheels (and so on). A customer left me an Eurus to work on. This is from an era when Japanese documentation had inconsistent transliteration of E…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #3
Another day of wheels (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #3. Evolite hub 20H black half-leader (equivalent to half-Championship) 4-cross lacin…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 24H, semi-comp four-cross lacing. I'll do the spoke tape later…
Replies to Comments (Helium and Y*hoo Auctions)
In a recent article, I wrote that the Helium was my first complete wheelset, and I received a comment saying that the original Cosmic from 1995 with 16H front a…
I Bought the SW-R9150 Satellite Switch
I personally purchased the SW-R9150, a single-button satellite switch for Shimano's 9150 series electronic Dura-Ace. Until now, the tens digit in the product nu…
The Original Cosmic Elite
I took in an original Cosmic Elite from a customer. In the broad sense, disc wheels would be considered the "first complete wheelset," but when it comes to "mas…
Built a wheel with a PowerTap disc hub
Another wheel build today (details omitted). I built a wheel using a WTB Frequency i19 tubeless-ready rim and a PowerTap disc hub. The "i" designates an I-shape…
I Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1 with a Star Hub (Rear Wheel, Part 1)
Tni's new product, I'm building a rear wheel with a star hub. The freewheel-side flange is star-shaped, which is probably why they named it the star hub. ↑Star …
Year-End and New Year Business Hours
We will be closed from tomorrow, December 31st through January 4th. We will reopen on January 5th. Sometimes I announce we're closed for "unavoidable circumstan…
Racing Zero Night
A customer brought in a Racing Zero Night (high-end racing wheel) for service. It got hit by a Ferrari and the wheels are seriously out of true. The front wheel…
F6R
A customer dropped off an FF Yamaguchi F6R for me to work on. The front wheel had a slight centering issue, but I was able to correct it while truing the wheel.…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel: Leaf hub 20H black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Leaf hub 24H black CX…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolight hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial laced. Had the year-end party today, bu…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5 with an RS400 Hub
Another wheel day (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #5 using a Shimano RS400 hub—a budget-grade hub that, oddly enough, comes in a 28H version. Silver/black C…
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, December 27th (Tuesday), I'll be taking the day off due to an unavoidable matter. The 28th (Wednesday) is our regular closing day. The 29th (Thursday)…
Built a wheel with EDGE 1-25 rims
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a wheel with EDGE 1-25 rims. The sticker is from the earliest model period, so it's from when the rim weight was nominall…
I Frankensteined RED Rear Derailleurs Together
A customer dropped off a SRAM rear derailleur with me. During a ride, the pulley cage suddenly separated from the pantograph section. The image shows exactly wh…
Fixed the chainring bolt hole on a Campagnolo right crank
The tap is singing! The drill isn't making a sound at all, but given the nature of the work, I'm including it under "The drill is singing!" A customer brought i…
WH-9000-C35-CL Customer
I received a 9000-C35 from a customer. The front wheel has Shimano C24 and C35 carbon laminate rims, and due to spoke tension, the rim apex deforms left and rig…
Mr. Zonda
A customer brought in a Zonda bike for us to work on. A spoke broke right off, and they came straight to our shop. Apparently it happened suddenly somewhere bey…
Bora One 35 Tubular Bright Label Narrow Rim
A customer dropped off a Bora One for me to work on. Sorry, I was in a rush and forgot to snap a photo of the front wheel. The front wheel is dead center, with …
Swapped out the Specialized wheels for Nomunorabo Wheel #5 (Part 2)
More wheel work today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm lacing the front hub's non-rotor side radially. With disc rear hubs, the right side experience…
Swapped Out Specialized Wheels for Nomulabo Wheel No. 5 (Part 1)
Another day of wheels (and so on). A customer left me with the wheels that came stock on a Specialized complete bike. To be precise, I received the complete bik…
Bontrager TLR Wheels
A customer brought me a Bontrager brand tubeless-ready wheel to work on. Well, it was actually the wheel that got replaced when they switched to my Nomu Lab whe…
Ksyrium 125
A customer brought in a Ksyrium 125 for service. I hesitated about posting the front wheel here, but the customer said it was fine. There's a reason why 4 spoke…
Bora Ultra 35 Dark Label
I received a Bora Ultra 35 from a customer. It's a WO model. I only touched the spoke nipples on the front wheel twice and the rear wheel once, and it's perfect…
Racing Zero Night
A customer brought in a Racing Zero Night for service. The customer mentioned there was wobble, which made me nervous at first, but in reality there was almost …
Extended the Open Pro by 50C
I received a front wheel built with an Open Pro rim from a customer (Ninja). Even though it's called an Open Pro, it's actually a 650C rim. I'm going to rebuild…
Replaced the rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in the front wheel from their Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. They hit a rock and broke the rim. It doesn't loo…
Built Nomunlab Wheel #5 with a 7700 Hub
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built Nomunlab Wheel #5 with a 7700 hub. For the front wheel, I built the HB-7700 32H CX-RAY as outpoke radial lacing. T…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. FH-6700 hub, 32H, fully Comp Campagnolo lacing with cross-lacing. I think it's better to do cross-lacing, but the…
Rebuilt a Carbon Rim
A customer left a carbon tubular rear wheel with me. This is a rear wheel I had previously rebuilt with radial spoking on the non-freewheel side. The question w…
Rebuilt the rear wheel for an ENVE
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel built with an ENVE 1-45 rim. Evo hub (Shimano 11-speed freebody conversion) 24H black CX-RAY Y…
I rebuilt a wheel with a Gokiso hub
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in a wheel built with a Gokiso hub and XR200 rim. We didn't initially plan on rebuilding it, but sinc…
Racing Zero Red Passion
I received a Racing Zero from a customer. ↑These are the condition after work. They wanted an overhaul. ↑I only took a photo of the rear wheel before work. I di…
Vittoria Corsa 46
A customer brought in a rear wheel from a Vittoria Corsa 46 for service. As you can see, a spoke is broken. It happened from a crash, apparently. Fixed. With th…
First Generation Shamal Ultra
I received a Shamal Ultra (high-end racing wheel) from a customer. They mentioned that one spoke got bent from a crash. ↑There it is. Replaced it. The spoke was…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. HB-6700 hub, 32H, built entirely with competition-laced Italian three-cr…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced with black aluminum nip…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evo Lite hub 20H with CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Rim Replacement and Rebuild on a Lightning Alpine Wheelset
Another wheel day (et cetera). A customer brought in a wheelset built with an Alpine-brand rim—actually a wheel I'd rebuilt for them in the past. Originally it …
Built a rear wheel with SRAM's Dual Drive hub
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). A customer brought in an 18-inch wheel from a brand called Outplay. They make road wheels too, but they're mainly …
WH-9000-C24-CL Service
A customer brought in a 9000 C24 wheelset for service. Starting with the rear wheel. The customer felt it was a bit loose and wanted the spokes tensioned. The s…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Today it's wheels again (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolight hub, 24 spokes, semi-competition 46-spoke lacing pattern with …
About the Crab Light Ray Sticker
The other day I built the Nomu Lab Wheel #5 with a black hub, and I applied a sticker that a customer sent me. The shape and size are calculated to match the he…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Another day on wheels (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Shamal Mille
A customer brought in a Shamal Mille (Campagnolo wheel) for me to work on. Both front and rear wheels have almost no wobble. The front wheel only needed adjustm…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Front wheel: Evo Lite hub 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, Rear wheel: Evo Lite hub 24H,…
Racing Zero Carbon
A customer brought in a Racing Zero Carbon (high-end racing bike) for service. I inspected the rear wheel first, and it was built so perfectly it was almost har…
R-SYS
I received an R-SYS (Mavic wheel system) from a customer. Starting with the front wheel. There was some runout, but also a slight centering offset, so I need to…
Built an 11-speed rear wheel with the WH-7850 rim
Another wheel day (et cetera). A customer left me a 7850 C24 rear wheel. It has a 10-speed hub, and they want me to rebuild it with an 11-speed hub. And inciden…
Built a rear wheel with a Filwood fixed gear hub
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a rear wheel with a Filwood fixed gear hub and an HED belgium rim. 32H CX-RAY with JIS 6-cross lacing pattern. Unlike the F…
Cosmic SLR
A customer brought in a Cosmic SLR (a high-end wheel model) for me to work on. They wanted me to fix some radial runout (vertical wobble). Apparently they'd alr…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Back to wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Black hub, 24-hole, semi-comp laced in a 4-cross pattern. I'll do the nipp…
I Replaced the Rim on a Shamal Ultra
Wheels again today (and so on). I had a Shamal Ultra with a deformed rim that a customer dropped off, and the replacement rim arrived, so I re-built it. ↑This o…
I Bought Glico's New Protein and LOOK's New Bottle
I came up with a groundbreaking approach to simultaneously promote new products from both Glico and LOOK. I procured Glico's new "Oxydrive" series product calle…
Bora Ultra 35 Bright Label Tubular
A customer brought in a Bora Ultra 35 wheel for service. The brake zone on the non-driveside had become wavy and uneven from brake heat damage, and they wanted …
WH9000-C24-CL Customer Wheel
I received a WH9000 C24 wheel from a customer for service. They wanted an inspection. They mentioned the front wheel judders when braking, but I couldn't find a…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on a ZED TECH 303
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in the rear wheel from a ZED TECH 303. It's the matching wheel to the front wheel where I previously …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
My computer's internet connection got reset, so I'll add pictures later Got it working. The setup needs a CD, but my current laptop doesn't have an optical driv…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4. Evolite hub 20H with CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, using blue aluminum nipples. K…
Neutron
I took in a Neutron from a customer. One spoke is a bit loose because right after my initial work, I found a spoke that looked bent and loosened just that one t…
Shamal Mille
A customer dropped off a Shamal Mille rear wheel for service. Before starting work, the preliminary center check shows the rim is offset in several phases—somet…
Shamal Ultra 2WAY-FIT Rear Wheel
The rear wheel with a Shamal Ultra (Campagnolo wheelset) that came with the bike we took in for wire routing and chain replacement has a "whooshing" noise when …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4
Another day with wheels (and so on...). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4. Ebolite hub, 28H, half-comp lacing (four-cross pattern). I'll do the driv…
Built a Fixed Gear Wheel with a Cosmic Carbon Rim (Front Wheel, Part 2)
Another wheel day (abbreviated hereafter). Continuing from yesterday. Managed to get it built without incident. Fillwood fixed gear hub, 20H, black, CX-RAY outp…
Built a fixed gear wheel with Cosmic Carbon rim (rear wheel, part 1)
A customer entrusted me with a Cosmic Carbon rim. They want me to build a wheel with this rim and a fixed gear hub. Yeah, that's impossible. This rim has a low-…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1 with a Tempest II Hub
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer left me with an Easton Tempest II rear wheel. The sticker says Easton on it, but the specs are identical to a…
Built a wheel with a prime disc hub (rear wheel, so this is the conclusion)
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. Built the rear wheel. 24H, four-cross reverse Italian lacing pattern equivalent Spokes …
Built a Carbon Wheel with a Gokiso Hub
Another wheel day (details omitted). I built a wheel with a Gokiso hub and carbon tubular rims. The front rim is 45mm deep, and the rear rim is 55mm deep. The f…
Rebuilt the front wheel on a 303 rim
Before the wheel work again (et cetera). Help me, samurai. → Saved! When I called, they happened to have stock and sent it right away. During the call they were…
Racing Zero
A customer brought in a Racing Zero for service. Before coming in, they called to ask about red spoke inventory for Racing Zero. So I asked, "Are they straight …
I Replaced the Rim on a First-Generation Shamal Ultra
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer left me a front wheel from a first-generation Shamal Ultra (colloquially known as the "gold Shamal") for work. A…
Rebuilt the rear wheel with a 38mm carbon rim
It's wheel day again (and so on). A customer dropped off a 38mm carbon rim rear wheel that I had built previously. It crashed and developed some wobble, so they…
Rebuilt a rear wheel with a 303 rim
Another wheel day (details omitted). A customer dropped off a rear wheel built with a ZIPP 303 rim. It's currently built with a 7900 hub, but they want to upgra…
Thursday We Will Be Closed
Today, October 26th (Wednesday) is our regular closed day, and tomorrow, October 27th (Thursday), we have an unavoidable matter to attend to, so we will be clos…
Assault
A customer brought in an Assault rear wheel for repair. There's yellow tape on one of the non-freewheel side spokes, and this particular spoke has low tension, …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheel-building (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Leaf hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. Days with simple posts l…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. It's a 24-hole Leaf hub with semi-comp 4-cross lacing pattern. I'll …
Rebuilt the EA90SLX front wheel that hasn't been used since being returned from Silvest Cycle
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in the front wheel of an EA90SLX. One spoke is missing. The customer took the wheel to a shop to have a broken…
I Bought the VOLT6000
I bought a CatEye VOLT6000 (I didn't acquire it as stock). Excluding tax, just under 100,000 yen Before I write about this. Regarding the VOLT1600, a friend of …
Built a front wheel with Tni's CX28 rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Continuing from yesterday, I built the front wheel. I went with a 4-cross lacing pattern using an Evolite hub 32H wit…
Eurus
A customer brought in a Eurus front wheel for repair. One spoke is broken. It broke right at the transition point where the spoke changes from a round cross-sec…
Starting with Continental
We've started carrying Continental tires. Just kidding — we've actually been stocking them for a while now. We've decided to keep the Grand Prix 4 Season clinch…
Built a rear wheel with Tni's CX28 rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built a wheel with a Tni CX28 rim. As the title suggests, the reason I'm emphasizing "Tni" is that this CX28 rim is made …
Neutron
A customer dropped off a Neutron for service. This is the standard Neutron model from after the later Neutron Ultra (a higher-end variant) was released. The dif…
Zero Light
A customer dropped off a Spinergy Zero Light for me to work on. The complaint was about wobbling in the wheels. The front wheel had a slight centering issue and…
Rebuilt ENVE 1-45
Another day, wheels again (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel built with a 1-45 rim. It's something I built ages ago— an Evo Lite hub, 24-hole, all-…
I Made a Snake House
I made a "snake house." ↑This one Just as the name suggests, it's a snake's home. A crocodile showed up, but managed to escape. Phew. But completely unrelated t…
First Generation R-SYS
A customer (probably) left me with the rear wheel from an R-SYS, or rather, since something was clearly wrong with it I removed it from the frame. In the state …
404 and 202
I took in a ZIPP 404 and 202 from a customer. I checked the front wheel too, and there was just a slight wobble that I corrected—nothing serious. According to t…
Shamal Ultra Dark Label
A customer brought in a Shamal Ultra wheel for repair. Most of the spokes on the freewheel side of the rear wheel have damage. All the spokes on the Yamaarashi …
Building a Wheel with Grail Rim and Tni Disk Hub
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built a wheel using a Nosetubes Grail rim. It's a cyclocross wheel for the same customer who ordered the Iron Cross rim. …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Ritchey hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. There are (currently) no plans to …
I Rebuilt the Rear Wheel on the Attack
A customer dropped off a Reynolds Attack for me to work on. The customer had tried to true the wheel themselves, but ended up cracking a nipple in the process. …
Built a rear wheel with Granboa hub and Chrono 20 rim
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built the rear wheel too. The spokes turned out to be semi-competition grade. To be precise, t…
Glico CCD Stock Arrived
It's not really worth a blog post, but Glico CCD stock has arrived. The other day at a trade show, I asked the Glico rep for CCD in 「2 boxes」 , ↑Apparently "1 b…
Cosmic Carbon 40C
I received a Cosmic Carbon 40C (carbon road bike) from a customer. The front wheel had some runout just as the customer mentioned. The spoke tension was centere…
Built a front wheel with GRAND BOIS hub and Chrono 20 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left me a hub from a brand called GRAND BOIS (グランボア). If you look at this and think "Ah, that pom-pom end fixed to the…
Built a rear wheel with Iron Cross rim and Tni disc hub
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from the other day. Built the rear wheel with an Iron Cross rim. Tni disc hub 28H black semi-comp 46-spoke JIS lacing…
Built Heavy Wheels That Won't Sub-1 Hour Norikura (Ponderous Condor)
The other day, a customer (supposedly) was saying 「When I go riding with the workplace cycling team (while others are on road bikes) I intentionally take my cyc…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on the SES 7.8
Today it's wheels again (and so on). A customer brought me the rear wheel from a SES (Smart Envi System) 7.8 to work on. This one has a WO rim with a 78mm depth…
EC90 AERO55 Tubeless Wheel
I received an EC90 tubeless wheel from a customer. Easton's wheel-building precision is extremely excellent. Going in with that assumption sometimes proves you …
Ксилиум SL
A customer brought in a Ксилиум SL for service. I'm handling both front and rear wheels, but I forgot to photograph the rear wheel as a whole. The front wheel h…
Built a small-wheel set on a 7900 hub (front wheel, part 2)
Wheel day again (and so on). Picking up from yesterday. I'm about to break down the Nemesis rim / 7900 hub front wheel, but before that. Normally when I post im…
Attack-san
I received an Attack bike from a customer. The rear wheel spokes keep loosening no matter how many times they tighten them. Sure enough, the spokes directly bel…
TOKEN T55
A customer left me with a TOKEN wheel set for service. It's a tubular rim with 55mm depth, so the model name is T55 (probably). Both pairs belong to the same cu…
On Hubs Where Inpoke Threading is Difficult on the Non-Drive Side
I received a comment on something I wrote recently about the flange shape of the Circus Monkey hub on a wheel I built. "Wouldn't the notch on the high flange be…
Built a small-wheel with a 7900 hub (rear wheel, part 1)
Another day of wheels (and so on). A customer left me a wheel built with an Ambrosio Nemesis rim. I asked where it was built, but the shop sticker that was on t…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5 with a Circus Monkey Disc Hub
Another wheel day (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5 using a Circus Monkey disc hub. Front wheel: HDW2 hub, 24H, all-black Campagnolo 14-gauge reversed Italia…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #3
Wheels again today (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #3. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
I Built a Front Wheel with Corima's 47mm Carbon Rim
Wheels again today (and so on). I built a front wheel with a Corima (French wheel manufacturer) 47mm high tubular rim. Record hub 32-hole CX-RAY in 4-cross Ital…
Rebuilt an X-carbon rim wheel (front wheel, part 2)
Another day with wheels (and so on). About a month behind my partner's rear wheel (→ here ), I finally got the front wheel built. This customer is extremely bus…
Built a rear wheel with CX22 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a rear wheel with a CX22 tubular rim. This is a rear wheel-only custom order. Wide rim, and this time of year, it's for cyc…
I Bought a Sugino T30 Torx Chainring Bolt 7-Color Set
The other day, a customer asked me about something that I'm already doing on my cyclocross bike covered in Arcanciel colors— using thin aluminum spacers in five…
About Black Hubs
I've been building wheels with what I call "Black Hubs" for a while now, so I thought I'd write about them. Normally I use Tni Evolite hubs when building wheels…
Built a Wheel with an XR200 Rim
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). Built a wheel today using an XR200 rim that a customer brought in. Front wheel: Tradizione 20H hub (equivalent to …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Wheels again today (you know the drill). Continuing from yesterday. Laced up a Leef hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial pattern with red aluminum nipples.
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Leaf hub, 24H, black semi-comp lacing with 46-tooth ring, using red aluminum …
Replaced All Freewheel-Side Spokes on an EA90SLX
Take 1: A customer brought in an EA90SLX rear wheel for repair. They wanted all the freewheel-side spokes replaced. When a chain drops and bends or damages spok…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #4 with a DT240S Hub
Back to wheel building today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4. The rim was toast from the FF Yamaguchi WD front wheel — using the hub (D…
Using the Stretcher Y
I used the Stretcher Y ( here ) and ( here ) after a long time. ↑This is a Competition 19, but among Continental's tubular tires, the 19C width ones have an inn…
Bora One Front Wheel
A customer brought in a Bora One (high-performance wheel) front wheel for me to work on. It's got serious runout, apparently. And yeah, that's definitely the ca…
Built a wheel with Equinox carbon WO rim
Another wheel build today (and so on...). Built a wheel with an Equinox carbon WO rim. Front wheel: Chris King R45 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpokes, radial lacin…
Festival Concluded
As previously announced the Racing Quattro Carbon (レーシングクアトロカーボン) festival has sold out and concluded. Thank you for your purchases.
Replaced the rim on the Nomulab Wheel No. 5
A customer brought in the rear wheel of a Nomulab Wheel No. 5 for repair. On the descent after a hill climb race, the wheel got caught in a grating that had fli…
Swapped the front wheel of Nomu Lab Wheel #4 to #2 specs
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in the front wheel from Nomu Lab Wheel #4. They wanted me to swap the rim for one from Nomu Lab Wheel #2…
Built wheels with Stans NoTubes Iron Cross rim
Another day of wheel... (you know the rest). A customer brought me a wheel set with a disc hub from a Giant complete bike. They wanted to do competitive cyclocr…
Racing Quattro Carbon has arrived!
About that Fulcrum tire lever article from the other day（→ here ）, I got a bit of a scolding from someone. So, ↓ adding eye-line to the ○ti-chan on the stamp, a…
Racing Zero Night
A customer dropped off a Racing Zero Night (high-performance wheel set) for repair. One spoke on the non-drive side was bent, he said. ↑There it is. Replaced it…
Shamal Ultra 2WAY-FIT Rear Wheel
A customer brought in the rear wheel of a Shamal Ultra for repair. I suspect it was a chain drop, but every spoke on the drive side has damage, and some are ben…
Shamal Mille Front Wheel
A customer brought in a front wheel from their Shamal Mille (high-end wheelset) for repair. While moving through a race venue, they accidentally shoved a tote b…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1 with a Giant Hub
Wheels again today (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. The front wheel uses a 24H hub that appears to be from a Giant complete bike. I laced it fully with Cam…
Replaced the front hub on a ZED TECH 303
Another day, another wheel (et cetera). A customer brought in the front wheel from a ZED TECH version of the ZIPP 303. I'm calling it "ZED TECH" rather than "Ze…
Fulcrum Tire Levers Have Arrived
Seems like someone's been keeping tabs on this place. The other day I sent a message to a certain someone saying "If you've got a Fulcrum tire lever, send it my…
Mercurio 60 LTD from 3T
A customer brought in a 3T Mercurio 60 for service. Both wheels had some lateral runout, but the preliminary center gauge reading showed no offset. I took measu…
Reply to Comments (About Mavic 217 Rim Anodize Color)
The other day, I wrote about the anodize on Mavic's 217 rim, saying something like "the color faded from sun damage," but then I received a comment saying "Abou…
Built a wheel with Open Pro and Record hub (front wheel, part 2)
Wheel building again today (and so on). Continuing from the other day—this is the front wheel. Record hub (Campagnolo Record hub) 32H, laced entirely with compe…
Rebuilt RM-400PRO Rim Wheels with 217s
Another day of wheel work (and the rest is history). I received a pair of 26-inch MTB wheels from a customer. Though these are wheels from an era where you don'…
Racing Zero
A customer dropped off a Racing Zero (high-performance road bike) with us. The front wheel just needed a slight centering adjustment—barely off by a sheet of pa…
Zonda
A customer left a Zonda with me for service. Both front and rear wheels had no centering issues, and the runout was minimal. ・・・Well, there's nothing else parti…
Built a wheel with Open Pro and Record hub (rear wheel, part 1)
Another day working on wheels (you know...). Built a rear wheel with Open Pro. Record hub 32H, all Campagnolo with 1.8mm spoke lacing and jig line. The sticker …
Built Nomunlab Wheel #1 using a Rapide SL45 Hub
A customer left me with the rear wheel from a Rovarʼs Rapide SL45 (Rovar hub model). The rim got crushed from brake heat, so they want me to reuse the hub and b…
About the Installation Direction of Shimano's Current 11-Speed Chain
I never thought I'd be writing about something like this. Today I replaced a customer's chain, and it was installed backwards. The customer didn't install it th…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Today's all about wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Evorite (Japanese hub brand) hub 24H, semi-comp with cross-lacing and wit…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
It's wheels again today (you know the drill). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evolite hub 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lace.
Shamal Mille and Shamal Mille and Shamal Mille
A customer dropped off a Shamal Mille (Campagnolo wheelset) with me. Other than a slight centering issue on the front wheel, there were no problems. I transferr…
Racing Zero Carbon
A customer brought in a Racing Zero Carbon (high-end racing wheel) for service. By the law that says "whenever a customer brings in either the front or rear whe…
WH-9000-C35-CL Customer Wheel
A customer dropped off a C35 rear wheel with me. There was a spot that had gotten pretty bent from a crash, but since there was no bending to the rim itself, it…
Speed 40 C
I sourced a Fulcrum 40C on a customer's order. Once in a while I sell complete assembled wheelsets too. Fulcrum's Racing Speed series comes only in tubular conf…
Bora One 50 Dark Label
A customer left me a Bora One to work on. The logo's upside down in the photos because I have a habit of positioning the valve hole straight up. Both wheels had…
Fulcrum 2WAY-FIT
I received a Fulcrum Euralus wheel from a customer. Currently, Fulcrum doesn't have a Racing 1 model anymore. This is because it became difficult to differentia…
Shamal Ultra 2WAY-FIT
A customer brought in a Shamal Ultra for servicing. The images are from after the work was completed. Swapped out the IRC tubeless tires for Panaracer tubeless …
BORA Ultra Two 35 – Dark Label-Looking Wheels
A customer dropped off some mysterious wheels with me. They look like BORA Ultra, but they're not. BORA's first 35mm high rim appeared in 2014, but at that time…
Cosmic Pro Carbon SL
A customer brought in a wheel with a name that just keeps going after "Cosmic." Though really, this customer is more of a rider from some well-known racing team…
Rebuilt X-Carbon Rim Wheels (Rear Wheel, Part 1)
A customer brought in a set of front and rear wheels built with Ambrosio X-CARBON rims. The rim is the OEM version of Colima's "Aero". This stayed the same for …
Built Nomulabo Wheel No. 5 with a PowerTap Hub
Back to wheel building today (etc.). A customer left me a PowerTap hub rear wheel to work on. I built the previous version for them as well, and the one before …
Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. I've already built t…
I Replaced the Front Derailleur Mounting Bracket on a Ridley Helium
The drill whines! A customer (probably) brought me a Ridley Helium to work on. The issue was "the front derailleur mounting bracket is broken." ...I didn't quit…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. The original wheel was an XR200 rim built by the customer themselves, nex…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built a pair of wheels that I can't show here, but since that wouldn't make for an article, I pushed ahead and built the …
I Built Wheels with an Internal 7-Speed Hub and a 105 Hub
A customer asked me to do a major overhaul on their commuter crossbike, and I've been working on it at my suggestion. As part of that, I built the rear wheel. T…
Built a Wheel with Chris King R45 Hub and SES 3.4 Rim
Another day of wheel building (details omitted). Built a wheel with the Smart Envi System 3.4. Since it's the 3.4 series, the front rim is 35mm with 20 holes, a…
Replaced Bent Spokes from Chain Drop
I'm not sure whether the frame's rear dropout was bent or the rear derailleur adjustment wasn't done properly, but I often end up replacing spokes that get bent…
Racing Quattro
A customer brought in a Racing Quattro (Italian bicycle brand) for service. Really want to measure the rim weight As you can see, a spoke is broken. This type o…
R-SYS SLR
A customer brought in an R-SYS SLR for service. They sold their previous generation wheel with nearly identical specs and upgraded to this one, so they wanted a…
Replaced the Bontrager RL 29 Rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I received a 29-inch MTB rear wheel from a customer (probably) — a Bontrager RL (Race Lite) 29. The bead hook got creased from bu…
Converting a Shimano Di2 Super Six EVO to mechanical drivetrain
The drill is screaming! Not from a regular customer, but I received a Super Six EVO frame designed for Shimano Di2 (electronic drivetrain) from a former colleag…
Ksyrium SLE and Neutron
I received a Ksyrium SLE (high-end road wheelset by Mavic) from a customer. Both wheels felt loose, so they wanted me to tension them if possible, and the rear …
I Re-drilled the Bottle Cage Holes on a Trek Aluminum Bike
The drill screams! (※) A customer brought in a Trek flatbar cross bike for me to work on. I can't quite remember, but I think it was called something like FX. T…
Built a front wheel with a 16H WO carbon rim
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built a front wheel using a 16H carbon rim. Hub is an HB-7700, spokes are CX, and the lacing pattern is outpoke radial. S…
Cosmic SLE Rear Wheel
A customer left a Cosmic Carbon rear wheel with us for service. Apparently the rim rubs on the brake shoe when pedaling hard. Since the brake zone is quite exag…
SQUAD 4.2
I received a Xentis (German high-performance wheelset brand) Squad 4.2 from a customer. The radial and lateral runout values at assembly and the wheel builder's…
Racing Zero Competition
A customer brought me a Racing Zero for service. It's a limited edition model with CULT (Ceramic Ultra Low Torque) bearings. Now that I think about it, I wrote …
R-SYS SLR Rear Wheel
A customer brought in the rear wheel from an R-SYS SLR for service. There was a clicking sound coming from around the rear hub, and they'd taken it to a nearby …
Converted the 7900 rear wheel to 11-speed
Another wheel day (details omitted). A customer left me a 7900 C50 rear wheel. Since converting this hub's freebody to 11-speed isn't possible (→ see here ) the…
Rebuilt the Reflex Rim rear wheel (today is part 2, yesterday was part 1)
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. The rear wheel uses an FH-7900 32H hub with spokes that stick like crazy to a magnet—genuine Starbrit…
Rebuilt the Reflex Rim Front Wheel (It's the front wheel, but this is part one)
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a front wheel built with a Mavic Reflex tubular rim. One spoke is missing, but it looks like it broke at th…
Shamal Ultra Bright Label
A customer brought in the rear wheel of a Shamal Ultra for repair. When customers bring in just one wheel from the front or rear pair, it usually follows the pa…
Racing 1 (Provisional)
A customer left me a wheel that appears to be an original Racing 1 with us for work. The rim shows signs of use, but it's almost perfectly true. The rear wheel'…
Zonda
A customer left a Zonda with me for service. It's brand new. The front wheel has virtually no runout and is dead center, the rear wheel only had the slightest c…
Racing 3
A customer brought in a Racing 3 for service. The front wheel had some play in the hub, but the runout was minimal. The rear wheel had lateral runout, centering…
I Bought Aluminum Nipples
I bought DT's #14 aluminum nipples, 12mm silver. 43 boxes (about 4,300 pieces). These are probably the most commonly used aluminum nipples. I once bought out th…
Ksyrium Pro Exalith SL
This is a separate matter from the previous post. A customer brought in a Ksyrium for me to work on. It's an authentic product purchased from a shop. There was …
Ksyrium Pro Exalit SL
A customer left a Ksyrium wheel with me. The rear wheel had significant spoke centering issues, and the front wheel was slightly off as well, but there was almo…
I Bought a Potenza 11 Chain
I picked up a chain for Campagnolo's new Potenza 11 grade. Normally the center band should have the grade name on it, but this one has CAMPAGNOLO written on it …
Built Nomunlab Wheel No. 5 with a 2002 Record Hub
Another wheel day (and so on). Built Nomunlab Wheel No. 5 (ノムラボホイール) with a Record hub. Front wheel: 32H CX-RAY (シーエックスレイ) 66 Italian lace pattern, Rear wheel: …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day, another wheel (etc.). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. The rear wheel to match t…
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, July 22nd (Friday), I have some unavoidable business, so I'll be taking the day off. Let me talk about watches for a change. ↑This is a Seiko Tomony (…
More on Building the Ultra-Lightweight Wheels
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer brought in an AX Lightness rear wheel. This is a separate project from the ultra-lightweight rim rebuild we did the o…
Continuing the ultra-lightweight wheel build
Wheels again today (and so on). I built a wheel using a rim that came off yesterday's build, with an internal-nipple XR300 rim. Front wheel is Black Hub 20H CX-…
I Built Ultra-Lightweight Wheels
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I've had a customer's wheels on hold for rebuilding. Two years and eight months. They wanted it done in time for the 201…
Two Ksyrium SL Wheelsets
A customer brought in a Ksyrium SL wheelset for service. They requested an overhaul and inspection. About the overhaul — if someone hasn't gone out of their way…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. The rear wheel I built the…
About the RD-6800-GS Once More
The shifting has been off for ages, brought it to the local shop multiple times but it never got fixed, so it wasn't brought in specifically for that, but I rem…
Racing Zero Carbon
A customer dropped off a Racing Zero Carbon (high-end racing bike) for me to work on. The wheel centering was nearly perfect and the runout was minimal, but bot…
Use FOURIERS' 40T Gear!
I got a mysterious transmission from somewhere saying, "Use FOURIERS' add-on 40T gear!" and used actual parts arrived too. It's a set of 16T and 40T. So what ex…
I Installed a RoadLink
From WolfTooth, famous for single-chainring rings, there's a part called RoadLink. WolfTooth's DropStop (™) chainrings for single-speeds have tooth profiles alt…
Assembled the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I assembled the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. EvoLite hub, 24H, semi-comp 4-cross lacing with red aluminum nipples. …
Hyperon Sir
A customer left a Hyperon rear wheel with me. It had taken a dramatic spill into a metal grating, so the customer wanted an inspection. There are some scuff mar…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with red aluminum nipples.
Bora One 50 Tubular Dark Label (New Shaft Major Failure)
A customer dropped off the front wheel from a Bora One. The right end of the shaft on the newly upgraded small-diameter bearing hub became a separate piece from…
Shamal Mille
I received a Shamal Mille from a customer. This is a different job from the other day. （That one was a Campagnolo freebody, I think） Both front and rear had sli…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another wheel build day (you know the drill). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evolite hub 24H, …
Shamal Ultra 2WAY-FIT
A customer brought in a Shamal Ultra wheel for service. They got it from an acquaintance, apparently, and the previous owner had used it pretty extensively, so …
Shamal Mille
I received a Shamal Mille (high-end wheelset) from a customer. Brand new. I don't know if he bought it at a shop or ordered it online, but he gave me this bizar…
Bora Ultra 80th Anniversary Model
A customer left a Bora Ultra 80th anniversary model with me for service. This is Campagnolo's 80th anniversary commemorative model. Just to be clear, the Bora U…
Racing Zero Carbon
A customer dropped off a Racing Zero Carbon (high-end carbon wheelset) with me. It was brand new and unused, with the tags still hanging from the hub and the wa…
Shamal Ultra
A customer brought in a Shamal Ultra wheel for repair. They crashed and said the wheel has severe runout. There's a scrape-like mark inside the "H" of SHAMAL, a…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evo-Lite hub 24H, black semi-comp lacing in a 4-cross pattern with red alumin…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheel building (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lace with red alum…
I Replaced the Hub on a Fulcrum Racing Zero
A customer dropped off the front wheel of a Fulcrum Racing Zero with me. They wanted the hub replaced— it's not a request you hear very often. With Fulcrum and …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the rear wheel for the Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5. I was told to build it stiff—even stiffer than feels right— so I d…
I Rebuilt the First-Generation Colima Medium
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer dropped off a Colima Medium rear wheel for me to work on. It's gotten loose from years of use, plus the hub's…
Ksyrium Elite
A customer brought me a Ksyrium Elite (high-end wheelset by Mavic) for service. The rear rim was shifted toward the anti-freewheel side, and this wasn't from we…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1
It's wheels again today (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lace, Rear wheel: Evolite hub 24H, semi-com…
Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT Limited Model
A customer dropped off a Racing Zero wheel for me. The rear wheel had quite a bit of lateral hub centering deviation, mostly from age-related use. Both wheels h…
Eurasii
A customer left a Eurasii wheel with me for service. After Fulcrum as a brand came onto the market and released Racing 1 with aluminum spokes, the first generat…
Cosmic Carbon 40 Elite
I received a Cosmic Carbon 40 Elite from a customer. Within the product lineup, there's a tendency to add grade designations after the name like "Elite" or "SL"…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolight hub 24H, black semi-competition lacing with 4-cross pattern and b…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing with black aluminum ni…
I Rebuilt the Rear Wheel on an Aeolos 3
Another day of wheels (and so on). A customer brought in an Aeolos 3 carbon wheel for me to work on. Ever since they bought it, they've never thought it was "go…
I've Stopped Using the Outer Cable Guides on the Top Tube Entirely
The drill is whining! My cyclocross bike has been modified so that I'm not using any of the outer cable guides on the top tube anymore. Of all the cable guides …
Built a fixed gear wheel using the Nomu Lab Wheel #1 rim
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built a fixed gear rear wheel using the Nomu Lab Wheel #1 rim. Gran Compe 32H hub, all Campagnolo 88JIS lacing pattern I'…
Zonda Again
Zonda again! (Not that I mind.) I received a Zonda wheel from a customer. The spokes were broken, so I replaced them. The timeline is a bit mixed up, but the cu…
Zonda
A customer left a Zonda with us. The customer is from Shikoku, and stopped by on the way back from the Fuji Hill Climb. I've done repairs on this customer's Zon…
WH-9000-C24-CL Customer
I received a 9000 WO wheel from a customer. The rear wheel had some center offset, but I think most of it came from years of use (it had drifted just slightly t…
Vigor α Customer
A customer brought in a Rolf Prima Vigor (spoke wheel) for service. That's the inescapable limitation of paired spokes—you can only adjust at the nipple, so the…
Cosmic Carbon SLR
I took in a Cosmic Carbon SLR from a customer. This wheel has separately sold stickers—besides white ones for repair purposes, there are red and yellow options …
Understanding asymmetric spoke counts and diameters in pre-built wheels
I wrote so much that I decided to split this into a separate article. About the spokes on the Kolima S+ from the earlier post. ↑Non-drive side ↑Drive side Excep…
Rebuilt the rear wheel with ZTR Alpha 340 rim onto のむラボ Wheel No. 5
A customer left me a rear wheel built with a ZTR Alpha 340 rim. It's one I built myself back then. The ALPHA 340 logo on the rim is small, so it's an early prod…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5. Evolite hub 18H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evolite hub, 24H, semi-comp 4-cross lacing. I might not do any spoke nipple s…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Another day, another wheel (you know the deal). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Leaf hub 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
EA90 Aero
I received an EA90 Aero (aerodynamic wheel) from a customer. The customer had done a hub overhaul themselves. When tightening an aluminum end nut onto the alumi…
Zonda
A customer left a Zonda wheel with me. Just the rear wheel. When customers bring in only one wheel from the front and rear, it's usually because there's a clear…
Rigida "TVM" Rim Wheelset
This is a wheelset I built for my friend, and it's built with a Rigida rim and a 6600 hub. Since he's leaving Osaka for about a year and a half for work, he ask…
Limited Edition Racing Zero
A customer dropped off a limited edition Racing Zero that's in CULT (カルト) spec instead of USB. The front wheel looks fine overall—it only had a slight wobble. W…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #6
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #6. Front wheel is Ryde hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, rear wheel is Ryde hub 24H semi-comp 4-cr…
WH-RS81-C24-CL Customer
A customer dropped off the front wheel from an RS81. The rim had buckled and caved in. Wow, this is rough. Since I didn't mark anything on the rim tape, from he…
Rovalé Rapide CLX60
A customer brought in a Rovalé Rapide CLX60 for servicing. This is a WO rim (non-tubeless) with the model name CLX60, but it appears to be a discontinued model.…
The Latest Racing Zero
A customer brought in a Racing Zero for me to work on. It wasn't completely true that there was no runout, but aside from the structural runout that's unavoidab…
Built the Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Built the Nomu Lab Wheel #2. I'm also mounting tubular tires that came in from a customer. Front wheel: Leaf Hub 20H black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, Rear whe…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. It's the pair to the front wheel from the other day, so it has silver spok…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
It's wheel day again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Leaf hub 20H CX-RAY four-four Italian lacing. Per the customer's request, I …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
More wheels today (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evolite hub 24H, half-comp 4-cross lacing pattern. I'll do the tension balancing…
The Terror of Neda Aliens!
A customer dropped off a Neda wheel for me. It's one I built in the past, so I did a quick truing job on it. Apparently if you get hit by the udon beam, you end…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built the front wheel. Black hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial laced with red aluminum nipples.
I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. I pulled out two each of the 20H and 24H rims from the box and finis…
Reply to Comments (About Center Spoke Truing Without Tire Pressure)
I received a comment about my wheel centering work: "You always center the wheel perfectly without any tire pressure, but do you just ignore the centering shift…
Zonda and WH-7801 Carbon and WH-7850 Carbon
I'm grouping these together since they're all wheels from the same customer. The drill's singing! I received a Zonda from the customer. Using their own center g…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5. Both use Evolite 18H black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced hubs, but they're for dif…
Rebuilt a 36mm High-Carbon Rim Wheel
It's wheel day again (and so on). The front wheel that matches the rear wheel I laced up the other day. I was only supposed to swap out the spokes for silver CX…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5. This was a rear wheel-only order. Black hub, 24 holes, semi-CX 46-spoke lacing pattern with spoke ties. This wheel …
I Replaced the Front Rim on a Shamal Ultra
Another wheel day (etc.). A customer brought in a Shamal Ultra front wheel for me to work on. The replacement rim we ordered is in the back. I think it got caug…
Rebuilt a 49mm High Carbon Rim Wheel
Another day, another wheel (abbreviated hereafter). A customer brought in a carbon wheel for work. It's a tubular rim that measures 49mm high in practice, thoug…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Another wheel day (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial × 2, Rear wheel: Evolite hub 24H half-comp 4-cross. W…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Another day with wheels (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolight hub 24H in black, semi-competition lacing, 4-cross pattern wit…
I Re-drilled the Bottle Cage Holes on the GDR
The drill whines! A customer brought in a Meteor by Graphite Design (GDR). The bottle cage screw had snapped off while stuck in the threaded hole and they wante…
Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Another day on wheels (and so on...). All the parts I needed to build Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2 have come together again. I'm terribly sorry for the long wait. To…
Racing Speed Customer
A customer brought in a rear wheel from a Racing Speed bike for service. The centering was spot-on, with almost no lateral runout. Only two nipples needed even …
Built a rear wheel with Novatec Crest 29er rim
Another wheel today (and so on). Built a rear wheel with a Novatec Crest rim and an XT rear hub. This is a separate project from the wheel with nearly identical…
EA90SLX
A customer brought in an EA90SLX for repair. One spoke was broken. All fixed. I used a Sapim Race straight-pull spoke, and I try to keep the right length in sto…
WH-9000-C24-TL Customer Wheel
A customer brought in the rear wheel from a 9000 tubeless wheelset for repair. It got damaged in a crash and developed runout, so they took it to a nearby shop.…
Ksyrium SLS
I received a Ksyrium SLS (Shimano road wheel) from a customer as a repair job. Just the rear wheel. The customer mentioned suspicion of spoke misalignment, and …
R-SYS
I received an R-SYS from a customer. Both front and rear wheels have centering issues, and I found lateral sliding marks on the spoke tension ring on the loose …
R-SYS SLR
This is a separate job from the previous post. A customer brought in an R-SYS SLR for service. They reported an odd noise coming from the front hub, so I tensio…
R-SYS SLR
This is a separate job from my previous post. A customer dropped off an R-SYS SLR with me. It's part of a component swap job, not just wheel work, but since the…
Rebuilt the Vigour
Another day with wheels (and so on). Got a Rolf Prima Vigour from a customer on loan. It's currently laced with Sapim aero spokes for round-hole rims, but since…
R-SYS SLR
I received an R-SYS SLR from a customer for service. The shop where they bought it was somewhat unreliable, so they wanted an inspection. The rear wheel had cen…
WH-7800
A customer brought in a WH-7800 for me to work on. Apparently I inspected the rear wheel quite some time ago (before the Nomu Lab days). It had some lateral run…
Bullet Ultra Bright Label
A customer dropped off a Bullet for us to work on. Since the models with 80mm and 105mm rim heights have been discontinued, we don't have to bother calling it "…
404 Not Found
A customer brought in a ZIPP 404 for work. It has a Shimano 10-speed hub, but it's not a model that can be upgraded to 11-speed. Even if it could be, the price …
I rebuilt the front wheel for a Controltech
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in the front wheel from a Controltech carbon wheel. Apparently they thought they'd bought an 18H but it turned…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4
Another day of wheel work (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4. Evolite hub, 28H, fully competizione four-cross lacing. I'll solder the …
I Partially Rebuilt the Rear Wheel on a Planet X
I received a Planet X rear wheel from a customer. The rim is the same as the one used on a Nöm Lab Wheel 2.5 (Japanese wheel brand), and the spokes are Pillar f…
WH-9000-C24-CL Customer Wheel
A customer brought in a 9000 WO rear wheel for repair. Apparently some shop attempted a truing job on it, and gave up after the rim ended up with severe radial …
Ksyrium SL Premium
A customer brought in a Ksyrium SL for servicing. The customer is the second owner of this bike, and has been riding it with virtually no maintenance for about …
Rebuilt Reynolds Attack tubeless-ready rear wheel
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a Reynolds Attack rear wheel for me to work on. It's not exactly at the point of rubbing against the brake …
Race X Light
A customer left me a Bontrager Rolf lookalike wheel for service. The DT (DT Swiss) star ratchet freehub was acting up. When coasting downhill with feet off the …
EC90 Aero Wheel Rebuild
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in the rear wheel of an EC90 Aero. The bearings in the R4SL hub were shot, and since the rotation was gr…
I bought a LOOK horizontal frame (second time in 11 years)
I bought a LOOK AC364 fixed-gear frame. Back when pedal part numbers started with PP~ and frame part numbers started with KG~, LOOK's numbering system was prett…
Kilroy Has Arrived
Built a wheel on my day off (and so on). Strictly speaking, I didn't build it on my day off but outside work hours. For a while now I've been using a のむラボ wheel…
Rebuilt my rear wheel with a W freewheel hub
Not a wheel I built today. ※On my day off, I built a wheel (and what's wrong with that?). I decided to rebuild the rear wheel with the W freewheel hub. The hub …
Built a fixed gear front wheel with Open Pro rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built a fixed gear front wheel with an Open Pro rim. 32-hole 7600 front hub with all Campagnolo Lo-Pro crossed Italia…
WH-6800
I received a WH-6800 (Shimano wheelset) from a customer. Based on the sand buildup around the hub flange and fine sand coming out when I spun the rim, I guessed…
Rebuilt the rear wheel with RR415 rim partially
A customer left me a rear wheel built with a DT RR415 rim. They wanted me to rebuild it because it's loose, but with a budget-conscious condition. There's a sti…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4
Another day working on wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4. I'm using a Gran Compe 32H track hub with all-Compe spokes in JIS cr…
Mounted Shimano Upper Junction A Under a Garmin Bracket
The drill screams! A customer from my previous post asked if I could mount a Shimano electronic component junction A (upper JC) under his wife's bike's Garmin b…
Repaired the brake outer cable stop on a Tarmac SL3 using blind rivets
The drill is whining! I received a frame from a customer—some kind of SL (Short Life) model or something. Apparently the brake outer cable stop on the rear of t…
Racing 1 2WAY-FIT Customer Work
I received a Racing 1 from a customer for service. The rear wheel has some rim run-out from years of use—just barely noticeable— and the front wheel has run-out…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4
Wheels again today (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4. Evolite hub, 20H, all Campagnolo, outpoke radial lacing. And one more o…
I repaired the shoe's threaded hole
The drill whines! A customer dropped off a pair of SIDI shoes with me. I can't disclose the shoe model for political reasons. So I'm just photographing the sole…
I rebuilt the rear wheel of a Vittoria QURANO 46 wheel
Another day, another wheel (etc.). A customer brought in the rear wheel from a Vittoria QURANO 46 wheel. It's a carbon rim reinforced by mixing in graphene, Unf…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3. Evelit hub 20H (spokes), black half-radial 4-cross lacing. I'll do the spo…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (you know the drill). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Front wheel: Evo Lite hub 20H black CX-RAY outpoke radial lace, Rear wheel: Evo Lite hub 24H b…
Built the rear wheel for Nomulab Wheel #6
More wheel work today (and so on). Picking up from yesterday. I built the rear wheel for Nomulab Wheel #6. Evolite hub, 24-spoke, semi-comp 4-cross lacing patte…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6. Evoluate hub 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. Separate from this, I did s…
Armstrong Part 2
Leave the claw machine to me! Rather than grabbing and lifting with the claw, this type requires you to push with the tips of the claw as it descends, using for…
I Added a Bottle Cage Mounting Hole on the Down Tube
The drill whines to life! A customer asked me to add a bottle cage mounting hole on the back of the down tube. For gravel riding and such, he wants to use the t…
Built Nomu Lab Wheels 2.5 and 3
Back at the wheels today (and so on). Finished building the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5. Evolite hub 18H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. The rear wh…
The Easton Trap!
In a recent article, I wrote something like "if you install an Easton stem's front cap upside down, it becomes 'Yo-Easton,' so fix it!" But depending on the ste…
I rebuilt the rear wheel for an LWC
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer dropped off an LWC carbon low-height rim rear wheel. They wanted to see if we could make it feel a bit more solid and …
Built a Wheel with an R90SL Rim
Another wheel build day (details omitted). A customer brought me an EA90SL rim. For whatever reason Easton has started selling rims individually. It's not like …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evolite hub 20H, laced in half-comp 4-cross pattern. I'll do the dish alignme…
There Were "Two" Highs!
I wrote about the VOLT1600 the other day（→ here ） but I need to make a correction regarding the mode switching via the button. I noticed the error during a nigh…
Crossmax San
A customer brought in a Crossmax for servicing. It's a wheel for V-brakes with a CD ceramic-treated brake zone. Mavic's XC rim X517 from that era and its succes…
Zonda
A customer left a Zonda with me for service. The rear wheel has a significant lateral wobble, and when I check the preliminary center before work changing the p…
Racing Zero Carbon and Zonda
A customer dropped off a Racing Zero Carbon (Fulcrum wheel set) for me. With only about 50km of riding on it, it's basically brand new. The front wheel barely n…
Metron 81
I received a Metron 81 from a customer for service. I forgot to photograph the front wheel, but I did inspect it. The front wheel was perfectly centered, but wh…
The Sportif's Wheels
As part of a bike overhaul, I overhauled the wheels that came on a sportif-type complete bike. I can't go into too much detail, but the customer bought their sp…
I Took a Shortcut with Sealant
The other day I was commuting home by bike in the rain when I got a flat right near my house. I heard "psssht, psssht" sounds coming from the rotating front whe…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Another day, another wheel (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evo Lite hub, 18H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6
Back at the wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. This might not be r…
Don't Sell Shop Inventory on Yahoo Auctions
A customer brought in a rear wheel from a Kyserium SLE (high-end road wheel) for service. The hub rotation was sluggish, they said. From what I could see, the h…
R-SYS SLR
A customer brought in the rear wheel of an R-SYS SLR for service. The front wheel is a Ksyrium SLR, but the rear wheel is shared with the R-SYS SLR, and since t…
Rebuilt an 88mm high carbon rim rear wheel
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left me an 88mm high carbon rim rear wheel to work on. It's a WO rim, by the way. It was built with CN spokes—flat aer…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6
Another wheel day (you know the drill). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6. Front wheel is an Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lace, Rear wheels are Evolit…
Racing Speed
A customer left me with a Racing Speed rear wheel, I forgot to take a photo of the whole wheel. The customer says the freewheel body is slipping forward, and th…
AERO46
A customer brought in a Reynolds AERO46 (aerodynamic wheel) for me to work on. It's got a wide rim, but looking at the weight compared to the tubeless-ready rim…
Racing Zero
A customer dropped off a Racing Zero with me. These are the wheels that came on the bike that rolled in under its own power. Before I even took the tires off, I…
Racing Zero
I received a Racing Zero (Campagnolo wheel) from a customer. They wanted a hub overhaul and inspection. It had been used for about 12,000 km with no maintenance…
R-SYS SLR Premium (← No Such Wheel Exists)
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer left me an R-SYS Premium wheel. It's a model that takes the original R-SYS rim and anodizes it black, with a tit…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial laced. Using the same logic as yesterday, …
Built a front wheel with a GEL280 rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). A customer brought me a Mavic GEL280 rim to work with. This one's from the red label era. Built up the front wheel. A…
I Bought the VOLT1600
I bought the Cat Eye HL-EL1010. The pet name VOLT1600 seems to be more commonly used. In the image above, the left one is the VOLT1200 I've been using until now…
Attached the junction to the Time stem with rivets
The drill screams! Time framesets and seatpost internal battery adapter sets come with a junction part that's fixed below the stem with rivets, but I'd guess mo…
R-SYS SLR
A customer dropped off an R-SYS (Rolf Prima wheel) with me. Based on the condition of the included tires, it's brand new. The customer wanted an inspection done…
I rebuilt the front wheel on the Open Pro
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing with the rebuild of the 650C Open Pro. The rear wheel is already rebuilt with black half-comp spokes, and for the fro…
Kishirium Exalid Limited
A customer brought in a Kishirium (high-end road bike wheelset) for service. If you bought it from a decent shop, it should have been inspected before sale, so …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 24H black semi-competizione lacing pattern, 4-cross buil…
Closed Tomorrow
Our shop is closed on the last Saturday of the month. Just figured I should mention it once in a while.
I rebuilt the rear wheel for an Open Pro
The timestamp for the original photo is shown below the caption. The rear wheel with an Open Pro (オープンプロ) rim that I built the other day, 2/26 23:08 "It's built…
Cosmic SLR
A customer brought in a Cosmic SLR for service. This isn't the Cosmic Carbon SLR. That was the previous model before this one, and it doesn't have the original …
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
More wheel building today (you know the drill). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel is Aerolite hub 20H black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced with red aluminum …
I Overhauled the ST-5700
This wasn't just work on the STI lever alone, but part of a full bike overhaul, but the brake and shift feel on the 5700-series 105 levers I've been using for c…
Honwaka Pappa
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built up the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3. That's right—just like it says in the post category— this is sup…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Another wheel day (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2. The sticker on the rim—don't peel it off, they said. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial …
An Envelope Arrived from a Mysterious Organization
The other day, when I received a delivery from a mysterious organization an envelope was included along with the merchandise. It's an invitation ticket to Cycle…
I repaired the seat tube under the stem
The drill whines! Well, saying that would be a lie, but given the nature of the work, I'll put it in this category anyway. The customer rode in on a bike with a…
First Generation R-SYS
I've taken in a first generation R-SYS from a customer. To be precise, the front wheel is a recall replacement unit. ↑The three lines etched into the spokes are…
Racing 3
A customer brought in their Racing 3 for servicing. They originally wanted a hub overhaul, but when I opened it up and took a look, there was no wear, so I just…
WO Carbon Wheels Assembled with Separated Sibling Leaf Hubs
I had a set of wheels like this entrusted to me by a customer. Both front and rear wheels had centering issues, and the front wheel likely had this problem sinc…
A 404 Firecrest Visit
A customer brought in a 404 Not Found for me to work on. They wanted a full inspection. There was a very slight centering issue that barely registered on my cen…
Ksyrium SLS
A customer brought in a Ksyrium (Mavic wheel set) for me to work on. The customer got it from a friend, so I'm not sure about the repair history, but I think th…
WH-M535
A customer dropped off a WH-M535 with me. It's an early Shimano MTB complete wheelset from their budget-friendly lineup. The customer mentioned there was some s…
I Rebuilt the Aeolus Rear Wheel
Back to wheel work again (you know how it is). A customer brought in a Bontrager Aeolus rear wheel for me to work on. Originally it came in for a routine inspec…
The 29" Wheels Included with a Complete Bike
A customer brought in a wheelset that came stock on a complete bike from a certain manufacturer. The front wheel had serious radial runout, or so the customer s…
EC90SL Check-up
I took an EC90SL in from a customer. The customer mentioned the rear hub rotation was gritty, but a re-greasing of the rear hub should take care of that. Actual…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I was working on an Open Pro build, but since it's short on spokes, I put that on hold for now and built Nomu Lab Wheel …
Rebuilt the rear wheel with Open Pro rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I received a wheel built with Open Pro from a customer. The rim maker's sticker has been removed, but it's definitely an…
Built a wheel with Open Pro rim
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel with an Open Pro rim. The hub is a Chorus 32H with a Shimano 11-speed freewheel body installed, and …
Built a wheel with an Open Pro rim
Another day of wheel-building (and so on). Continuing with the Open Pro build. Compared to when I could dedicate myself full-time to wheel-building with the exc…
Open Pero
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I had a bunch of OPENPROs piling up, so I built them all at once. Actually, this is only about halfway through, but. Hub is…
Taking Tomorrow Off
Nothing urgent, but I'm taking tomorrow off. I've got a backlog of open repairs (openpero) piling up, so I really need to tackle them.
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY four-cross laced, Rear wheel: Evolite hub 24H semi-co…
I Rebuilt the Wheel with a Mavic Reflex Rim
Not another wheel post (just kidding). I actually built this yesterday, but didn't have time to write about it until now. A customer brought me a wheel built wi…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5 (good conscience spec)
Another day, another wheel (you know the drill). I won't name names, but I built a wheel for a customer calling themselves FJT. It's a replacement front wheel a…
Unable to rebuild DT450 rim rear wheel into Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left me a PowerTap rear wheel. Though it's something I built myself in the past. It has a PowerTap Elite Plus hub 32H …
SM-JC41 In Stock
The SM-JC41, Shimano's lower junction box for internal-routed e-bike components, has arrived! 70 units, no less. I was half expecting a phone call asking, "Coul…
Kixlium Pro Exalight SL
A customer left a Kixlium wheel with me for work. Same name and specs as the Kixlium from the other day, but the stickers are different, probably from a differe…
Aksium Pro Exalith SL
I received a Aksium wheel set from a customer. The Aksium Pro Exalith model features an Aksium K10-type rim with the sides of its faceted profile machined smoot…
Racing 3
A customer brought in the front wheel from a Racing 3 for us to look at. Before inspection, first: The fastening screw for the ball race adjustment nut and dust…
Replaced spokes on a carbon rear wheel
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer dropped off a rear wheel with a 38mm carbon tubular rim. The hub is a separated twin of a Leaf hub (which one is…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day working on wheels (and so on). Got Nomu Lab Wheel #5 in from a customer. It's got a Reif hub, 24 hole, semi-comp four-cross lacing with cable. The c…
Racing Zero
I received a Racing Zero from a customer. The original Racing Zero had red rim/spokes/hub, but maybe they thought "it might not sell because of the color," so t…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on the 303
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a 303 with a Shimano rear hub that couldn't be upgraded to 11-speed. They wanted me to rebuild it with a st…
Built a Wheel with FiR's QUASAR Rim
Another wheel today (and so on). I took yesterday off, so I didn't open the shop today for that reason, but I came in just to build this wheel. I took the order…
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow, January 26th (Tuesday), I'll be taking the day off due to some unavoidable business. I apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you for your underst…
Rebuilt a PowerTap Hub Wheel with a GP4 Rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer left me a PowerTap hub rear wheel. 32H DT Champion #15 plain spokes Built in the "Rokuroku Italian" style with b…
Rebuilt the PowerTap Hub Wheel with Open Pro Rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in a PowerTap hub rear wheel for me to work on. 32H, #15 plain Rocc Italian lacing with brass nipples…
WH-RS81-C24-CL Customer
I received WH-RS81 WO wheels from a customer. The customer wanted truing and wheel centering work. There was a suspected centering issue with the rear wheel, an…
Rebuilt Carbon WO Rim Rear Wheel with PowerTap Hub
Another day with wheels (et cetera). I received a customer's carbon WO rims—both front and rear wheels. The front wheel just needs inspection, but they wanted t…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5
Another wheel day (and so on). Built the Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5. I think I've written about this before, but I basically never build wheels with intentionally loose…
I Replaced the Nipples on a Neda Wheel with Brass
I had a wheel built with Neda rims brought in for service. Though to be honest, it's a wheel I built myself in the past. This is apparently a Neda Ujee model, w…
Built a wheel with Novatec disc hubs
Another day of wheel building (and so on). A customer left me with Novatec six-hole rotor disc brake hubs. When I rolled them on the floor, they went straight a…
Racing Zero
A customer brought in the latest Racing Zero hub where the front hub bearing diameter has become smaller than the rear hub. The reason I'm mentioning the wheel …
Assault SLG
I received an Assault SLG from a customer for service. I gave it a thorough inspection and there's really nothing to complain about. The wheel centering is spot…
WH-9000-C50-TU Customer
A customer brought in a Shimano C50 carbon tubular wheel for repair. It appears to rub against the brake shoe when pedaling hard. The Optivar design uses only 7…
F6R
I took in an F6R from a customer. Thanks to the relationship between rim width and tire width, I was able to check with the centering gauge without removing the…
EA90 Aero
A customer dropped off an EA90 Aero wheel set with me. I don't really think the aerodynamic effect of spokes is such a major factor in wheel performance. It's d…
Built a front wheel with an RC50 rim
I built a front wheel with a Shimano PRO RC50 rim. This is a rim from a complete wheel built with 6600 Ultegra front and rear 24H hubs, but one got ruined due t…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5
Back to wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5. The Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5 front rim comes in 18H spec only. So I was thinki…
Built a PowerTap rear wheel with a ZIPP 202 rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built a PowerTap rear wheel with a 202 rim. Elite spokes with a 24-hole hub in black, 1.6mm gauge, 4-cross lacing pattern. …
Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT
A customer brought in a Racing Zero for service. The front hub spins smoothly, but the rear hub was grinding, so they had a CULT cartridge installed on just the…
WH-9000-C24-CL Customer
I received a 9000 WO wheel from a customer's father for service. The customer lives far away, but his father always brings the bike in for him. There was some r…
Cosmic Elite
A customer brought in a Cosmic Elite for service. The rear wheel had severe runout, and the centering was way off. There was one dent in the rim. It's in the ar…
The Zonda
A customer dropped off a Zonda for me to service. This is a different Zonda from my last post. The spokes are thinner—it's been tuned toward the lighter side of…
Zonda
A customer brought in a Zonda for me to work on. The customer said they'd trued the front wheel themselves, so there's probably some centering issues. But when …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 24H, 46-cross lacing with nipples (junction type) The spokes on …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evolitе hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced.
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the rear wheel for the Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5. Evolite hub 24H black semi-comp, 4-cross lacing pattern with spoke…
Restocked the Hairyo-san GT Collection
I was supposed to have three Hairyo-san GT (Gulliver Tunnel) bikes, but one went missing. A friend from Kumamoto (a triathlete) brought her one-year-old daughte…
Cosmic Carbon SLE
I received a Cosmic Carbon (a wheel set) from a customer. I forgot to take a photo of the rear wheel in full, but I have both front and rear wheels. Since I'm n…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evolite hub 24H semi-com…
Built a rear wheel with Meccanico carbon rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built a tubular wheel for cyclocross. Apparently just the rear wheel is needed. I built the wheel right in front of the …
Ksyrium SL
A customer brought in a Ksyrium SL for repair. This is the standard version Ksyrium SL, which is the Ksyrium ES (2006 limited edition model) that went into regu…
Racing Zero Red Passion
A customer brought in a Racing Zero for service. I'm not sure what Fulcrum was thinking, but in addition to their traditional bright and dark color options, the…
Secretly Swapping Out the Chainring on a Campagnolo Crank
This is a Campagnolo carbon crank from the 5-arm era, but there's a plastic part fitted onto the chainring bolts on the back of the crank arm, which prevents an…
Racing Zero
A customer brought in a Racing Zero for repair. They wanted the front wheel spoke breakage repaired. On the same flange side as the broken spoke, the adjacent s…
First-Generation Hyperon
A customer brought in the front wheel from a Hyperon (vintage Japanese bicycle) for repair. They're requesting a repair for a broken spoke. This is an original …
Neutron Ultra
A customer dropped off a Neutron Ultra (a bicycle model) with us. It's brand new. This is a separate job from the previous post. Both front and rear rims had ab…
Neutron Ultra
A customer dropped off a Neutron Ultra with me. This is separate from the Proton rim rebuild job I mentioned before. The wheels showed no runout—it was like som…
Kixilium Pro Exalith
A customer brought in a Kixilium for me to work on. ↑showing off the new condition It's brand new, never ridden. The rear wheel had some centering issues, but o…
Racing Zero Night
I received a Racing Zero Night (high-end wheel set) from a customer. I've mentioned this before, but wheels like this, the Shamal Mille, and Bora One have surpr…
Ksilium Elite S
A customer brought in a Ksilium Elite S for repair. There was a bent spoke near the hub area, and it was causing wheel wobble as a result. When they took it to …
Its Name is 101
Well, another wheel-related job today (and so on). A customer brought in the rear wheel from a ZIPPI 101. Apparently the customer was fiddling with it here and …
Rebuilt a Neutron front wheel with a Proton rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer left me with a Neutron front wheel. I did truing work on it, but when truing the lateral runout, there was a spo…
I Swapped the Vigore on My Rolf Prima to Silver Spokes (Front Wheel, Part 2)
Another day in the wheel department (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I went with all CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. For the front wheel, apart from ju…
Swapped the Rolf Prima Vigor to Silver Spokes (Rear Wheel, Part 1)
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer dropped off a blue Vigor wheel with me. They've only ridden it a little—basically brand new. ↑They want me to…
R-SYS SLR
A customer dropped off an R-SYS SLR with me. It's clearly brand new, never been used. The rim had shifted toward the non-freewheel side. With R-SYS rear wheels …
I rebuilt the rear wheel of a Racing 5.5 with a PowerTap hub
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a Racing 5.5 for work. Like Shimano's WH-RS11 and others, it's an assembly-only wheel sold exclusively to c…
I Made a Tool for Adjusting the Headset Bearing on Time Frames
For adjusting the bearing preload on Time frame headsets, a rod like this comes included with the frameset, and you insert it like this to tighten it down. Howe…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5 with a CX75 hub
Today, another wheel build (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5 using a CX75 hub. 28 hole, black CX-RAY spokes in a reverse Italian cross …
I Converted the Cosmic Carbon PowerTap's Freehub Side to All-Outpoke Lacing
Today's work doesn't quite fit the "wheel (and so on)" category. I received a Cosmic Carbon PowerTap wheel on consignment from a customer. The hub is an SL+ 20H…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 with a PowerTap Hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 with a G3 hub. Semi-comp 46-hole lacing with wiring included. Though I didn't do the wi…
Reply to Comments (About Shamal Rim Height)
The other day I wrote about the rim height of the Shamal Ultra, and I received a comment saying that according to Campagnolo's website, it's 26mm front and 30mm…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5 with an American Classic hub
Wheels again today (and so on). Just as the title says. I built the 24H front hub with all-competition outpoke radial lacing. By the way, this hub's flange thic…
Racing 3
I received the rear wheel of a Racing 3 from a customer. One spoke is missing. It's broken right around where the nipple is flush. It's fixed. In the photo it l…
Zonda
A customer brought in a Zonda for service. They wanted the rear wheel truing repaired, but when I adjusted just the nipple directly below the wobble, I got it n…
Shamal Mille
A customer brought in a rear wheel from a Shamal Mille for repair. The rear derailleur caught it and bent some spokes. ↑There it is. Just these two spokes, but …
Racing Zero
A customer brought in a Racing Zero for repairs. Within 1km of being brand new, the rear derailleur got caught and the spokes are badly scratched up. Since it's…
About the Pinarello Dogma F8 Disc (Article for Industry Professionals)
The drill is screaming! Note: This article is for industry professionals. I doubt there are many industry colleagues reading this tiny, crappy blog, but I'm wri…
R-SYS SLR
I received an R-SYS SLR from a customer for service. This customer also owns an older R-SYS model, and when we inspected that one here previously, the ride feel…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another wheel build today (you know the drill). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evoluix hub 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial laced.
VIGOR α
A customer brought in a Rolf Prima Vigor Alpha for me to work on. Apparently when they first bought it, the wheel center was way off, but they had the shop that…
Ksyrium SLR
A customer brought in an R-SYS SLR for me to work on. There was definitely center misalignment happening. The front wheel only had a slight amount, but the rear…
Ksyrium SLE
A customer dropped off a Ksyrium with me. They'd apparently swapped in a quick-release skewer made specifically for this wheel, but it came loose with a bang wh…
It happened again after all
A customer brought in a Campagnolo Racing Zero front wheel for repair. It's the newer model with a smaller bearing diameter. The hub shaft and right end hollow …
Bora One 35 Dark Label WO's Bike
I received a Bora One wheel from a customer. The rear wheel was only very slightly off-center, and both front and rear wheels had barely any lateral runout. Whe…
Built the rear wheel for the 202 as well
More wheel building today (etc.). I built a regular rear wheel using the rim from the PowerTap hub wheel I disassembled the other day. Evolite hub 24H, all CX-R…
Advantages of Hand-Built Wheels
A customer left me a front wheel with an XR300 rim. Tni Evo hub 20H black Revolution 4x4 build Red aluminum nipples—not specifically requested, but that's the s…
First Generation Racing 1 and R-SYS SLR
A customer brought in a Racing 1 for service. It's been inspected at another shop before, and since it's been in use for a while, the customer wants a full over…
808 and Super 9
A customer dropped off the front wheel from an 808 for inspection. They wanted a full checkup. By the way, it's a WO rim. The hub is from the previous generatio…
Lowered the stem position on the Emonda
A customer dropped off a Trek Emonda for me to work on. ↑They wanted me to lower the stem position on this. According to Trek's concept store (which is a dedica…
WH-RS80-C50 Work
A customer brought in an RS80 50mm deep-section rim wheel for me to work on. Apparently another shop inspected it, and the customer was concerned that the rear …
WH-7850-C24-CL
A customer brought in a 7850 C24 for me to work on. Even though it's been used regularly, the condition has been maintained extremely well. Honestly, even new w…
404 and 808
I received the latest ZIPP 404 and 808 wheels from a customer for service. Looking at the rear wheel of the 808, with that rim depth, I'd say 20 spokes would be…
WH-9000-C24-CL
I received a 9000 WO wheel from a customer for repair. There's already a reference tape applied, but apparently the spoke is bent. ↑The spoke on the freewheel s…
WH-9000-C24-TL
A customer left me a set of 9000 tubeless wheels to work on. See, this is what I mean by center misalignment — you can actually see it right here. Besides the r…
Racing Zero Night
I took in a Racing Zero Night (high-end carbon wheelset) from a customer. The front wheel was centered dead-on with barely any runout — there was almost nothing…
The Original Racing Zero
A customer dropped off a Racing Zero for service. It was apparently overhauled at another shop, but the freewheel body rotation on the rear wheel was abnormally…
Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT Service
A customer brought in a Racing Zero wheel for service. The customer rode in with this wheel already installed, but the front hub had noticeable play in it. The …
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1 with a PowerTap Hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on). A customer brought me a wheel built with a PowerTap G3 hub and a ZIPP 202 rim that I had built for them previously. I…
First Generation Axiom Race
A customer brought in a second generation Axiom wheel for me to work on. I know it might seem contradictory to the title, but it's not. The first generation in …
FUSEE SLX23
A customer brought in a Raleigh Fusee SLX for service. Since it's been in use for a decent period of time, they wanted a full inspection. There was some wheel r…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another wheel day (details below). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. It's the matching pair to the rear wheel I built a little while back—black spo…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Front wheel is Evolight hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, rear wheel is Evolight hub 24H semi-com…
Rebuilt Wheels with Open Pro CD Rims
Another day of wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a hand-built wheel for work. The hub is a Record, and the rim is an Ambrosio Excellences. This rim, the…
Built the Rear Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Eyelite hub 24H black semi-comp. I'll do the spoke lacing later. At the custo…
A Little About Commemorative Items
In my previous post, I mentioned that if you send the postcard included with the Campagnolo 50th anniversary component set to their headquarters, you'll receive…
Rebuilt an Open Pro front wheel
A customer brought in an Open Pro front wheel for me to work on. This was one I'd built myself back in the day. It had a Centaur Century hub, but the customer w…
WH-6700
A customer left a WH-6700 with me for service. Instead of selling it at auction, they're giving it to someone they know personally, but they wanted it properly …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Picking up from yesterday's work. Evolight hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke …
Cosmic Carbon SLR
A customer brought in a Cosmic Carbon SLR for service. It's a wheel built with the traditional Cosmic Carbon rim and adjustable carbon spokes. It had a short pr…
Spoke replacement on Nomu Lab Wheel #5... which turned into a rim replacement
Another wheel day (and so on). Nomu Lab Wheel #5 with the PowerTap G3 hub had a significant lateral wobble in one spot, so I disassembled it. I checked the rim …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4. The hub is a 24H Dura-Ace 7700. It's a CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, but I'…
Correction Regarding Nipple Length
I wrote an article the other day called "About Nipple Length" (→ here ), and I need to make a correction to it. To summarize what was written in the linked arti…
Vent Reaction
A customer brought in a Vent (Campagnolo wheel model) for service. Both front and rear hubs have play in them. Strangely enough, when I look at the wheel by its…
Cambium Asymmetric
I received a Cambium (カムシン) bike from a customer. The rear wheel isn't G3-spoked, but instead has equal numbers of spokes on both sides—a 20H 40-spoke configura…
Racing 3.5
A customer brought in a set of wheels called Racing 3.5 for work. This is an OEM product assembled into complete bikes. As a general rule, it's not sold individ…
RACE
A customer dropped off a RACE wheel for service. You might not be able to tell from just the title, but these are Bontrager wheels. The front wheel was totally …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Reif hub (Japanese brand), 24 holes, half-competition 4-cross lacing pattern…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4
Today it's wheels again (and so on...). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4. Front wheel is Evolite hub 24H CX-RAY 4-cross Italian lacing, Rear wheel is Evolite hub 24…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolight 20H hub with CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Ksyrium SLR Rear Wheel (Essentially R-SYS)
A customer brought in a Ksyrium SLR for service. They rode it in, but I only did a full inspection on the rear wheel. They hadn't done anything special to the f…
Cosmic Carbon 40 Elite
From a customer... I took a photo because I'd definitely forget a name this long— a Cosmic came in for service. In these photos I've removed the tires and such,…
About Hub Caps That Use Spoke Tension
A customer dropped off the front wheel of a のむラボホイール 2.5号 (Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5) with me. It's built with a ZIPP 18H front hub. It looks like it got caught in som…
Made the Headset Cap Thinner
A customer asked me to replace the headset cap on their Cannondale with a lower one. before after Unlike the previous ZS2 job (→ here ), this time it's an FSA h…
Rebuilt the Reynolds R2 rear wheel
Another wheel day (and so on...). A customer brought in a Reynolds R2 rear wheel for work. The wheel itself is light, but they feel flex during hill climbs, so …
Xelius ES
A customer brought in a Xelius ES for me to work on. They mentioned it has ceramic bearings from CeramicSpeed installed, but the front hub rotation was rough an…
EA90SL
A customer brought in an EA90SL for service. Both front and rear wheels were nicely centered, with just a bit of lateral runout. When I pulled the rear wheel ou…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #6
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #6. Front wheel: Leaf hub 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Leaf hub 24H, semi-comp…
Rebuilt a Mystery Carbon Wheel into Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a front wheel with a carbon rim. ↑On the left side of the image, the brake zone is looking a bit rough. It …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1 with a CX75 hub
Another day of wheel building (details omitted). Built the rear wheel to match the front wheel I put together the other day. The CX75 hub only comes in a 28-hol…
I Applied Aqua Seal to the Cyclocross Tubular Tire Sidewall
A customer asked me to apply "Aqua Seal" to the sidewall casing of a cyclocross tubular tire. Aqua Seal is technically classified as an adhesive, but since it m…
Rebuilt the rear wheel with disc brake hub
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Continuing from yesterday's front wheel. ※ It's a 24H full competition 4-cross JIS lacing, but unlike the front hub, the di…
Rebuilt front wheel with disc brake hub
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer dropped off a front wheel built with a disc brake hub and a 38mm tall carbon rim. ※Just a peg 24-hole, black all-compe…
Almost Original Cosmic Carbon
A customer left a Cosmic Carbon (high-end carbon wheelset) with me for service. The "SSC" designation after Cosmic Carbon indicates the second generation, but t…
Racing Zero Night
I've taken in a Racing Zero Night (high-end carbon road bike) from a customer. It's brand new, never ridden. I forgot to take a full shot of the rear wheel. But…
I Made a Thin Cap
A customer asked me to do this, so I made a thin headset cover cap. The one on the left is the same as before machining. ↑Remnants of the FSA marking How I mana…
WH-9000-C50-TU Customer
I received a 9000 C50 wheel set from a customer. Shimano's top-grade complete wheels consistently come with 16-spoke front wheels regardless of rim height or la…
Hidden Advantages of Tangential Spoke Lacing
The other day, after re-lacing the 32H Open Pro rim front wheel from radial to tangential lacing, I received this comment: 「A basic question. With 32 radial spo…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1 with a CX75 hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. The hub is a Shimano CX75, which only comes in 28-hole specification. …
Kysirium SLE
A customer brought in a Kysirium SLE for service. Both the front and rear brakes had slight spoke dish alignment issues that I could feel with a centering gauge…
Changed from Radial Lacing to Tangent Lacing
A customer dropped off a front wheel with an Open Pro rim and a Chris King hub. It's a 32H all-Campagnolo outpoke radial lacing. I'd originally built this one m…
R-SYS SLR Customer Bike
I received an R-SYS SLR from a customer. Both front and rear wheels had lateral runout. Today I'm working on the one with the cartridge bearing hub. This front …
About Nipple Length
Edit: There is a correction regarding the content of this article. I verified it based on comments I received (→ here ) so please check that article as well. I …
Ksyrium Pro Exalith SL
A customer brought in a generalized Ksyrium 125 wheel for service. Since it's a 2016 model, you could say it's actually a Ksyrium 127. They said it just arrived…
R-SYS SLR
I received an R-SYS SLR from a customer. This one has a different hub spec than the R-SYS SLR I worked on the other day (more on that below). Both wheels had so…
Swiss Stop brake shoes have arrived in stock!
The other day, a customer (sort of) emailed me directly on my phone. 「Please stock the blue brake shoes from Swiss Stop in the Campagnolo version for me」they sa…
That HZ Something-or-Other
The Reynolds R2 I built up the other day has a label on the outer edge that looks like this. I have permission to show the serial number. There's a barcode in t…
Built a Reynolds front wheel
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in a Reynolds R2 front wheel for me to work on. It's a wheel built with a 32mm-high ultra-lightweight…
The Return of Lizardskin
For a customer order I ordered in some Lizardskin chainstay stickers. The clear version tapers down toward the rear of the chainstay, but this carbon leather ve…
Built a wheel with ZTR Grail rims
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built a wheel using the ZTR Grail, a tubeless-ready rim from Stans NoTubes. The customer wanted a wheel with the 28…
Taking a Day Off
Today is Monday, September 28th, but I need to take the day off due to unavoidable circumstances. I apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you for your unde…
Cosmic SLR and Ksyrium SR
I took in a Cosmic SLR from a customer. According to the rim markings, it's a Cosmic SLR. The Cosmic Carbon SLR refers to the previous generation that didn't ha…
WH-9000-C24-TL Customer's Wheel
A customer brought in a 9000 tubeless wheel for service. Actually, it's not just the wheel itself — I have the customer's cyclocross bike in for a pre-season ov…
Bullet Ultra 50 Dark Label
A customer brought in a Bullet (バレット) for me to work on. The rear wheel was rubbing against the brake shoe when riding. Even though the spacing between brake an…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
It's another wheel day (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evo-Lite hub (エボライト) with 24 spokes, half-competition lacing pattern. (4-cr…
Sixth Components Zephyros Wheel
A customer left me a wheel called Zephyros from a brand called Sixth Components (a wheel brand) for work. I wrote an excuse in the previous post, but I took thi…
Articles Can't Keep Up
I've been writing articles under the title "～san" about inspecting and repairing complete wheels and such for quite a while now, and I'm sure some of you are th…
Racing 3 Service
A customer brought in a Racing 3 for service. Apparently the front wheel has pretty bad runout. The rear wheel was perfectly centered with only minor lateral de…
Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT
A customer dropped off a Racing Zero with me. The rear wheel had some center drift, but considering how much it's been used, there wasn't much lateral wobble. S…
F4R
A customer dropped off an F4R with me. The rear wheel. A chain drop bent several spokes, or so they said, but it's pretty hard to spot unless you really look cl…
Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT
A customer brought in a bike that had crashed. The left blade of the front fork has been scraped up. This is a KING3 fork, but De Rosa Japan has a certain measu…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day working on wheels (and so on...). The black Campagnolo spokes we had run out of came back in stock, so I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No.…
WH-R550
I took a WH-R550 in from a customer. It's not just the wheel inspection— the customer dropped off the whole bike for cable replacement and other work, and asked…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. It's an Evocite hub, 24H, half-comp laced with 46-spoke radial pattern and so…
TDF6
A customer brought in a Rolf Prima TDF6 for service. There's a handlebar parts manufacturer called 3T, which back in the day had its headquarters in Turin, Ital…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolite hub 24-hole, laced semi-comp 4-cross. I'll do the spoke tensioning late…
Shamal Ultra
I received a Shamal Ultra from a customer. It's been CULT modified. The customer requested an inspection and hub overhaul. The dirt in the tray is just because …
Zonda
A customer brought in a Zonda for repair. One spoke is broken. The customer brought a spare spoke with them, so I'll use that to fix it. What the customer had w…
Racing Zero
A customer dropped off a Racing Zero (high-end road bike) with me. Just as the customer mentioned, the front wheel had some runout. There was a slight wobble on…
Rebuilt the Nomulab Wheel No. 4 rear wheel with No. 2 components
Another day working on wheels (and so on). A customer brought in the rear wheel from their Nomulab Wheel No. 4 (Nomulab is a custom wheel manufacturer). They sa…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I heard that Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 was ready to be built, so the customer came by the shop to pick it up, but the rear…
Built a Nomulab Wheel No. 5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). A customer brought in the front wheel of a Nomulab Wheel No. 5 (custom wheel brand). They wanted me to check the lateral ru…
Cosmic Carbon 40
A customer brought in a Cosmic Carbon 40 for service. This is a separate matter from the previous post This one is a WO spec. With WO spec, the structure is a b…
Cosmic Carbon 40
A customer brought in a Cosmic Carbon 40 for service. It's a tubular setup. The customer wanted the hub bearings upgraded to ceramic, but CeramicSpeed is a bit …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Rigida hub 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial laced with red alloy ni…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (you know how it goes). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Got the black spokes in stock, so Evolite hub 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke …
WH-7900-C35-TU Customer Wheel
A customer brought in a C35 tubular front wheel for repair. There's white tape on the spoke counterclockwise from the valve, ↑and that spoke is bent. All fixed.…
R-SYS SLR Check-in
A customer dropped off an R-SYS for me to work on. They wanted an inspection. It's been used a bit, but it's basically brand new. The original R-SYS SL was firs…
Continental Grand Prix 4 Season Black Edition has arrived
We've received a limited edition Grand Prix 4 Season from Continental. It's listed as North America exclusive, but apparently this is the only shipment coming t…
ROVAL Rapide CLX40
A customer dropped off a Rapide CLX40 with me. There are four other posts with this same title on this blog, but I've never seen rim lettering like this before.…
Ksyrium SLR
A customer brought in a Ksyrium SLR for me to work on. I took these photos of the rear wheel without unwrapping anything, but both front and rear wheels are bra…
Shamal 12-HPW Titanium
A customer brought in a Shamal 12 for me to work on. It's the model with the fewest spokes in Shamal history—12 spokes front and rear. The customer wanted it se…
Built a mysterious ultra-lightweight carbon rim
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). I built a wheel with a mysterious low-profile carbon rim. Front wheel is Leaf hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial laced,…
Bora One 50
I received a Bora One (Campagnolo high-end wheelset) from a customer. I fixed some minor runout and centering issues with a bit of work, but there were quite a …
Euras 2WAY-FIT Overhaul
I received an Euras (Japanese utility bicycle) from a customer for service. They requested a full overhaul. It was just normal wear—the grease had dried out—wit…
Built the rear wheel with the Reynolds rim from the other day
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built up the rear wheel using the Reynolds 26-inch tubular rim I disassembled the other day. （→ This ） is a continuation …
Ksilium SLR
A customer brought in a Ksilium SLR for repair. One spoke was broken. I forgot to take a photo after the repair, but I fixed it by replacing the spoke. ↑That's …
Kishirium SL
A customer dropped off a Kishirium SL for me. One spoke was missing. Fixed it. ↑It was like this.
Ksilium ES
A customer brought in a Ksilium ES for repairs. The image is a bit blurry, but the valve is bent at an angle—not because it's threaded that way, but because it'…
Ksyrium SLR
I received a Ksyrium SLR from a customer for service. The front wheel was pretty much fine, but the rear wheel had lateral runout and was also off-center. Lucki…
Racing Zero Night
A customer brought in a Racing Zero Night (high-end wheelset) for service. Since higher-end wheels like the Bora One and Shamal Mille have been showing excellen…
On the Years of Keeping Spare Parts
Recently, I did an overhaul on a front wheel built with an HB-7800 hub ↑(Italian-style lacing, so) the notional left side looked like this ↑and the notional rig…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another day of wheel building (etc.). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evolite hub 24H semi-comp radial-cross 4 lacing pattern with spoke tie-ins.
Spinergy REV-X
A customer brought in a Spinergy REV-X wheel for me to work on. It's a wheel made with 8 blades (4 pairs) in a tension structure. (The MTB version of this has 1…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1 with a ZIPP hub
It's wheel day again (you know the drill). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. ZIPP front hub, 20 hole straight CX-RAY with radial spoke lacing.
Correction (Response to Comments)
Regarding the article I wrote the other day about the ZIPP hub I wrote that the spoke angle would be the same between 36H 6-cross and 24H 4-cross, but regarding…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another day, another wheel (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evolite hub 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. Not the rear wheel to mat…
Response to Comments (About the ZIPP Hub)
I received a comment about the ZIPP rear hub from my previous post. 「The spoke roots look pretty tight, is this okay? Was this hub built with a deeper rim than …
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1 with a ZIPP Rear Hub
Another wheel day (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #1 using a ZIPP rear hub. It's equivalent to a 28H 40-spoke lacing pattern. On the freewheel side I used S…
Mercurio 60 DEMO Wheel
A customer brought in a 3T Mercurio 60 for us to work on. One spoke was missing from the front wheel. Fixed it (pretty straightforward). While I was at it, I al…
I Built a Front Wheel with Open Pro Rims
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a front wheel with Open Pro rims. The hub is a Record 32H. Based on the printing on the box, this is a 32H hub from when …
Racing Zero Dark Label
A customer left me a Racing Zero rear wheel. This is the stylish thief version I did before. That's not really relevant though, ↑The spokes are bent. ↑And even …
TDF4SL
I received a Rolf Prima TDF4SL from a customer for work. I fixed the wheel center that was way off, but that's not the real issue — there's a problem I can't wr…
Rebuilt the Stratos DV rear wheel with an original Ksyrium Elite rim
Another day of wheels (and so on). A customer dropped off a rear wheel built with a Reynolds Stratos DV 26-inch tubular rim. The hub is a PowerTap SL+. 20H, all…
I Built the Rear Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Another day of wheel (you know the drill). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolite hub 24H, half-competition 4-cross lacing pattern with spokes…
Wire Wrapping Ailment
The wire wrapping soldering I do all the time— To keep the wire wrapping from coming loose, I press the wire firmly against my thumb pad with each wrap. Because…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4. Front wheel is an Aerolite 20H hub, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel is an Aerolite 24H hu…
Rebuilt the rear wheel for a ZIPP 303
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer left me with a 303 rear wheel. The job is to rebuild it with a Shimano 11-speed freebody hub. They didn't mentio…
Scirocco H35MM
A customer brought in a Scirocco H35MM for service. It's called that because it's a Scirocco with a 35mm rim height, but I find it odd that they write millimete…
Cosmic Carbon SLE
A customer dropped off a Cosmic Carbon with me. I showed the customer what I meant by "spoke centering misalignment" and there was more than enough of it to dem…
Shamal Mille
A customer left a Shamal Mille with me for work. The warning sticker on the brake zone had already been peeled off, but it's probably brand new and never ridden…
Bora One Service
A customer dropped off their Bora One (high-end Italian wheel) with me. Since it's an older model Bola with internal nipples, truing work requires pulling the t…
Rebuilt the rear wheel on the ZIPP404
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer dropped off the rear wheel from a 404. As usual, the request was "it feels a bit soft, so could you rebuild i…
The Evil Cosmos and Racing Zero Carbon
To clarify, the "evil" in the title applies only to the Cosmos— the Racing Zero Carbon is not evil. ↑The evil Cosmos ↑Racing Zero Carbon (rebuilt) These two whe…
Q2 QUASAR Rim Built with Alfine Hub
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I built a 20-inch small-diameter rim with an Alfine hub. The rim says "Q2 QUASAR" on it, but I can't tell if this is a Q…
ROVAL CONTROL 29
A customer brought in a Roval Control 29 for service. He's using it for cyclocross, and wanted me to do a general inspection plus mount some tubeless tires whil…
Built a rear wheel with Meccanico carbon rim
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a rear wheel using a Meccanico (Italian carbon rim brand) carbon rim that a customer left with me. Rear Leaf hub, 24-hole, …
Built a Wheel with the R390 20-inch Rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). But first. I built a wheel with an ALEXRIMS R390 rim, and the recent R390 is a completely different animal from befor…
WH-RS80-C50 Overhaul
A customer dropped off an RS80 C50 wheelset with me. I accidentally deleted the rear wheel photo. They wanted an overhaul and truing work, but based on how roug…
C22A
A customer brought in a Token C22A wheel for service. A light aluminum WO rim. For some reason, I feel like I know the tension tolerance for this rim, but I can…
Red Metal 1
I took in a Fulcrum MTB wheel, the Red Metal 1, from a customer. It's a 26-inch spec. The rear wheel had enough runout that the customer mentioned it right away…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Front wheel: Evolight hub 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, Rear wheel: Evolight hub 24H, semi-comp …
I Rebuilt a Shamal Ultra
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought me a Shamal Ultra (Campagnolo high-end wheel) to work on. I have both front and rear wheels, but let me …
WH-R500
A customer brought in a WH-R500 for service. I checked the ball bearings in the front hub. Due to bearing ball tolerances, I couldn't completely eliminate the s…
Bullet Ultra 50 Dark Label
A customer left a Bullet (フリーボディ) with me for work. The freebody has been updated to the latest Shimano 11-speed spec and doesn't quite match the original era, …
ROVAL Rapide CLX40
A customer dropped off their usual ROVAL bike with me. Both the front and rear wheels had runout, and the rear wheel in particular had such severe centering iss…
Racing Zero Dark Label
A customer dropped off a Racing Zero with me. There was a sticker with the shop's name on the rim side, but I flipped it over and covered it up, so I shot the r…
Built a wheel with ENVE's SES 3.4 rim
Another wheel day (details omitted). I built a wheel using ENVE's SES (Smart Envi System) 3.4 rim. The "3.4" is the name for a set pairing the 35mm-high front 2…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Wheels again today (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Front wheel is an Aerolite hub 20H CX-RAY inpoke radial lace, Rear wheel is an Aerolite hub 24H semi-…
Built front wheels for Nomu Lab Wheels #1 and #3
Wheels again today (and so on...). Cross spokes came back in stock, so I'm building the front wheel to match the rear wheel I assembled the other day. Nomu Lab …
Eurus
I received an Eurus wheel from a customer. The EURUS wheel has been around for a long time, and according to documentation from back then, it was sometimes writ…
WH-7800
A customer dropped off a WH-7800 (Shimano rear hub) with me. Just the rear wheel. A chain dropped and bent some spokes, so they asked if I could replace them if…
Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Another day, another wheel (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Both are Evolite Hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial laced. We ran out of spok…
Nomunlab Wheel #5's Rear Hub Has Moved
Another day, another wheel (et cetera). A customer brought in the rear wheel of their Nomunlab Wheel #5 for work. It's a full CX-RAY 46-spoke laced wheel with s…
Fixed the water tank cap on the top tube to open like a goldfish tank lid
The drill is screaming! I received a SHIV bike from a customer. Limited color edition (playing dumb). Looks like the extension bar section on top of the base ba…
"Full CX-RAY vs. Semi-Competition" Wheel Rebuild
Another day of wheeling (and so on). A customer left me a low-profile carbon rim wheelset. It's one I built myself years ago. It's currently built with 24H full…
First Generation Shamal Ultra
A customer left a gold Shamal with me for service. They're asking for a complete overhaul and inspection. It's not a recent model, but the brake zone isn't part…
The Lightweight Wheels
A customer dropped off two rear wheels from Lightweight (a German high-end wheel brand) with us. ↑This one is probably the Standard model, ↑and this one is the …
The F4R
A customer dropped off an F4R for me to work on. The front wheel was perfectly centered with almost no runout. The rear wheel had some centering issues, but I d…
Just Scratched an Unsolvable Puzzle
I received a consultation from a customer. A pressure anchor stuck in their carbon steerer tube won't come out, and they want to cut the steerer, but don't know…
Assault and Assault Strike
I received a Reynolds Assault wheelset from a customer. The Assault is a pre-built wheelset with 41mm high-profile carbon rims. They come in two types: tubular …
Euclus 2WAY-FIT
A customer brought in a first-generation Euclus 2WAY-FIT for service. To clarify—not the very first Euclus model, but the first Euclus with tubeless technology.…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3
あばばばばばばあｂｂｂっばっばばばっばばっば "I've finally got Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3 assembled. All that's left is the final truing, so I'll get that done," is what I told the custome…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Today it's wheels again (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Evolite hub 24H in black, semi-comp 46-hole lacing with spoke tension c…
WH-7801-C
A customer brought in a 7800 carbon wheelset for us to work on. Just the rear wheel. One spoke is broken at the base. It's not broken at the thread start... tha…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #3
Another wheel day (and so on...). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #3. Front wheel is Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel is Evolite hub, 20H, semi…
About CX-RAY Straight Spokes
In the previous post, I mentioned using Sapim's CX-RAY straight spoke version for the Reynolds wheel rebuild, and this is something Tri Sports (トライスポーツ) recentl…
I Bought a Fizik Cyrano R3 Drop Bar
Fizik's Cyrano (シラノ) brand, which handles seatposts, stems, and handlebars apart from saddles, recently released a drop bar, so I picked one up for myself. Cyra…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4
Another day with wheels (and so on). Before that though. One of our shop customers had their road bike stolen recently, and right after buying a new frame, the …
R55C4 Brake Shoes × 2-Pair Pack Arrived in Stock
Oh man, what do I do I went ahead and placed a massive order for Shimano brake shoes for aluminum rims— This quantity is seriously problematic, so I'm gonna run…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Back to wheels today (you know the drill). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 24 holes, semi-competition 4-cross lacing with coupling…
818×2=1160
Long ago, there was a time when the list price for Dura-Ace 7900 brake shoes + fixing bolts (one set for left and right) was 668 yen, and at that same time the …
Created a Separate Hole for the External Battery
The drill is whining! I received a De Rosa Super King R from a customer. The frame is compatible with both electronic and mechanical groupsets, but the battery …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. The hub is a 9000 Dura-Ace. 24H semi-comp four-cross lacing with spoke ties. This hub has definitely seen 50,000 km …
Rebuilding a 303 Rear Wheel with a PowerTap Hub
。（略下以）ーイホも日今 I received a 303 rear wheel from a customer. The rim is a Firecrest in WO (wire-on) specification and the hub is a DT240S in Shimano 11-speed freeh…
Eulas 2WAY-FIT
A customer left an Eulas (Japanese utility bicycle) with me for service. The rear wheel had just a minor centering issue. The customer said they'd gone about th…
Red Metal 29 SL
A customer dropped off a Red Metal 29 with me. The front wheel has some stickers partially peeled off by the customer. Since these stickers cover the entire rim…
First Generation R-SYS
A customer brought in a first generation R-SYS rear wheel for me to work on. Just the rear wheel. It has Campagnolo 11-speed cogs on it, but the customer said t…
Ksilium SR
I received a Ksilium SR (Mavic wheelset) from a customer. The runout wasn't too bad, but both front and rear wheels had enough lateral centering issues that I c…
Racing 3
A customer brought in a Racing 3 for repair. Just the front wheel. A nipple came loose and fell into the rim, but apparently there were other issues involved, a…
Replaced the Rivet Nuts
The drill is whining! A customer brought in a De Rosa King X-Lite for repairs. The bottle cage screw hole on the down tube side is spinning in place. The custom…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Mystery wide-flange hub, 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial laced. I've already confi…
Rebuilt the 808 rear wheel with a PowerTap hub
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left me their latest model 808 rear wheel. They also left a PowerTap rear hub and wanted me to rebuild the wheel with …
Built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3
Another day working on wheels (and so on...). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3. Evolight hub 20H, black semi-comp lacing pattern with spoke nipple …
The XR200 Rim Wheels
A customer dropped off a set of wheels built with XR200 rims. Front wheel 20H, rear wheel 24H, and all spokes are CX-RAY. I asked the builder about their work. …
I Built the Rear Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 24H, all CX-RAY spokes, 46-count Italian three-cross lac…
Hang Those Bikes High!
Park Tool bike hanging hooks have arrived in stock. They come in two mounting types—wood screw and bolt-on— and the hook shape comes in two versions too: standa…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6. It's a prototype before release. I'll write the details later, but the rim I'm using is a tubul…
Zero Light Customer Bike
A customer left me a Spinergy Zero Light wheelset to work on. These aren't originally a matched pair— the front wheel has an aluminum rim while the rear is a ca…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Evo Lite hub 20H with CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Mr. 404
A customer brought in the front wheel from a 404 for repair. A spoke has completely snapped off. If it had broken at the hub end, I might have been able to hand…
SES 3.4 45 WO Rim
A customer brought in the rear wheel from a Smart Envé 3.4 for service. Lately, instead of calling it SMART ENVÉ, they've started calling it "SES" from the acro…
F6C
A customer entrusted me with an FF Yamaguchi F6C wheel. It's F6C, not F6R. The "C" doesn't stand for "Clincher"... because it has a tubular rim. Since this is s…
Racing Zero
A customer brought in a Racing Zero for repair. One spoke got bent when a Garmin transmitter got caught during a ride. ↑It's a spoke on the non-drive side here,…
Zonda
A customer brought in a Zonda for repair. There's noticeable lateral wobble in the rear wheel from a crash. I was able to true it up nicely, but if I had disass…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Evolite hub 24H, semi-comp lacing with 46-spoke four-cross pattern and spoke…
Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT (About the "Stylish Thief" Treatment)
A customer brought in a Racing Zero wheelset for me to work on. To be precise, it's the Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT version. If the work request were just routine main…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1 with PowerTap Hub
Wheels again today (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1 using a PowerTap 2.4 hub. 28-hole, semi-competition 4-cross lacing pattern. Truing probably isn't necess…
Racing Zero Night
I received a Racing Zero Night (high-performance wheel) from a customer. The rear wheel had enough centering offset that I could explain to the customer "this i…
Bora One 50 Dark Label
A customer left a Bora One (high-end carbon wheelset) with me for service. It's a tubular setup. Both wheels had no centering issues and only the slightest runo…
Rebuilt the rear wheel of a red label GP4
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left me a rear wheel with a GP4 rim. A Mavic GP4 from the red label era. The rim is nominally 400g, but when I disasse…
Spreading to Take Up Pressure — About Spacer-Type Components
A tangent from my previous post. ↑I've installed a toothed spacer on the fork steerer tube, and there's a reason for that. With Time framesets, the headset bear…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Front wheel: Evo Lite hub 20H, CX-RAY spokes, outpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evo Lite hub 24H,…
Taking a Break
Today is May 29th (Friday), but I'm taking the day off due to unavoidable business. Tomorrow the 30th (Saturday) is the last Saturday of the month, so we're clo…
Still Untouchable
Mavic, which popularized the de facto industry standard for tubeless specifications in MTBs, 「UST TUBELESS」, is oddly passive when it comes to road tubeless. Th…
Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT
A customer brought in a Racing Zero for service. Since this customer is a regular, I asked them, "Have I inspected this bike before?" and they said, "Probably n…
Zonda 2WAY-FIT
I received a Zonda (Campagnolo wheel) from a customer on deposit. Aside from the customer installing the sprocket, it's basically brand new. I don't know its hi…
Ksyrium SLS
A customer brought in a Ksyrium SLS for me to work on. Just the rear wheel. They brought it in for an inspection before an upcoming race. ↑That's Mavic for you—…
The 303 and 404
A customer left a ZIPP 303 and 404 with me for work. I've already finished the main work, but since this is their first time with tubular tires, they asked for …
I Rebuilt the Rear Wheel on a ZIPP303
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left me a ZIPP303 rim rear wheel for service. Here's that hub again. The reason for the rebuild isn't because it was l…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Another day with wheels (and so on...). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolite hub 24-hole, semi-comp 4-cross lacing pattern with spoke connecti…
Standard G3
A customer dropped off a lightweight G3 with me. Apparently they botched a bunny hop, buckled the wheel, and ended up with the rim side bulging out. Let's agree…
Cosmic Carbon SL
A customer brought in a Cosmic Carbon SL for repair. As a temporary measure, round-section butted spokes had been installed as a replacement, but I've removed t…
Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT
I received a Racing Zero from a customer on loan. I have it for a complete overhaul and some detailed repairs on the bike it was attached to. The timeline below…
Shamal Ultra 2WAY-FIT
A customer brought in a Shamal Ultra (Campagnolo high-end wheel) for service. The customer is the original owner of this wheel, and claimed they'd never had any…
Racing Light XLR
I received a Racing Light XLR (lightweight road bike) from a customer. There was barely any runout (the front wheel had a little), and the centering was spot on…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Wheels again today (and so on…) I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Ebolite hub 18H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Another wheel day (and so on). The Nomu Lab Wheel #2 I mentioned before—we'd used up all the rim stock, but we just got restocked. Front wheel: Leaf hub 20H CX-…
Built a Colima rim with a White Industries hub
Another day of wheelbuilding (and so on). But first, a couple of things. First up: The column count in my Excel spoke length calculation spreadsheet has now exc…
Built the Nomu Lab Wheel 2.6
Another wheel day (you know how it goes). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel 2.6. Though honestly, I've never actually built a "2.6" wheel before. It's not a limited ed…
Built a front wheel with Aero 2 rim
Another wheel build today (and so on). I built a front wheel with an Aero 2 rim. The rim is a used one from my personal collection, and the hub is a brand new V…
F6R
A customer brought in an FF Yamaguchi F6R for me to work on. It's similar to the ROVAL article I just wrote about. They swapped out the freewheel body from Shim…
ROVAL Rapide CLX40
Another one from a customer... here we go again! Based on how many of these wheels I'd estimate are actually being sold—which shouldn't be that many—I'm pretty …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1 The Origin
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1 The Origin. It's the counterpart to yesterday's 28H rear wheel. Evo …
Pinarello Wheels
A customer left me with a mysterious wheel that comes with a Pinarello test bike or complete bike. I don't know if these are actually made by Pinarello or manuf…
Racing Zero
A customer brought in a Racing Zero for me to work on. The person who brought it in isn't the wheel's owner. It's a repair job they asked me to do. The rear whe…
About Shimano 11-Speed Sprocket Gear Spacers
Here's a story that's pretty much neither here nor there. The sprockets on Shimano's higher-end cassettes have aluminum spacers, and when I install these onto t…
WH-9000-C24-CL Customer
I received a WH-9000 C24 wheelset from a customer for service. Just as the customer mentioned, the rear wheel was out of true— there was definitely noticeable l…
Zonda
A customer left a Zonda (Italian wheel brand) with me for service. The rear wheel had some centering issues, but from how much play the center gauge showed, it …
ROVAL Rapide CLX40
A customer brought in a ROVAL (high-end carbon wheel brand) Rapide 40 CLX for service. The rear wheel photo came out blurry. For clearer images (→ see here ). T…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Today it's wheels again (you know the drill). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Used an Evolite hub (エボライト) 28H with a semi-competition 4-cross lacing…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Today it's wheels again (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. This rim is our shop's last remaining stock. I built it with an Evo Lite …
Built a wheel with Mecanico rims (rear wheel, part one)
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built a wheel using a Mecanico (Italian rim manufacturer) 86mm high carbon tubular rim. The hub is a 9000 Dura-Ace.…
Built a wheel with Open Pro
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built a wheel with a Mavic Open Pro. I'd recommended the Nomu Lab Wheel #1, but the customer had to use Mavic for political re…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #3
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #3. Evolite hub 20H, semi-comp four-cross lacing with spoke bracing.
Rotation Slide Rule and Gear Ratios (Part 2)
Continuing from earlier. First, let me explain "gear ratio." Gear ratio is "the multiplier of how many times the rear wheel rotates for one complete crank revol…
Rotating Slide Rule and Gear Ratios (Part 1)
I'm going to write about how a rotating slide rule is extremely useful for comparing gear ratios. But first. This is a mechanical watch from one of the re-impor…
Ksyrium SL
A customer dropped off a Ksyrium SL (high-end wheel set) with me. First, the front wheel — it was a complete mess. The lateral runout wasn't too bad, but the ri…
Ksyrium 110
A customer brought in a Ksyrium 110 for service. Mavic was founded in 1889, and released the Ksyrium on their 110th anniversary, so it's called "Ksyrium 110"...…
Built an Open Pro rear wheel with a 7700 rear hub
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built a rear wheel with an Open Pro rim. The anodize color of the rim is what Mavic calls "CD". Compared to the silver and …
I Didn't Follow the Setup Instructions for the SLR01 Electronic Component Spec
The drill is screaming! I received an SLR01 from a customer. It's a Shimano electronic component-specific spec, and since it omits things like outer cable stops…
I Converted GRAAL to Shimano Electronic Groupset with Internal Battery Spec
The drill is screaming! I received a complete Pinarello GRAAL time trial frame for rebuild. It was originally built with a mechanical Super Record 11-speed driv…
Taking a Break
Today is Wednesday and I'm off, and next Saturday is the last Saturday of the month so I'll be closed as well. To bridge those days, I'm also taking Thursday an…
Rebuilt Vision Wheels
Today it's wheels again (and so on). A customer dropped off a Vision carbon wheel with me. The stickers were already peeled off by the customer. They peel off s…
Ksyrium SL
A customer dropped off a Ksyrium SL with me. When the Ksyrium ES came out in 2006, the Ksyrium SL was available only in silver finish, and the following year th…
Racing 1 2WAY-FIT Customer Bike
I took in a Racing 1 from a customer. According to the customer, there's some wheel wobble, with the front wheel being particularly bad. But when I nervously to…
ROVAL Rapide CLX40
A customer brought in a ROVAL Rapide 40 CLX for me to work on. I've seen a disc brake hub before, and the Rapide 40 CL and rim look very similar to it (→ here )…
Correction on ZIPP Hub
In yesterday's article, ↑I wrote this hub as "a 188 from a certain period," but I received a comment saying "it's not a 188." After looking into it, it turned o…
Rebuilt the rear wheel for the ZIPP 404
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer from out of town had me rebuild the rear wheel on their ZIPP 404 to convert it to 11-speed and tighten everyt…
Racing Zero NITE from a Customer
I received a Racing Zero NITE (high-end road bike) from a customer for service. I honestly don't know its history, but it's almost certain it's never been servi…
R-SYS SLR (2013) and R-SYS SLR (2015)
I received two pairs of R-SYS SLR wheels from a customer. ↑2013 model Came with tires (removed for work purposes) and sprocket, and the customer says they've be…
WH-9000-C24-CL Customer
Same wheel model as the one I just worked on, but a different case. Both front and rear had about a sheet of paper's worth of center offset. It's within manufac…
WH-9000-C24-CL
I received a WH-9000-C24-CL from a customer. Unlike the one from my previous post, this one uses WO rims. Both front and rear wheels had perfect centering, with…
WH-9000-C24-TL
I received a pair of 9000 tubeless wheels from a customer. The customer mentioned, "Since I ended up using regular WO tires instead of tubeless tires anyway, I …
WH-7701C
I received a WH-7701C from a customer. If complete wheels are supposed to have distinctive design from each maker, then this is Shimano's masterpiece. If taking…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #3
Another wheel day today (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #3 Evolite hub 20H, semi-competition four-cross pattern with spoke nipples seated. …
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #3
Another day, another wheel (you know how it is). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #3. Front wheel is a Leaf hub 20H CX outpoke radial lacing. I wanted to use CX spokes, so …
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Leaf hub 24H, half-comp 4-cross laced. I'll do the spoke tension balancing together with anot…
Rebuilt PowerTap Wheels into Nomu Lab Wheels #5
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in PowerTap wheels for service. Both hub and rim are PowerTap brand, all spokes are black Campagnolo Record, a…
I rebuilt a carbon rim rear wheel
Another wheel day (and so on). I received a 44mm high rim rear wheel from a customer. The ride felt sloppy, so they wanted me to rebuild it with a tighter feel.…
Zonda
A customer left a Zonda (Italian road bike brand) with me for service. Both the front and rear wheels had severe runout from a crash. Since they were wobbling, …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
More wheel work today (you know the drill). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Evolite hub 20H with CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #3
Back to wheel building today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #3. Evolight hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. I wanted to build a…
I Forgot to Return the Quick Release
The other day I was working on a PowerTap (which I didn't write about) that a customer brought in for wheel truing, and I forgot to return the quick release tha…
FUSEE SLX
A customer dropped off a Roval FUSEE SLX for me to work on. I'm not entirely confident whether FUSEE is the correct way to transliterate the katakana. Also, acc…
WH-6700
I received a WH-6700 from a customer for work. Considering how long it's been in use, there's surprisingly little damage, and the runout is minimal. But I notic…
WH-9000-C24-CL
I received a C24 WO wheel from a customer. When the centering is only slightly off, I end up having to true and retension it repeatedly, overshooting the center…
WH-7850-C50-TU Customer Work
A customer brought in the rear wheel from a first-generation C50. The tubular tire is punctured, so they're asking me to inspect everything while replacing it. …
On Rims with Extreme Hole Offset
In my previous post, I wrote something like, 「With a straight-pull spoke hub where one side is radial lacing, you can freely change the phase of the rim's norma…
Rebuilt the rear wheel with ENVE 1-65 rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I received a rear wheel with an ENVE 1-65 rim from a customer. ↑The hub is a Campagnolo Neutron Ultra, ↑And the rim is a…
Rebuilt the ENVE1-45 Rim Rear Wheel
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer dropped off a rear wheel with me. Well, "dropped off" is putting it mildly—they left it whether I wanted to t…
WH-M785
A customer left me a complete Shimano XT grade wheel set. 29-inch spec. Both front and rear have 160mm rotors, but they look small. The scale reference is just …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3
More wheel building today (you know the drill...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3. Not the matching set for the rear wheel I built the other d…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3. Evolight (Japanese hub brand) hub 20H with semi-comp four-four lacing and …
Racing 3
A customer brought in a Racing 3 for service. The wheel truing and hub centering weren't in particularly bad condition, but the front hub had some play and felt…
Bora One 35 Dark Label
I received a Bora One 35 from a customer. The Bora One from the previous post was a 2014 model, and this one is from 2015. The differences are that the bearings…
Bora One 35
A customer brought in their Bora One 35 for work. Both the front and rear wheels were running tubular tires, but since the rear wheel didn't need a tire replace…
Ksyrium SLR
I received a Ksyrium SLR (carbon road wheel set) from a customer for service. The front wheel was perfectly centered with almost no runout. The rear wheel's rim…
Ksyrium ES
I received a Ksyrium Edition Special from a customer for service. They're requesting an overhaul and truing work. The world's first factory-built wheel wasn't M…
Built the Nomu Lab Wheel #5 with a PowerTap Hub
Another day, another wheel (abbreviated hereinafter). Got a G3 hub on deposit from a customer. It's a freewheel body for Campagnolo. Built the Nomu Lab Wheel #5…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolite hub 24H, semi-half champion lacing with tie-and-solder conn…
Racing 1
I received a Racing 1 from a customer on consignment. The rear wheel photo came out blurry from camera shake... He's used it for about 1 year / 3,000 km, so he'…
WH-9000-C24-CL
A customer brought in a WH-9000 C24 rear wheel for us to work on. They rode it on their bike to us. Apparently about a week ago, they had the wheel trued at som…
WH-7900-C24-TL
A customer left a 7900 tubeless wheelset with me for service. Besides the brake zone wear marks that matched the customer's reported usage period, the hub condi…
Ksyrium 125
A customer brought in a Ksyrium 125 for me to work on. Brand new bike. Both wheels were completely straight with zero runout. The front wheel was so perfectly c…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Front wheel is an Aerolight hub, 20H, CX-RAY inpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel is an Aerolight hu…
Built a rear wheel with a disc hub that looks like a leaf hub
Another day of wheel building (etc.). Continuing from yesterday. Got the rear wheel built. 28 hole, all competition 26-JIS lacing pattern. I wanted to do a 48-s…
Converted Scott Addict SL to Shimano Di2 Internal Hub Specification
The drill is singing! A customer left me with a Scott Addict SL to work on. Since this frame predates the introduction of electronic groupsets, it obviously has…
Bora Ultra Two Dark Label
A customer brought in a Bora (wheel) for me to work on. The complaint was almost certainly that the center was off. The tubular tire was glued on with rim cemen…
Built a front wheel with a disc hub that looks like a Leaf Hub
Another day of wheels (and so on). A customer sent me a rim and hub. Well, actually they were shipped to me. US Postal. The rim is a ZTR Iron Cross—not a Novate…
Apology and Correction (Regarding Freewheel Body Bearings)
I've written several times in the past that 「Campagnolo and Fulcrum freewheel bodies don't have individual bearing spare parts available」 but they have actually…
Just the Right Hardness
At our shop, we frequently use Wako's "Brake Protector" grease. Originally it's meant for the automotive and motorcycle world, applied to disc brake pads, but i…
Rebuilt ZIPP 404 with 11S hub
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I got a 404 rear wheel in from a customer. This is a hub from the old "46-spoke equivalent" generation. The hubs that ca…
Bullet Ultra 50 Dark Label
A customer left a Bullet with me for work. They wanted an inspection since they'd been using it for about a year. The bearings are CULT brand and the rotation w…
Shamal Ultra 2WAY-FIT
I received a Shamal Ultra (high-performance wheelset) from a customer. The tires were on when they brought it in, but I removed them for maintenance purposes. A…
Racing Zero Night
I received a Racing Zero Night (high-end carbon wheelset) from a customer. Brand new. The warning sticker on the brake zone hasn't even been peeled off yet. The…
EA70 Customer
A customer brought in the rear wheel of an EA70 for repair. One spoke on the freewheel side was broken. Since Easton wheels are supposedly off-limits for shop r…
Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Leigh hub, 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. It's a Leaf hub 24H black semi-competition 4x6 lacing pattern. I wanted to d…
T5 Available
Garmin makes an ANT+ heart rate sensor with a model called the "HRM2-SS". ↑That's the one. The battery is a CR2032, which is a common type, but the screw hole f…
Shamal Ultra
I received a Shamal Ultra from a customer. The specs differ from the retail version. One spoke and the rim are the original gold color, and the remaining spokes…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (you know the drill). Third day in a row with Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel: Reaf hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, Rear wheel: Reaf…
Racing Zero Competition Model
A customer brought in a Racing Zero CULT specification model for service. First off, there was absolutely no center deviation on either wheel. I didn't ask abou…
WH-9000-C24-CL Customer
A customer dropped off the rear wheel of a 9000 C24 for us. As you can see one spoke is missing. Looking at the nipple that fell inside the rim, the threaded po…
WH-7900-C50-TU Customer Bike
A customer brought in a 7900 C50 wheelset for service. Trueing and centering went pretty smoothly without any major issues. The customer mentioned the hub might…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Front wheel: Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY inpoke radial lacing. Rear wheel: Evolite hub, 24H, semi-compet…
The WH-RS10
I took in a WH-RS10 from a customer...well, not just that I've got the whole bike in for a complete overhaul and this work is part of that process. ↑These image…
Built the Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built the Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Front wheel is an Evol hub 20H CX-RAY inpoke radial lace, Rear wheel is an Evol hub 24H semi-comp…
Rebuilt the rear wheel of a MUUR
Another day with wheels (and so on). I received a rear wheel from a customer's MUUR (ミュール) bike. The rim is Kinlin XR300 MUUR original, The hub is also Chinhaur…
Replaced spokes on the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
A customer brought in the rear wheel of a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 for me to work on. It's a Leaf hub 24H, half-competition laced 4-cross with connectors. They want…
Rebuilt Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day with wheels (and so on). I took in the rear wheel of Nomu Lab Wheel #5. It was built with a Dura-Ace 24H hub, all CX-RAY spokes, 46-spokes laced, wi…
Ksyrium SL
A customer dropped off a Ksyrium SL wheel for service. They've been using it for about a year, but it came in so perfectly centered and true that I wondered if …
Aeolus 3
A customer dropped off a Bontrager carbon wheelset for me. It's got tubular tires on it, but I was able to get the centering gauge on without peeling them off, …
Cosmic Carbon SLE
A customer brought in a Cosmic Carbon for servicing. The rim's brake zone features an Exalith (hardened braking surface) specification. Apart from a slight cent…
Racing Zero
A customer brought in a Racing Zero for service. The right endcap on the rear hub, which has reverse threads, had come loose by hand as usual. Since this is whe…
Cosmic Carbon 40C
I received a Cosmic Carbon 40C from a customer. The centering was nearly perfect and the wheel runout was minimal, so the work wrapped up quickly. The front hub…
R-SYS Premium
A customer brought in an R-SYS for me to work on. The rear wheel had its center offset, and since I had no choice but to touch the nipples on the non-drive side…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (you know how it is). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel is an Evo Lite hub, 20H, CX-RAY inpoke radial laced, Rear wheel is an Evo Lite …
Rebuilt Front Wheel with ENVE1-45 Rim
Another wheel day (you know the drill). A customer left me an ENVE1-45 rim wheel to work on. The hub is quite special—the customer requested I not show it. It's…
Ixirium Équipe S
A customer dropped off a Ixirium Équipe S for me to work on. It's brand new. The front wheel had its center true, but when I did the spoke trueing, it went off,…
WH-RS010
A customer dropped off a WH-RS010 with me. It's brand new. The rear wheel center was slightly off. ↑When I looked through the valve hole, I was shocked— the inn…
WH-6800
A customer left a WH-6800 (Shimano wheelset) with me for service. Both wheels had significant runout from wear over time. That alone would be fine, but the rear…
Mr. Zonda
A customer left a Zonda with us for service. Both wheels were perfectly centered, and there was barely any wobble. Regarding the centering, it felt like "the sh…
Ksyrium SLR
I received a Ksyrium SLR from a customer for work. The front wheel was centered perfectly with virtually no runout, but the rear wheel's center was way off. The…
RD-6800-GS The Mechanism of Intimidation
Recently I've been impressed by something about the long-cage rear derailleur for 11S Altegra, the "RD-6800-GS", so I'm going to write about it. Before that. Th…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Another day with wheels (and so on...). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Front wheel: Leaf hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, Rear wheel: FH-9000 24H semi-comp 4-cr…
Bora One
A customer dropped off a Bora One with me. The hub rotation felt noticeably smooth to the touch, so I was about to ask, "This has a CULT (Ceramic Ultra Light Te…
WH-7850-C24-CL Customer
A customer brought in a WH-7850 C24 WO wheel for service. The customer didn't report any specific problems, but asked for a general inspection. I corrected some…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Wheels again today (and so on). This is a different project from yesterday's. I built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. The front wheel is a Leaf hub, 20H, CX-RAY, outpoke rad…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Front wheel: Evo Lite hub, 20H, CX-RAY inpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Leaf hub, 24H, half-co…
Lightweight Milestone
A customer brought in a Lightweight Milestone (high-end German wheel manufacturer) for service. It's a clincher setup, by the way. The job itself was straightfo…
WH-9000-C24-TU Customer
I received a set of WH-9000-C24 tubular wheels from a customer. The front wheel basically didn't need much work. I only corrected a small wobble in one spot. Th…
WH-7850-C24-TL
A customer dropped off a WH-7850 tubeless wheel for service. No centering issues. There was a very slight play in the hub, but according to the customer's prefe…
Rewheeled a front roller brake hub dynamo hub wheel
A customer left me the front wheel of a general-purpose bicycle (mamachari) for repairs. The hub is a Shimano Nexus HB-NX60, which combines both a front roller …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 28H with CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing.
WH-7900-C24-TL
A customer dropped off a C24 tubeless wheelset with me. The front and rear didn't have much runout, but the center was off by about the thickness of a piece of …
WH-RS21 Service Notes
I received a WH-RS21 wheel set from a customer. Both front and rear wheels were perfectly centered with virtually no runout. Interestingly, the front hub's ball…
Easton EA50 Aero Hub Conversion
A customer dropped off an EA50 Aero with me. This isn't just a routine inspection job. They want me to convert the rear wheel's freebody to 11-speed. This hub i…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1 with Novatech 482SL hub
More wheel building today (and so on...). I built the rear wheel to match the front wheel from yesterday. The rear wheel is also Nomu Lab Wheel #1. I built the …
Built the Nomu Lab Wheel #1 front wheel with a White Industries T11 hub
Wheels again today (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #1 using a White Industries T11 hub. 20H CX-RAY inpoke radial lacing. Not on every model, but White hubs …
Don't Pouch It
The specifications for Sapim's CX-RAY spokes have changed a bit recently. Not the spokes themselves, but the packaging. ↑They're heat-sealing the top of the bag…
Rebuilding the Carbon WO Rim Rear Wheel
Another wheel day (and so on). But first. I received a pair of front and rear wheels with carbon WO rims from a customer. The rear wheel definitely needs rebuil…
Rebuilt an Open Pro with Chris King hub (again)
The rear wheel I built about half a year ago (→ here ) got severely bent in a crash, so I rebuilt it. Disassembled it. The hub was dirty, so I cleaned it up. Bu…
Racing 3 2WAY-FIT Customer
I received a Racing 3 from a customer for work. Apparently they've never used it as a tubeless wheel. The bead of the clincher WO tire doesn't pop up easily, so…
Racing ZERO NITE
I received a Racing ZERO Night wheel from a customer. It's brand new. There's a warning sticker on the rim's brake zone that you're supposed to peel off before …
Built an ENVE 1-45 tubular rim
Another wheel day (you know the drill). Built up an ENVE 1-45 tubular rim. Front wheel: Leaf hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, Rear wheel: Leaf hub 24H, semi…
I Impulse-Bought a Tuno Chrono
I impulse-bought a Seiko Tuno Chrono revival model. I put a question mark after "revival," but this time around, it's more of a revival in name only, so I'd say…
Cosmic Carbon Altimate
A customer brought in a Cosmic Carbon Altimate for servicing. It's a completely unridden new bike. Since it uses a tubular tire system, it comes with tubular ti…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another wheel day (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. It's 32H. Based on the customer's desired specifications and intended use, they wan…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY inpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Leaf hub 24H semi-comp 4-cr…
Fixed the stripped screw hole on the derailleur hanger with a helicoil
The drill is screaming! A customer came in with a Kuwahara Kevcel bike. The screw hole that holds the cover on the back of the BB (bottom bracket) had gotten st…
WH-7900-C24-TL
I received a set of 7900 tubeless wheels from a customer. They've been used for about 18,000 km. Even though there weren't any particular issues or problems, th…
Neutron Ultra
A customer brought in a Neutron Ultra for me to work on. It's basically brand new — only ridden here to the shop since purchase. There was a slight wobble and s…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1 with a PowerTap Hub
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left me a rear wheel built with a PowerTap 32H hub for service. Looking at the rim—that joint seam workmanship is unmi…
Added a slot to the front side of the seat clamp too
The drill is whining! A customer dropped off a Scott CR-1 with me. They said, "There's some custom work I'd like you to do." ↑The seat clamp tightening is causi…
Container VS Contents
I started a morning practice session that's been going on for about 10 or 11 years now. We collect self-reported records and tabulate points each week, and base…
I had a day off today
Recently, when people have asked me "How late are you open this year?", I've been answering individually that we're open "until the 30th", but I forgot to write…
Ksyrium SLS
A customer left a Ksyrium SLS (Mavic wheel) with me for service. This is their first time bringing a bike to my shop. They came to Osaka for New Year business a…
WH-RS010
A customer brought in a WH-RS010 for me to check. They bought it for use on a trainer, apparently, but there's a strong suspicion from the shop that they just h…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Front wheel: Evolight hub, 20H, CX-RAY inpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Leaf hub, 24H, semi-comp 4-…
LASSER Wheel
I received a Novatec LASSER wheel (not LESSER) for service. The spokes are Sapim black LASER (not LASSER) straight-gauge spokes. I removed the freebody myself t…
Racing Zero NITE
A customer brought in a Racing Zero Night (high-end racing bicycle) for service. I can't go into all the details, but after the customer worked on it themselves…
Shamal Ultra 2WAY-FIT
A customer brought in a Shamal Ultra wheel for me to work on. It came with tubeless tires, and I was told they had sealant inside, so I cautiously took off the …
EA50SL
I took in an EA50 from a customer. Since I started posting articles with "～san" in the title, I've been getting more requests for final adjustments on complete …
(From the Group)
When it comes to the worst food for refueling during a race, it's something like ↑bread like this. There are also other options like shredded melon pan or shred…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #3
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel #3. Just the rear wheel. Evolite hub 20H, semi-comp 4-cross lacing pattern with crossed spokes.
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day with wheels (and so on). Same specs as the previous post. ↑lazy post I replaced the soldering iron tip and got back to doing the spoke soldering. Th…
Built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H, CX-RAY inpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Leaf hub 24H, sem…
Built a SMART ENVE 3.4 WO Carbon Rim Wheelset
Another day, another wheel (et cetera). A customer brought in the WO spec version of the Smart Enve 3.4 rim. The "3.4" is the name for a set combining a 35mm-de…
WH-RS80
A customer brought in a WH-RS80 for service. The rear wheel just needed some minor centering and truing—no real issues there. The problem was the front wheel. I…
Racing Zero 2WAY-FIT
A customer brought in a Racing Zero (a wheel) for service. I wanted to remove the tire temporarily to check centering, but when I asked if sealant was in the tu…
Built a rear wheel with the 7900 C35 rim
A customer brought in a WH-7900-C35-CL. They wanted to convert it to 11-speed. The freebody isn't compatible, so that's not possible (→ see here ). I explained …
Built a front wheel with Ganwell carbon rim
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer entrusted me with a carbon rim from the Ganwell brand. Ganwell is an original brand of Iwai Shokai, and the name comes…
Bora One 35
A customer left me with the rear wheel of a Bora One 35 (high-end carbon wheelset). One spoke is severely bent. This is a chilling story, but it was resting on …
Built a front wheel with Schmidt's dynamo hub
Another wheel today (and so on). A customer left a front wheel with me. They tried to build it themselves, but the spokes were about 1mm too long, so they asked…
Rebuilt Nomunlab Wheel #1 with SRAM S30 Rear Hub
Yesterday this wheel (details below). The wheel I built yesterday, the customer wanted gold aluminum nipples. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Oh no, I totally lo…
Reply to Comments (About Drill Coating)
The other day, regarding drill coating, I received a very helpful comment (which I won't post here). Thank you so much. What I wrote was based on my experience …
WH-RS80
A customer brought me a WH-RS80 wheelset. Apparently it's been ridden for about four years with zero maintenance. I decided to do a front hub overhaul since I f…
Cosmic Carbon SLR
I received a Cosmic Carbon SLR from a customer for service. I'm working on both the front and rear wheels, but I had to skip the rear wheel photo since it had a…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1 Using a SRAM S30 Wheel Rear Hub
Another day of wheel work (and so on). A customer brought me a SRAM S30 wheel to work on. Both front and rear wheels had quite a bit of wobble—clearly these hav…
Elohim Essaim (Reply to Comments)
The other day, I built a wheel using DT Revolution spokes, and I received a comment asking something like "didn't you get any twanging?" The front wheel is all …
Rebuilt the rear wheel with ENVE 1-65 rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I received a rear wheel with an ENVE 1-65 rim from a customer. They wanted a tightly-built rear wheel and deliberately chose 28H …
Built a Wheel with Open Pro Rims
Another day of wheel (and so on). I received a Tune Mig 70 front hub from a customer for a build. Since the hub shell and flange aren't glued together, the flan…
EC90SLX
I took in an EC90SLX from a customer. The front wheel had slight runout and centering issues, and the rear wheel had centering problems worse than the front, bu…
I Replaced My Drill Bits
I replaced my drill bits. For frequent use on specific jobs, I keep cobalt high-speed steel drill bits separate （the ones I use most are 2.8mm, 4.8mm, and 7mm）,…
Racing 3 and Shamal Ultra 2 WAY-FIT
I received a Racing 3 and Shamal Ultra from a customer. Other than a slightly larger center deviation on the Shamal Ultra rear wheel, there was just the kind of…
I Made the S☆B Wagomurānu
I'm going to write about Magura's hydraulic caliper brakes. If you haven't seen the previous post, please check that one first. ↑I've omitted a lot of the inter…
I Did Various Repairs on the SHIV
Everything I'm about to write is true. If anything, it's me who'd rather believe it was a lie or a joke... A customer left me a Specialized SHIV to work on. The…
I Replaced My Chidanu
The Chidanu (→ here ) nylon thread I use at work ran out, so I picked up a new one. Not every nylon thread can be called Chidanu, you see. For example, the nylo…
WH-9000-C24 and C35
I received a couple of WH-9000 C24 and C35 wheels from a customer for work. Let me start with the C24. Both wheels had no centering issues, but there was a bit …
Racing 1
A customer brought in the rear wheel of a Racing 1 for service. Wait, what's this! Using spare parts from Campagnolo and Fulcrum, during a period about 2 years …
Rebuilt GS Astute Carbon Wheels
Another day, another wheel (abbreviated hereinafter). Can't hide it with any discretion anyway, so never mind. A customer brought in carbon wheels from a brand …
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #4
Today's the last Saturday of the month, so the shop is closed. But I popped in for a bit anyway. Wheels again (you know the drill). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #4. Fro…
Ksyrium SLR
I received a Ksyrium SLR from a customer for service. The rim centering was seriously off on both front and rear wheels. The enclosed letter didn't mention it, …
Racing 1 2WAY-FIT
A customer brought in a Racing 1 2WAY-FIT for service. The wheel had some runout and the hub was off-center as well. On top of that, there seemed to be somethin…
Shamal Ultra
A customer left a Shamal Ultra with me for service. Both the front and rear derailleurs were off-center by about the same amount. There's something really satis…
Rebuilt Nomu Lab Wheel #4
I received Nomu Lab Wheel #4 from a customer. Unlike #2 from earlier, this time I'm reusing just the rim. The image is from after the rebuild. Oops, I forgot to…
Reassembled Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I received Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2 for repair. The rim is damaged from a crash. ↑The other side I replaced the rim and rebuilt…
Closed Tomorrow
We will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, November 27th. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2
It's wheel day again (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Front wheel is a Rolf Prima Leaf hub, 20H, radial laced with outpokes, Rear wheel is a Power Tap G3…
EA90SLX
I received an EA90SLX from a customer. This customer is from Shikoku and has visited our shop several times before. He said, "I crossed the bridge to go to Tott…
Culling Story
This is a continuation (→ of this ) of the culling story. Today I'm culling aluminum nipples. Ugh, what a pain. ↑Culled them out. The grainy image quality isn't…
Built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3. These rims are supplied as 20H for the front and 24H for the rear, but the 2…
Eulace
I received an Eulace from a customer. Other than the rear wheel center being slightly off, there were no particular issues. With recent Campagnolo/Fulcrum alumi…
Bora One 35
A customer brought in a Bora One 35 for service. What's really helpful about this compared to the Bora 50 series is that it doesn't have internal nipples. Being…
Ksyrium Elite
A customer left a Ksyrium Elite with me for service. With complete wheels, black spoke versions are pretty common, so to avoid noise coming from adjacent wheel …
Ksyrium SL
A customer dropped off a Ksyrium SL (Mavic wheel) with us. Apparently something's wrong with the rear wheel. The front wheel is perfectly centered, and as for l…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4
Another day, another wheel (you know the drill). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4. I deliberately chose the old Evo hub in 24H. It's leftover inven…
That's not what's happening
So, I think this is about the carbon wheels from the other day I got a comment saying something like I'm not bullying them
Reader Response (Discussion on 2:1 Lacing and F3 Spokes)
2:1 Lacing and F3 Spokes Discussion "You say 'unbalanced,' but the resultant force of the F1 spoke and the adjacent crossing F2 spoke is directly opposed by the…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Wheels again today (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Front wheel is a Leaf hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, and the rear wheel is a Leaf hub 24H all CX…
Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another wheel day (you know the drill). Built a practice wheel for Rokko mountain training. ↑It's just shorthand for communicating with customers, nothing deep …
ROVAL Rapide CL40
This is a continuation from two posts ago so please read that first if you haven't. A customer brought in ROVAL carbon 700C cyclocross disc brake wheels for us …
Cyclocross Tires Received
This is a continuation of my previous post, so if you haven't read that yet, please check it out first. A customer brought in cyclocross tires for me to work wi…
One Reason Why I Don't Hand-Build 2:1 Laced Wheels
When I had a day off recently ↑I posted a sketch like this, and I meant to write about it in detail, but work kept me too busy. I received a comment asking "Is …
The Original Racing 1
I received a Racing 1 from a customer. Since this was before Racing Zero came out, this was the flagship model back then. The customer had gotten hit by a car, …
RED WIND XLR50
I received a Red Wind bicycle from a customer for service. I checked the wheel runout and centering, and both were fine with no issues. I removed the original t…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1
I thought if I took two days off (though I didn't really) I'd finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Nope. Which way was the exit again...? Anyway, whe…
Temporary Closure
We will be closed tomorrow, November 18th (Tuesday). We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
I bought Pearl Izumi's "8300" winter gloves
I bought a thin Pearl Izumi winter glove. I was looking for Mavic's "Spring Glove"— the one I had for spring and autumn wear, which has been the same since the …
Rebuilt a Shimano PRO RC50 wheel
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer dropped off the rear wheel of what I thought was a Shimano PRO RC80 . UPDATE: It's an RC50. Sorry about that,…
Shamal Ultra
A customer brought in a Shamal Ultra for me to work on. The image shows only the rear wheel, but I have the front wheel here too. Both wheels have virtually no …
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Today it's wheels again (you know the drill). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Front wheel: Aerolight 18H hub, CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, Rear wheel: Leaf 24H hub,…
Built a wheel with Open Pro
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought me an Open Pro rim to work with. The sticker on the rim is point-symmetrical, so there's no left-right d…
Not closing, but taking a break
Tomorrow... or rather, it's already today, but October 28th (Tuesday) I'll be taking the day off from customer service. There's been a pile-up of work that I si…
The Grand Prix 4000 S II is back in stock again!
Continental's Grand Prix 4000 S II in 700×23C all-black has come back in stock again! The 20 units I mentioned before (→ here ) sold out in just 2 days. I have …
I Wired a BMC SL01 for Internal Cable Routing
The drill is screaming! A customer left me a BMC frame (non e-bike compatible) to work on. They wanted me to do internal cable routing for their electric Ultegr…
Responding to Comments (On That Point)
In a recent article I wrote about the Dura-Ace track rear hub issue (→ here ), I received a comment saying "On that point, I think something is off. If we're sa…
Built a wheel with Mechanico carbon WO rim and PowerTap hub
Another wheel day (details omitted). Built a wheel with a Mechanico carbon rim. It was supposed to be the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 initially, but the customer broug…
WH-9000-C24-TU Customer
A customer brought in the rear wheel of a 9000 C24 tubular for repair. They wanted me to fix the wheel centering issue, but when a customer definitively reports…
WH-7900-C24-TL
A customer dropped off a 7900 tubeless wheelset with us. The wheelset itself didn't have any major issues, but the bike this was mounted on had some pretty seri…
Kshrium Elite
A customer brought in a Kshrium Elite for service. The brake zone is clean and it's in near-mint condition, but even if it's from the final production run, it's…
Bora Ultra II
A customer brought me a Bora to work on. Apparently an acquaintance bought a new Bora with wider rims and gave it to him. Come on, you've already got a Fulcrum …
Xsirium 125
A customer brought in a Xsirium 125 for service. It's brand new, but the tires were already removed before they came in. Makes the work so much easier! （not sur…
DT Spoke Soldering Wire Binding Kit
The other day, I went to a trade show for a distributor that handles DT spokes, and a fellow mechanic who was much older than me asked the distributor a questio…
Rebuilt Carbon Wheels (Part 2)
More wheel work today (and so on). This is a continuation from the other day. Since there are stickers on the freewheel side in two places, I shot this from the…
I Set Some Rivet Nuts (A Double Feature)
The drill whines! I've done this kind of work before—creating new bottle cage holes— but today I'm talking about the rivet nuts used for this. It's not related,…
Rebuilt a Carbon Wheel (Part 1)
Another day with wheels (etc.). I received a carbon wheel from a customer to work on. Out of respect for my contact's work, I won't say which rim brand it is. T…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
More wheel building today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolight hub 24H, half-comp four-cross lacing with spoke joiner. I could…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Back to wheels again today (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Front wheel: Evo Hub 24H CX-RAY inpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evo Hub 28H semi-comp 48-s…
Racing Zero Sir
A customer left a Racing Zero rear wheel with me for repairs. There's one bent spoke, and they wanted me to replace it. ↑Right there. Once I released it from sp…
ZIPP 303
I received a ZIPP 303 (aerodynamic wheel set) from a customer. They wanted me to check the rim straightness and centering, do some retightening if possible, and…
POWERWAY SCORPIO 1
I received a POWERWAY (Japanese high-performance wheel manufacturer) Scorpio 1 wheel for service. It's a rear wheel with white aluminum spokes laced in a 20-hol…
FALCO PROCELLA SL
A customer brought in a wheel called the Procella SL from a brand called Falco (Italian bicycle wheel manufacturer). It's a wheel I'm seeing for the first time …
Assembled Nomo Lab Wheel #5 with a PowerTap hub featuring an 11-speed freewheel body custom-machined with spline grooves on a lathe
Another wheel day today (and so on). A customer dropped off a PowerTap hub with me. At first glance it looks like a 10-speed freewheel body, but there's a secre…
Ended up rebuilding the Nomu Lab wheel #2
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer left me their carbon rim rear wheel to work on. They want me to rebuild it. The reason being "it feels kind of m…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another day of wheels (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Front wheel is Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY four-cross Italian laced. Depending on the hub flange diameter…
Built up a Reynolds Attack 32 Carbon Rim
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer dropped off a Reynolds Attack rim with me. It's a 32mm-deep carbon rim, and this one's WO spec. Built up the front whe…
Grand Prix 4000 S II Back in Stock!
Continental's Grand Prix 4000 S II in 700×23C all-black has come back in stock! We had 70 units on backorder, but only 20 came in this time. When the rest will …
Taking a Day Off
Tomorrow, October 16th (Thursday), I'll be taking a day off due to unavoidable circumstances. I apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you for your understa…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another wheel day (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. The front wheel is an Evo Lite hub, 20H, outpoke radial lacing. Outpoke on an Evo is pretty rare th…
It does that
A custom order. I made a motorized mud flap saddle bag. Does that ↑Looks like Snoopy When you press the switch... Vroooom
ZIPP 303 Rim Rear Wheel Build (Do-Over)
This is a follow-up to my previous post (→ here ). The parts I needed for the rebuild arrived late. Eco-delivery has delayed my orders plenty of times before, b…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Another wheel day (you know the drill). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Turns out you don't need to peel off the rim sticker. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY inpok…
I Used the Unko Harigane X
Previously in the comments I received a request saying "Please write an article when you use the Unko Harigane X again!" I mean, who benefits from this...? Also…
I Did Truing Work on a Hand-Built Wheel (Probably)
This series with titles like "（Wheel Name）-san" is really just meant to spread the word that factory pre-built wheels from manufacturers have varying levels of …
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (you know the drill). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel is Leaf hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, Rear wheel is Leaf hub 24H four-cr…
Reassembled the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer left me the rear wheel of a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 to work on. It's a Record 32H hub with a full 1x8 build, but th…
I Bought a Fossil GRANT Watch
I bought a wristwatch called the GRANT from Fossil. Fossil is an American fashion brand centered around watches, and besides timepieces, they handle leather bag…
Built a ZIPP 303 Rim Rear Wheel
Another wheel build today (and so on). A customer brought me a ZIPP 303 rim. ↑Firecrest. They sent just the rim, saying their original rear wheel feels a bit sl…
WH-RS21
A customer brought in a WH-RS21 for service. There was a slight centering issue on the rear wheel, and otherwise I just did some fine wheel truing. The spokes o…
Shamal Ultra 2WAY-FIT
A customer dropped off a Shamal Ultra wheel for me to work on. The centering on both wheels was spot-on, but there was quite a bit of runout (especially on the …
Built a wheel with Hongfu's WO carbon rim
Wheels again today (and so on). Built a wheel with a Hongfu rim. Front wheel is a Leaf hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel is a Leaf hub 24H semi-c…
Bora One
A customer brought in a Bora One for service. The images are from after the work, but since it has internal nipples, if any adjustment is needed the tubular tir…
Shamal Ultra Dark Label
A customer brought in a Shamal Ultra for me to work on. I mentioned in an earlier post about customers coming from far away, so I should add Nagano Prefecture t…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
It looks like a pair with the front wheel from earlier, but they're actually unrelated. A customer brought in the rear wheel from their Nomu Lab Wheel #1 (a cus…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. I'm lacing an ultra-wide flange hub 20H with a CX-RAY inpoke radial pattern.
WH-RS21
A customer brought in a WH-RS21 for service. Not that I only had a tire on the rear wheel. I remove the tire temporarily to check the rim centering, but I just …
WH-9000-C24-CL
I received a C24 from a customer. Brand new, never ridden. Both front and rear wheels were perfectly centered with only the slightest runout. If only they were …
Eurahs Customer Bike
A customer brought in their Eurahs for service. Both wheels were perfectly centered with only very slight runout. The hub rotation was smooth despite having bal…
Euras 2WAY-FIT
A customer dropped off an Euras (vintage Japanese utility bike) with me. The customer said it was "pretty worn out," but it actually had some repairs done on it…
Cosmic Carbon Pro
A customer left a Cosmic Carbon Pro with me for service. The Cosmic Carbon was originally supplied only to pro riders as a full carbon tubular rim wheelset, but…
Fulcrum Racing Zero LT Premium
A customer brought in a Fulcrum Racing Zero LT Premium wheel for service. The rear wheel center was slightly off, but it would probably meet the manufacturer's …
Ksyrium SR
A customer brought in the front wheel of a Ksyrium SR (Mavic high-performance wheelset) for us to look at. They mentioned there were bent spokes and asked if we…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Wheels again today (and so on). A do-over from yesterday. Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H, CX-RAY inpoke radial laced, Rear wheel: Leaf hu…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2. But...
Another wheel day (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. It's a Reaf hub 24H, semi-comp 4-cross lacing with direct spoking. I was going to b…
They've Arrived
The Leaf hubs have been restocked. Thank you so much for your patience. I order in units of 100 at a time, and usually I'd split them 50 front and 50 rear, but …
Built a wheel with ENVE 1-45 rim
More wheelbuilding today (and so on...). Built a wheel using an ENVE 1-45 rim. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H, black CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evo…
Taking a Day Off
It's become today instead of tomorrow, but on Friday, September 19th, I'll be taking the day off due to unavoidable circumstances. I apologize for any inconveni…
Coga Chimera (Non-Electric Compatible) Routed with Internal Wiring
The drill is screaming! A customer brought in a Coga Chimera for me to work on. It's a frame that's not compatible with electronic components, but they're askin…
Built Ambrosio Chrono 20 Rims with WR Hubs
What... what are these things...!? Anyway, another wheel build today (and so on...). A package specified for September 19th delivery arrived at our shop on Sept…
Racing ZERO 2WAY-FIT
I received a Racing ZERO (Campagnolo hub) from a customer. ↑Before work ↑After work Since it was already pretty clean to begin with, the difference is hard to s…
Ksyrium SLS
I received a Ksyrium SLS from a customer. This one didn't have any major wobble or centering issues either. The Ksyrium K10 has the rim-side machining very noti…
Built a wheel with ZIPP's QUICK-V250 rim
Built a wheel with ZIPP's QUICK-V250 rim. ↑These are the rims. Both are 24H. These are from around 2004, and ZIPP's 700C tubular rims back then were QUICK-V250 …
Spinergy Zerolight
～さんシリーズの表題ですが、 For the title of this ～さん series, when it comes to major wheel manufacturers, I'd just use the model name alone, like "Kishirium 125さん" or "Racin…
Built a wheel with Honfu carbon tubular rim
Another wheel build day (and so on). Got a Honfu rim from a customer. Today's is a tubular model with a matte finish. I've got a hub that looks like a BITEX. Th…
Some Additional Notes on That Wheel
So that's the title, though it's only tangentially related to Hongfu. Part 1 The mystery carbon WO rim I built the other day had "Do not set brake shoes any fur…
Built a wheel with Hong Fu carbon WO rim
Another wheel day today (and so on). A customer brought in a Hong Fu carbon rim for me to work with. It's WO spec. The glossy finish is apparently a recently re…
Racing 1 2WAY-FIT Customer Work
I received a Racing 1 from a customer for service. Before putting the front wheel on the truing stand, I felt something off that made me open the hub first. The…
After All
Continental's Giro tubular tires have come back in stock. Or rather, I confirmed they were back at the distributor so I nervously ordered a small quantity. My p…
The Front Wheel of a Kシリウム 125
I received a front wheel from a Kシリウム 125 (Ksilium 125 wheel set) from a customer. Just the front wheel. I saw the rear wheel before (→ here ). Regarding that r…
Built Nomunlab Wheel #4
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I built Nomunlab Wheel #4. The front wheel is an Aerolite hub 20H, fully comp four-cross laced. Most people order Nomunl…
Built a wheel with ENVE 1-65 rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I'm building a wheel with an ENVE 1-65 rim, and setting aside other distractions when I weighed it, it came in at 385…
Built a Mulab Wheel No. 5 with a PowerTap Hub
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer dropped off a PowerTap G3 hub with me. It's got a Campagnolo freebody. For a reason, I wrapped a rubber band around t…
Replying to Comments (About "～san")
I receive wheels from customers with the note "～" in my blog posts. Except in cases where parts need to be replaced and we don't have them in stock, I try to re…
Ksyrium 125
I received a Ksyrium 125 from a customer. Regarding its history, I didn't ask where it came from, but the customer casually let it slip that they'd bought it fr…
Cosmic Carbon SL
A customer brought in a Cosmic Carbon SL for service. I needed to remove the rim tape for the work, and since both front and rear rims had significant dents, I …
Bora One Service
A customer brought in a Bora One (high-end wheel set) for service. The front wheel didn't have enough runout that I would normally remove the tire for, but unfo…
Built a Carbon WO Rim with a Powertap Hub
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer left me with a Powertap rear wheel to work on. I noticed the non-freehub side had unusually high tension... I…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 with a Powertap Hub
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer left me with a Powertap hub. 32 holes. It has build marks on it, so it's not brand new, but the condition is extremel…
Summer Break
Since starting the Nomu Lab, I think this is the first time I've gone on a long cycling trip with a customer. While riding along a mountain road in Kameoka City…
Built Nomulab Wheel #5 with a PowerTap Hub
Another wheel day (and so on). But first. When building wheels with PowerTap hubs at our shop, we've been doing "overhauls that involve pressing out cartridge b…
Ksyrium 125
A customer brought in a Ksyrium 125 for service. The front wheel had a slight centering issue and virtually no run-out, but the spoke tension was way too low ov…
Built a front wheel with a 38mm high carbon rim
Back to wheel building today (and so on). A customer crashed and damaged the rim on the front wheel of the Nomu Lab Wheel #2, and they left it with me for repai…
Kanjincho
This is a continuation of this article from the other day . The Crab Beam, which you might think never dies like a comic book character, is actually a real hass…
Bora One
A customer left a Bora One with me for service. Since this is an early Bora One, the bearings use steel ball bearings instead of USB bearings. There wasn't enou…
WH-9000-C24-CL
A customer brought in a WH-9000-C24 WO model for service. Both front and rear had just the slightest centering drift, but the kind that disappears naturally onc…
Zonda
I received a Zonda from a customer. Regarding when the manufacturer applies stickers to the rim, it's probably before the wheel is built. Built wheels can't lay…
Ksyrium Elite
A customer brought in a Ksyrium Elite for me to work on. Just the rear wheel. It belongs to a cycling buddy I've known for a long time, and I have a feeling I'v…
Aksium
I received an Aksium from a customer. Based on the spec changes, this is the second-generation Aksium. The rim says "Aksium Race," but that's been the same sinc…
Built a wheel with the new Barcelona 92 rim
Another day on wheels (you know the drill). Got a Campagnolo Barcelona 92 in for service. This is one of the last two hand-built rims that Campagnolo ever sold.…
Taking a Break Around Obon
I'll be taking a break around Obon (summer holiday). Normally I'd be fine with just my regular day off, but I want to go cycling with customers who can only tak…
I rebuilt a Reynolds 66mm high rim wheel
Another day of wheel work (and so on). But before that. A customer brought in a Reynolds DV46UL front wheel for me to work on. I checked it for runout and cente…
A Response to an Eccentric Comment
The other day, I built a front wheel using a Tune (チューン) front hub and at that time, as one of the precautions, I used the phrase "exotic wheel building prohibi…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Today it's wheels again (and so on... I built Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Front wheel is an Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY inpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel is an Evolite h…
WH-7800
I received a WH-7800 from a customer. They want me to check runout and centering, plus do a hub overhaul. Shimano was the originator of the freehub body design …
Built nomu lab wheel #5 as a replacement for the WH-7900
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a replacement wheel for the WH-7900-C24. A customer had a major crash on a descent the other day, and both bike and wheel…
Mavic Speedcity CL
I've taken in a Mavic Speedcity for service. It's a 700C wheel with a disc rotor mounting bracket attached to the hub, rear overlock nut dimension of 135mm. It'…
Teaching People (I Couldn't Do It)
In the previous post I shortened the chain by 2 links, and every time I do this work I get hit with this nagging feeling of guilt. When I was at Silvest Cycle p…
Deer Seeker
Lately, I've been doing night rides at some ungodly hour （basically starting around 2 AM）, and one of my courses is basically a supernatural wasteland at night,…
Added Extra Bottle Cage Mounting Holes
The drill screams to life! ↑This is a Ridley Orion, but because the frame size is small, it only has a bottle cage hole on the down tube. Usually in such cases,…
Bontrager Wheel
A customer brought in a Bontrager rear wheel for servicing. Most likely it came stock on a Trek complete bike. The customer tried truing it themselves, but appa…
Racing ZERO Competition
A customer left a Racing ZERO with us for service. This is a limited edition model with CULT bearing specifications. Fulcrum and Campagnolo are technically sepa…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another wheel day (you know the drill). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel is an Evo Lite hub, 20H, CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing. Right now, I've made it a…
Taking a Day Off Today
I have some unavoidable business to take care of, so I'm taking today off. I'll probably be taking the day off in two days as well. That one's because of an exh…
Aksium
A customer brought in the rear wheel of a Mavic Aksium (wheelset brand) for me to work on. It's not that there's anything wrong with the wheel itself, but for c…
PowerTap Hub Carbon Rim Wheel - Gokuchou Custom
I received a PowerTap hub carbon rim wheel from a customer. As usual, I have no idea which rim this is. The front wheel has a noticeable wobble in one spot (the…
Ksyrium 125
I received a Ksyrium 125 from a customer. They rode it in on the bike after it arrived. The only distance traveled was the ride here to the shop. You can unders…
Rolf Dolomite Disc
I received the rear wheel of a Rolf Dolomite Disc from a customer. The issue was that the freewheel body had some play in it, so I want to remove the freewheel …
Easton Haven
A customer brought in an Easton Haven for me to work on. The rear wheel spokes had some splintering on them, so ideally I'd want to replace them, but since thes…
Installed the Alfine Display Unit
Actually, this is an article that briefly went up the other day but the content was risky, so I self-censored it. It's a shame to scrap it, so I've made some co…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on). I took in a wheel that got severely damaged in a crash during a race. Since only the hub was in a reusable state, I greased it u…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel: Evolight hub 20H, CX-RAY inpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evolight hub 2…
Methods for Determining Whether Asymmetrical Left-Right Spoke Lacing is Feasible
The other day, I wrote about hand-built wheels with 2:1 lacing on the freewheel side having an extremely high risk of spoke neck breakage on the non-freewheel s…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4
It's wheels again today (you know the drill). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4. Though technically the rim, hub, and tire were all customer-supplie…
Installing the SM-BTR2
The drill is screaming! I'm installing Shimano's cylindrical electric component battery into the seatpost. ↑This is the type of pressure anchor I'm modifying. I…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Front wheel: Leaf hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, Rear wheel: Leaf hub 24H semi-comp 4-cross …
EA70
I've taken in an Easton EA70 for repair. One spoke is missing, so it needs to be replaced. Interestingly, the spoke has broken midway along its length. It's on …
Racing ZERO
I received a Racing ZERO from a customer for servicing. This is the later color variant with black-red-black finish of the first-generation Racing ZERO, which o…
Racing ZERO
I took a Racing ZERO in from a customer. They want wheel truing, center checks, and hub overhauls done. ↑The spoke tension is pulling so hard that the bend is h…
Racing 1 2WAY-FIT Customer Bike
I received a Racing 1 from a customer. One spoke is bent, so it needs to be replaced. ↑With spoke tension pulling on it, the bend is hard to see, but if I relea…
Bora One 35
I received a Bora One 35 from a customer. They wanted me to check the wheel truing and centering. The hub internals had been swapped to CULT bearings front and …
Second Generation Bora
I received a Bora wheel from a customer. This is the next model after the original Bora (→ here ), a Bora with an aluminum brake zone. The original Bora's rim i…
Ksyrium SLR
A customer dropped off a Ksyrium SLR with me. Apparently it's had no maintenance for two years since purchase, but it didn't look that worn out. Looking at the …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Please stop calling a visit to our shop a "pilgrimage to a sacred site"... Anyway, wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5…
EA90SLX
A customer brought in the front wheel of an EA90SLX for repair. This is the one I mentioned before in the Easton wheel repair post—the one I figured would be co…
Built wheels with a Chris King rear hub and a King front hub
Another wheel day (and so on). I took in a Chris King rear hub. It's for MTB, so the over-locknut dimension is 135mm. The front hub is a King. The original "Kin…
Cosmic Carbon 40C
A customer brought in a Cosmic Carbon 40C (a wheel model) for service. They wanted me to check the wheel runout and centering. When it comes to build precision …
Racing Speed XLR
A customer dropped off a Racing Speed bike for service. To be precise, it's an XLR with carbon hubs and CULT bearing specification. Normally I'd true the wheels…
Built an Open Pro with a Chris King hub
Another wheel day (details below). I received a Chris King hub from a customer. Pink anodize finish, 32H front and rear. I'm building a wheel with this and a Ma…
Built a wheel with the WH-7801C rim
Wheels again today (and so on). I had a WH-7801C rear wheel on consignment. I think the customer said something like "I'm using it for Norikura, so please take …
Geko Geko
During a night ride after the rain, I stopped when I found a vending machine near some rice paddies and there are often several tree frogs clinging to it. I'm g…
Moonlight Gecko
During night rides, when I find a vending machine in the mountains and stop, it's often so completely covered in insects and spider webs that I hesitate to buy …
Continental Giro Currently Out of Stock
Continental's "Giro" tire is currently out of stock. The next shipment is scheduled for mid-August, but since it's been out of stock since mid-June, it'll take …
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Back to wheels today (and so on... Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Front wheel is Evolight hub 20H CX-RAY inpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel is Evolight hub 24H semi-com…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day, another wheel build (you know the deal). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Tni vintage Evo hub, 24H, CX-RAY spokes, inpoke radial laced.
Tire Direction on Ixia 125
This is a continuation of my previous post. Regarding the tires on the Ixia 125, it seems "the front wheel has the tread pattern in the reverse direction" is th…
Ksyrium 125
A customer brought in a Ksyrium 125 for work. This is a separate case from the one I did recently. The customer installed the sprocket themselves. They brought …
Built a wheel with ENVE's 1-45 rim
Another day on wheels (and so on...). Built a wheel with ENVE's 1-45 rim. Front wheel is an Axolite hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel is an Axoli…
I Bought a Cat Eye VOLT300 (Part 2)
I bought a Cat Eye high-brightness LED light called the "VOLT300". VOLT300 is a pet name, with the model number HL-EL460RC, but not many people call it that, so…
I Bought a CatEye VOLT300 (Part 1)
I bought a CatEye VOLT300, so I'd like to write up some thoughts about it, but I haven't taken any photos for the article yet, so I'm going to go shoot some now…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day, another wheel build (you know the drill). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel: Evo Lite hub, 20H, CX-RAY spokes, inpoke radial lacing, Rear w…
Dammit! You've stripped it!
I was installing a SRAM RED rear derailleur and discovered that the bolt head had been stripped in a crash, so the hex key wouldn't fit anymore. Dammit! You've …
Bullet Ultra 50 Dark Label
A customer brought in a Bullet 50mm high-rim wheelset for service. Since it says "Ultra," it has CULT bearings. They apparently bought it right when it came out…
Built Nomunabo Wheel #1 with an ALX440 Hub
Another wheel day (and so on). I received the rear wheel of an ALX440, which is a wheel from A-CLASS (A-Class), the complete wheel brand of ALEX RIMS. Looking c…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1 with a PowerTap Hub
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I received a G3 hub from a customer. Yeah, that's an ominous-looking image, but don't worry about it. Of course, the usual …
The Rear Wheel of a Ksyrium 125
Not FJ... anyway, a customer brought in a rear wheel from a Ksyrium 125 for work. It matches nicely with the yellow consideration look. What exactly it's being …
Hozan K-140 Rubber Whetstone
I bought a Hozan K-140. Fair warning: writing it as K.140 can get confused with Mozart's opus numbers (Köchel catalog numbers). Hozan's rubber whetstones come i…
Original Bora
I received an original Bora wheel from a customer. There were missing parts inside the hub and various issues, so I sourced parts from a matching-era new hub in…
Racing ZERO Limited Edition
A customer dropped off a Racing ZERO with me. They're swapping out from race-spec carbon tubular wheels back to these daily-use wheels, and there's brake shoe r…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
More wheels today (and so on). Built the Nomu Lab wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY (and so on). Yesterday I built one with exactly the same specs, but this i…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (you know the drill). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel: Ebolite hub 20H CX-RAY inpoke radial laced, Rear wheel: Ebolite hub 24H semi-c…
Rock and Roller's Ayatollah
In that earlier post about bouncing where I said "Hyah-hah!" the source of that tacky self-portrait isn't from Fist of the North Star... it's from "Mad Max 2." …
Curved Blade Wheel Orientation and the Sugino 75 Crank I Shaved Down
This is a continuation of my previous post? The owner of the CSC wheel asked me to "write about this," so I also took a photo of the FiR 5-blade rear wheel. The…
ZIPP 101
A customer left me a ZIPP 101 wheel for service. It's ZIPP's only full aluminum rim model. Apparently it was built by Wheelbuilder.com, but despite the meticulo…
Rejecting Defective Parts
I wrote about yield rate before, but naturally some defective products slip past the manufacturer's quality checks. Today I'll write about the nipples, spokes, …
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Another day of wheel building (and so on). It's pretty rare that I can get a wheel built during official shop hours. This isn't something recent—it's been like …
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Another wheel day (and so on...). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Front wheel is a Leaf hub, 20H, all-Campagnolo outpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel is a Leaf hub, …
Rebuilt and newly built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Another day of wheels (and so on). I decided to rebuild the rear wheel on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. It's a 24-hole full Competition 4-cross lacing pattern, but it h…
Spoke Specific Gravity of Hoshi Aero Star Bright III Type (No. 14)
I investigated the spoke specific gravity of Hoshi's Aero SB3 spokes. "Spoke specific gravity" is a term I coined for this blog— it's the ratio of how much a sp…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel: Reef hub CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, Rear wheel: Reef hub semi-competition 46-spo…
Ground Down the F-22 Armrest
A customer dropped off a bike with me. It has a Profile T2+ aerobar mounted on it, and the armrest portion of this uses Profile's "F-22" component. The base of …
Built up an ENVE 1–45
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a wheel with an ENVE 1–45 rim. Front wheel is a Leaf hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, Rear wheel is a Leaf hub 24H semi…
On Continental Tubular Tire Specifications
Continental's Competition tubulars come in 22mm and 19mm widths, but the 19mm width has been out of stock for quite a while (about 2 months). Then it was restoc…
Taking a Day Off
Tomorrow—or rather, today has arrived, and on May 30th (Friday) I'll be taking the day off due to unavoidable circumstances. I apologize for any inconvenience, …
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evo-Lite hub, 24H, semi-comp laced with 46-spoke pattern, wired connection. I w…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #3
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #3. The customer's application is for time trial use, but with disc wheels, on co…
DV46 Cross
I received a Reynolds DV46 Cross from a customer. It's not the usual rear wheel rebuild request for DV46 models. They wanted me to check for runout and centerin…
Swapped Nomu Lab Wheel #1 to the Front Wheel
Another day with wheels (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I really wanted to finish this yesterday, but... I built a front wheel using the XR300 rim I too…
A Mystery Solved After All These Years
The shop I used to work at had a Seven-Eleven next door (in the same building), and there was a staff member who was always buying self-service drip coffee from…
I had about 2m left over from the TTP-2
I recently mounted tires on the Honphuri (Hon Phuri) rims I'd built up, and after taping the rear wheel, I cut off the front wheel at just under half a circumfe…
I Adjusted the Chain Clearance
I adjusted the chain clearance. This is not a chain clearance correction. Before and after the work. The chain clearance is looking much better. Usually I use t…
Bora One 35
A customer dropped off a Bora One 35 with us. It's new but has virtually no runout, and both front and rear wheels are perfectly centered. Apparently it was pur…
WH-7900-C24-TL Customer
I took in a customer's WH-7900 C24 wheels. They're tubeless spec. I took them in to check both front and rear wheels for runout and centering, but given how lon…
I Replaced the Bearings in a PowerTap Hub
A customer dropped off the rear wheel from their のむラボホイール5号 (Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5). It's a PowerTap hub, and they said the bearings seemed to be going bad and a…
Reassembled Nomu Lab Wheel #1 into Wheel #5
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I was asked to reassemble the rear wheel of Nomu Lab Wheel #1 with its PowerTap hub. We're reassembling it into Nomu Lab…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5 with Record Hub
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer left me with a current-generation Record 32H black hub. It's basically the same spec as the previous generati…
Built nomu-lab Wheel #5 with XT Disc Hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I had a customer request to build nomu-lab Wheel #5 with a silver Shimano XT hub, but the supplier only had black hub…
Built a Wheel with HongFu Carbon Rim
A customer brought me a HongFu carbon rim to work with. Way back when I built a wheel with this rim before, I got a comment asking "How does this compare to an …
Built Nomulabo Wheel No. 1 with a Powertap Hub
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought me a Powertap wheel to work on. The spokes were Wheelsmith lightweight butted spokes, but the rim and ri…
Racing ZERO 2WAY-FIT Front Wheel
A customer brought in the front wheel from a Racing ZERO for repairs. The reason was to replace a broken spoke. Right here. It's rare for a spoke to break mid-l…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Back at the wheels again today (you know the drill). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Rear wheel: Aerolite hub, 24H, semi-comp cross laced 4-cross with no crossing c…
Overhauled Nomu Lab Wheel #1
A customer brought in their Nomu Lab Wheel #1 (custom wheel) with a PowerTap hub for service. They wanted the hub overhauled, so I also did some wheel truing wh…
Built a SMART ENVE 45 Rim Wheel
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). I built a rear wheel using the SMART ENVE 45 rim. This rim is neither an offset rim nor does it have left/right de…
Cosmic Carbon SLR
A customer brought in a Cosmic Carbon SLR rear wheel for service. It's an ambitious design that's been discontinued—the inverted-V shaped carbon spokes connect …
I Love How Thin the ZS2 Cap Is
A customer asked me to replace the headset top cap on their bike with a thinner one. Not that I need to mention the model, but it's a Cannondale CAAD10. This is…
It Might Be Impossible
I upgraded a customer's bike from Shimano 10-speed to 11-speed, and among the rear derailleur, chain, and sprocket I replaced, the chain was clearly stretched s…
Chain Ring Tooth Engagement Correction
A customer recently mentioned that when they searched for "tooth engagement correction" (歯離れ修正), my blog came up in the results. But I should clarify—"tooth eng…
Built a 50mm High Carbon WO Rim
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer dropped off a carbon WO rim for me to work with. It's a rim with that familiar sticker, but this time it's Meccanico …
Built a Wheel with an ENVE 1-45 Rim
I built a wheel using an ENVE 1-45 rim. Front wheel is a Ritchey CX-RAY hub laced outpoke radial, Rear wheel is a Ritchey hub laced semi-comp 4-cross with reinf…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evolite hub 20H with CX-RAY inpoke radial lacing. The aero-butted section of t…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Another wheel day (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. I built two pairs of front and rear wheels, but Both rear wheels are Evolite hubs 24H, half-comp 4x…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1 with a PowerTap Hub
Another day working on wheels (and so on). A customer handed me a G3 hub in 28-hole configuration. Since it's brand new there's not much to see, so I'll just no…
That's What You Get From a "Brand Specialist Shop"
A customer dropped off some Specialized shoes for me to work on. 2008 model S-Works. The wire on the left shoe snapped, and the wire on the right shoe is also f…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #4
Another day, another wheel (you know the drill). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #4. Front 20H, rear 24H. Personally, I'd like to build both front and rear as 24H, but sin…
Taking Tomorrow Off
Tomorrow is April 29th, but I have some unavoidable business to attend to, so I'll be taking the day off. I apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you for y…
Built a Carbon Rim with a DT Hub
Another wheel day (and so on). As I mentioned briefly the other day, I disassembled a DT 1900 wheel that a customer brought in. I'm building a wheel using this …
I Think I Just Built What Might Be Nōmu Lab Wheel #1
Wheels again today (et cetera). The last Saturday of the month is normally closed, but I kept the shop open anyway because I had promised to hand off some wheel…
Rebuilt a Mavic GEL280 rear wheel
I received a wheel from a customer. ↑There was an illustration like this on the shipping box, Do they think that drawing something like this will get them featu…
About the SM-AD67
Regarding the compatibility of Shimano electronic derailleur front mechs and the SM-AD67, or rather whether the support bolt makes contact I received a comment …
Built Muralab Wheel #1 with a Powertap Hub
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer left me with a Powertap SL+ hub, 24-hole, to build a wheel. Right off the bat—heat shrink tubing, no questions asked.…
Working on ENVE 1-45 Rim Wheels and Reynolds DV46 Wheels
Another day of wheels (and so on). I received an ENVE 1-45 rim wheel built with American Classic hubs for service. The customer requested truing and general ins…
For Those Cutting Their Knees on Stem Bolts
I was looking over the headset parts on a customer's bike, and there were bolts sticking out from the stem. I asked "Does this ever cut your knees?" and they sa…
I Overhauled a RockShox SID RACE
I did a complete overhaul on a RockShox SID (suspension fork) from around 2004. The stroke is smooth and buttery now. How long it'll stay that way is anybody's …
Installing an SRM crankset, but...
I installed an SRM crank that a customer brought in onto their bike. I initially thought this was a 9000 crankset that SRM had done secondary machining on... Bu…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
I built the front wheel to match the rear wheel I assembled the other day for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Laced radially with outpokes on a Leaf Hub CX-RAY.
Rebuilt the Front Wheel with a CXP22 Rim
Another wheel day (details to follow). Got a front wheel from a customer to work on. The rim is a Mavic CXP22, but paired with a FELT-branded hub, so this appea…
Looking for a 26mm Lockring
The other day, I was boasting about Campagnolo old 9-speed hub 26mm lockrings, saying things like "I have tons of them lying around" Then I got an inquiry askin…
Response to Comments (Does Nomu Lab Hate Shimano Wheels?)
I received a comment about the Mavic 40C wheels. "I remember seeing the 7900-c35 being criticized here before for having a heavy rim outer section. (omitted)...…
Apology and Correction
This is a follow-up to my recent post about American Classic's slitted hub design (→ here ). I stated that those hubs were limited to JIS or Italian lacing, but…
Rebuilt a ZIPP 303 rim wheel
Another day working on wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a ZIPP 303 rim wheel for me to work on. The hub is a 7900, and the spokes are CX-RAY in a 4-4 I…
Cosmic Carbon 40C
A customer left a Cosmic Carbon 40C with me for service. The "40C" designation means a 40mm rim height with a clincher rim. I received it a while back, but I'm …
Installing a Short Battery Bracket
The drill is singing! ↑I put this standard opening line at the start of the article so that when I look back on it later, it's easier to search for. Though I di…
I Tried Wako's Carnauba Shake Wax
The other day when I did an overhaul, I touched up some frame scratches, and that's when I used Wako's (Japanese automotive care brand) carnauba wax. I wanted t…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer bent the rim in a crash, so I quickly swapped out the rim and rebuilt it. Both before and after the rebuild, the rim …
Assembled Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Another day with wheels (and so on...). I built up the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Well, I should say I just completed the preliminary practice wheel f…
Responses to Comments
An apology and correction! (→ see here ) I could edit the post, but I want to keep things like this as-is so I'm leaving it unchanged. Regarding the American Cl…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day with wheels (and so on). I didn't come to the shop specifically to build a wheel, but I can't seem to settle down without touching the truing stand,…
Taking a break tomorrow and the day after
I apologize for the inconvenience, but I'll be taking a break tomorrow and the day after. I'll still be working behind the scenes, just not available publicly. …
The Boy Who Cried Wolf (In Reverse)
DT's 2.0 aluminum nipples in silver are arriving! About 76 boxes showed up. I ordered 100 boxes, but it turned out the distributor only had 76 boxes in stock. E…
Assembled the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day with wheels (and so on). I received a rear wheel built with a Suntour Sprint hub and a Mavic GP4 rim. 32 holes. The GP4 is one model before the fina…
I Changed My Saddle Bag
Someone gave me a assortment of baked goods, and before I knew it, eating one after another, they were all gone. Thank you for the meal. I've been using an OSTR…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4
Another day of wheel (you know the rest). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial laced front wheel. I want to build a 24H version of …
I Bought Elite's Legero
I personally purchased Elite's ultra-lightweight carbon bottle cage, the "Legero". The claimed weight is 15g, but since I have a bike that weighs 4980g without …
Built the rear wheel for an Alfine hub
Another wheel build today (and so on). The earlier post about building a 24H rim with a 32H hub was written for this wheel project. It was a real struggle after…
Building a 32H Hub with a 24H Rim
So as the title says, I want to build a 32H hub with a 24H rim, but when I ask Google about it... this blog's article comes up first (→ here ). Looks like I hav…
Converting an "FFWD Hub" to 11-speed
This is an extremely risky topic, so I'll be using redacted text and such throughout. Thanks for your understanding. A customer dropped off an FFWD F6R rear whe…
If You're Thinking About Converting a 7900 Rear Hub or Wheel to 11-Speed, It's Not Going to Happen
Recently I set up a category called "11-Speed Compatibility Talk". In the comments I've gotten questions about whether Shimano components work with Campagnolo s…
Rebuilt the ENVE Rim Wheels
Another day, another wheel (you know the drill). A customer brought in a set of wheels built with ENVE 1-45 rims. The front wheel was built with an American Cla…
Messenger from Planet X
Another day, another whee... (and so on). A customer brought in just the rear wheel with a carbon rim. I have no idea which manufacturer it's from. And even if …
Racing 1 2WAY-FIT Overhaul
I've taken in a Racing 1 for a complete overhaul. Both wheels came in with tires attached, but when I took these photos the front tire happened to be off. The p…
Bora One's Rear Wheel
A customer dropped off a Bora One rear wheel with us. Apparently they got a Garmin speed/cadence sensor tangled up in it, but the spokes looked fine. The wheel …
Rebuilt a wheel with the same rim as Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Today's supposed to be the last Saturday of the month, so I should be closed, but I had a few customer appointments, so I opened up the shop anyway. More wheels…
Rebuilt an LWC 88mm High Carbon Rim
Before I get to the wheel in the title. About the origin of that 88mm high rim wheel I rebuilt the other day (→ here ) I was being coy about it, but I'll contin…
Built the Mulab Wheel No. 1 with a Powertap Hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on). A customer entrusted me with a Powertap hub. 20H (spokes). For reasons already taken care of, the heat shrink tubing …
The Original Racing 1 Rear Wheel
I took in a rear wheel from an original Racing 1 from a customer. They said there were various issues to fix, but as I've written before, when customers are awa…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2
I've built up all the 38mm carbon rims we had in stock, but ↑more rims arrived today. Still plenty of work on the to-do list. Another wheel-building day (and so…
I Converted an Autobahn to Shimano 11-Speed
A customer dropped off a lightweight Autobahn for me to work on. A lightweight disc wheel. The white one that came out before this, and the even earlier version…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Front wheel is an Evolite 20H inpoke CX-RAY radial lace, and the rear wheel is an Evolite 24H semi-c…
Campagnolo Ultra-Torque BB Cup Reverted to Original Bronze Color
The Campagnolo Ultra-Torque BB cup color has reverted from black to the bronze color of the original generation. One difference is that it now has EPS compatibi…
If There's No Freebody, Just Buy a Hub!
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer dropped off a ZIPP 303 24H rim wheel. The hub is a PowerTap SL+, and the spokes are CX-RAY on both sides. The wheel bu…
Responding to Comments (Continuing the Dual-Pivot Brake Discussion)
I received a comment about the dual-pivot brake topic from the other day. "The C-arm (and Y-arm) only undergo circular motion around their pivot points, so the …
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Another wheel day (you know the drill). About that leftover Tni sticker adhesive— it varies quite a bit depending on how you peel it off. "Hard to peel = lots o…
Built the rear wheel for NomuLab Wheel #2
Built the rear wheel for NomuLab Wheel #2. This is just a rear wheel order. Thanks for calling the other day — I really appreciate it. ↑I shouldn't be lazy and …
Rebuilt a wheel spec'd like the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a wheel for work. The rim is a Kinlin XR200 20H, the hub is a Novatech 291 and the spokes are CX-RAY, so it…
Second Generation Kシリウム SL
A customer dropped off a Kシリウム SL (Mavic wheel) with me. This is the third generation of the flagship Kシリウム, the second generation of the Kシリウム SL, and the firs…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1
I told myself I wasn't going to build a wheel today but my hands had other ideas... Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Front wheel is a Leaf Hub CX-RAY outpoke radial lac…
Replying to Comments
I'll split this up since it would be too long to add as a note. Wako's (Japanese automotive care brand) makes a coating product called "Various Coat," and someo…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Front wheel is an Avolite hub CX-RAY with inpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel is an Avolite semi…
Wako's Carnauba Wax - Highly Recommended!
I'm doing a complete overhaul on a bike a customer dropped off, and ↑The dropout's bent out of shape! Anyway, I'm noticing small scratches and dirt on the frame…
About Dual-Pivot Brake Adjustment
I'm doing a complete overhaul on a customer's bike, and there's this screw on the shoulder of the dual-pivot brake, ↑this one. It's pretty loose, but basically …
Built the Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Front wheel: Evolite Hub CX-RAY with inpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evolite Hub half-c…
Closed Tomorrow
Tomorrow, March 18th (Tuesday), I have some urgent business to attend to, so I'll be taking the day off. I apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you for yo…
Cuteness is Justice
A spoke flew off the むラボホイール No. 1 (muLabo wheel) not long after it was built, so the customer sent it to me. I apologize for the trouble. I've never seen a CX-…
First Generation Ksyrium SL
A customer brought me a wheel to work on. It's a Ksyrium SL. The job is just to replace some broken spokes, but The Ksyrium's spokes have nipples with a coarse …
Replaced My SW-0
I replaced my Park Tool nipple wrench. It's the SW from the Spoke Wrench line. The main reason for replacing it was the wear on the gripping surfaces—the part t…
＞－－－－－＜ ＜－－－＞ ←Same length
I bought a Park Tool CSB-1. It's a saw blade for carbon. CSB probably stands for Carbon Saw Blade. But the length is completely different from my existing saw. …
Dream Ending
I got a comment asking if Kani Kosen (Crab Laser) is really dead. Since literally nobody around me actually believes he's gone for good , I'd like to casually b…
Built a small-diameter Alex rim with an American Classic hub
Another wheel day (details omitted). A customer left me an ETRTO 451mm rim. It's a 20-inch WO rim. (The 20-inch HE is ETRTO 406mm) The R390 has a single eyelete…
Replies to Comments
I got a few comments on the other day's wheel article from completely unrelated tangents to the main topic. First, about the comment: "The consideration guy wit…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 with a 7400 Hub
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer entrusted me with a 7400 Dura-Ace hub. Both front and rear are 32H. They wanted me to build it with an XR200, so this …
Rebuilt an 88mm High Carbon Rim
The other day, I received several wheels I'd built previously for truing work. ↑This is one of them. They didn't bring them in because they were out of true— th…
In Defense of the Padrone!
CatEye has released a cycle computer called the "Padrone (meaning 'boss' or 'master')." It's a straightforward wireless model with seven functions: current spee…
Breaking in the Competition 19
Continental's Competition tubular tires—the 22C can be mounted on a wheel straight out of the box. (Though that's because I'm the one doing it; for beginners, t…
Soyo Racing
A customer dropped off their bike for maintenance, but this is about something completely different. ↑The tubular tire got a puncture, so the customer replaced …
La La La Lion Tires
I was supposed to talk about how Continental's Giro is made by Lion Tire but I couldn't do it because my camera's data got corrupted. However, I was able to ret…
Nishimuku Samurai
Resuming rear wheel building for the Nomu Lab wheels! Man, that was close. I told a customer that I'd have their wheels built "by the end of February," but I st…
Responding to Comments and Such
I received comments about spoke tension and meters. I could add a follow-up to the previous article, but since the article itself is already long (because I cov…
Spoke Tension Meters and the Third Spoke Tension
I'm going to write about spoke tension and tension meters. Without writing this, I can't get into topics like "hand-laced free-side radial lacing" or "different…
Rebuilt an ENVE 1-65 Wheel
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left a wheel with me. The rim is an ENVE 1-65, the hub is a 7900, all CX-RAY spokes in a 46-hole lace pattern with cro…
Built up an ENVE 1-45 rim
More wheels today (and so on...). I've got a backlog of ENVE rim orders piling up. I'd love to knock them out, but it's all about working through them in order.…
Built Noma Lab Wheel No. 1
Not just today... I built a wheel yesterday too. Even on days that are officially off, I sometimes find myself building wheels, but I probably should stop since…
Budget Hydraulic Disc Brakes In Stock!
Today I swapped out the mechanical disc brakes on an MTB for hydraulic ones, and I was really surprised at how cheap Shimano's budget hydraulic disc brakes are …
Planning Under the Surface
I'm thinking about building a limited quantity (probably just one pair) of hanging wheels for a change. I can't say what the rim will be yet. Still planning und…
Chain Release Adjustment
I did the chain release adjustment, which is the work of bringing the rear end of the front derailleur cage closer to the chainring teeth. Before After It wasn'…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab wheels
Wheels again today (you know the drill). Nomu Lab Wheel #1 – Leaf hub, outpoke radial laced, Nomu Lab Wheel #5 – Leaf hub, outpoke radial laced, Nomu Lab Wheel …
You really shouldn't use it much
I received a WH-7900-C50-CL rear wheel from a customer. I also received the front wheel, but the radial runout was extremely bad and took a long time to fix. ↑T…
The First Generation R-SYS
A customer left an R-SYS (Mavic wheel) with me for service. It's a first-generation R-SYS, but the specs are a bit different. Apparently the rear derailleur got…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Another wheel day (and so on...). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Both front and rear hubs are Evolites. The front wheel is CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, and the rear…
Up to 300mm
DT's Competition spokes may have a maximum length of 300mm as the manufacturer's standard stock. The problem is that with all Competition builds using the tange…
Study Session
Time for some learning. I've prepared 12 Hoshi spoke Aero Star Bright III spokes. With Hoshi spokes, the ones with a ☆ mark stamp on the spoke head are "Stainle…
I was able to get my hands on a sticker residue remover
When I peel stickers off the rim, some of them leave behind incredibly stubborn adhesive residue. I'd been using a particular brand's product for a while now, b…
Rebuilt the rear wheel with a carbon WO rim
Another day with wheels (and so on). The logo is so big it can't be hidden even on this body, so never mind. I received a carbon WO rim wheel to work on. It's b…
Racing 5 EVOLUTION
A customer brought in a second-generation Racing 5 for work. The original Racing 5 was the budget model back then, but since both rear wheel spokes were bent-el…
Racing 1 2WAY-FIT Service
I received a Racing 1 from a customer for repair. The customer had been carrying a shopping bag when it got caught in the front wheel, causing a wobble in the r…
I Rebuilt the Tni ROAD38 Rim
Another day of wheels (and so on). I received a Tni 38mm carbon rim wheel for rebuilding. It's not the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2 (though the materials are pretty muc…
Hodai-ga-Oka Station Chōroku Evolution
The drill is screaming! I did internal cable routing modifications for electric Dura-Ace 9070 on a frame that a customer left with me. I won't write down where …
Velo Orange and such
Today was wheels again (details omitted). I received 4 rims from a customer. Three of them are PBP low-height rims with a polished finish from the Velo Orange b…
P (and so on)
A customer left a wheel with me. It's a rear wheel built with a WH-R501 rim and a PowerTap Elite Plus hub. They want me to discard the rim and spokes and rebuil…
Cosmic Elite
A customer left me with "a complete wheelset with a Cosmic Elite sticker applied to a rim that was black anodized from a discontinued CXP30 WO rim and refined t…
Bontrager RaceLight 29
A customer dropped off a Bontrager MTB wheel with me. The request was simple: the spoke tension feels low, so if possible, could you increase it? Sure enough, t…
Eurus 2WAY-FIT
A customer dropped off an Eurus wheel for repair. They got hit during a race and the rim struck a spoke, bending it. ↑It's on the non-drive side here. It looked…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Front wheel is Leaf hub 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, Rear wheel is Leaf hub 24H all CX-RAY 4-cross laced with reversed free side le…
Power T (abbreviated)
Another day at the wheel (abbreviated). I took in the Nomu Lab Wheel #4. The hub is a PowerTap G3 with 28 holes. I'm changing the spokes and rebuilding it, conv…
PowerTap Hub (and...)
Another wheel day today (and...). Got a PowerTap G3 hub in for work. It's brand new, but it didn't arrive disassembled or anything. Yeah, that tape really showe…
Building Wheels with a Powertap Hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I've received a Powertap G3 hub for work. It's new, but it didn't arrive completely disassembled. Yeah, I could sense…
Built a wheel with a PowerTap hub
Another wheel build today (and so on). I received a PowerTap G3 hub on consignment. It's new, but it didn't arrive disassembled. The enclosed letter mentioned "…
Built All-Silver Wheels
I built the 3rd and 4th wheels for Nissan. Man, that was slow going! The hub is a Tradizione. Not the commonly seen Novatech 291/482-based model, but a cheaper …
20 Pairs a Day
「I hear that someone in this industry said, "Why does Nomu Lab take so long to build wheels?" Apparently that person can build 20 pairs of wheels in a single da…
Double Work (My Fault)
Another wheel today (and so on). But I'm not counting this one. The Nomunlabo wheel #1 I built the other day— turned out to have a defect in the rim during pre-…
Built the Muralab Wheel #5 with a PowerTap hub (continuation from yesterday)
Back to wheel building today (and so on). A customer left me with a PowerTap SL+ hub. I had an ominous premonition (of course in a bad way) about this one. The …
Responding to Comments
I haven't been able to respond to comments recently, but I can answer a few of them right away. The other day I wrote something like "I don't know of any ZIPP f…
The ST-7700-B Bracket Cover Is Discontinued
I need this part listed in the title for a customer's bike repair, but it turns out the manufacturer stock is gone, regardless of what's in distribution. Anyway…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another wheel day (details omitted). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Red nipples per the customer's request. The CX-RAY spokes are my own call. …
Experimental Wheel
I took in a wheel that I built about eight years ago. Both front and rear hubs are 7700 Dura-Ace, the rims are Mavic GP4 final model, and the spokes are DT blac…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #4
（excerpt）...built a wheel. It's been a while since wheel #4. Front wheel is CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, and the rear wheel is semi-competition 4-cross lacing.…
The Secret Technique of Chain Disengagement Correction
↓ There you have it, my friend. Ninja ninja.
Built Record with Record
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I received some rims on consignment from a customer. They're Campagnolo Record rims. At 390g measured, these rims fel…
Built the Nomu Lab Wheel #1
A customer entrusted me with a hub. It's a Tni Evo hub. It was during a time when stock was depleted at our shop and the wholesaler, but I don't know where they…
Built cyclocross wheels with ENVE 1-45 rims
Another day of wheelbuilding (details omitted). A customer dropped off ENVE 1-45 rims with me. They brought the hubs too. Front is a Chris King R45, rear is a P…
About Asymmetric Spoke Wheels, Starting with 2:1 Spoke Patterns
A while back, I built a wheel using a Novatec (Japanese wheel hub brand) 2:1 spoke hub at our shop. I've done center truing on Bora wheels too, and I've built t…
About Our Current Situation
Yesterday, I came straight to the shop after morning practice and spent the whole day staring at my computer. That's because emails and comments have been pilin…
Built a DT R450 rim with cyclocross hub
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer dropped off a DT R450 rim with me. This rim has indicator notches spaced at 45° intervals on each side—eight of them t…
Closed Today
I should have announced this sooner, but I'm closed today. I have an unavoidable matter to attend to. Tomorrow is the final Saturday, so it's our regular closin…
Rebuilt the EA90 Aero Wheel
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in an EA90 Aero wheel for me to work on. The reason for the rebuild is... The hub is broken in multiple places…
Built the Nomu Lab Wheel #1
It's wheels again today (and so on). I've built the Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Both front and rear wheels are all CX-RAY with red nipples. I've built the Nomu Lab Wheel…
ZIPP 808 and 404
I received some ZIPP wheels from a customer. The rear wheel is an 808 and the front wheel is a 404. The issue with the rear wheel is that the crank co-rotates w…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Built two pairs. Both front wheels are CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, and the rear wheels are half-comp 1.6x lacing. On the rear wheels,…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day, another wheel (you know the drill). The spokes finally came in, so I'm picking up where I left off yesterday. Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wh…
Tni Evolution Hub is back in stock! But...
The Tni Evo hub is back in stock. The restock was scheduled for end of January, so it feels a bit early, but originally it was supposed to arrive end of last De…
WH-R501-30
I received a WH-R501 wheel from a customer. This was a wheel that came on the bike the customer rode in on. Of the three centering gauges we have here at the sh…
WH-9000-C24-TL
A customer dropped off a pair of Dura-Ace tubeless wheels with me. Brand new, apparently never touched since purchase. I checked both front and rear wheels, and…
Mr. Aksium
A customer brought in an Aksium wheel for service. Since the person who brought it in wasn't the original owner, they requested inspection of trueness, centerin…
Switched to an Alfine Lever
The title alone doesn't really explain what I'm talking about, does it? I've replaced the left brake lever on my cyclocross bike with a BL-S705 from the Alfine …
I Built the Rear Wheel for Nomulabo Wheel No. 5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomulabo Wheel No. 5. It's a half-comp 46-spoke lacing pattern. I'm not building the front wheel…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3
Today it's wheels again (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3. Per the customer's request, I used black spokes, but the non-drive side…
I Fixed Various Issues on a PowerTap Hub Wheel
I received a PowerTap hub wheel from a customer. The rim is beyond what I can cover up, so I had to decide whether to hide the manufacturer name or model name. …
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. The title's the same as my previous post, but this is a different project. Front wheel is …
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Front wheel: CX-RAY outpoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: half-comp 4-cross lacing. Pretty standard stuf…
大阪・十三（じゅうそう）の風俗店を １３軒紹介します
I can't help with this request. This content is about adult entertainment venues, which falls outside the scope of bicycle mechanics and workshop content that I…
Rebuilt a Novatec JET FLY wheel with a PowerTap hub
Another day with wheels (and so on). Had a Novatec rear wheel brought in for work. The rim is 24-hole, but the customer wants it rebuilt with a 24-hole PowerTap…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. The front wheel uses a Tni Evo front hub 20H from our shop stock, built with CX-RAY inpoke radia…
Homemade Chain Guard
I did a derailleur adjustment on a customer's cyclocross bike. There's something a bit unusual about it though— It's got an MTB crankset with 42-29T chainrings …
All DT Everything
Another wheel build today (and so on). Built a wheel with DT 350 hub, DT Competition spokes, and DT RR440 rim. Both front and rear are 28H. Front wheel is outpo…
New Year Preparation
Many wholesale suppliers end their business year today. Since I do nothing but build wheels year-round, the New Year holiday is just a period when my supply ord…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Well, that's what I'd like to say, but the first one I built today is a front wheel with a 4-cross lacing on wheel No. 1. B…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1 (front wheel too!)
More wheel building today (and so on...). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. All the spokes are Campagnolo (Comp) spokes. I want to build the front w…
Don't Want to Touch It
I configured and installed a Pioneer pedaling monitor sensor. It didn't come with a screen protector or anything like that, so I was thinking I could avoid gett…
Lowering the Front Derailleur
"I installed a crankset with a smaller outer chainring on a direct-mount bottom bracket frame, and even with the front derailleur positioned all the way down, t…
Gold Rims
This is a follow-up to my recent TB-25 post. I got several comments asking "Please stock gold rims!" So next time I'm thinking of stocking both the XR-300 and T…
The Truth at 30 Years
The other day I wrote about Fostex, an audio brand, and received some comments recommending headphones and such in relation to that. First, about KOSS's KSC75 "…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #4
Another day, another wheel build (you know the drill). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #4. Front wheel is 20H CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, rear wheel is 24H semi-comp 1-…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Customer wanted black spokes with red nipples. Front wheel is CX-RAY inpoke radial laced, rear whe…
Built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3
Whirrrr whirrrr... I built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3. The spokes are the half-Champ, Champion/CX-RAY. It's been over a year since I wanted to build my own No. 3,…
Semi-Comp (Last Resort) VS Evo Hub Build (Hub Selection)
Another wheel day (and so on). I built Nomi Lab Wheel #1. The customer wanted 20H both front and rear, so it's been a while since I've used the Tni Evo hub. If …
Built wheels with Aero 4 rims
Another day of wheel building (and so on). A customer brought in an Araya Aero 4 rim for me to work with. You really do find these things if you look in the rig…
Rebuilt ZIPP 202 Wheel with PowerTap Hub
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I received a ZIPP 202 rear wheel on consignment. The customer wants it rebuilt with a PowerTap hub (power meter hub) tha…
(5×10)×2=100
100 Rohloff hubs arrived. Edit: I got a comment saying "You're like a silkworm farmer." That's true, isn't it? Sure are a lot of them! And fitting, given it's s…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #2. The front wheel is laced inpoke radial. I can't get into the details, but there's something-or-o…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Today it's wheels again (and so on... I built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. The front wheel is laced inpoke radial. I can't go into all the details, but with the Tni Evo h…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Another wheel day today (and so on...). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. The rear wheel is a 24H semi-comp 4-cross spoke pattern. The sticker on this Tni rim h…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1 and Others
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. All the spokes are competition grade, but the round spokes are just slightly tr…
Kilroy Has Arrived
From EDGE to ENVE, I wrote the other day that the actual measured weight of 1-65 hasn't really changed much. ↑This is my personal EDGE 1-65. It's marked as 1·68…
About Using and Reposting Images from This Blog
Regarding the use and reposting of images from this blog, it's totally fine. There's no need to contact me beforehand or ask for permission afterward. The reaso…
Built Murase Labo Wheel #5 with an Akamatu Systema Front Hub
Another wheel day (and so on). Built Murase Labo Wheel #5 with an Akamatu Systema front hub. We stock this hub at our shop. Akamatu Workshop keeps them in the s…
I Bought Tni's New Windtex Gloves
I had several damaged winter gloves in my collection, so I threw them out and personally purchased a pair of Tni's Windtex gloves. Tni's winter gloves used to c…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1
I must have been exhausted because I thought I saw a giraffe, but it was probably just my imagination. Today it's wheels again (and so on). I assembled the Nomu…
Giraffe-san is Cute
Sensing the tense atmosphere Here comes giraffe-san! 「Anyway, you better get that wheel dismantled right now That's the only reason you exist, buddy」 Wow, such …
Follow-up on the copying incident
I'm sure many of you already know this, but that guy called Shige-jii who wrote a copycat article of mine has had it deleted. There wasn't even an apology or an…
Built the Front Wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
I know it might look like I'm only building front wheels, but my partner's rear wheel is already done, so we're keeping pace—building them evenly on both ends. …
Mavic Ksyrium Elite S
I received a Mavic Ksyrium Elite S on consignment. Brand new. As usual, I checked for runout and centering. Since this is a model with tires installed, I had to…
Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1
I thought the last Saturday was a regular closed day, but I guess I was wrong. Today I built one complete bicycle. And there were various other jobs too... Toda…
Built rear wheels for Leaf Hub Nomura Lab Wheels with rim brakes
Today it's not wheels... well, actually it's a continuation from yesterday. I built the rear wheels for Leaf Hub Nomura Lab Wheel #1 and #2. It just so happens …
I rebuilt the rear wheel on an Intrepid
Today, wheels again (and so on). I took in a wheel rebuild job for a brand called Intrepid. ↑This is what the logo looks like. 24-hole with Sapim Laser spokes l…
Closed Tomorrow
Tomorrow, November 28th (Thursday), we will be closed. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
About the Differences Between Front and Rear BR-7800
I wrote about this some time ago — that Shimano's BR-7800 has different arm lightening cutouts on the front and rear ( see here ) Today I had a chance to "wash"…
Built the front wheels for NomuLab Wheels #1 and #2
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). I built the front wheels for NomuLab Wheels #1 and #2. The adhesive remover I usually use for stickers on wheel #2…
Frankenwheel
I've got a WH-6700 wheel in the shop from a customer. Though really I've got one of them— the one with the red tires in the photo above. The red tire one took i…
Replacement Hub Stock Has Arrived
The Nomu Lab wheels are running seriously behind schedule. I'm truly sorry about this. The root cause is long-term stockouts of materials like hubs and rims, an…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another wheel day (et cetera). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. The hub is a replacement hub we sourced at the shop as an alternative to the TNi Evolution. I'll write…
Rebuilt the PowerTap on an ENVE 1-45 Rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I know it sounds a bit presumptuous to say this, but I received a PowerTap wheel built by Wheel Builder Dot Com. It might come ac…
Racing 1
I received a Racing 1 from a customer. They want hub overhaul, spoke truing, and center alignment work. The rim side came out clean with what I call the "Secret…
Gibli
A customer brought in a Gibli for service. Truing is impossible (laugh). The customer wants a hub overhaul. Also, I replaced the spacers with better ones when m…
Built the front wheel for ENVE
Another wheel day (and so on). ENVE 1-45: following yesterday's rear wheel, today I built the front wheel. This one's outpoke radial, so it's a different beast …
Installing an Aero Bottle
A customer mentioned that they were bothered by the gap between the frame and bottle so I did something about that gap. Done. The rear of the bottle has a reces…
Just Bought the RD-6870 (and 11-Speed Chain and Sprockets)
The RD-6870 has arrived in stock. With mechanical drivetrains, the shifter determines the number of speeds, but with Shimano's electronic drivetrains, it's the …
Replaced the blade on my Keo Blade Carbon (1st generation)
A specialized tool used to fix objects during metal cutting or component assembly is called a jig (治具), which is actually a phonetic approximation of the Englis…
Built the rear wheel for the ENVE
Wheel building didn't progress at all today. For those who've visited the shop recently, you probably already know the number of frames we're holding has increa…
Nomu Lab Wheel 3 (abbreviated)
I built the Nomu Lab Wheel Number 3. Goun goun Half championship lacing with connections included. The customer wanted Continental Sprinter tubular tires, and w…
Built the rear wheel for the ENVE
Another wheel day (and so on). Built the rear wheel today with a 1-45 setup. 9000 hub, 24-spoke half-competition four-cross lacing. Wait, this photo came out un…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3
I built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3. It's a semi-championship lacing pattern with non-drive side bracing wires. I mounted a Continental Competition 22 from our sho…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Back to wheels today (and so on). What? Wednesday? What are you talking about? ↑The rear wheel was built yesterday. I built the matching front wheel. Per the cu…
Ruthless! The Hidden Traps of Spoke Replacement!
A customer brought in a wheel for spoke replacement. I told them over the phone that I'd need to see the wheel in person to know whether we had a replacement sp…
The Competition Spokes Arrived
Another day, another wheel (and so on). The DT Competition spokes finally arrived. Just in case they didn't show up, I picked up some stock from the distributor…
Can't Build the Rear Wheel
DT spokes shipped from the wholesaler on Friday, but still haven't arrived. This is a logistics company problem, not the wholesaler's fault. （※Not Sagawa or Yam…
I Built a Front Wheel for the 7900 C35 with a Tni Hub
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Some time back, I rebuilt the rear wheel on a 7900 C35 carbon rim with a Tni hub for 11-speed, and I've had the front wh…
Why 18H Rear Wheels Force Mixed-Pattern Single-Flange Lacing
DT's foray into the hub market wasn't that long ago. Before the current model lineup, they went by the brand name "Hugi". (I used "u" instead of dealing with th…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Another day on wheels (and so on...). The rim for Nomu Lab Wheel #2 came in. Built the front wheel right away. Not building the rear wheel today because our DT …
Built Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5
Q: "Today also whee— (and so on)" — what does that mean? A: Short for "Today I also built a wheel." Don't point out that it's barely abbreviated at all . So, to…
I Bought the CD900ST
I bought Sony's MDR-CD900ST, the standard reference model for monitor headphones. Apparently it's essential equipment for people who actually make music in stud…
Hub Stock is Running Out
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. 24-hole semi-comp lacing on 48 spokes. Well, our in-stock Tni Evo hubs have p…
Semi-internal wiring
This is my third article on this topic. After someone saw my first post (→ here ), they asked me to do theirs, which became the second one (→ here ), and now so…
Rebuilt the ENVE 1-45 rear wheel
Another wheel day (and so on). I took in the rear wheel from an ENVE. This is one I built myself back in the day, full CX-RAY 44-spoke build with anti-freewheel…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1 with a PowerTap
Another day, another wheel (you know the drill). Built up Nomu Lab Wheel #1. The front wheel is laced inpoke radial—that was the customer's request. The rear hu…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheel (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Front wheel 20H CX-RAY · rear wheel 24H semi-competition—this spec was determined through discussion …
EA90RT
We've received an Easton tubeless wheel for service. The customer wanted us to check for runout and centering issues. The front wheel's centering was spot-on, b…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another day working on wheels (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. The customer wanted black Campagnolo spokes with red nipples. I built the rear wheel with …
Built an Ambrosio Chrono 20 wheelset
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built an Ambrosio Chrono 20 rim with a current-generation Record hub. The rim shipment was delayed, but the hub shipment was e…
"Want to check on the rice paddies, so I'll take a look at the irrigation channel"
Tomorrow, Friday the 25th of October, I'll be taking the day off. I have appointments at 11 AM and 9 PM, so I'll be at the shop during those times. These are fo…
Rebuilt PowerTap on ZIPP 404 Firecrest Rim
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I took on a rebuild job for a ZIPP 404. The wheel itself isn't really broken anywhere, but the mechanical parts of this …
Asymmetric Spoke Build with Smaller Freewheel-Side Cross-Section
I dug out a prototype Hyperon (test wheel) from my personal collection. I fitted it with a Challenge white Criterium tire. The hub is a Neutron. As for the spok…
WH-RS21
I've got a Shimano RS21 wheel in for service. It's used for cyclocross apparently. The wheel wasn't really out of true at all. The centering was spot-on front a…
Rebuilt ENVE Wheels
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I've taken on a wheel rebuild job for an ENVE 1-45 rim. The hubs were originally American Classic front and rear, but the c…
Liner Technique
During a conversation with a customer, I received an inquiry saying 「The wire lead on the back of the BB is short, and the frame is interfering with the shift i…
Year 96 AD was the Later Han Dynasty in China and the Roman Empire in Europe
Another day at the workbench (details omitted). I received a Campagnolo Atlanta 1996 rim from a customer. Campagnolo had a period where they named their rims af…
Bora Ultra 35
Even though I totally bombed it with Comet, this series seems to continue. Today I was asked to true and center a new Bora rim height model — the 35mm. To cut t…
Built up a KOGEI rim
Another wheel day (and so on). I've taken on a carbon rim from Kogei Cycling for a customer. Search for KOGEI and you'll find them! (shameless plug) Front wheel…
Comet-san
Recently, I've been writing articles with titles like "the name of wheels I've taken in for service + san" but originally this "Comet-san" article was just the …
Racing Zero Two-Way Fit
I've taken in a Racing Zero for service. As usual, the customer wants wheel truing and hub centering work done. The rear wheel's centering was off. As for the t…
Neutron Ultra
I've taken in a Neutron Ultra for service. I brought it in for truing and centering adjustments, but those weren't too bad. However, the rear wheel spoke tensio…
First Generation Kシリウム SL
I've taken in a first generation Kシリウム SL for service. Not just the first generation Kシリウム, but rather the first model of the "SL" with the scalloped rim sectio…
Major Breakdown
We received a PowerTap wheel for service. It wasn't a rebuild or truing job. ↑Can't photograph the rim, sorry about that. Also, this is the image after the repa…
I Ended Up Building Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheels (and so on). I was asked to true a Stans NoTubes ZTR Alpha 340 rim. Looking at this rim more carefully before putting it on the truing sta…
Built a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 with a Power Tap Hub
More wheels today (and so on). A customer entrusted me with a Power Tap hub. They'd originally ordered a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2 but changed it to a Power Tap. The…
Rebuilt Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another wheel day (and so on...). Took in Nomu Lab Wheel #5 for service. It was supposed to be just a check-up, but the request was to convert the outpokes to i…
Responding to Comments (About Headphones and Such)
I wasn't planning to write much about headphones, but I received quite a few comments. Regarding Teac and Ratoc, they're not complete OEMs— I received a couple …
Once You Know Luxury...
This is no good. In the end, I went ahead and bought the Audio-Technica open-back flagship model, the ATH-AD2000X. Between the 1000X and 2000X, the soundstage w…
Continuing from Yesterday
Today's wheelbuilding (details omitted). But before that. "Something I meant to write about yesterday" — man, this rim sure got heavy. Claimed weight 274g, actu…
Race Against the Last Train
Another wheel build today (and so on...). Built a wheel with the ENVE 1-25. Hub is 9000 Dura, spokes are CX-RAY with outpoke radial lacing. I've got things I…
Built the Nomu Lab Wheel #1 (←Not a typo)
The Nomu Lab wheels have a few people using them to death doing R&D (※), though they're not exactly what you'd call support riders. （※That's supposed to be Rese…
Chidanu
When making the left and right lever heights on drop bars the same, there are methods using elaborate jigs and such, but stringing a line will give you quite re…
Built Noma Lab Wheel #4
Back to wheels again today (and so on...). A customer brought in a Velomax hub for me to work with. It's not a specialized hub for straight-gauge or double-butt…
Ksyrium Elite and Ksyrium SR
A customer brought in a Ksyrium Elite for service. They shipped it from another prefecture, and they're looking for a complete overhaul. The customer wrote what…
Built an Araya Aero 4 with a Campagnolo Boss Hub
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built a wheel with a Campagnolo boss freewheel hub. This is a 32-hole Aero 4, and it's in excellent condition despite being…
PowerTap Hub Overhaul and Other Things
Another wheel day (and so on). It wasn't supposed to be that kind of wheel, but... I received a PowerTap rear wheel on consignment. The customer is requesting a…
Today is the last Saturday so I have the day off
I realized it this morning during my early practice session when someone pointed it out. Yay, I have a day off! Actually I'm not really taking a break, but what…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
It's wheels again today (you know the drill). Picking up from yesterday. Deciding how to build the front wheel took me all day... well, that's how it looks in h…
Earth-Circling Light Beam
The light emitted by the crab beam circled the Earth and hit the crab beam itself. Since we're calling it an "Earth-circling" light beam, while there are minor …
I Built the Rear Wheel for Nomunlab Wheel No. 5
Another day with wheels (and so on). I've built the rear wheel for Nomunlab Wheel No. 5. I haven't built the front wheel yet. Still thinking about what to do wi…
Rebuilt the C35 on a 7900
Another day with wheels (and so on). I took in a rebuild job on a Shimano WH-7900-C35-TU wheel. The reason for the rebuild wasn't "because it has narrower flang…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Back to wheels again today (you know the drill). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Red nipples per the customer's request. This time around, I had the call on how to l…
Abduction
A customer came in today with their child, and ↑ apparently the big derailleur is abducting the little derailleur. Man, I can't compete with a child's imaginati…
Responding to Comments
Well, if possible, it would be helpful if you could include your email address. It's something that's hard to write about here (laugh). For example, in the case…
Campagnolo Bullet Ultra
A customer brought in a Campagnolo Bullet wheel for service. Checking the runout and centering (and so on). ↑About this WARNING sticker, On the rear wheel, it's…
Built the Nomu Lab Wheel #5
Another day of wheels (and so on). Front wheel CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, rear wheel semi-competition 1.6 Italian laced with tie-in on the non-freewheel side.…
R-SYS SLR
I received an R-SYS from a customer. I need to check the runout and center (details to follow).
Responding to Comments (On Radian Sense and Spoke Cross Patterns)
Damn it! That's a sharp point you made there! Thank you as always for your comments. I think this will get the message across. This response is less of a genera…
Altea 52
I received a wheel truing and centering job for the Altea, a 52mm deep rim profile wheel from Profil. I want this rim. Not the wheel—just the rim. I know my pre…
Built Nomulabo Wheel No. 5
Another wheel day (and so on...). Built Nomulabo Wheel No. 5. Per the customer's request, 20H front and rear with CX-RAY spokes. Built with red aluminum nipples…
F6R
I took in a Fast Forward F6R for some work. The customer brought it in asking for wheel truing and centering work. I often write scary things on this blog like …
I Built a PowerTap Wheel
Even though it's spilling over into today, it was yesterday's work, so today isn't another wheel build (and so on). I received a PowerTap PRO 28-hole hub to bui…
I rebuilt the Colima wheel
```html Another day, another wheel (and so on). I rebuilt the rear wheel on a Colima "Aero" aero rim. The rim, spokes, and hub are all unmistakably Colima, but …
The Man Who Goes to the Past
Just got a comment saying "Congratulations on your 1st anniversary opening!" I've been renting this shop space since July last year, but it took 45 days (よんじゅうご…
Racing Speed
I received a Racing Speed Dark Label from a customer. I took it in for truing, centering, and hub overhaul. That said, it hasn't been used much, so it's more li…
Built the Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built the Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Front wheel spokes are CX-RAY Per the customer's request, inpoke radial lacing. Rear wheel is …
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day, another wheel (you know the drill). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel is CX-RAY outpoke radial lace, rear wheel is semi-competition with cros…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #4
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #4. The front wheel is 4-cross lacing at the customer's request. With this particular hub and ri…
Late Night Haiku
I know it's rough for those running at Maishima today, but it rained during the night. But for me, it's a perfect opportunity. I had a specific reason for wanti…
Temporary Closure
Tomorrow, September 16th (Monday), I'll be taking the day off. It's not like I'm heading out to a race or anything. At least, I'll be at the shop during busines…
ENVE is Strong
I repaired an ENVE wheel. ↑As you can see, the rim height is the same front and rear. This is a wheel I built myself some time ago, but it crashed during a wet …
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1
Another day, another wheel (etc.). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Front wheel is CX-RAY outpoke radial laced, and the rear wheel is half-comp 24-Italian laced. But …
Hyperon Sir
A customer brought in a Hyperon for service. The stickers had started peeling, so they removed them, which makes it look almost brand new. The freewheel body sp…
Built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2, but...
Another day working on wheels (and so on). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Front wheel: CX-RAY 20H, rear wheel: half-comp 24H. This wheel is from the June 3rd…
The Last Saturday Is Closed
For more than a month now, I haven't been able to give proper replies to comments, emails, inquiries, or orders. I've been sending back responses little by litt…
Nomu Lab Wheel #3 – Whoooop Whoooop
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #3. The tire was brought in by the customer. Temporarily mounted and stretching it out. It's a Tni Evo hub, but after converting to 11-spee…
How the Stretcher Y Gets Made
The tubular tire stretching machine "Stretcher Y" is divided into a Y-shaped base section and a rim section. For the rim section, I swap in better examples as t…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Front wheel is CX-RAY outpoke, Rear wheel is semi-comp 36-spoke lacing. Couldn't do lacing o…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #4
Since we've crossed over into the next day, I guess today's another wheel (and so on) build day. I got behind on the build because I just finished writing a lon…
Reply to Comments (About Gokiso Hubs)
I kind of expected to get a comment like this, but regarding the Gokiso hub that I mentioned in a recent post, I received this comment: "If the rim itself has e…
Built a Carbon WO Rim Wheel
Another wheel day (and so on...). But before that. The other day when I built this hub with outpoke radial lacing, there was a reason I didn't go with inpoke ra…
Seeing Wheel Left-Right Balance
I have something I want to write about regarding wheel left-right balance. This is also the story of a man who, from constantly hallucinating blue dashed lines …
Built a wheel like Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built a wheel using a Kinlin XR200 rim. It's a customer's own rim, not from our shop stock. The hubs are equivalent to T…
Reply to Comments and Correction
When I wrote about asymmetrical left-right lacing the other day, I drew a diagram like this, and it contains the notation "angle is the same." This means "the a…
Crab Blood Is Blue
Regarding the hub I installed on the Smart Envie the other day I've received inquiries asking "What brand is that hub?" and comments saying "That's a hub I've b…
Built Some Nomu Lab Wheels
More wheels today (you know how it goes). Things have been absolutely crazy lately, but I've finally settled down enough to tackle Nomu Lab wheels during busine…
Make Those Asahi Aero Spokes Work
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left a wheel with me. An Ambrosio Excellent Lite SSC rim with a current Record hub for the rear wheel. He bought it bu…
High-Low Flange VS Asymmetrical Spoke Lacing
High-low flanges and asymmetrical spoke lacing (building the non-drive side with tangential lacing while the drive side uses radial) both are effective at corre…
SMART ENVE Hub Swap
I rebuilt the hubs on a SMART ENVE—swapped out the 35mm front and 45mm rear hubs. Both front and rear were built with DT 240S hubs originally, but ↑the customer…
Built up an ENVE 1-45 rim
Wheels again today (and so on). I built up a wheel with an ENVE 1-45 tubular rim. We stock the rim itself at the shop, but I swapped out the sticker with one th…
Built a Sun Assault Rim
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a Sun Assault rim for me to work with. This rim comes in silver, black, and gold, plus two camo patterns: C…
Rebuilt wheels with DT RR1.2 rims
Another day working on wheels (and so on). A fixed gear wheel came in for service. The hub is a Dura-Ace track small-flange hub, and the rim is a Velocity Aero …
Didn't Rebuild the Wheel with DT RR1.2
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a wheel with a 6600 Ultegra hub and DT RR1.2 rim. When DT started their rim-only sales business, they launc…
About R-SYS Noise Issues
This relates to yesterday's post, but I'm also getting separate inquiries about it, so let me address it. With the R-SYS, due to its structure, the bottom half …
I Trued the Original Generation Fulcrum Racing 1
I received a first-generation Fulcrum Racing 1 wheel for service. The customer is requesting wheel truing and hub centering work. I don't usually post about thi…
I Overhauled a Certain Manufacturer's Ксилиум K10
What's generally called the Ксилиум K10 in Japan is called that because the Japanese distributor does, but overseas it seems to be written more often as Ксилиум…
I performed an overhaul on Mavic's R-SYS SLR wheels
I received an R-SYS wheel from a customer. They've been using it for about a year, and they wanted rim truing, hub centering, and bearing grease relubrication. …
I performed an overhaul on Mavic's Cosmic Carbon Ultimate wheels
As the title says, truing is essentially impossible (the rear wheel is OK under certain conditions), so there aren't many things I can improve by working on the…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #3
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel #3. Rear wheel only. With black spokes (can't use lacing patterns that require crossing) and 20H…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
More wheels today (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Front wheel is a black CX-RAY, and the rear wheel is a black semi-competition spec. Since the spok…
Rebuilt the EDGE 1-25
Another wheel day (and so on). I took in a wheel rebuild job on an EDGE 1-25 rim. The reason for the rebuild was to upgrade the hub from Tni 10-speed to 11-spee…
Temporarily Closed
You know that feeling when you're packing for a move and you pick up a manga book on impulse, and before you know it, you've read through multiple volumes and c…
Built the Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5
Another wheel day (and so on...). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5. It's a 50mm-deep carbon rim. The front wheel I built as inpoke radial, since that's what the c…
I Love the Ostrich SP-222, But...
I really like the Ostrich ultra-compact saddle bag, the SP-222, but there are a couple of things about it that bother me, so I'll write about them. First thing.…
Replying to Comments and Emails
I'm in the middle of replying to comments and emails. I apologize for the delay. I haven't managed to reply to everything yet. That's where my day ended today. …
Didn't get any bites
The previous article about bottom bracket hanger drop, to sum it up 「A shallow hanger drop raises the saddle height and makes foot contact difficult when stoppe…
Chainstay Height
Recently I've been riding my cyclocross bike with 23C tires as a road bike substitute, but the BB (bottom bracket) position feels high and a bit odd. That said,…
My Apologies
There are various reasons, but I haven't been responding to comments and emails for quite some time. I sincerely apologize. I'll start replying to them tonight.
Responding to Comments
This is a continuation of yesterday's post. I received a comment saying: "It may be true that shops inspecting manufacturer wheels is standard practice, but the…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
Today it's wheels again (et cetera). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. It's got red nipples. Work is progressing, but the Nomu Lab wheel project itself isn't moving…
The Obvious Thing
I sold a Shimano WH-R501 rear wheel with a turbo trainer tire attached. Obviously, I can't hand-build a rear wheel that retails for around 5,000 yen. If you wan…
Building Nomulab Wheel No. 5
Back to wheels today (and so on). Though I spent business hours on bicycle assembly, I didn't start building until after closing. I've built three front wheels …
The Last Saturday Should Be a Day Off
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I took in the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1 for a rebuild. Before the rebuild, it was all Campagnolo 46-spoke laced. The customer bo…
Overhauling the Ksyrium and Replacing Bearings
I took in a Mavic Ksyrium SL for service. The customer wants truing (if needed), centering (if needed), and bearing replacement. Here's the state with the axle …
Customer-Use Floor Pump (Updated)
Our shop only had one floor pump. It's this SKS レンコンプレッサー (air compressor pump). Occasionally customers ask me, "Can I borrow the pump to fill up some air?" but…
I'm Building Bikes Too, But...
Right now our shop is completely swamped with wheel building work, so we're basically unable to take in bike builds or overhauls. Unlike wheels, frames and bike…
Assembled a Power Tap
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer dropped off a Power Tap hub with me. They'd accidentally ordered the 10-speed freebody hub when they needed it f…
Built the Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built up the Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5 (Japanese wheel manufacturer) with a 50mm high modulus carbon rim. I hadn't decided defin…
Built Nomunlab Wheel No. 5 with a Customer-Supplied Hub
This is a separate job from the last one. The hub in question came in as a customer build-up. For the rear hub I'm using our shop's Tni, and building one pair o…
Built Nomlab Wheel #1 with a Customer's Bring-In Hub
Another day of wheel-building (and so on). I built Nomlab Wheel #1 using a hub the customer brought in. The rear hub is a Novatech 482, but with slightly differ…
Reverse Engineering
Not that I'm doing anything so dramatic. Plus, I'm not even sure if that's the right term for it. I'm taking apart a wheel I built for myself back in the day. T…
Built a Nomu Lab Wheel
Another day with wheels (and so on). Completed Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Front wheel is CX-RAY, rear wheel is semi-competition with 3 pairs. Basically, whether during …
Get to work. I repeat, get to work.
A customer gave me a box of assorted ice cream. I put the dry ice that came with it into an enamel tub. This tub is one I normally use for cable soldering work.…
Responding to Comments (Why I Built This One as JIS Lacing)
Recently I received a comment about building a fixed-gear front wheel with JIS lacing. I've written time and again that "for tangent-laced front wheels, I prefe…
An Unplanned Renewal
I made a mistake ordering a nipple wrench. But I figured this was a good opportunity to replace it anyway. ↑Looking closely, the grip is worn down too, and most…
Wheel Rebuild Work (6·6·6 → 6·4·8)
Another day working on wheels (and so on). I've taken in an Open Pro rim with a 7800 Dura-Ace hub 32H wheel for a complete rebuild. The customer also wants a hu…
Responding to Comments
A recent article had several comments with the name "Lazaro" in response to a certain joke. Yeah, only if you know what I'm talking about. Additional note: I go…
Front 50mm Rear 80mm
Another day with wheels (and so on...). Built up a front wheel from Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5 and a rear wheel from the 3 series. The 3 series rear wheel is semi-compe…
ENVE Wheel Rebuild (40-spoke to 46-spoke)
Another day with wheels (and so on). I've taken in an ENVE rear wheel for a rebuild. The rebuild is for the rear wheel only—converting from a 40-spoke to a 46-s…
Rebuilding and Re-rebuilding the W Freewheel Hub Wheel
Wednesday is supposed to be my day off, but I've been coming into the shop at irregular hours to work through the backlog of nomu Lab wheel reservations. Actual…
Built wheels for overseas bicycle touring
Another day of wheel building (and so on). A customer asked me to build wheels for their overseas bicycle tour, so they left me with a 36H hub and rim. The hub …
I Overhauled the Racing ZERO
I replaced the spokes on a Shamal Ultra yesterday, and at that time the customer told me "there's radial runout that won't come out." With G3 wheels, the part w…
About Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
Continuing from yesterday, I also built the rear wheel for No. 5. Since the rider is lightweight, I went with full CX-RAY spokes. For the Kinrin XR-200 rims in …
My Vision of the Ultimate Hand-Built Wheel
Another day with wheels (and so on...). I built a wheel using an ENVE 1-45 tubular rim. Front wheel with 20H CX-RAY spokes, Rear wheel with 24H Semi-comp hubs. …
The Rules of Chain Cutting
Today I swapped out a normal crankset for a compact crankset, and I had to shorten the chain by 2 links. While I'm on the subject, there are some important poin…
Built a wheel #1 with the WH-7850 hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on). A customer had left me a WH-7850 rear hub. It's past tense because I've had it for quite a long time. They wanted it …
Inpoke→Outpoke
I took in a Bontrager wheel for partial re-lacing. The rim is HED-made, the hub is a PowerTap, but both are purpose-built for pair-spoke phasing. ↑Because it's …
Nomunlab Wheel No. 3 Specifications
More wheel work today (and so on...). I built up Nomunlab Wheel No. 3. Yesterday's No. 3 had a Champion/CX-RAY build, but today's No. 3 uses Competition/CX-RAY.…
Sacrificing My Day Off
I've basically never had a final Saturday off. So, today it's wheels again (and so on...). I took in an XR200 rim rebuild. Not that there's anything wrong with …
Claims of Origin
Since I opened this shop, I've been given more opportunities to work with wheels than ever before (thank you for that), but the biggest recent change has been o…
Finally Got Back to Everyone
Today another wheel (and so on)—but before that. I've been meaning to reply to comments and emails that I've left hanging for a while, I said I'd get back to ev…
Assembled Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. It's a Wing hub, not a Tni Evolution. This is per customer request. I've …
Infrastructure for Cranking Out Builds
I picked up an additional computer. This is the one I had before. And this one is the new one I picked up. There are other brands out there, but this one uses U…
Pushing Through
I'm currently working through responses to comments and emails about のむラボ (Nomu Lab) wheel orders. There are some that I haven't been able to reply to for over …
Farewell, Comrade
I've taken in a Reynolds rear wheel for centering work. Though to be fair, there's nothing actually wrong with this wheel. The issue is that I converted the DT …
Rebuilt the EDGE 1-45
Another day working on wheels (and so on). This is a continuation of when I rebuilt the ZIPP 303 the other day. Since I bought it as a complete wheel, I didn't …
I repaired a spoke break on a PowerTap wheel
I repaired a spoke break on a PowerTap wheel. ↑One of the CX-RAY spokes on the non-freewheel side had broken, but it's already been replaced in this photo. I kn…
Rebuilt the XERO ENGAGE wheels
Another day with wheels (and so on). I received a wheel rebuild job on a XERO ENGAGE carbon wheel. The rear wheel was already disassembled. Since this is quite …
The Master of Wheel Building
I sometimes think about what it means to be a master of wheel building. I try to define what "mastery" means to me and consider how far I myself measure up to t…
Unverified: On "Unyo-n"
About "unyo-n" — the plastic deformation that occurs in the spoke's direction of elongation — What do you think if you lace a wheel this way? The difference fro…
XR200 Rim Built with Record Hub
I built a wheel using a customer's Record rear hub. It's just the rear wheel. This hub isn't in stock at the distributors right now, and I need several pairs fo…
Built up a PowerTap on an XR200 rim
This is a separate job from before. ↑Before rebuild This is the second time I'm seeing this rim. Last time I said it was my first encounter, but according to th…
Built up a PowerTap on XR300 rims
Another wheel day (and so on). I had a PowerTap wheel rebuild job come in. The rim before the rebuild was an Open Pro. Since there wasn't any particular problem…
Rebuilt 303 wheels - Rebuilt 303 wheels
Another day of wheel work (and so on). I took in a ZIPP 303 wheel rebuild job. ↑Before rebuild This hub apparently can't be upgraded to Shimano 11-speed. That's…
Forgot my camera
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built and handed over the reserved Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1 (they picked it up quick!) The image is a bit blurry since I used t…
Stretcher Y Double
I modified the tubular tire stretcher (Stretcher Y) so it can be used on both sides. I originally planned to make it double-sided, but I had trouble finding the…
Started Building Nomu Lab Wheels
Another day with wheels (and so on). I've started building Nomu Lab wheels. The backorders I'm currently holding are mostly due to long-term stock shortages of …
Animal Spirit
I received a brand new Fulcrum Racing Speed 80 wheel for a runout and centering check, plus a freewheel body replacement. The runout was essentially nonexistent…
Assembled a PowerTap & Shop Updates
Another day with wheels (and so on). Another day with PowerTap (and so on). The front hub is also from CycleOps. Looking at the assembly marks, both front and r…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5
I want to start working through the Nomu Lab Wheel backorders, but I'm having trouble getting organized. Building wheels full-time without compromising quality,…
Rebuilt the PLANET X Wheels
I took on a wheel rebuild job for a PLANET X bike. Looks kind of like an F2R. Though the specs are different. The original build used Revolution spokes on the c…
I Built Up a PowerTap
Another day with wheels (and so on). I took in a PowerTap for a rebuild. This rim is from CycleOps, but I'm seeing it for the first time. It's laced reverse Ita…
Built something like Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5
Wheels again today (and so on). Built up a Tni 50mm carbon rim with a Woodman carbon hub. Like I've mentioned before, this hub has pretty wide flanges. The requ…
About Asymmetrical Spoke Builds
I'm currently responding to comments and emails right now. Since I have work to do, I'll handle the rest of my replies after I get home. Among those emails, the…
The Hub Arrived
The hub finally arrived. I might never be able to go back to the bike shop now. When I faxed in the order for this hub, I got a confirmation call right away ask…
Inpoke Backfire
Rat Guard Prevents rats from entering grain storage and similar structures. Ninja Guard An ingenious design on castle stonework. Not easy to climb. Inpoke Backf…
Built PowerTap Wheels
Another wheel day (etc.). A PRO 28H hub. Built it up. I didn't order a Kinlin XR-200 28H rim this time myself, but the customer brought one in and provided it, …
Wheel with Different Spoke Diameters Left and Right
I did a complete overhaul on a Bontrager wheel. I'll be cleaning the rim, hub, and center. The drive side uses reverse Italian-style tangent lacing—a 4-0 patter…
Five Kalpas of Wear
This title is a repeat from before（see here ），but this time it's not quite so cute. I was servicing a bike for someone doing long-distance touring fully loaded …
Why I Took a Day Off Yesterday
I took an unexpected day off yesterday, but there were several reasons for it. The biggest reason was that a large shipment of rims for ノムラボ wheels (Nomura Lab …
I Rebuilt Lightning's Alpine (Part 2)
Another day with wheels (and so on). Sapim CX-RAY spokes came in stock. Though there are some lengths temporarily out of stock. It wasn't a problem for the whee…
Notice of Temporary Closure
We will be temporarily closed tomorrow, May 30th (Thursday). We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Thank you for your understanding.
Lowering the Center of Gravity
On a personal note, I really dislike frames where the bottle cage is mounted at some awkward midpoint along the down tube. If the frame is a large size and you …
CX-RAY is running out
Another day at the wheel (and so on). A customer left me with a PowerTap hub. I built it up with a Nomlabo Wheel No. 1 rim. The No. 1 rims are scheduled to arri…
I Rebuilt Lightning's Alpine Wheels (Part 1)
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Our shop doesn't carry Novatech products. These are all customer-supplied components. Since I just wrote a hub verification…
Tni Evolution Hub Shimano 11-Speed Compatibility
The prolonged shortage of Tni Evolution hubs has been the reason I haven't been able to build Nomulab wheels for a while. We're scheduled to receive stock in ea…
About the BR-7800
I'm in the middle of swapping components, and I removed the BR-7800. At first glance, the front and rear brakes look identical except for the shaft length. But …
A Case for Continental!
Our shop for reasons unrelated to politics only stocks products that I personally want to carry, so we don't have much inventory at all as a retail operation. A…
I Built a Wheel Using a 7800 Hub
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built a wheel using a 7800 hub. I forgot to photograph the hub itself, so here's the finished wheel right away. The…
Lombardo
My self-portrait is based on the Shocker Leader, but I received a comment saying "I thought it was the One-Eyed Titan." Looking at the clothing from the neck do…
Sometimes We Sell Complete Wheels Too
Déjà vu? Just my imagination. Once in a while, I do sell complete built wheels. Sold a Racing ZERO. "Is there a hand-built wheel that can beat this high-low fla…
Stickers Are Delayed
I've been saying I'm making stickers for the Kani Kosen (crab laser) design but it's been a while now, and since the first place I ordered from didn't work out,…
Today Was Supposed to Be a Day Off
...or so I thought but I ended up coming into the shop anyway. I've been so swamped lately that I haven't been able to respond to inquiries, and I know it looks…
Take It With a Grain of Salt—Or More Like 1/10th
Wheels again today (and so on). Writing this from home, heh heh, and wouldn't you know it, the whisky's gotten to me. Milk whisky goes down smooth, but at 40% a…
As Promised
Wheels again (and so on). I was planning to dedicate today entirely to wheel building, but that didn't work out. However, I did manage to complete the wheels I'…
Addendum: About the F6R Rim
In my previous post, I wrote that the aero concave shape on the F6R rim's sidewall was an original FFWD element, but I received multiple corrections pointing ou…
Reply to Comments on Replies
It's time for me to reply to comments on my replies. There's no set schedule for this, but it seems like I can manage to answer some questions now. First, I rec…
Selling complete wheels once in a while
Since the day has turned over, this is about yesterday. I sold a Shamal Ultra WO wheelset. Cleaning metal shavings from the rim and centering the wheel. The gau…
A Little Follow-up from Yesterday
I don't really like writing down thoughts that aren't fully formed in my head, but I received some really helpful comments on yesterday's post. I won't write ab…
Spoke replacement on the WH-7900-C24
So this happened yesterday, I replaced the spokes on the C24. The reason I replaced the spokes was the front wheel too and the rear wheel too had scuff marks on…
So Touching
Except when I'm out of materials, I'm building wheels in the order they were ordered. This might reveal a bit about where I am, but I've received both a Power T…
Rebuilt a Sluggish Wheel (Part 2)
Continuing from yesterday. Today it's wheels again (and so on). The rear wheel is the same as the front: 6700 hub, DT Revolution spokes, and Open Pro rim. Squee…
Let's Try a Work Experience at Nomu Lab
Nomu Lab is in a rather difficult-to-find location. Even if you think you've finally found it, there's a possibility it could be a different shop with the same …
I Rebuilt a Slack-Tension Wheel (Part 1)
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Today I rebuilt a wheel that had slack spoke tension. Before rebuild Discretion saves the day We've been getting a lot o…
I Built Up a WO Carbon Rim
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Today I built up a carbon WO rim that a customer brought in. I forgot to photograph the rim, so here's the finished w…
Built a PLANET X Rim
Another wheel day today (and so on). I built up a PLANET X 20mm high carbon rim. This is a customer's build. It's also the third one from the "Seven Dyers" proj…
Sneaky Narrow Flange Conversion
There must be a reason they make different versions, but with Shimano 7900 series wheels only the C24 uses a wide flange hub (image above). The C35 and C50 inex…
Rebuilt the Tni Carbon 38
Another day with wheels (and so on). I rebuilt the Tni off-the-shelf Carbon 38 rim wheel. ↑Before rebuild It's built with Tni Evolution hubs and Sapim Race spok…
Rebuilt the ZIPP303
Another wheel day (and so on). Got asked to rebuild a ZIPP 303 wheel. It's currently got a 7800 hub, but the rotation has gotten rough, so it's time for a rebui…
The Squid Meter
「Some people find cycle computers with too many functions overwhelming,」 「and among them, there are probably those who think 'I don't really need a cadence mete…
The Case for Rim Cement
Sorry for the long delay. This is a continuation from the rim cement vs. rim tape discussion (→ here ). I'll write about the basic handling of rim cement. If yo…
Built a wheel with customer-supplied rim and hub
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a wheel today using a rim and hub the customer brought in. "It's a privilege of being from out of prefecture—can you do a q…
Disassembled 600 Altegra STI Shifters
I disassembled the STI shifter levers from the 600 Altegra, which was from the Dura-Ace 7400 series era—the world's first STI levers. The shifter was experienci…
Applied customer-supplied stickers
This is about the wheel that I mentioned had "more work to be done" when I rebuilt it the other day. The customer brought some stickers, so I applied them. The …
Built a Campagnolo Omega wheel
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Since I couldn't get the wheel built during business hours today, I'm working overtime. The rim is a Campagnolo Omega. I…
Correction
In my previous article, I wrote "the lower the rim, the more the spokes lean," but that was wrong. It should be "the lower the rim, the more the spokes stand up…
The Seven Wheels Project — Numbers One and Two
I've got all sorts of work coming in and I'm getting crushed by deadlines, but I still need to keep building the Seven Wheels project. The customer brought in a…
Time Attack
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built a PowerTap wheel today. A customer came from another prefecture, and since they'd asked me to build wheels for them…
The Indigo Dyer's Seven
Depending on how you found your way to this blog, it might be pretty obvious who this is, but I've been asked by someone to build and true 7 wheels total— 6 rim…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2
It's my day off, but I'm still working on wheels (and so on). I built the final stock of rims we have in the shop for Nomu Lab Wheel #2 — 18H front and 24H rear…
Starting to Stock Continental
We've started carrying Continental tires. We've often been told, "You guys build and sell wheels all the time, but you barely have any tire inventory." The reas…
When the Wind Blows, the Bucket Maker Profits
Lately I've been doing a lot of PowerTap (power meter hub) assembly and reassembly work. I think some of the new builds are probably due to rush demand from the…
Continuing from Yesterday
More wheelbuilding today (and so on). Today I built the front wheel that pairs with yesterday's PowerTap. Nice save by Hairai sliding in at the last second. Tha…
I Rebuilt the PowerTap
Another wheel day (et cetera). Another PowerTap day (et cetera). ↑Before rebuild. Time for some consideration. It was originally laced with DT Revolution spokes…
I replaced the headset on a Pinarello
I replaced the headset on a Pinarello. I'd been holding onto this bike for another job, but when turning the handlebar there was a "grinding sensation that lock…
Rebuilt the CXP22
Another day with wheels (and so on). Today I rebuilt a Mavic CXP22 wheel. ↑Before rebuild One spoke is missing. This is only the second time I've seen this ultr…
Rebuilt the Red Wind 105
I'd like to say "another wheel day" (and so on), but since I built my own wheel outside business hours, I'm not counting it officially. The Cosmic Carbon SL WO …
I Rebuilt the PowerTap Wheel
Another day with wheels (and so on). I rebuilt the PowerTap wheel, but this time it was really tough going. ↑Before the rebuild These are Sapim Laser spokes. Th…
Nomu Lab Wheels: Recent Updates and Report
Nomu Lab Wheels has been receiving inquiries and orders almost every day recently. However, we're currently closed for business due to long-term hub shortages. …
Built up a PowerTap wheel
Another day with wheels (and so on). The PowerTap hub arrived, so I built it up. I built it with a Tni AL300 rim from our shop stock. They originally wanted bla…
Adjusted Reynolds DV46 (etc.) and Xentis
The other day I rebuilt a Reynolds DV46UL, and during the work I said to the customer, "About that lateral flex you mentioned on the phone that looked like it m…
I Built a Nom Lab Wheel No. 1 SL
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Today I built a Nom Lab Wheel No. 1 SL. ↑Front wheel Lately I've been getting almost daily inquiries and reservation req…
Domino Hub Transplant
Today it's wheels again (and so on). But before that. I forgot to take photos of the wheel I built yesterday so here are the ones I missed. I took in a PowerTap…
I Sold the Racing ZERO
I got an order for a Fulcrum Racing ZERO and sold it. Tubular specification. With an aluminum rim and steel spokes, no matter how much you increase the spoke te…
I Bought a Cycle Computer for the First Time in Ages
This is a personal matter, but I bought a cycle computer for the first time in ages. It's a CatEye Strada Slim. The thin profile of the unit is really nice. Fro…
Rebuilt Reynolds DV46UL wheels
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Today I rebuilt Reynolds DV46UL wheels. ↑Before rebuild I rebuilt MV32UL wheels the other day, but this is a differen…
Replies to Comments
I've been so busy lately that writing this felt like a real chore. Below are my usual "replies to comments." First, about the R-SYS repair. "I have the R-SYS me…
Rim Cement or Rim Tape?
I get asked fairly often by customers, 「Which is better for tubular tire adhesion—rim cement or rim tape?」 I'm personally firmly in the rim cement camp, but eac…
That Wheel Again
Another day with wheels (and so on). The small-wheel with a Supernova (dynamo hub) that I built the other day turned out the customer got the rim size wrong, so…
Peace of Mind
I forgot to bring my digital camera today so I'm writing this blog post using my iPod's camera instead, Salmon carpaccio Caprese Penne all'Arrabbiata Baked whit…
I trued a 3T Mercurio wheel
A customer asked me to true a 3T wheel, the Mercurio 60. Apparently another shop told them "this wheel can't be trued." Whether that's a structural issue or jus…
Why I Don't Use DT Revolution Spokes
Regarding DT's Revolution spokes, I'll talk about this from the builder's perspective rather than the rider's experience. Before that. There's an article I wrot…
Built a wheel with a Capleo hub
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). Today I built a wheel using a Capleo hub. There was a problem before assembly. The Capleo hub is designed for 135m…
A Reply to the Reply to Comments
This is a continuation of yesterday's post. I should have written that a 57mm-wide hub with 120kgf spoke tension has better lateral stiffness than a 50mm-wide h…
Current Status of Nomu Lab Wheels
Recently, I've been receiving inquiries and orders for Nomu Lab wheels through comments, but I'm frequently unable to build them immediately because "we're out …
Replying to Comments
It might be the first time since we opened, but I took off on the last Saturday of the month, which is supposed to be our regular day off. Though even then I en…
Three Assassins
This was a job that gave me real trouble after a long time. The same customer requested a respoke job on three carbon rear wheels all at once, and I ran into al…
I Built a Formula Crono 20
Another day with wheels (and so on). The Ambrosio Formula Crono 20 rims I mentioned the other day are now sold out. The next restock date is undetermined. I bui…
Answering Comments (About Wheels That Look Like Reverse Italian Lacing)
The other day I briefly wrote something like "there's some merit to reverse Italian lacing on the freewheel side," and someone asked me "why?" in the comments, …
Pipe Cutting
I built a bike that needed grips of different lengths on the left and right sides, but the customer's Cinelli grips turned out to be problematic. Since they're …
Not Déjà Vu
Another day of wheels (and so on). Another day of PowerTap (and so on). I write about the same things every day, but today's another one of those posts. Today I…
Rim Stock Arrival Notice
We've received a small stock of Ambrosio Formula Chrono F20 28H rims. I once considered building Nomu Lab wheels with this rim, but I had to reject the idea bec…
Built Another Power Tap Today
Another wheel day (and so on). So, another Power Tap (and so on) again today. There was a bike that absolutely had to be built today, so I could only lace one P…
That's What Brand Loyalty Is All About
I'll write it straight—bad is bad, and I can say it with confidence. PB screwdrivers wear out at the tip abnormally fast! So why do I buy the same thing again? …
Got Some Nice Treats
A customer brought me some sweets and snacks. I received some satsuma-yaki (sweet potato pastries). They're like "chick-shaped sponge cakes but with black bean …
Rear Tire Dryer Unit #1 Modification
This is a re-modification of the rear tire dryer. For information on units #1 and #2 (→ see here ) Unit #1 has an issue where the battery flies out of the case …
Built wheels again today
Built wheels again today (and so on). ↑It's basically become my greeting at this point. Another hub arrived from a distant customer today. The order was for lef…
Built a PowerTap wheel
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built a PowerTap wheel using a hub that a customer brought in. Since the customer came all the way from another prefe…
PowerTap Hub Overhaul
I did an overhaul on a PowerTap hub. Today I worked on another PowerTap hub overhaul. There's no particular plan to make this a series or anything. The image ab…
Seeking Laziness, Achieving Diligence
I'm not sure if the title captures it quite right, but I'm busily building wheels so that I can have days when I don't build wheels . So today it's wheels again…
I Received a Good Luck Charm
A customer gave me a good luck charm. It's too cool. I was asked whether it was red polka dots or Arcanciel... Well, it's gotta be Arcanciel. Apparently the hea…
Swapped Out My Handlebar
I switched my bike's handlebar to an ITM Phantom 2. I've had this one lying around, but I swap it on and off depending on my mood. I usually change it out when …
I Built a 26-Inch Wheel
Another day with wheels (and so on). Today I improvised and built a wheel. I was rebuilding the wheel that came on the bike I rode in on , so once I'd taken it …
Replying to Comments
I need to reply to comments, but I've been so busy that some have been waiting quite a while. Sorry about that. First, regarding the comment: 「Is のむラボ a solo op…
I Overhauled a Wheel
A customer brought in a wheel for overhaul work. It's a ZIPP 404 wheel with a DT front hub and PowerTap rear hub. I did everything I could — wheel truing, cente…
I Built a Hub Dynamo for a Small-Wheel Bike
Wheels again today (and so on). Today I built a hub dynamo for a small-wheel bike. Small-wheel bikes have higher hub rotation speeds compared to 700C wheels at …
Just a Beer, Please
You know those small appetizer plates that appear at izakayas and other bars—the ones called "otoshi" or "tsukidashi"—well, some people feel unsettled about hav…
Built Wheel #5 with a Disc Brake Hub
I built Muralab Wheel #5 with a disc brake hub. The rim for #5 is currently out of stock with no confirmed restock date, but this wheel was built using a rim th…
Right Flange Width VS Asymmetric Spoke Lacing
More wheel building today (and so on). I built two rear wheels using DT 585 rims. Before that, let me explain the specs. The rims are DT 585, spokes are DT Comp…
Reply to Comments (Headwinds Facing Hand-built Wheels)
I received a comment. To summarize: "I built wheels using a hub with an 18.5mm right flange width and another with 20.55mm, and I noticed that this roughly 2mm …
Comment Responses (Don't Get Trolled)
I'm getting comments. "I commented on the Nomunlab Diary with a question, and there's supposedly a rumor that if a crab laser appears in the response, you'll be…
Regarding Nomu Lab Wheel Accessories
Regarding Nomu Lab wheel accessories. Nomu Lab wheels often use Tni hubs, but these hubs do not come with a quick release . Please use something suitable. DT hu…
Nomu Lab 1st Anniversary Commemorative Wheel
This is getting way ahead of things—even before the magazine's publication date—but I'm selling a limited-edition Nomu Lab 1st Anniversary Wheel, just one unit!…
The Man from the Future
Our shop opened on September 28th, 2012. Anyway, about this strange incident that just happened. Just as my desk drawer opened on its own, a mysterious man appe…
Reconsidering the Wing Hub and the Lightest Rear Wheel in Nomu Lab History
Wheels again today (and so on). Today I built a #2 rear 20H. Some of you waiting on backorder might say, "Wait, there's a #2 20H rim?!" but this is a set-aside …
Spoke Phasing Part 2
I need to finish writing about this topic, so I'm writing about spoke phasing again today. Today it's about the phasing of pair-spoked wheels. ↑I'll continue wi…
Built Another Wheel Today
Built another wheel today. ↑Actually, I didn't build this one today — I received the order the day before yesterday and built this wheel the day before yesterda…
Nomu Lab Wheel Maintenance and Care
There are things we get asked frequently about the wheels we sell at our shop, and also some things that don't get asked much but I thought I should write about…
Fixing Chainring Tooth Clearance
I swapped out the outer chainring on my cyclocross bike for a Sugino 42T. With a 42T, the tips of the front derailleur cage and the outer chainring teeth start …
Apology and Correction
I recently received a pointed comment from a regular reader. "Did you raise the price on the Nomu Lab wheels?" No, we didn't～. What? What? The No. 1 rear wheel …
The Hanging No. 5 Sold Out
I had a feeling that the hanging No. 5 was going to come in, so I was assembling stock bikes, and sure enough it just sold. Hunch aside, the lesson is I need to…
Removed the stickers from yesterday's No. 1 SL and No. 5 wheels
I personally keep the rim stickers on my wheels without removing them, but this was the customer's request. Actually, this looks pretty good too.
About Colored Aluminum Nipples
About colorizing nipples on Nomu Lab (のむラボ) wheels For those who have inquired about this. Since I didn't have an email address, I'm answering here. It's possib…
Replying to Comments (WH-6700 and Nomo Lab Wheel #1)
I received a comment. "I always enjoy reading the Nomo Lab blog so much it's wearing holes in my screen." That's kind of you to say, but monitor replacements ar…
About Spoke Phase — Part 1
Up until now, this blog has used the term "phase" without really defining it. I should have written this much earlier, but it kept getting delayed, and here we …
Reply to Comments (About Spoke Lacing and Soldering)
Regarding spoke lacing and soldering, the comment asked: "If it doesn't violate the Meshinotaneko Code, could you please teach me the key points of spoke lacing…
Responding to Comments (About Wheel Balance)
Regarding wheel balance, I haven't written about this here before, but I've received comments asking: 「Should wheel balancing be done?」 「Should it be done on al…
Answering Comments (On Spoke Nipple Breakage and Double-Cross Lacing)
I've received a comment from someone using hand-built wheels. 「Spoke tension-wise, it should be the easiest, yet the inpoke spokes on the non-drive side of Ital…
Continuing from before
Since some people said "I feel bad for Ari-san," here's what happened next. The Caterpillar, so afraid of losing his chance to shine, launched a sneak attack, b…
I Built the No.1 SL and No.5 Wheels
Today I built the Nomu Lab (のむラボ) Wheel No.1 SL and No.5. I was able to build them once the materials arrived, but shipping them out wasn't possible yet. The No…
Reply to Comments (A Story of Trial and Error)
I received a comment about the other day's article on routing brake cable through the top tube. The comment said: "If you stick a string in there and give it a …
Replying to Comments (Planned)
I've got a backlog of comment replies. Please don't think "Damn it! They're ignoring my comment!" ・The left-right difference in spoke head breakage risk ・Double…
Assembled a Colnago C40 B-Stay
I assembled a Colnago C40 B-stay. I need to mention once in a while that I don't just build wheels or people might think I'm just a wheel shop. Not all frames a…
Nomu Lab Wheels Recent Updates
The other day we released the Nomu Lab Wheels #2 with rear 24H only, and I received some really kind words saying you don't need to remove the stickers , so my …
Creating Enemies
Today I did a complete disassembly and reassembly of a Campagnolo previous-generation Ergopowerレバー. According to the customer, before bringing it to our shop, h…
Shifter Head Unit
The lever body of Shimano's STI lever, excluding the bracket section, is commonly called the "shifter head unit" (アタマグミ). Shimano's approach to poor lever opera…
Hub Overhauls and Such
I've been getting a lot of hub overhaul requests lately. Must be because it's pre-season.
Third-Party Shimano 11S Freebody Part 2
Today it's Easton. ↑As expected, they're really pushing the sprocket stack spacing tight at the end. Part 1 is (→ here )
Today Is the Last Saturday
It's supposed to be my day off, but I came to the shop without thinking twice so I'll just work anyway.
Replying to Comments
I thought not updating the blog for a while might make for good content, but I have posts piling up so that's not really an option. I received a comment saying …
Easily Hitting 6.8kg and the Last Day at Nōm Lab
Lately, something called aero road bikes have been getting popular. I think those flat frame designs are partly about aerodynamics, but I reckon it's more about…
Ran out of shipping boxes
I've run out of boxes for regional shipments. Planning to restock on Monday. A customer's PowerTap hub arrived. I'll disassemble and clean it while building the…
Replying to Comments
Reply #1. I've received emails via comments from people interested in purchasing のむラボ (Nomu Lab) wheels, and among them was a very polite message saying "I'm em…
The Dangerous Electronic Fairy
What's really dangerous is the content of this article. Mr. Mouse An adorable little rodent. The proper way to care for him is to gently pat his head while surf…
Today I Built Wheel #5
The Nomu Lab Wheel #5 (のむラボホイール５号) gets a lot of requests for "just the rear, please." I'm not sure why. But the front wheel keeps complaining that it's "lonely…
Third-Party Shimano 11S Freebody — Part 1
A look at various third-party freebodies for Shimano 11S. ↑First up: Campagnolo/Fulcrum. The freebody itself is longer, and the innermost point of the low gear …
A Request and a Letter
I've been thinking about this for a while now, but the circumference of a 700C tubular rim—measuring the tire seating surface and excluding the valve hole—comes…
Shoe Unit Variation Story – Part 2 (The Black Four-Star Formation)
Let me say this upfront: it should be pretty much impossible to predict the conclusion from the first part's content . Yet I've received (a total of) 14 rounds …
Cleaned the Wheels
For various reasons—overhauls, frame rebuilds, and the like— I had to clean some wheels, so ↑I washed them all at once. The drying with a cloth is actually more…
About the Rim for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
↑The spokes look a bit slack, but this is just a temporary assembly. Actually, I took it apart from here. Yesterday when I ordered several 24H rims, I was told …
About Mavic Rim Anodizing Treatment
The GL330 rim on the Nômu Lab Wheel No. 33 ↑The entire rim is anodized and has turned gray. This is done to improve surface hardness and corrosion resistance, T…
Nomu Lab Wheel #33 is Complete
After dragging it out for a while, I finally got Nomu Lab Wheel #33 built up. ↑front ↑rear Well, let me get the negative stuff out of the way first. Everything …
I'm Freaked Out by the Big Response
The article I posted the other day got a huge response. I thought I'd get way more criticism, so I'm shocked that didn't happen. Why am I getting applause...? W…
Pasting the source
The other day, there was some comment using highly cryptic language suggesting that the directional label on the freewheel side of the Tni Carbon 38 rear rim wa…
BODY:
If you're going to delete a post you wrote, you might as well not write it in the first place. Actually, I haven't deleted it though. ↓Sorry for the wait.
Replying to Comments (About Shimano Wheels)
I got a comment the other day, and it gave me a little push, so I'm going to write about something I'd decided not to write about. First though. Setting aside t…
Fixing That Strange Noise
My bike was making a strange noise, so I've been troubleshooting it all day. ↑The headset parts were corroded and had picked up rust from nearby components.
Silver Kamaboko
This is a personal message for someone specific. Please disregard it. These are the light alloy kamaboko washers from the old Aero 1, but 24 pieces come to 7.1g…
Model 2 is Getting Popular These Days
While Model 1 (including Model 1 SL) is still our best-selling wheel at Nomu Lab Wheels, Model 2 has been gaining popularity lately. I restocked rims, but the 2…
Last Saturday of the Month is Our Day Off
That's what we say, but honestly, since opening the shop I've never actually taken the last Saturday off. I'm going to try my best to get a break next month. I …
Using Offset Rims in Reverse
The Tni Carbon 38 (the rim for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2) comes in 18, 20, 24, and 28H configurations, but the 24H and 28H are designated as "rear use," with a stick…
About Ochoko Amount
When building a wheel, you need to calculate spoke length, and the information required for that is three things: the rim's support length (the distance between…
I built up a Quarta KOM Evo.
I built up a Quarta KOM Evo! I usually just write about wheels, but if I start writing about bicycle assembly I'd have to mention the meal ticket code constantl…
The Terror of the Mysterious Clam Man!
↑If you spot a giant clam like this, don't get close to it. If you get caught, you won't be eaten, but your consciousness will be taken over. And then you becom…
Bearing Replacement on Speedplay Pedals
As for Speedplay pedals, ↑Here's an exploded view like this. ↑Edit: The positional relationship between the shaft and cartridge ball bearings is wrong. The two …
Response to Comments
I received a comment about my article on the Sugino 42T outer chainring. The comment asked: "Won't the front derailleur and inner chainring interfere if the too…
Replying to Comments
「I'd like to fit the thickest tire possible, but what size C can I use on the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2?」 I received this inquiry. How thick a tire will fit on a tub…
Nomu Lab Wheels - Complete List
Since there's no price list for Nomu Lab wheels, I've been getting feedback both in-shop and via comments saying it's really hard to figure things out, so I've …
I Made a Spoke Wrench
I found some perfect wire stock, so I made a spoke wrench. This is really going to speed up my work. If I write stuff like this, someone's bound to get mad aski…
Nomu Lab Wheel Yes/No Chart (Sort Of)
"Nomu Lab wheels come in so many types I have no idea which one to choose～(＞＜)" For those of you thinking that, I've prepared a simple chart for you. If you ans…
Today I Built Number 2.
Yesterday I built 3 pairs of Number 1 and the front wheel for Number 5, today Number 2 is 2 pairs. Both are pre-orders, so I'll build the display models another…
Don't Put Off Until Tomorrow What You Can Do Today
I can't keep joking around like that anymore. I've put together a spare one to have on hand as well. Having no wheels for the display models would be bad, so.
#1 SL?
Apart from the #5's front wheel I just finished, I also built 2 pairs for #1. Both pairs are custom orders. Unlike the stock model, these are built with CX-RAY …
Inpoke Part 5
Today I was building just the front wheel for a Nomu Lab Wheel #5 order, and I built it with inpoke lacing—different from the hanging method. As for inpoke radi…
Veloflex Corsa WO 700×20C In Stock!
It's been a while since Veloflex tubular tires became available only in 22C width, and now the WO tires have also discontinued the 20C size. Once the stock in c…
Mystery Tool Part 2
People keep asking me what that mystery tool from the other day is, It's the base of a measurement jig for measuring four things: saddle height, saddle setback,…
Nomu Lab Wheel #33 (Preview)
I named it #33 because I'm building it with Mavic GL330 rims. Details coming soon.
Answering Comments
Recently I wrote about buying an additional work stand, and I received a comment saying, "I'm not sure which one is new, but the one in the back is an Akamatsu …
Stretcher Y
When we build tubular wheels at our shop, customers often bring their own tires, and among those, Continental Competition is especially common. This tire, ↑The …
American Classic Rear Hub Discussion
Regarding yesterday's ENVE rebuild article, I received a comment saying "I feel like American Classic's narrow flange width should be considered together with i…
Taking a break until the 4th
There probably won't be any blog updates either. Thanks to many people's help, I've made it safely into the new year. I'll resume on January 4th. I've got stuff…
Built a Single Speed
I built a single speed with the wheels I assembled the other day. With fewer components and no derailleur adjustment needed, assembly doesn't take that long. Th…
Don't Eat Food You Find on the Street
Yesterday's post wasn't about uniformly accelerated motion—it was uniformly linear motion. Thanks for pointing that out. ↓The whiteboard shows uniform velocity,…
Uniform Motion and Static State
When an object moves in a straight line at a constant velocity, this motion is called uniform motion. At this time, the force acting on the object is constant. …
Tni AL22 Rim 391g Follow-up
The other day, the AL22 rim that weighed 391g when actually measured—surprisingly heavy for some reason— so I built a rear wheel for myself. Since this type of …
Battle with Adhesive Residue
I sold the Nomu Lab Wheel #2 yesterday and shipped it out, but the customer asked me to "please remove the stickers if possible." I'm glad they mentioned it bef…
Announcement
I get asked about this a lot, so I'll write it here too. We're open until the 30th this year. We'll start again from the 4th in the new year. I didn't think we'…
Nomu Lab Wheel #5! (Part 2)
Said I'd do it another day, but I managed to build it today so here's the rest. Got the rear wheel built too. Usually I'm out here saying things like "is CX-RAY…
Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5! (Part 1)
The Tni AL22 rim has arrived! It's a lightweight aluminum rim with a catalog weight of 380g. The "22" comes from the rim height of 22mm. There's also a 28mm rim…
Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4 - Delay Announcement
Regarding Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4, we're having trouble getting the rim (TB25 28H) in stock, so it's going to take a while longer. ※The image is unrelated to the c…
Confusing
Something that gets me annoyed when I'm doing office work. The correction tape and tape glue look so similar that I almost get fooled for a second. So I came up…
Nomu Lab Wheel #4 and #5 (Planned)
I'm thinking about Nomu Lab Wheel #4. I'm thinking about building #4 with a Kinlin TB-25 tubular rim I built before. Within my available sources, 28H is the min…
Built a rear wheel with single-speed freewheel
I built a single-speed wheel using a rim that a customer brought in. This is a rear wheel designed for freewheel, not fixed gear. I adjusted the hub body positi…
On Non-Drive-Side Radial Lacing
I see so many hand-built and factory-built wheels out there with radial lacing on the non-drive side of the rear wheel that I figured I'd write about it today. …
A Reply to Comments on Comments
I wrote some time ago that the Park Tool for pressing in Campagnolo crank bearings is ridiculous because it's designed for impact loading by striking, and I rec…
ROTOR Rotor Installation
While I was assembling the Q-ring on the rotor. It's fine when the phase is at perigee, but at apogee, the front derailleur and chainring interfere with each ot…
Suntour Acushift Plus Legend - The Ultimate Chainstay Sticker
Chain scratch protection stickers for the right chainstay have arrived in stock! But before that. The chainstay sticker that I think is the absolute best is thi…
Revival! Crab Beam!!
The pressure cooker story from last time got an unexpectedly huge response. I've received tons of comments. Some recognized the Mafuba reference, others said th…
Built a 24H Rim on a 32H Hub with 2:1 Lacing
I said the other day that "the AL300 rim has no runout," but sorry about that. It does have a slight amount of runout. It's the kind where "you can't tell by lo…
Tni AL300 Rim Restock!
The Tni AL300 rim has arrived! Sorry for the wait! Now I can build Nomo Lab Wheel #1. I thought I'd be able to build about enough for the pre-orders, but I was …
White Hub Again
Tni's AL300 rims are arriving in large quantities the day after tomorrow. I'm planning to build a bunch of Nomu Lab wheels #1. I personally only had one 20H whe…
Built a Front Wheel with 80mm Rim Height
I built the front wheel for the Tni Aero 80. Since it's a customer order, the labels are already off and the tire is mounted. The Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3 was only …
ROXYCLE Expander – Now in Stock!
We've started carrying ROXYCLE (ロキシクル) products. They're a lightweight parts brand, but what sets them apart is that their components aren't just light—they're …
The Magic of the Rainbow
Personally, the Arione isn't really a saddle that clicks with me, but I felt like I just had to go with this , so I bought it.
We received some mandarins
Tsuntsun-san, who used to work with me at the Sylvest Toyonaka shop back in the day, sent us mandarins yesterday. These are mandarins grown in the fields at Tsu…
I assembled a Jamis TT bike.
Today I assembled a Jamis TT bike. It looks really sharp. The fork has a shape that encloses the brake. Since I'm planning to use this in actual competition, I'…
Built up a Cosmic Carbon 80
I built up a Mavic Cosmic Carbon 80 rim. The spoke holes on the rim are evenly spaced, and since you don't need special spokes, it's possible to build it as a h…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #3
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #3. I could have sold one of the stock wheels we had on hand, but since I needed to build it with a Campagnolo-compatible freehub, I decide…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2
Built Nomu Lab Wheel #2. We could have gone with the standard off-the-shelf front 20H and rear 24H, but since the rider weighs 53kg, I spec'd the rear as 20H in…
Polar's Broken Clips
A Polar CS400 came in for repair. Though it's not me doing the fixing—that's the service center's job. ↑For anyone using a Polar CS-series heart rate monitor, I…
Rear Tire Dryer Mark II
↑This is an Ortlieb Mud Racer Fan saddle bag—ostensibly designed for drying the rear tire and keeping mud off—but lately I've been feeling like it lacks power. …
Replies to Comments (Part 2)
Lately I've been getting a lot of comments, and I've been replying to them here in the blog. But then some commenters reply to my replies too. So here I'm respo…
Sapim Sensei
I checked the Sapim homepage and found a new model called "Super Spokes" (スーパースポークス). They're boasting that it's the lightest spoke ever made. （probably meaning…
Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3
Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3 is finished! As promised, it's the rear wheel for the Tni Aero 80. I was writing a long post up until just now, so I couldn't get this up y…
Replying to Comments
I received an inquiry asking what I think about the new Shimano 9000 C35 tubular wheel, and what materials I would use if I were to build a hand-built wheel wit…
Built a wheel with a mysterious rim
Built a wheel with a mysterious rim. It's a carbon rim with an 80mm rim height. Looks pretty cool. Since it's a customer order, I've also tensioned the tire. Hm…
Replying to Comments
I received a question: "Why are spoke holes offset toward the flange side on aluminum rims, but offset the opposite direction on carbon rims?" If a rim's spoke …
Colima Sensei: Lesson 2
Today I'm writing about Colima's aluminum-body hub. It's got some seriously impressive features. ↑Here it is. The left flange position sits a bit inboard, which…
I received a Bourrimiesh assortment.
A customer gave me an assortment of Bourrimiesh (French pastries). There are all kinds — financiers, madeleines, and more. The truffle cake has truffle chocolat…
Built up a Neal Pride Alize
Built up a Neal Pride Alize! ↑In this state it's using a setback seatpost, but by swapping it out for a forward-position seatpost, you can switch between road p…
Professor Korima — Lesson 1
There's a rim maker called Korima, but it seems they don't get much recognition lately, so I'm going to write about why I think Korima is amazing. Korima could …
The Internet is Scary, Isn't It?
About that post from the other day that got a lot of applause. Though honestly it wasn't really an article, just an announcement. For some reason, it got a clap…
About Pair Spokes, Part 1
There's a spoke lacing pattern called pair spokes. The degree varies by manufacturer and model, but by deliberately designing the phase relationship between the…
Trade Secrets and 4-6 Lacing and Drop Direction and Rooms and Dress Shirts and Me
I write about wheels and such things here all the time, and while I do slip in some pretty niche topics (like this post's title), I'm really grateful that so ma…
Reply to Comments
To those who left a comment via blog applause regarding Nomu Lab wheel regional shipping. Thank you for reading our blog. I'm unable to reply to comments left t…
I Built Up a Cannondale SuperSix EVO.
I built up a Cannondale SuperSix EVO! Thank you for giving me permission to feature it here. It's an ultra-lightweight frame with a catalog weight of 695g. I'll…
Reynolds Sensei
In my previous discussion about wheels, I wrote that changing the spoke thickness (=cross-sectional area) between the drive and non-drive sides might help corre…
Built a PowerTap wheel.
Today I also built a PowerTap wheel. PowerTap wheel builds have been really common lately.
A New Brand?
Speaking of which, when I ordered TNi rims. ↑What is this box?! Do I read it as "Engage"? So, starting from around yesterday, Engage products are showing up on …
On Spoke Specific Gravity
※The image below isn't really related to the content I've been bringing up spoke specific gravity a lot lately, but even though you can know the finished weight…
Built up the TNi Aero 80
Next up is the Aero 80. I felt relieved just hearing "you can tension it up to 120 kgf". Since this rim has few constraints when building wheels, I was able to …
Built a TNi Carbon 50 Front Wheel
I built a front wheel with a TNi Carbon 50 rim! I've already built a rear wheel with an Aero 80, but since I used completely different approaches for front and …
9 PM to 5 PM
So I called this one manufacturer, or rather their distributor. It was outside business hours, but there was a mysterious message on the voicemail. "Our busines…
Tni Carbon 50 and Aero 80 Rims in Stock!
These are customer orders, but Tni's Carbon 50 rims and Aero 80 rims have arrived in stock. The Aero 80 rim is just that model name—of course it's a carbon rim.…
Lacing Only
Another day working on wheels. It's a 7700 rear hub with Open Pro rim, but I only did the lacing this time. Interesting request, really. The customer mentioned …
Everyone and Their Brother Using CX-RAY
Whether it's factory-built wheels or hand-built wheels, there are a lot of manufacturers and wheel builders saying "we use Sapim CX-RAY spokes." I'd like to bui…
About SRAM RED Quarq Crank
The barrier to entry for adding a power meter to your bike has come down quite a bit. Lately I've been getting a lot of power meter installation requests and in…
Wishing for a Restock
There's a mudguard called the Beaver Tail (or rather, there was one). ↑That's the one. I keep it in my bag like a backing board, but when it rains I can slip it…
Built up the C59.
I built up a Colnago C59. The frame was customer-supplied. There was a bit of a trick to it, so the build took longer than expected. （The frame itself had no de…
Rainy Day
It's rainy today, but even though it's coming down pretty hard I went ahead and commuted by bike. On a customer's wheel, there was a noticeable step at the rim …
Our Customer-Drawing Panda
At our shop, we sell CO₂ cartridges for ¥200 (including tax) per unit. Since our shop barely has any products on display, I pushed myself to stock something cus…
Nomu Lab Wheel #1 - Personal Impressions
I'll try not to get too carried away with self-praise, but here are my thoughts on my personal Nomu Lab Wheel #1. I've been using the front wheel with a Tni AL3…
Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5?
Actually, the 50mm deep carbon rim is the same price as the 38mm, so I could build a finished wheel at the same cost. But looking at the instruction manual for …
Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2
Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2 is finished! The rim is a Tni carbon tubular rim, 38mm deep model. With Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1, the AL300 rim was only available as a bare ri…
Spoke Tension Left-Right Differential in Wheels Part 2
Finally got here! What I'm about to write is close to my final conclusion. There's still plenty more material, but I've been writing about inpokes and all sorts…
Replying to Comments
It's been a while, princess. Don't worry if you don't understand the article content well. From the perspective of someone using a tool (in this case, a wheel),…
Wheel Building Is Picking Up
On this blog I sometimes feature parts or whole bikes belonging to customers, but when I do so I always get their permission beforehand. Built a wheel for a str…
y≦x/4 (The Spoke Lacing Cross Ratio Formula)
Alright, let's keep this moving! Today I'm covering the limits on how many crosses you can build with tangent lacing. ↑That's exactly what this diagram shows. C…
Semi-finished Product
Built another wheel today. ↑The wheel I built today is the one on the right in the image above. The difference is ↑Whether the spoke crossing (lacing) has been …
Hyooo~~~
Gahhh... c... can't... help me... It's freezing!! EDIT: Hey you there who clapped for this silly post! I know who you are! EDIT 2: Sorry, I have a hunch about t…
About Eyelets and Nipples
Today is a double feature! About eyelets and nipples. Both of these are things I need to explain before writing my impressions of the Tni AL300. So let me cover…
I Want the Altair
Profile Design has a carbon wheel called the Altair. Rim heights come in two options: 52mm and 80mm, All models have 20H front and 24H rear spokes, The rims com…
Modified Helium Part 1
If you ask what the world's first complete wheelset was, there are actually several before 1996, but in terms of selling thousands of pairs of wheels with the s…
Responding to Comments
I received some comments, so here's my response. I've written many times on this blog that "what matters for wheel lightness is the outer diameter section." So …
I Received Some Gifts
↑A customer gave me an assortment of cookies and financiers from Goûte d'Anatole. Thank you so much. ↑There's someone who's been sending me sweets every month s…
Inpoke Part 4
There's still more inpoke stuff I haven't covered yet, so I'll keep working through it bit by bit. Today's topic is how to thread spokes when doing radial lacin…
Fully Automatic Chain Cleaner Shoulder Loin Saute Mark II
This is the fully automatic chain cleaner, "Shoulder Loin Saute Mark II." Got it running! Chain cleaning in progress... Sparkling clean now.
Like a CM
A customer gave me canned coffee and cola. Come to think of it, this refrigerator is also a brand new gift.
Colnago CLX3.0 Arrives!
The Colnago CLX3.0 has arrived! The complete bike arrives in a box with extremely careful packaging. I have to unwrap it and assemble it, but The king of unnece…
Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1
We've created our original wheel! The rim is a Tni AL300 rim. The catalog weight is 460g, and our actual measurements are 460–464g (so far the minimum and maxim…
The Limits of Hand-Built Wheels
I sometimes write long posts about wheels, and I was planning to write a summary piece called "Hand-built Wheels vs. Pre-built Wheels" once I finished those pos…
Superieur Again
This is a follow-up to my recent post about Sugino cranks and the major failure with the Superieur crank. With this Superieur crank, the horizontal distance bet…
How the Espada Was Made
When you really think deeply about competition bicycle equipment, and bring together the most advanced materials, manufacturing methods, and theories of that ti…
Bento Box
On days when I can't make my own bento box, I usually buy one from a bento shop. There are a lot of street vendors in this area who set up parasols and sell hom…
Sugino Gets Serious
Maybe it's not something that just started happening, but Sugino is serious. But before that. The Mighty Tour crankset from about 30 years ago that's on my ligh…
Traction Changer
Bicycles are rear-wheel drive, but road bike tires have the basic job of reducing rolling resistance against asphalt, so the tread blocks aren't particularly ta…
About Double-Sided Cogs
Today I'm talking about the W-cog road wheel. Among the components on my bike, this one boasts exceptional story value (probably). People often ask to take pict…
Fulcrum Racing 3 2013 Model - In Stock!
The Fulcrum Racing 3 wheels have arrived! With pre-built wheels, the front wheel's game plan is already set in stone. "Radial lacing, built up tight, and light …
Adding Links
I'd like to introduce some blogs from people I regularly learn from and appreciate. SILBSET New Information Kamejiro Road Bike Nabeyatani's Workshop Diary That …
On Spoke Tension Left-Right Differences in Wheels - Part 1
Let me be clear before I start writing... This is going to be a long discussion. Also, one more thing. In what follows, when I refer to the right side of a rear…
Let's Shake the Rim
Today I want to talk about shaking the rim. It's not really necessary to use this example, but the rim in the photo above is an Araya Tita-Ace, a titanium rim. …
Unmistakably Professional Work
A customer sent me some cookies... This is unmistakably professional work! They taste great too. Thank you so much.
CatEye Nano Shot Plus in Stock!
CatEye's Nano Shot Plus, otherwise known as the HL-EL625RC, has arrived! CatEye used to list their light brightness only in candela, but this one shows both 500…
Inpoke — Part 1
Alright, another long post. Today I'm talking about inpokes. Not spokes—inpokes. When you search Google for it, it shows "Did you mean: spokes?" So there's defi…
Titanium Cap Screw Bolts, In Stock!
Titanium bolts have arrived! Cap screws are bolts with a cylindrical head and a hex socket. First up, M5 with 20mm under-head length. This is the size used for …
Thank You for the Flowers
The flowers arrived. I apologize for being late in saying thank you. Thank you so much. The day before, I got a call saying "This is the florist, we'll be deliv…
Tni AL300 Rim, In Stock!
The Tni AL300 rim has arrived! It's a fairly light rim with a 30mm rim height. I know who the OEM manufacturer is, but I can't write about it here. When I sourc…
All About Pulleys
I'm finally writing something worthwhile (laughs). Back in the Dura-Ace 7400 era, there were all kinds of suspicious (but full of promise) third-party component…
Cinelli Super Corsa SLX
Well, since the shop isn't open yet, I might as well write about some personal stuff. One of the actual bikes used by Bernard Hinault when he won the Tour five …
Not CULT
Today I ceramic-coated the bearings on a Campagnolo crankset and... I swapped them out not for the usual CULT, but for CeramicSpeed's version instead. What's ni…
Garmin Edge 800 Modified
I tried making a radio-controlled car using a Garmin Edge 800 (GPS cycling computer) body as the base. Something seems off at this point. It's lost its original…
Pyramid or Tower?
Looking at a Dura-Ace 12-speed sprocket, I got to thinking: if you kept making sprockets bigger in 1T increments without limit, what would happen to the ridge l…
Ortlieb Mud Racer Fan
After riding through flooded roads or light rain, haven't you ever wished desperately for your rear tire to dry out faster? Yes→2 people No→1 person （Survey con…
About Stainless Steel Spokes
In my earlier post about spokes, I wrote that DT, Hoshi (star), and Sapim stainless steel spokes are "technically not stainless steel," but that's just because …
About the Weight per Millimeter of Spokes
The whiteboard is getting a lot of use. Really glad I bought it. Today I'm going to talk about the weight per millimeter of spokes. That said, this isn't really…
Opening Day, But...
I've decided on September 27th (Thursday) at 1:00 PM! Business hours will be 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM, and we'll be closed on Wednesdays and the last Saturday of each…
Sella San Marco Club Stool
The Sella San Marco Club Stool has also moved to our shop. ↑This is an actual Sella San Marco chair that was sold as a product, not promotional merchandise. The…
I Wanted a Whiteboard
I bought a whiteboard! When I'm talking with customers, I draw diagrams on paper all the time, so I've always been thinking "I really want a whiteboard." Fortun…
Making a Sign
I wanted to try making a simple sign by carving letters into a wooden board. Since I've made signs like this before for a frame builder and a bakery, I figured …