Bicycle Workshop Blog — English Edition | 4917 posts
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 "Stainless," and the ones wi…
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, but it's become unobt…
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 built with all Shiman…
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-elbow spoke type, I fo…
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 rim. ↑I do this occas…
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 much the same). The rea…
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 or what kind of fram…
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 brand. They have a VO…
I received a wheel from a customer. 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 rebuild it with an XR-3…
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 to 20H. Even though t…
A customer brought in a Bontrager MTB wheel for me to work on. The request was to increase the spoke tension if possible, as it seems a bit low. Indeed, the non-drive side spoke te…
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 only slightly bent …
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Front wheel is Leaf hub 20H CX-RAY built radial lacing with counter-spoke cross pattern, Rear wheel is Leaf hub 24H all CX-RAY built 4-cross with revers…
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, converting from a full-c…
Another day at the wheel building station. I've taken in a PowerTap G3 hub for service. It's new, but it didn't arrive completely disassembled. Here's where the half-hearted tape r…
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 some motivation the…
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A PowerTap G3 hub arrived for me to work on. It's new, but it didn't arrive completely disassembled. That's because the accompanying note me…
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 version. The hub dim…
「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 day. If someone could …
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 area just below the …
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 free body that's comp…
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, I got a call from …
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Red nipples at the customer's request. The choice of CX-RAY spokes was all on me. I was torn …
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 version, and the spokes are DT black competition. The…
（omitted）wheel. It's been a while since No. 4. The front wheel is laced CX-RAY reverse non-spoke radial, and the rear wheel is semi-comp 4-cross laced. I was told I could build it …
↓ There you have it, my friend. Ninja ninja.
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 felt much sturdier than…
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 managed to find thi…
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 PowerTap G3. Although…
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 the original Racing 1…
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 piling up that I haven't …
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 total. Got it built u…
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 closing day anyway, but I …
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. I won't go into de…
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 #1. Front wheel is …
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 when in freewheel mod…
I built Nomu Lab Wheel #5. I built two pairs. Both front wheels are CX-RAY radial lacing in reverse, and the rear wheels are semi-competition 26-hole lacing. The rear wheels have o…
Wheels again today (and so on). Finally got the spokes sorted, so continuing from yesterday. I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. CX-RAY counter spokes in radial lacing. …
Also known as One Pattern
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 December and got delay…
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 shop, the one that wor…
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 the centering was s…
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, centering, and bearings. Aft…
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 (comfort bike compon…
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 yet because if I do…
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 is CX-RAY, and the …
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. I chose to hide the …
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Same title as my previous post, but this is something different. The front wheel is 20H, all Campagnolo reverse radi…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Front wheel: CX-RAY spokes in inverted radial pattern, Rear wheel: 24-spoke semi-competition pattern. Pretty standar…
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 hub. Even though it…
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 they're a bit weak i…
It's wheels again today (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. The front wheel uses a Tni Evo front hub 20H from our shop stock laced radially with CX-RAY Nupoke spokes. The rear…
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 mounted on it. There…
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I built a wheel using a DT 350 hub, DT Competition spokes, and a DT RR440 rim. Both front and rear are 28H. The front wheel is built in radi…
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 orders get backed up. S…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Well, that's what I'd like to say, but the first one I built today was the front wheel for No. 1 with a 4-cross lacing pattern. I built Nomu La…
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 wheel with all Comp s…
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 getting fingerprints on …
"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, there's still too muc…
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 TB-25 in 24H. The rea…
Another day building wheels (and so on). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4. The front wheel is 20H CX-RAY with reverse Nippon spoke radial lacing, and the rear wheel is 24H half-com…
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Per the customer's request, black spokes with red nipples. Front wheel is CX-RAY Sapim spokes laced radial, rear wheel…
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 "The sound quality ha…
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, but I still haven't…
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 both front and rear …
Another wheel day (and so on). I received an Araya Aero 4 rim from a customer. Seems like there are still some out there in certain places. I do have the same rim myself, but mine …
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) that I'm also holding. …
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 silkworm-related! （よう…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. The front wheel is built radial with no-spoke... wait, I mean it's a standard radial build. I can't go into too m…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I assembled Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. The front wheel is built with Nu-spoke radial lacing. I can't go into all the details, but with the Tni Evo h…
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 has extremely stubbor…
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 trickier to lace. The …
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, but the rim height…
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 reason is that several cu…
Another day with wheels (and so on...). I built a Nomu Lab Wheel #5 with an Akamatsu Systema (narrow-flange front hub) today. We stock the hub at our shop. At Kobo Akamatsu (Akamat…
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 come in two models: "…
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 Lab Wheel #1 in ful…
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 venomous words from …
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 anything, but it's cle…
I know it might seem like I'm only building front wheels, but my partner's rear wheel is already built, so I'm keeping pace with the front and rear. I've built the front wheel for …
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... Today it's wheels again …
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 that all three of th…
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 laced 4-cross on both…
Tomorrow, November 28th (Thursday), we will be closed. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
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" a brake, so I was a…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I assembled the front wheels for Nomu Lab Wheels #1 and #2. I usually use a sticker adhesive remover on the #2 rim, but when I went to buy it t…
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 impact from a crash t…
Our Nomu Lab wheels have been experiencing serious delivery delays. I sincerely apologize. The cause is long-term shortages of materials like hubs and rims, and I'm still in the pr…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. The hub is one we prepared at the shop as a replacement for the Tni Evolution hub. I'll write a separate article abo…
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 across as condescendin…
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 Yahoo Ninja Techniq…
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 making 9-speed sprock…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Following yesterday's rear wheel build for the ENVE 1-45, today I built the front wheel. Today's is a reverse non-radial spoke pattern, s…
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 recessed indent, so it do…
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 rear derailleur that…
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 English word "jig". I repl…
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 increased and is taking up…
I built the Nomu Lab Wheel Number 3. Goun goun Half championship lacing with connections included. The customer wanted Continental Sprinter tubular tires, and we have them in stock…
Back to wheels today (and so on). Built the rear wheel on 1/45. 9000 hub with 24H semi-comp four-cross lacing. Hmm, the image quality is surprisingly good this time (reason unknown…
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 shop stock, and it went…
Another day of wheels (and so on). Huh? Wednesday? What are you talking about? ↑The rear wheel is the one I built yesterday. I built the front wheel for my partner project. Per the…
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 spoke in stock, so if …
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 this morning, so al…
DT spokes were shipped from the distributor on Friday, but they still haven't arrived. This is a problem with the shipping company, not the distributor. （※Not Sagawa or Yamato!） Si…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). A while back, I rebuilt the rear wheel of a 7900 C35 carbon rim with a Tni hub (Tni hub) for 11-speed, and the customer had me keep the f…
DT's entry into the hub business wasn't all that long ago. Before the current models, they were sold under the brand name "Hugi" (フギ). (I typed "u" because entering the umlaut is a…
Another day with wheels (and so on). The rim for Nomu Lab Wheel #2 arrived. I built the front wheel right away. For the rear wheel, our DT Competition stock is a bit low, so I'm no…
Q: "Today also whee... (etc.)" — what does that mean? A: It's short for "Today I also built a wheel." Don't point out that it's not really abbreviated — that's strictly forbidden. …
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 studios and such. The re…
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 pretty much run out. …
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 accurate terminolog…
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 side lacing. Lookin…
Another day, another wheel (you know how it is). I built up Nomu Lab Wheel #1. The front wheel is built radial lacing — that was the customer's request. The rear hub is a PowerTap …
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. They want them rebuilt,…
"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 capsule toy like this,…
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 Saturday of the month are…
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel 20H CX-RAY・rear wheel 24H semi-competition — this specification was decided through back-and-forth …
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 wanted truing and in…
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY Pro Built with reverse radial spoking. After announcing the availability of CX…
Previously, I investigated the specific gravity of sealants from Stans, Caffélatex, and Imaje and within the range of these three companies the result was 「roughly 1g per 1ml」 （→ h…
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 sprint assembled using…
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 wheel using the heavier…
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 the R series for rac…
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 XLR. The owner of this…
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, Shimano 12-speed fre…
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 some spokes. ↑It ha…
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 not). Something got ca…
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 a 46-spoke pattern, …
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 the front wheel with…
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) Rainbow-colored (VAS…
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 to make compromises d…
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, this rim's stated weig…
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 sprint with reverse…
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 valve hole there's …
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 binding, so I decide…
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 lacing with black a…
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 customer brought in a …
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 273g, but today I b…
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, but it had runout in …
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 nipples. I'll do the …
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 wheel. The hub bearing f…
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. Today I'm building t…
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 in the front wheel …
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 away. Where the CX-RAY…
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 figure to play dress-u…
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 actual measured weights…
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 when it wasn't roug…
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built up an Ambrosio Chrono 20 rim with current Record hubs. The rim arrival was delayed, but the hub arrival was even later. The rear wheel wo…
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 for cyclocross that…
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 Built with 4-cross Ita…
Another day of wheels (and so on). This is a continuation from the front wheel work the other day. I'm going to rebuild the rear wheel with Open Pro rims. I was supposed to do this…
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 within this brand's l…
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 pressure? Without gett…
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 while back I built the …
Today it's wheels again (and so on). A customer brought in a front wheel built with a Mavic Open Pro rim for repair work. HB-7700 32H stainless steel #15 plain spokes 60/60 JIS lac…
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 for distant customers …
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 height as Campagnolo's B…
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 reversed radial lacing with rainbow (VAS) nipple a…
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 Since the hub is turquo…
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 lever tool has bent an…
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.
More wheels today (and so on). Continuing from before. Built the rear wheel with a Super Champion wooden rim. Campagnolo Earth Mark Record 120mm width boss freewheel large flange h…
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 I'll replace the br…
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 center offset. ↑About …
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 the front wheel. It…
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. I used a SRAM Karoo…
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 PowerTap hub were br…
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 of parts availability…
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 a break from the sho…
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 with blue aluminum nip…
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-Ace Track hubs, and…
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 with the earth mark,…
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 comments saying "It's fo…
Another wheel day (and so on...). I received a front wheel from a customer that was built with a Mavic rim. The rim is a Record Mondo gold rim The hub is a Record small flange 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, regarding the fact that th…
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 manufacturer) carbon 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 completely mismatched to…
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 spokes: The freewheel si…
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... no wait, the sec…
Another day with wheels (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I'm swapping out the front wheel on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5, changing from an AL22 rim to an AL22W wide rim. Evolit…
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 wheels, but let's st…
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 just one spot. ↑At …
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 wanted a thorough in…
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-competition lacing, 46-ga…
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-ready, offset carbo…
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 perimeter. In the box the …
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 materials between the frame …
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 for 22mm or 25mm siz…
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 and rear. It was so p…
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 Half-CX sprint equiva…
The only distributor in Japan that carries Topeak recently started seriously carrying Jagwire, and their catalog arrived. ※The spelling style I used has no particular significance.…
All day on mountain roads
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 weight stickers on t…
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-release front and r…
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 pain) Built the fro…
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 rear wheels for service…
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 pattern lacing with rei…
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 especially on the re…
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 A56. It's built as a …
Another wheel day (details omitted). I took in an ENVE 1-45 rim wheel rebuild. The hubs are American Classic front and rear, but the customer wants to swap the hubs to Tni, change …
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left me both the front and rear wheels of an SES (Smart Envy System) 4.5. Today I'm rebuilding the front wheel. It's a rim for rim brakes …
Back to wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding a rear wheel that was originally built with a WTB rim and XTR hub, this time using an ONYX (Japane…
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, and now I'm going t…
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 isn't a crosswind-co…
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. There was a 300km bre…
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 thank you for your u…
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 say for certain abo…
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 write "built wheelss…
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 built the other day, th…
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 don't call it "a …
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 inner」 but, ↑How abou…
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. Got it built. C Recor…
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 hole Black half CX Sp…
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 memo turned out to b…
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 after Olympic host cit…
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 nipples on just the tw…
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 the minimum installab…
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 blades for bottle cage s…
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 aluminum nipples. I'…
Wheels again today (and so on). I received from a customer a pair of 50/45mm tall wavy-profile Chinese carbon tubeless-ready rims. Both are 24H, and I'll use the heavier one for th…
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, 32H All Campagnolo s…
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 that's intentionally m…
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 aggressively. Even after the M…
Another day with wheels (et cetera). I received a rear wheel with an XT rear hub that we assembled here from a customer (technically speaking). The rim is a CX22 tubular, and when …
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 style. They want me…
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 to the chase, there w…
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 particularly wrong. Th…
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 black aluminum nipples. …
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 black aluminum nipples…
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 lacing and black al…
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," but since there isn't…
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, and the hub is fro…
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 who brought the 82m…
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 when I measured it, it …
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-9000, 24H, black half…
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-spoke reverse Italian…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I received a carbon rim from Kogei Cycling that a customer brought in. You can find it by searching for KOGEI! (shameless plug) Front wheel is …
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 Tni's carbon rims, t…
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 Novatech 482SL, which…
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 assembly that LOOK make…
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 marked "Silver Rock," ETRTO 305mm 16-inch HE rim. Th…
SRAM Force spindle (crankshaft) type power meter battery replacement. A while back, when starting up my cycle computer, I started getting occasional warnings that the power meter b…
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 heavily rusted. Rebui…
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 they want them repl…
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 was one noticeable l…
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left me with a 38mm high tubeless carbon rim. I built a front wheel for rim brakes. ONYX hub, 20H, CX-RAY Built in reverse radial spoke pa…
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, and I only inspected …
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 when the chain is engag…
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 setup for those post…
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 as material with the …
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 the Instant Drive 36…
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 climbing easier, wh…
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 unused stock. There ar…
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 Campolo spoke lacing…
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 assessment is that they'r…
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 Campagnolo 16-gauge …
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 aluminum nipples. I'…
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 lacing with spoke co…
Another day with wheels (abbreviated hereinafter). I assembled the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY, reverse-nipple radial lacing with red aluminum …
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 truing, someone recen…
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 turquoise 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 them. ↑When you com…
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), and asked what I th…
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 well-known in the co…
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 nipples. I'll do the …
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 hole. I built the rea…
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-RAY spokes Built it…
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 32C knobby tires. ↑Per…
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 came out to 618g, bu…
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 seal the pack after fi…
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 tension is obviously loose…
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 of 273g, the rims I …
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 bag with handles made …
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 Osaka winter, and I …
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! Gravel Tack rims have a…
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 enter), and I used bike …
↑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 out it was just fade…
We will be closed from December 31st (Wednesday) through January 8th (Thursday). We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.
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, ultra-high-molecular-wei…
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 wheel. 28H, both si…
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 sections between the spoke…
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 ExtraLight hub. Hyper…
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 forced 2-cross laci…
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 Unlabeled straight-sp…
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 rear wheel set up for…
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 one this time was 27…
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 to prevent catastroph…
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 lacing pattern with c…
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 with spoke threading…
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 stated weight has change…
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 semi CX sprint laced 4/…
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 repair. The customer men…
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 pinch flats during cyclo…
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 estimate, the CX-RAY 12-spo…
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 wheels if the rim weigh…
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 aluminum nipples. Actual…
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 along, it seems the s…
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 repaired. The rear whee…
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 with cross-lacing Blac…
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 Built with 64 reverse It…
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 40mm tall tubeless rims…
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 Standard) lacing using bl…
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 stand and putting the n…
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 with black aluminum n…
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 wheel, from Nepest— i…
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 45/45mm mentioned in…
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 the freewheel side is …
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 model name Wind 40 DB, b…
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 the 7900-series Dur…
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a front wheel built with a Planet X rim and hub for me to work on. The rim is an R50, a 50mm-high carbon tubular rim. The hub i…
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 box is different no…
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 fixed gear hub. ↑Rim l…
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 grade spline 24 holes, l…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I took in the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 for service. It was supposed to be just an inspection, but they wanted me to change the reverse spokes to re…
I recently had two days off, and on the first day I went to Shodoshima. I'll write about what I noticed and what happened during that trip. This is the parking lot at the summit of…
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 circumstances requir…
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 rim set. DT 350 hub,…
Tomorrow and the day after, November 22nd (Saturday) and 23rd (Sunday), we will be closed. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
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 It looks black, but…
↑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 submerged underwater. On th…
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 brakes. Reynolds str…
Today's wheel build (and so on). Built the front wheel with an 88mm high tubular rim. HB-7700 24H #15 Champion Laced in reverse radial pattern.
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 Cruz, an MTB frame an…
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 aluminum nipples. I'll…
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 comments saying they…
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 28H Half-CX sprint …
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, I changed the Niner'…
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 component. It uses a…
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. Since they're the sa…
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— there were some odd…
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 developed as a Sony cor…
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 the stock factory conf…
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. They said it was oka…
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 just look like a routi…
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 width feels about the…
Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2 is complete! The rim is a Tni carbon tubular rim, 38mm deep model. With Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1's AL300 rim, it was only available as a bare rim, so I had to buil…
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 height (low/high) on th…
↑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!
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 half CX sprint forced l…
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a front wheel using Light Bicycle's ultra-lightweight rim with no holes on the outer edge except for the valve hole. Extra Light Cyber Front SP…
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, center lock, 24H Ha…
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 understanding.
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 handlebar was becaus…
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 with 2-cross lacing on …
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-comp with 4-cross l…
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 parts. When I receiv…
Today's wheelbuilding (details omitted). But before that. "Something I meant to write about yesterday" — man, this rim sure got heavy. Claimed weight 274g, actual measured weight i…
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 Kansai cyclocross rac…
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 the older model (→ …
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 building on Septemb…
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 using it. But beyond…
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 the threads begin, and…
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 with us— it was rem…
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 bottle cap onto the YAWYD…
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 disc hub, 24H Black …
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 inspection before usi…
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 CX Sprint, 46 JIS lac…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built a wheel with the ENVE 1-25 rim. Hub is 9000 Dura, spokes are CX-RAY with an anti-radial lacing pattern. I have things I want to wri…
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 side. All spokes are Ae…
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 a CL2 model came out…
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, quick-release spec wit…
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 fine that the tubeles…
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 themselves. Upon inspection,…
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 where you can't really…
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-cross lacing with bl…
SRAM Quarq accessory The lower bracket compatible with the Quarq-specific Hammerhead System (the official acronym is HMS, not HHS) has arrived in stock. Naturally, it fits perfectl…
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 focused on the hub in…
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's different is I st…
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 Research & Development, …
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 the right spokes from…
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. Since we switched t…
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 design, and the spo…
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 side: 11–29T 11–32T…
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the front wheel with WO rim specification on the SES4.5. Yesterday I wrote about the original spok…
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 like: "I think those a…
Another day with wheels (and so on). Tried building a rear wheel with a Grōtac tubular rim ...→ran out of spokes Tried building a front wheel with an RR411 rim... →hub hasn't arriv…
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 reliable parallel alig…
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 stuck in the threaded…
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 but XDR freebody— a …
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 you for your understan…
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's hard to find thes…
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 wheels are built wit…
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 fabric adhesive— an uno…
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 inconvenience, and th…
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 tie the spokes late…
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 to have it replaced.…
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 matching paint on the fr…
Another day, another wheel (abbreviating the rest). A customer left me a Velomax hub to work with. It's not a special hub for straight-pull or double-threaded spokes, but a standar…
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 replacement. ↑Normal …
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. 660 hub, 20H Black CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing on the non-drive side Rainbow-colored (VAS) n…
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 it for authentication…
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) I've only ridden i…
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 hub, 24H Hoshi Aero …
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-wrapped on the comple…
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 D791 hub, 24H Sapim Ae…
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 ↑same spot It's not the …
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 the spokes on the free…
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 local bike shop in Kanto…
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 the front of the image…
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 pattern Black aluminum nip…
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 (アンパワー), saying they…
↑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 water spray was kicki…
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 connections. After soldering…
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 (meaning spoke lengt…
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 available, so after the …
More wheels today (and so on). Now moving on to the rear wheel. ↑I'll be swapping the hubs and rims on these. Disassembled both rear wheels. The original DT hub's spokes measured 2…
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 lacing pattern with…
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. I'll do the truing…
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-RS300 hub, 20H Black Cam…
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 rim height between t…
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 immediate delivery. If…
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 whee…
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), with gold aluminum nip…
Another wheel day (and so on). Tni 660 hub, 20H front, 28H rear Black spokes and gold nipples for むラボホイール No. 5 that I had built. When the customer came to pick it up, they said "W…
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 the front wheel was …
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 was incorrect — if y…
↑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 center of the upper …
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 on the freehub side,…
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. Transferring the rim... Got it …
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 flange hub GC-SF hu…
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 pattern. Revo disc hu…
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 for that too. When I t…
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 we didn't have enough…
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 apologize for the inconven…
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 want silver spokes. The…
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 who used to run a sh…
A customer brought some fireworks by the shop, so we set them off in front of the store after closing time.
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 deform, so replaceme…
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 with a Squorx…
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 rear wheels with th…
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-cross lacing on both s…
Finally got here! What I'm about to write is pretty much my conclusion on this topic. I've still got plenty more material, but I've been writing about ヌポーク and such just to get to …
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 pattern. I'll do the…
Every time I see that three-screen display I'm reminded of the original Darius arcade cabinet, so I made this quick mashup image.
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 nipples. I'll do the spoke…
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 my iPhone happened …
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" printed across both…
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 red aluminum nipples…
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 scenery reflects off…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY, reverse Nippo spoke radial lacing with red aluminum nipples.
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 bells for collection, bu…
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 where one of them ha…
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 use until now, and …
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 noticeable runout, and the…
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing (except for one side) with gold aluminum nipples.
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 spoke wrapping later…
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 attached, and this is …
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.
Another wheel day (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. Built the front wheel for my partner. PowerTap hub, 20H CX-RAY spokes, reverse radial lacing. Even though it's a PowerTap …
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 labeled Open Pro Ca…
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 pressurize without sealant…
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 matches the front hub's…
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's parts brand, name…
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY Built with reverse Nupo spoke radial lacing and gold aluminum nipples.
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. White Industries T11…
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 with black aluminum ni…
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 cut straight across …
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-FIT. Campagnolo and…
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 aluminum nipples. I'll …
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 inspection purposes.…
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, partly because it's a r…
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 nipple tightening later…
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 freebody, so I can dispose …
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 the customer want…
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 inspection and parts repl…
Another day working on wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 using a hub that came from a customer's old Shimano pre-built wheel. WH-R501 front hub, …
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 aluminum nipples. I'll …
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 series for e-bikes, a…
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 pattern. Since this was…
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 Nomu Lab Wheel #1. T…
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 that both wheels seem…
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 and rim with duct tape…
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 arrangement (VAS arrangeme…
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in the front wheel from their Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 (a custom-built wheel) for repair. They were riding along the road-sid…
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 because of some crapp…
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY, reverse 2:1 spoking in radial lacing Rainbow pattern (VAS pattern) nipples.
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-competition 46-spoke JIS …
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 for your understanding…
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 certain— for a non-inter…
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's a rim from the "Ae…
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 black aluminum nipples. …
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 relocation in progress... Al…
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 days has gotten confu…
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 different wheel I d…
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 shop, so it's not No…
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 Superbe Pro boss fre…
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 around 389g. ↑You can't…
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 handlebars and LOOK Keo …
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 day of riding. The im…
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 comp lacing pattern …
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 from a shop called …
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 with ZIPP's other examp…
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 wheel is by far the…
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 black aluminum nipp…
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 not the original own…
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 aluminum nipples. I…
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 option in every category…
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 47mm of actual meas…
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 affecting shifting. Th…
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 above, it's completel…
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-competition CX sprint 46 JIS…
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 built the front wheel u…
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) with black aluminum …
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. I'll do the spoke …
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 model. This is the dis…
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 in My Neighbor Toto…
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 wheel truing inspecti…
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. Both wheels are se…
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 lacing With spoke ni…
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 definitely some regret a…
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 (Japanese wheel builder) Mo…
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 spoke nipple wrapping l…
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 nipples. I'll do the spoke…
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 ends, and it turns into…
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 remounted it the way I thoug…
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 different set of wheels f…
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 JIS pattern. I'll do t…
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 sprint 64-spoke reverse I…
Back to wheels today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evo Lite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing with turquoise aluminum nipples.
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 wheel for logistical re…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5 (ノムラボホイール) in silver rim specification. 660 hub, 20H, CX-RAY spokes, radial laced. In my earlier …
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 black alternating alumin…
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 at the shop in the …
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). A customer entrusted me with a Paul's rear hub for single-speed. The model is called DISC WORD, and the through-axle width is either 1…
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), you only need to tr…
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. I'll do the spoke w…
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 severely wobbling all ove…
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 nearby shop—the owner'…
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 Kanikoukousen sticker plac…
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 your understanding.…
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 the spoke nipples l…
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 lacing. I'll do the spo…
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 Black semi-comp build, 4…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY anti-Nupo spoke radial laced with black aluminum nipples.
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 (→ here ) It's a takeoff f…
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 twisting. This hub isn't ne…
↑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 it, but I got to thi…
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 front and rear wheel hu…
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 lacing, but Since it'…
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 front 20H and rear both…
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 Prefecture, but this hub isn…
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 aren't damaged to a c…
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 received a comment sayi…
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 exclusive and SRAM XDR）,…
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, remove the cone lo…
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 EQUAL brand hub, but la…
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 speaking. Sorry for…
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-speed "dedicated" freebo…
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 customer from yesterday'…
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 for it would be goo…
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. You can tell at a gla…
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 aluminum nipples. I'…
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 — currently out of stoc…
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 of the rear wheel spo…
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 routing later.
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 wire wrapping later.
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 black aluminum nippl…
Another day working on wheels (and so on...). Continuing from the other day. I'm changing the rear rim on the Axiom disc to this rim. It has a Shimano freebody on it, but the custo…
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 me to rebuild the wh…
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in the front wheel of a Reynolds DV46 Cross for me to work on. A while back, I rebuilt the rear wheel of a DV46 UL on a diff…
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 tend to switch their …
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-competition 4-cross pa…
Another wheel day (and so on). I received two Open Pro UST rims for rim brakes (with brake zones) from a customer. Both are 24H, not one 20H and one 24H. When I build front and rea…
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. I had previously con…
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 already has some spots…
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 existed, there's someth…
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 Zero that was on the bi…
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 appeared to be bent, …
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 that particular poin…
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 2000s and before, their…
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 radially laced, so the …
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 complete bike from the fact…
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 pretty badly, Looki…
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 you for your underst…
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 (→ here ). For the whe…
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 it. Moving the rim …
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 straight Built with …
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 better. Lightweight hu…
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, there was no obvious …
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'd actually make it w…
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 Yoshiyuki Tomino's (not yet …
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 rim, but the wide rim …
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 CLX50 has Aerolight s…
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 spoke tension was com…
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 rates. TPU tubes have na…
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 helmet-mount bracket, bu…
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) pattern nipples. I'll do …
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, 32H All-race, six-c…
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 the wheel to run out…
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 bike. When I position …
Wheels again today (and so on). I received two pairs of front and rear wheels from a customer—black spokes with red nipples on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. They've damaged the wheels for …
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 new. Since it's a r…
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 Saturday is the shortest …
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 the image above ↑the …
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 is quick-release, no…
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 replaced with a non-or…
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 XLR8R (Accelerator),…
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 height and 20mm inte…
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 nipples. I'll do the sp…
Back to wheels today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY Spoking with reverse radial lacing Black aluminum nipples. Just so i…
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY Radial lacing (non-drive side) Black aluminum nipples.
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 what the difference is …
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 hub overhaul. The r…
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 gritty. Since they'll …
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 know it's mine) Novatec…
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 concert performances sta…
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 can see marks on the…
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 electronic groupset…
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 Bora WTO33 on their…
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 generation, it's a rim that's…
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 Aerolight to CX Sprint…
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 half CX sprint straigh…
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 CULT bearing ultra ve…
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 whatever.
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 hookless rim, it can also …
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 from the right side,…
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 day. Revo disc hub, 24…
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 rims for repairs. Ho…
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 be rebuilt even fro…
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 have to show intent to…
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 other day. The front whe…
↑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 either 20, 24, 28, or 3…
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 originally had Park Tool'…
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer brought me a small-diameter rim with a wide rim width. Apparently several shops had turned down the wheel building work. The precision at…
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. It took me a whole day to decide how to build the front wheel—though looking back, that's just how it turned out. Really,…
In the Kansai cyclocross series races, there's "Yuru Cross" (casual cyclocross), a race format designed to promote cyclocross with relaxed regulations and atmosphere (aside from th…
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. ↑From the side — th…
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 stickers on the rim had be…
Don't worry, it's got it all （brake function and shifting function too） Part 2 is （→ here ）
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 to match the sprocket…
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 installation. The front wh…
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 nipple wrench, so the…
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 build a wheel becaus…
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 black aluminum nipples.…
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 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 differences dependin…
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" is laser-engraved o…
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 and Bora wheels with…
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 customer said they'd fid…
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, they wanted me to r…
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 lacing. I'll do the spok…
Another wheel day (and so on). Growtac 30mm high tubular rim front wheel build complete. ERC14... mystery hub with DT240 equivalent straight spoke specifications converted to quick…
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, 32H, fully Champio…
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 single-wall doesn't me…
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 JIS lacing. I'll do t…
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 pants I'd bought prev…
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 with it. Whether to us…
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 blade of the main bike…
We will be closed from December 31st (Tuesday) through January 8th (Wednesday). We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
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 before even conside…
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, but the rim has st…
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 aluminum nipples.
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 absolutely nothing to …
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 flanges than the C24" (th…
More wheel work today (etc.). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. 660 hub, 20H, CX-RAY spokes laced radial (non-drive side) with purple aluminum nipples.
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 wheels would be ¥319,0…
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), and rim heights of…
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 black aluminum nipple…
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer left me a wheel built with a Mavic Record Mond rim. It came from a vintage bike that used to hang on the wall of an old shop, and the cus…
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 spoke nipple has clean…
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 tensioned. Rather th…
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 connections.
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 reported, both wheels h…
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-spoke) with black alumin…
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Red nipples per the customer's request. This time, I was given the call on how to lace the radial spokes. Normally in …
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 the outer 52T × low…
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 Italian lacing. The …
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 do the spoke wrappi…
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 the manufacturer name …
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 for more than just …
Wheels again today (and so on). Built a front wheel with an AL22W rim. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY spokes laced radial, reverse radial pattern with black aluminum nipples.
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 house. I used to re…
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 before use. Let me …
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 incident" (← that's …
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 imagination. Anyway, since th…
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 American Classic CR350 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 friend's rear wheel. …
Another wheel day today (and so on). A customer entrusted me with a Dura-Ace track small-flange hub, the HB-7710 front hub. For some reason the Dura-Ace print on the hub shell had …
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-CX sprint, 46-spoke …
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer entrusted me with a 60mm deep Chinese carbon rim that had their team's name laser-etched into it. I asked if it was okay to post it here s…
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 CX Sprint, 4-cross re…
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 are C15, and the rear …
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 of a 4-cross patter…
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 narrow rim. If the phras…
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 apparently it's only be…
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 sprint 64-spoke rever…
More wheels today (and so on). Built a front wheel using DT's RR411 rim. HB-RS400 28H CX-RAY Italian lacing. With a small flange like a Tni front hub, when doing 28H 6-cross lacing…
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built the rear wheel with a 40mm tall hole-less carbon tubeless ready offset rim. ENVE sparse-dense flange holes hub, 2…
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 might be what it was, …
Another day of wheel building (and so on). A customer left with me two 24H 40mm high carbon rims for building disc brake front and rear wheels. The outer edge has no holes except f…
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 specifications it would…
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 the obvious points, j…
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 for the left side o…
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 100% positioned on …
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 a dural aluminum spo…
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 some use. Unlike th…
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 aluminum nipples. I'l…
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 customer from yesterday…
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 to the front hub in…
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 the rear wheel with 28…
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 on the front wheel,…
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 asked that I replace…
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 red aluminum nipples.…
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 aluminum nipples. I…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Front wheel CX-RAY, inverted hub radial lacing, Rear wheel half-comp 26-inch Italian pattern, inverted freewheel side with reinforcement lacing…
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 at the distributor …
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." Before I introduce the …
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 service for managing t…
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 long ago, a disc brake…
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 specific hub orientati…
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 black aluminum nipp…
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 been exposed (→ here …
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 difference between the p…
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 spokes. Are they seriou…
I received an R-SYS from a customer. I need to check the runout and center (details to follow).
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 through minor revisions wi…
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 gravel bike frame, when…
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 removed the pistons…
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-incompatible rim. A sp…
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 reverse Italian lacing wit…
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 already a crack in the f…
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 is a C50. The fact t…
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 connections. I did …
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 general comment reply and …
On this blog, I sometimes feature customer bikes in part or in full, but I always get their permission beforehand. Built a wheel for a street cruiser bike! It's a 26-inch MTB spec …
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, and while the decal t…
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 one on my own. These …
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 either side of the valve…
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... Wait, it was never …
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 340, the orange label…
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 think it weighs les…
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 called "About SRAM's K…
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 hole on the main arm …
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 build. I went with …
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, you must be able to…
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 preferences don't reall…
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 GIANT store, and a …
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 aluminum nipples. I'll …
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 millimeters in the …
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, often have Sapim CX…
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, half-comp four-cross JI…
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 — it's suited for cycl…
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 comment about Anchor'…
Another wheel day (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. 660 hub, 18H, CX-RAY reverse spoke, radial lacing. The reason I went with 18H wasn't because we did…
Another day working on wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel built with a Stans Crest rim. It was built with a ZTTO 32H BOOST hub, which we assembled here at the s…
Another wheel day (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Per the customer's request, both front and rear are 20H with CX-RAY spokes. The customer also requested red aluminum ni…
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 tension balancing later. …
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 customer had acquired a Meg…
Today it's wheels again (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, straight gauge sp…
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel built with a 7700 Dura-Ace hub and Open Pro rim. They're requesting a rebuild. The rim is Open Pro, but all the st…
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 response: That's quit…
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, The rear derailleur go…
↑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) rather than Brown is t…
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 "pre-built wheels fr…
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, I was pretty confi…
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 they sent these wheels …
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 was and since I wasn…
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 JIS lacing pattern wi…
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 Revo Disc Hub 24H blac…
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 at the rim's thread s…
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 when the wholesaler br…
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 if you look at it fro…
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 one, I'm using brass n…
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 build. 28 holes!? Oh no…
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 routing later. This hub's …
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 outright, but the r…
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 felt like the grease ha…
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 or not, the hub rotat…
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— instead of the newer…
↓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 enthusiastic readers …
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 happens, but the fr…
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 lacing with red aluminum…
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 with internal nipples…
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 was almost wobble-fre…
Another day with wheels (details omitted). I rebuilt the rear wheel with Colima's "Aero" aero rim. This wheel's rim, spokes, and hub are definitely all Colima, but it originally ha…
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 nipples. I'll do the spoke…
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 lacing pattern. I'll do…
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 WO rim. A WO rim with…
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 had off, I got an em…
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 hole drilling. Both …
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 the colors on ALEXRIMS…
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-gauge spoke hub, 24…
I just received a comment saying "Congratulations on your 1st anniversary opening!" I've been renting this storefront since July last year, but it took 45 days (not business days, …
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 writing "for disc b…
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 converted from internal nipp…
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, and red aluminum nipp…
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 hole CX-RAY spokes i…
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, but it's in nice con…
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 glossy finish on the ri…
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 recognition. The content inc…
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 tubes—I didn't just …
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 out in addition to …
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 it could identify it…
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 like an initial inspec…
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" at two locations r…
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 the Evolite hub is Nov…
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. Let me start with t…
Wheels again today (and so on). Built a front wheel with rim brakes using a lightweight rim with no holes on the rim's outer edge except for the valve hole. I built it with a hub d…
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'll do the brake cable…
Today, a customer (technically speaking) brought me a Mavic open rim and a bundle of spokes. "Open" refers to a rim model called OPEN that Mavic made as a predecessor to the Open P…
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 reverse Italian 64-spoke…
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, they ended up twis…
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 apparently assembled at so…
Back to wheels again (and so on). A customer brought in the front and rear wheels from their Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. They had a crash, and while the rear wheel had barely any runout,…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. The front wheel spokes are CX-RAY and built radial at the customer's request. The rear wheel is semi-competition …
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. The SSC in the origina…
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 tendency unique to th…
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 rebuild. But from my persp…
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 to use for the match…
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 preparation later.
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 the Karoo, and you c…
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 valuable thing to write …
Today it's wheels again (and so on). ↑This is the rear wheel I rebuilt yesterday. In the article, I initially referred to the Cosmic Pro Carbon SL as having a "UST" designation, bu…
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 wheel spokes are he…
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 spot. Past incidents (→…
Wheels again today (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. The front wheel is a CX-RAY with reverse non-spoke radial lacing, and the rear wheel is semi-competition with reverse …
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 with red aluminum nippl…
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel that was laced with the same rim as the front, but this one is more or less the mai…
Another day working on wheels (and so on). I received a front wheel from a customer built with Tni's 50mm high modulus carbon rim, the same rim as the Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5. This rim …
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #4. The front wheel is a 4-spoke lacing per the customer's request. Speaking about this particular hub and rim combination…
Alright, let's get moving! Today I'm talking about the limit on how many spokes you can lace when doing tangent lacing. ↑It's exactly as written in that text. That's it. Well, not …
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 a （ ）! where you're…
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 initial position. T…
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 aluminum nipples. I'…
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." Tubular tires are…
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 Italian style. I'll do the…
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 mechanical shifters for eT…
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 Osaka via the Kongo T…
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... No, it's 200mm. …
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, but since the cust…
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 hub, 20H all-black …
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 wanting a chance to ride …
I received a front wheel from a customer—a Racing Zero Competizione. This is what we call a new shaft catastrophic failure case. According to someone I know at a parts distributor …
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 one I'm using for t…
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 spokes on both sides, …
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 switched their entire …
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 wheel I'd just buil…
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer brought in the front wheel of their Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1 for me to work on. It was built 11 years ago, and it's a Tni Evo hub, 24H, CX-RA…
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 not to use spoke twis…
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 same rim as Nomu Lab Wh…
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-label GEL280, that's …
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from the other day. Built the rear wheel with a Meccanico 55mm high tubular rim. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY spokes, non-drive side radial…
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 business hours. （Though it …
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 official store has o…
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 aluminum nipples. I'll do…
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 I fixed that (→ her…
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a front wheel with a Tni AL22 rim. The rim sticker is an old label, and it's a customer's own parts. This is a 20H rim, but with 20H, the distr…
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 the end of my rough R…
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 has play in the hub…
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.
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 race at Suzuka the o…
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 and Pioneer's SGX-C…
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 between orange, pink, and…
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 is absolutely necessa…
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, and it had "bonus" h…
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 brake mounting holes, bu…
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, and probably because…
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, both sides are laced w…
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 black CX-RAY on the …
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 on the map and the …
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I assembled Nomu Lab Wheel #1. The front wheel is CX-RAY with reverse non-spoke radial lacing, and the rear wheel is semi-competition 36-spoke …
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 CX-RAY on both sides,…
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 spoke tension was a…
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 wheel. Most Roviàl di…
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 the previously avail…
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 「Tool Handle」— but ac…
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 deformation in the spo…
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 they asked me to fix …
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, accident, kickstand, derai…
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 as bad as the front…
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 Rovarl crappy wheels. To…
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 sprocket grooves aren'…
Another day of wheels (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Revo II hub, 20H, CX-RAY (anti-rotation spoke) radial lace.
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 announcement. Tomorrow is …
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 auction, and while the…
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 data-only page (not th…
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 about electronic grou…
A customer brought in the rear wheel from an ENVE 45 Foundation (carbon wheelset) for repair. The chain had dropped inside the sprocket and bent some spokes, so they wanted them st…
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 red light on their …
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 front wheel needs rebuil…
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 brake wheels, it's …
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 straight-pull spoke h…
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 order batch. This r…
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 several more article…
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, but hereinafter I'll …
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. ↑This one The break is a…
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 first-gen Bora (non…
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 its side was spotte…
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 against the curb, damag…
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 model, but the exact spe…
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 still in stock at the d…
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 with the same carbon …
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. However, the front…
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, there was no model e…
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 noticed this themselves an…
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 freebody were damaged,…
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, but then hit an orang…
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 see later, they have…
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-comp 4/6 JIS lacing…
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. DT350 disc brake hub, 24…
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. Revo disc hub, 24 hole…
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 doesn't roll well at a…
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 formally it counts as "N…
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 individually bagging …
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 Bridgestone one. And…
More wheel work today (long story short). Continuing from the other day. I disassembled the rear wheel with the Velocity small-diameter rim and built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wh…
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer brought me a Velocity small-flange rim and a wheel built with a Chris King hub. They want me to build a wheel using this hub with some re…
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 Built with full competi…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY spokes in radial lacing with purple aluminum nipples. The br…
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 this morning I went to…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5 with a Gokiso hub. This is a separate project from what I've been working on lately—differe…
・・・When I asked the customer about the history it turned out to be a completely assembled wheel made in-house by the manufacturer (Gokiso). I had suspected it might not be a manufa…
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 Wheel No. 5 rear wheel. …
Another day of wheel building (and so on). A customer left me with a pair of complete Gokiso wheels. The sticker on the rim has been peeled off, but given the unusually thick bead …
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 soldered, ↑or not. F…
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY rim in anti-Nupo radial lacing pattern with black aluminum nipples.
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 Zyo floor pump withou…
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—well, I don't really w…
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 hub, 24H, black hal…
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-RAY forced radial la…
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 understanding.
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 condition when t…
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, so it was sent in a…
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 (VAS) nipples. I'll…
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 differ by 1.5mm betwe…
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 loose, so they want th…
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 cyclocross tire on it,…
Another wheel day (and so on...). A customer brought in a wheel built with a Bontrager aluminum rim. It's built with paired spokes, but apparently the original hub flange cracked, …
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-RAY with forced 3-cros…
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 rare for this type of…
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 wheel". Anyone confus…
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 straight, but I ended u…
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 Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 a…
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, so they asked me t…
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 mess. The image abov…
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 inside the rim, so the…
↑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 distributor has an exception…
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. ※stuff like their Lasp…
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 treatment — they're ri…
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 relatively small ma…
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 wheels rebuilt, but then…
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 wanted me to tie them to…
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 straight, but I have an ON…
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 rim is worn down, so …
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 number after Squad indica…
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 black with black alum…
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 refused, saying "Yo…
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 break-in of sintere…
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, and there are diffe…
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 manufacturer to our shop. A…
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 mentioned there woul…
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 the handling felt bett…
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 didn't do it on Apri…
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 spokes, 88 Italian lacin…
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 would be readable in …
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 with connection, black…
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 one of the customer's…
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 better to leave it part…
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 instead of 2WAY-FIT rims,…
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-black CX Sprint 46 J…
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 emergency brake appli…
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Novatec 291SL prime brand hub with the same manufacturer as Tni's Evolite hub, 20H CX-RAY rever…
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 replaced and checked. On…
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 for work here in the s…
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, 24 hole Built with a…
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 black aluminum nipple…
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 rotor is a Campagno…
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 loose. Today I'm just wo…
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 mount Continental Gra…
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 customer kept using it …
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. Wham! ...Anyway, th…
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 one with 24 holes. …
More wheels today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Leaf hub, 20H, Campagnolo reverse nipple radial spoke laced.
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 after assembly, I did …
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-cross pattern Red alu…
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 more and more latel…
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 spoking later. I built the…
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 connections later.
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 During the initial c…
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. Maybe they were nerv…
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 width Freewheel hub…
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 decided to investigat…
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 air pressure, so when …
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 out cleaner, which …
Wheels again today (and so on). I built a front wheel with a Kinlin XR-19W rim and a Sun Tour Superbe Pro hub. There's a red sticker on the rim that says X-KEYMET, and X-KEYMET is …
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, then a 25-minute in…
Tomorrow, February 17th (Saturday), I need to take the day off due to some unavoidable circumstances. I apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. Normally …
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 while back. I built…
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 pattern) nipples. I'l…
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 and 24H with one hole …
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 front and rear wheel…
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 didn't have all the p…
Another day, more wheels (and so on). A customer brought me a rear wheel from a Reynolds 32 (Thirty-Two). They want me to essentially rebuild it as a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6. They ori…
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 to the rim's intern…
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. The hub bearing ha…
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. I'll do the spoke …
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 when stickers are p…
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 Aero Lite straight …
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 compared to other sectio…
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 the first couple peop…
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 month. We'll be doi…
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 built a wheel using…
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 like the front wheel,…
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 —not the only one in…
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 piece that's hard to p…
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 feels loose and needs …
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 Shimano wheel— the kin…
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 around to rebuildin…
In the role-playing game Momotaro Densetsu, there are enemies with demon appearances called "urumantu" and "ketsuagyou", and the origin of these names comes from the names of the s…
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 be taking the day o…
Another day, another wheel (and so on). ↑This is the Tni AL22W rim that I'm using for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8, and it's one of only 2 defective units I've found out of dozens I've sou…
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, and on both the left a…
Back to wheels today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Revo II front hub, 20H Black CX-RAY reverse spoke radial laced.
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 seating later.
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 the spoke twisting l…
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 rejected it. Based on th…
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 snapped off, the rear…
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 edition Ksyrium 125 wa…
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 anyway. This is a common…
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 nipple tightening late…
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 interested at the time, I…
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 / 7. Some older freebo…
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 shop and rebuilt one a…
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 customer themselves co…
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 the Evo Lite hub is …
Another wheel day (and so on). I built up a front wheel using a 50mm high Chinese carbon WO rim. Novatech 291 hub, 20H, with CX-RAY spokes in semi-radial lacing. The rim appears to…
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 noises. The customer…
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 44 Italian lacing Bo…
A customer brought in the front and rear wheels of a fixed-gear bike built with Araya 16B gold rims. They wanted both wheels to have their tubular tires replaced using rim cement, …
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 said they'd send it in …
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 -22-25 in 3T increm…
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 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 apologize for any i…
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 Neumen hub. That wheel…
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 right in terms of rol…
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 in places. They aske…
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 a Hyperon, so I was…
Another day of wheelbuilding (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. After bringing the spoke tension down sufficiently and cutting the spokes, we removed the PowerTap hub from the…
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's trying to depart o…
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 the shop before, and …
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 first model of Zonda aft…
More wheels today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Revo II hub, 20H, CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing (non-drive side).
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 semi-competition 4-cros…
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 hook lifted, causing …
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 brake spec cyclocros…
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 only one spoke lengt…
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 do the spoke nipple…
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 ). There was an issue …
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). During a crash, th…
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 silver aluminum nipple…
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 the spoke tie-in later…
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 I had a leftover fr…
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. I'll do the spoke t…
Back to wheels today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY rim, anti-Nupo spoke radial lacing with black aluminum nipples.
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, the discount was s…
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, I could hear a sound…
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 sponge tangled in the f…
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, linked from my earlie…
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 steel spokes era (inclu…
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 about 2 months ago, a…
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-black Aero Lite strai…
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, but the wheel price …
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 been thinking about fo…
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 shop first stocked the …
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 is still available. …
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 watch out for the mix-…
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 wrapping later.
The Oakley apparel discount sale that started at the beginning of this month (→ here ) ↑Our store inventory of accessories besides jerseys. Windbreakers and jackets, as well as nec…
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 Italian lacing and black a…
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 line of work, so I b…
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 brake zone has worn smo…
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 consecutive ones are brok…
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 if possible. The bu…
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 brand. They wanted me to…
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'll do the spoke wrapp…
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'll do the spoke tensi…
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 new Ratchet EXP fre…
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 a model change in 2…
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 compared to other models …
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 aluminum nipples. I'll …
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, but the customer's c…
Another day, another wheel (and so on...). A customer dropped off the front wheel from their Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. It got hit by a mama-chari and the rim is warped potato-chip styl…
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 shaking it by the sadd…
Another day on the workbench (and so on). Continuing from the other day's Grail rear wheel rebuild. HB-CX75 28H black CX-RAY "4-4 reverse Italian" lacing. Like the rear wheel, the …
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 for your understanding…
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 off-the-shelf rim w…
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in both the front and rear wheels from a Gokiso (probably) complete wheel. This is a customer who had me build a Nomu Lab…
Another day with wheels (details omitted). I took in a wheel from a customer built with Stans Grail rims. Today I'm only doing the rear wheel. Both front and rear wheels are built …
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 work, but there was…
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-RS770 28H black semi CX …
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 tell the year depending…
Regarding the back pocket zipper pull on the Oakley (American sportswear brand) discounted windbreaker from my recent post, I received a comment suggesting: "Isn't that a reversibl…
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 them both at once. …
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 straight spokes 24H in a …
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 are Compete Race, a…
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 are two front wheels, …
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 and fork), so the cust…
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 wheels of a Cannond…
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 tried (and failed) to…
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 silver, and the text…
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. ↑Right side nominally,…
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-R8170 hub—you know, th…
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 Black CX Sprint straig…
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 can use the parts f…
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 "Saikain" (bead tape) …
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. Essentially, they want to…
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. It's a 700C rim, but…
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 details on the work, pl…
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 wheel though. The hub …
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, it rattled badly—t…
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 runout on one side, …
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 tightening later.
The Campagnolo backbone explosion recovery sale (→ here ) is continuing indefinitely while stock lasts, and the fourth shipment has arrived. The first shipment is covered in the li…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. It's a Black Hub 20H CX radial laced wheel with reverse spokes. This Black Hub has flange holes …
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 customer wanted an inspec…
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 sale price, so I consul…
Back to wheels today (and so on). I received a set of front and rear wheels built on ENVE 1-45 rims from a customer. These were originally built by my shop, but at the phase direct…
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 tubular tires back in the …
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 later.
Another wheel build today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. With a 25mm high tubeless rim without holes I built a disc brake rear wheel. The hub is a PowerWay 24-hole hub wit…
A customer brought in front and rear wheels built with rims from a brand whose name shall not be spoken. Let me start with the rear wheel. Yeah, no amount of discretion can cover t…
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 for both rims. ↑the …
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer dropped off a Mavic Ellipse front wheel with me. It's a classic training wheel for track cycling. Other manufacturers don't really make c…
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 replaced the front whee…
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 regular closing day …
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 of the Campagnolo whe…
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 lighter one for the…
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 the front and rear w…
I had some urgent business to take care of, so I headed out to Umeda.
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 Technology). Removed …
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, and since they're the …
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 10-spoke and 4-spoke …
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), which didn't exist when…
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 tension, it's a whe…
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. On a 2:1 laced front …
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 either side of the valv…
I'm sure many of you already know this, but yesterday (September 21st) Shimano released a statement acknowledging instances of crank adhesive separation. This rigidity issue has ac…
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 received a commen…
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. Like the rear wheel…
For over a month now, I haven't been able to properly respond to comments, emails, inquiries, and orders. I'm trying to reply little by little each Wednesday (our regular closed da…
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 is allegedly very sim…
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 claimed weight than…
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a front wheel using the Tni AL300 rim. It's essentially the same as Nomu Lab Wheel #1, but I'm not calling it that because the rim is a custome…
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 indicate the rim hei…
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 choose the hub manufactu…
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 freewheel hub with a…
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 lacing with 46mm spok…
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 wheel, it's not thick…
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 front and rear wheels …
This is a supplementary post to the previous article. I'll write about why the SLR1 from the previous article 「couldn't be tensioned excessively」 and 「why the additional tightening…
I built Nōmu Lab Wheel No. 3. The tire is customer-supplied. I temporarily mounted it and stretched it out. The Tni Evo hub is 11-speed now, so it no longer has slotted holes which…
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. The most common cau…
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'll do the valve hole…
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 "Noreikattsu" (katakana ノレイカ…
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 to do something abou…
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 in the opposite-hedge…
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 they become available…
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 sprint spokes, 46-hole JI…
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 relieved the tension here …
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 after removing the spoke…
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Front wheel is CX-RAY reverse non-drive side spoke, Rear wheel is half-competition 24-hole laced pattern. I cou…
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 nipple tightening later. …
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 sidewall The edges tend to …
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, 24H black semi-competi…
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 stock in distribution,…
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 with black aluminum ni…
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 left the front wheel…
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 terrain and attempted a…
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 signs of use, but the …
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 front hub. This rear wh…
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 weird, but these are …
Since the day has rolled over, today is also wheel— (abbreviations omitted). Will it turn out that way? I wrote a long article earlier so wheel building got delayed. Yesterday, I t…
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 of 2022. This front …
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 the photo isn't everyt…
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 shipments onward, order f…
Another wheel day (and so on). This is a continuation from the other day. I'm rebuilding the front wheel with an EDGE 45 rim that I'm taking care of for a customer (sort of). Evo h…
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 thing would be to clos…
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 Campagnolo's Ebolit…
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 DT, but rather a sta…
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 on today. Since it …
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/spoke/hub all in red…
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 before yesterday. ↑Bora W…
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 extremely high rigidi…
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 come in three types: se…
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 wrapping later.
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY anti-spoke radial lacing with black aluminum nipples. I built a wheel w…
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 can't be converted t…
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 you get to the utility…
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 the way, it's around …
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) were converted to wid…
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 forced radial lacing. The…
Another day with wheels (and so on). But before that. The other day when I did a non-U spoke radial lacing with this hub, there was a reason I didn't go with U spoke radial. The hu…
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 freebody) 32H All black, 14…
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 wheel, and broke some s…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). A customer entrusted me with two 50mm deep, ETRTO 451mm rims with UD carbon finish. Both are 32H, and I'm building front and rear wheels …
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 hole. The hub is a D…
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 wheel ↑it's about thi…
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 , has finally gone m…
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) rim. This is the match…
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 Ultra DB on display…
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 18H hub, black CX-RAY,…
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） The derailleur bracke…
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). Both are radially-lac…
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 on hand, and the cust…
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. Both front and rear whe…
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 breaks from the imp…
Another wheel day (et cetera). Built a rear wheel using an H PLUS SON (Japanese rim manufacturer) triangular section polished WO rim and a Gran Compe (Japanese component brand) dua…
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 about five years ago,…
Wheels again today (and so on). Built a wheel using a Kinlin XR200 rim. This is a customer's own parts, not from our shop inventory. The hubs front and rear are Novatech 482 and 29…
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 the same configuratio…
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 indulge your hobby」 and…
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 connections later. Since …
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. 660 hub, 20H, CX-RAY spokes, built radial lacing (non-drive side).
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 shirking his duties here, b…
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 there's no significant …
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 20H, CX-RAY inverted spoke radial lacing.
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 freebody this time) 24H …
Another wheel day (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY spokes, reverse radial lacing with black aluminum nipples.
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 say this rim is unu…
When I wrote about left-right asymmetrical lacing the other day I drew a diagram like this, which contains a note saying "the angle is the same." This refers to "regardless of how …
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built a front wheel with a 50mm high tubeless ready rim. Extra Light Cyber Front front hub 20H black CX-RAY anti-proprietary spoke radi…
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 to what you'd get w…
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 customer brought it in,…
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 and inspection. The…
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 requested CULT (Ceramic Ultr…
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 been interested in." …
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 tire that got the slow…
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY spokes with reverse radial lacing and black aluminum nipples.
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 rim. Spoked with all-b…
More wheels today (and so on). Things have been incredibly busy lately, but I've finally settled down enough to work on Nomu Lab wheels during business hours. I'd like to push thro…
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY reverse spokes, radial laced.
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 the USB bearings for …
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 later.
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 concerts of the Osaka S…
Today it's wheels again (etc.). I received a rear wheel from a customer built with a 26-inch HE rim (ALEXRIMS DA16) and a 135mm-wide quick-release hub. It's wearing Michelin slick …
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 do the rim tape lat…
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 lacing and dark blue al…
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 I'll call it the Du…
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 the early days when Ja…
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I built a front wheel with a Tni SUB1 rim. ONYX Vesper hub, 20H Black CX-RAY spokes, non-drive-side radial lacing Blue aluminum nipples. Goi…
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 but never used it, app…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I replaced the front wheel rim on Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. In the image above, the rim is already in the middle of moving... Got it built up. The …
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 later.
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY rim, reverse spoke pattern radial lacing.
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. 660 hub, 20H, CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing (no cross pattern). I built a wheel with the exact same…
Wheels again today (and so on). Built a front wheel with an AL22W rim. 660 hub, 20H, CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing on the non-drive side. Just the other day, I bought up a bunch of …
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 Maintenance. So it's been he…
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 freebody— Evolite hub 24H …
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 it was parked, and t…
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 threading later.
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 individual rims and as …
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 understanding. Previously, there…
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 pairs with 21H, it has t…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. 660 hub, 20H, CX-RAY spokes, radial laced (non-drive side).
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 prepared for Shiman…
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 spoke model, and tho…
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 four wheels that day, b…
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 pushed it past its rated…
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 correcting left-right spo…
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 "it doesn't roll as…
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 tangential lacing on …
Another wheel day (and so on...). A customer brought in a budget-grade rear wheel that came stock with an MTB complete bike. The hub and rim both say "STOUT" on them. This is unrel…
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 manufacturer. It came packaged…
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, plus inspection work …
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 squeezed the spok…
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. Unlike the rear wheel…
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 to post gifts in th…
I swapped out the hubs on the SMART ENVE — replaced the 35mm front wheel hub with a 45mm rear wheel hub. Both wheels were originally built with DT 240S hubs, but ↑the customer want…
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 same specifications w…
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 "nyūmen") straight sp…
Wheels again today (and so on). I built a front wheel with a 40mm deep carbon rim and a dynamo hub. The rim depth measured 39.7mm actual, but even with 35mm deep rims some wheels c…
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 because it was running s…
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. Since this wasn't …
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 AL22W rim for disc br…
Another wheel day today (etc.). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Wing hub, 20H, black CX-RAY spokes laced radial (non-crossed pattern) Rainbow-pattern (VAS arrange…
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 March. The reason why (p…
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 Italian lacing. I'll …
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 disc (tra) ring on …
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, and not minding the…
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 the customer brought i…
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've already separated …
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 double-threaded hub, …
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 the brake zone area. I…
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 ↑Focus on the hub S…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 33. HB-7600 Single-threaded rear hub, 36H, fully Campagnolo 88 Italian lacing. I'll do the wiring…
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 understanding.
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 standard XT hub for a BO…
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. This CREST with the cos…
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 body got cut. When you …
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 storage room, but no…
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: Camouflage and Winter…
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 ever getting a wide-ri…
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 Shimano's deliberate obs…
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 Head rim. The rear w…
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 turning stiffly. Whe…
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 had me rebuild an Al…
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 suspect I'm defining "disc…
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 oyster mushroom shape…
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 have butted round spo…
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 the straight spoke h…
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 Alpinist CLX has alr…
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 in the front and rea…
Another day working on wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a wheel with a 6600 Ultegra hub and DT RR1.2 rim. When DT started selling rims as individual products, they began w…
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 the photo, but I've sw…
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 have enough silver CX-…
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 the shop there'd be…
A customer brought in a pair of front and rear wheels from a ZIPP 404 Firecrest (WO rim specification). These are rim brake wheels from a while back. Or rather, disc brake wheels p…
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 replaced. The nippl…
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 tension the spokes later…
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 and logos printed on …
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 brand new rim that came …
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, Italian pattern, no…
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought me a wheel we'd built for them previously. The rim is a Passenti Brevé, and the hub is a Chris King R45 32H, fully comp laced Ital…
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 during riding (espec…
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-7900 24H Campagnolo/Com…
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 inspection. They also want to…
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 makes a terrible noi…
Another wheel day (and so on). But first. There used to be a handlebar manufacturer called ITM in Italy. Rather than adopting a strategy like Deda—moving production to Taiwan to of…
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 complete wheel built with…
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 rim. It has a brakin…
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 brought it in for, but the…
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 Campagnolo) 24H semi-comp 4…
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 responding, so I held d…
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Silver rim version. 660 hub, 20H, CX-RAY (anti-spoke-holes) radial lacing.
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 this type of job on her…
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, so it needed to be r…
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 case where a completel…
Another wheel day (etc.). Built a front wheel using the rim from Mavic's Helium, the ancestor of the modern complete wheel. The Helium has an unusual spoke count of 26H for the fro…
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 sit right with me, so …
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 planning to do a left-right…
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 Ixion K10 or just К…
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 a WH-S500 complete …
Another day of wheelbuilding (and so on). There is no IKEA in Hiroshima. They announced plans to open a store and even secured land for it, but it ultimately fell through and the p…
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 location in the image ab…
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 half-competition 4-…
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 rear hub too, but si…
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 sides with a 2-cros…
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 on the tire bead and…
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 replacement. When I…
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 weighted more heavily …
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 rebuilt front and rear whe…
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. For centering, the f…
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 spoke left-right hook-…
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 gray anodizing throug…
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer left me a complete Tni Dragon 50 wheelset. Their request was pretty vague—just to make it roll better— but that's no problem since t…
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 mentioned 650B, I'll note…
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 that the rear wheel w…
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 Chinese brand. For the…
A customer brought in the front and rear wheels from a Cannondale Hologram 35 Carbon wheel set for service. The front wheel's bearings were grinding and needed replacement, and the…
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 the spoke nipple tens…
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), but people have ask…
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 said it "arrived" toda…
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 them. The work I was as…
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 see the yellow tubeles…
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 the spoke tension ba…
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 build. The freewheel…
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 and straight 2×2×2 = …
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 time I've seen the …
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 lower image is just…
Another day working on wheels (etc.). I forgot to take a close-up shot, but with a cosmetic carbon finish and an unmarked rim that appears to be from the same manufacturer as Fasto…
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 (can't do a 46-spok…
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 does hub weight redu…
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 spokes on the left side o…
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 spokes are black, no spo…
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 it's light, the powe…
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 inspection done. Normally…
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 JIS lacing. I'll do t…
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 edge except for the val…
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 either side of the valve …
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) with 4-cross Italian …
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 completely hardened in sca…
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 nipples. I'll do the sp…
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 issue that meant sp…
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→home→shop, I was planni…
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-speed. Originally it was…
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomulab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing.
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 only this one gets th…
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-lacing connections. I no…
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 the front wheel, 24H …
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. ↑Front wheel centering sp…
A customer dropped off the front and rear wheels from a Fulcrum Racing 700. This is a model that comes with complete bikes for distribution, not sold through normal retail channels…
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, essentially like blu…
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 moped, The rim is totall…
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 hub, 24H, half-CX spr…
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 Speed 40 & 55, etc., …
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 completely lost track…
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 for the valve hole. …
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 semi-competition 4/6 …
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 semi-carbon rim with…
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 for damage like this…
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 hub 32H, black half C…
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. These ratchet ring teet…
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 Racing 1, though, is …
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 snag right before the …
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 bracket is currentl…
Wheels again today (etc.). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5. It's a 50mm-deep carbon rim. For the front wheel, I built it radial spoke pattern as the customer requested. I generally …
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 material "Crab Canner…
Another wheel day (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel of a ZIPP 303 Firecrest. Before and after rebuilding, the hub freebody is SRAM XDR, with a 1…
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in both front and rear wheels from a ZIPP 303 Firecreast. Today I'm working on the front wheel, and the customer wants to re…
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 while back (→ here …
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 silver nipples. I di…
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 spokes After Freewheel s…
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 cosmetic rim details, …
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) After (black CX Spri…
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 (black Aerolite rim…
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 for rim brakes, but …
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 asking "How's that Rovals…
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 rebuilt. For a wheel that…
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 Competizione spokes ↑Rebuilt …
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 not a CLX, the spoke…
A customer brought in the rear wheel of a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 (custom wheelset). There was a bent spoke from derailleur wrap-around damage, and they wanted it replaced and inspect…
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 want it rebuilt as a …
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 threading later. This tim…
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. The front wheel befor…
Back to wheels today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 20H, CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing (non-driveside).
↑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 a simple box. Even t…
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-Italian lacing with…
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 to be set sales mode…
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 half CX Sprint 64-s…
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). Since these wheels …
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 one, and didn't even…
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 spoke done, and Disass…
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 price "revision"—ba…
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, with a plug portion …
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 called Alien, and whil…
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 article, the custom…
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 Bora wheels are no lon…
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: tamago egg and gri…
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 (Thursday). We might still b…
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 aluminum nipples. I'…
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 next to the valve hol…
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 customer from just barely M…
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 working on the front wheel…
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 Nomlabo Wheel's old No. 2…
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY, antinipple radial laced with purple aluminum nipples.
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 rear wheel truing. For…
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 spoke wrapping later…
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 customer also bought a…
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 challenge. You instal…
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, but this is a later c…
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 from a half box-style …
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 steps to avoid the new h…
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 went to Shintayama …
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 tire mounting surfa…
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in an F4R from FF Yamaguchi (a Japanese frame builder). Apparently someone they knew bought it but quickly gave it up, so they got…
I received Nomu Lab Wheel #1's rear wheel from a customer. It's a rear wheel built with Molanbon lacing. Originally it was built normally, but the customer requested it be rebuilt.…
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 came only in 50mm rim…
Today it's wheels again (you know the deal). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. 660 hub, 20H, CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing (non-drive side).
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 ordered the wheel. Evo…
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 equivalent. There was vir…
↑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 since New Year's Eve.…
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 a slight centering i…
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 lights cut across and…
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, 21 holes. Didn't ta…
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 with that, the air l…
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 model number but rath…
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 you for your understan…
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, black semi CX sprin…
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 it's a rim brake 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-axle hub. The bike is a…
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 to destroy it as long…
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 often see on Chinese c…
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'll take it off late…
Another day with wheels (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. To make it easier to distinguish from the ghost wheel I built yesterday, I deliberately le…
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. 660 hub, 24H, CX-RAY spokes, radial lace pattern with black aluminum nipples. So, I built the…
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY spokes in reverse radial spoking with red aluminum nipples.
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 red aluminum nipple…
A customer left me with the rear wheel of a Smart Envision System 4.5 NEW for service. The "NEW" that comes after SES4.5 is actually part of the official name. ↑The "4.5" on the NE…
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 I'm not sure what ca…
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 for disc brake use on…
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, the outer spoke holes …
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 relieved the spoke tensi…
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 pattern. I'll do the spoke…
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 terrible and he wants me…
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. Evolight hub, 24H, semi…
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.
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 reverse Italian lacing…
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 Campagnolo freebody later. H…
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. Stocked up again. And a…
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 wheel at 24H and rear wh…
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer left me both wheels from Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. The hub is a Blackk Hub (← not a typo). Apparently they collided with an MTB while th…
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 front wheel has minor r…
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 used set, and they …
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Assembled the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY rim, radial lacing with reverse spoke pattern, and red aluminum …
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. The repair request was…
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 aluminum nipples. I'll l…
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 damaged if they kep…
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 overlapping connectors.
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 spokes. Starting with…
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 being lazy, I'll do…
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 about 120° phase that…
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 you for your understan…
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 that you definitely cou…
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 depleted, so there's no …
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 arrangement as the front whe…
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 German word Natrium,…
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 spokes) there was a …
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—so I'm not going to…
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY, anti-spoke radial lacing with rainbow-pattern nipples.
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 current Hutchinson tir…
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 removed them after ident…
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 24H rear hubs. I mig…
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 black aluminum nipples…
More wheels today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY spokes, anti-Nupo radial lacing.
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 report on the progress at…
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 drill is screaming! A c…
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 originally, it has a Dugast t…
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 after-rebuild image. I …
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 nipples, but I ended up bu…
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, I found a crack in o…
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 spoke wrapping late…
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 do the spoke wrappi…
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, but there was just…
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 typhoon at night, I c…
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-cross laced on both …
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 the "virgin link"—the…
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 engagement was shallow. The…
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 model number is "A45…
I still have more unfinished nupoke stories to cover, so I'll take it bit by bit. Today's topic is about spoke routing when doing radial lacing. First, let me explain since it's be…
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 been seeking for yea…
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 built here at the s…
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 and rear wheels had …
Today it's wheels again (etc.). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY with reversed spoking in radial lacing.
↑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 ridiculously large tooth count…
A customer brought in the rear wheel of a Nomu Lab Wheel Certified No. 5 for service. The hub is a Novatec 482, which is the same as the Tni Evo Hub or rather, it's the original th…
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 of the wheel broke in…
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 forced left-right 2-cros…
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 first, but when that di…
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 lacing pattern. I'll …
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 reckless, but I'll write …
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 and tape later.
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 ) (→ here ) even if it's n…
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 aluminum nipples. I'll do…
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 hole, but with Campag…
Another day with wheels (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel of the Stans Arch rim with a BOOST hub. The original configuration was FH-M8010 32H wi…
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 itself but is now u…
Another wheel day (and so on)... but before that. This is from a little while back, but a customer brought in an ultra-lightweight carbon rigid MTB frame from a certain brand (or w…
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 tape later. It got hit…
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 with all-black race sp…
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 wheels in the shop, but t…
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 the rim tape later.
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 12 total— I've rece…
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 the time. A customer…
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 hub 24H Black semi-c…
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 built this one back in t…
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 the comments! I've cor…
Another day of wheel building (et cetera). This is the rim for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2, but it's an Equinox WH199 model branded with a Tni sticker. I'm not sure if other brands sell t…
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. But somehow I manage…
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 stopped」 that's basically …
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 third day. The image dat…
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a front wheel with Tni's 35mm high carbon tubeless ready rim. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY spokes, reverse radial lacing.
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 from the 24H rear whee…
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 different, I couldn't…
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 photographing only the ASS …
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'll wire it up later.
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 pattern lacing. The…
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 absolutely needs rebuil…
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, this is only "compa…
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'll finish the nippl…
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 via freehub body swap…
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 the tie-wrapping later…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. Building a rear wheel for disc brakes with a HED Belgium rim. The hub is Paul's rear hub for single-speed fixe…
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 it turned out to be n…
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 from now, this wheel …
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in a 32H rear wheel built with a Chris King R45 hub that we assembled here at the shop years ago. The hub is turquoise an…
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 more for 29-inch MTBs …
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 Chris King hub in pink a…
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, connections included.
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.
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 this era (personal …
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 aluminum nipples. Will do …
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 from the rim because …
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-included list price for 25…
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 routing cables down t…
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 stumped. Apparently a near…
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 freewheel side is missi…
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, but I spent all th…
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 the front wheel was…
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 to adjust your cap, …
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 there's no shame in adv…
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 in the past. It's a P…
Another day, another wheel (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 spokes, reverse radial la…
More wheels today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. 660 hub, 20H, CX-RAY spokes laced radial (counter-laced) Gold aluminum nipples.
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 steel-spoke disc brake …
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 along very fast.
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 rim version is the F…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). After building the rear wheel the other day, I built the front wheel with a 35mm high lightweight WO rim. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY spokes, ra…
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-cross JIS lacing. I…
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. ↑These guys All fixed. Th…
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 doesn't appear to be tu…
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 aluminum nipples. I'll tie …
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 holes on the outer ci…
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 understanding. Recently I've…
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 spokes are DT Aero Lite…
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 wasn't that dirty. I'll…
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 want the most affordabl…
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. It's a model called B…
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 lacing. I'll do the s…
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.
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 ( here ). In the link…
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, but the bag-package…
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. I'll do the spoke …
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 centerline, there was …
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 opposite side, whereas roa…
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 red aluminum nipples.…
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 27.5 inches as you can …
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 for Nomulab Wheel No…
This is the fully automatic chain cleaner, "Shoulder Loin Saute Mark II." Got it running! Chain cleaning in progress... Sparkling clean now.
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 other things I need to …
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 hub. The Haibatsu GT …
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 competition lacing because …
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 spoke wrapping late…
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 GIANT SLR1 I'm curre…
Another day of wheels (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. 660 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY reverse non-round spoke radial laced.
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 Japan, hubs are list…
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 it was repaired at …
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 bought a PowerTap hub,…
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 and bearings removed…
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 regular concerts fal…
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 Aero SB 88 JIS lacing,…
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 the rim is shifted an…
Another day of wheels (and so on). The counterpart to yesterday's front wheel, but like the rear wheel, I'm swapping out the hub for a different one. With the AL22W rim—it's a disc…
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 completely unrelated, but I…
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 we're talking about t…
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 fracture didn't happen ri…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I received a front wheel built with an AL22W from a customer. Since it's a disc brake-spec rim, it's technically a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 8. This i…
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evolight hub, 20H, CX-RAY spokes, reverse non-radial lacing. I've been thinking it migh…
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 boasting that this is the w…
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 bikes are often cases wh…
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 Consideration-san i…
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, oddly heavy in weight, …
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 position, and if you lo…
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 take a close-up of th…
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 spec, 36H, #15 aero…
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 called the Servizio …
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 "three visits of courtesy…
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 fixed requirement for k…
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 wheel name for my no…
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!
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 for Shimano 11-speed,…
Another day of wheel work (details omitted). Continuing from yesterday, I'm rebuilding the rear wheel. The rim is the same as the front wheel. Hub from the stock wheelset - 28H Bla…
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 the front wheel thou…
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 Tange. The first thi…
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 brought in a tire, so…
At companies with nice office buildings you sometimes find eyeglass stands set up next to the bike parking area.
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 shell comes in silver an…
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 later.
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 check inspection. ↑Thi…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #7. This one, along with the rear wheel I'll build later, is genuinely the last pair. Evolite hub, 2…
Another day with wheels (details omitted). A customer brought in the front wheel of Nomu Lab Wheel #1. One spoke has broken, though we just replaced a spoke on this front wheel rec…
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 definitively what to do a…
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 absolutely won't …
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 lacing later. The reaso…
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 from the previous ar…
Another day with wheels (and so on...). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the front wheel of Nomu Lab Wheel #5 with an AL22W rim brake-specific rim. It's interesting how no…
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 the steps (of God's …
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 lacing pattern with …
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, which relocated from Dai…
This is a different job from the previous one. The hub in question came in as a customer-supplied part. I'm using our shop's Tni rear hub and building a pair of Nomo Lab Wheel No. …
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 from the same era. Oops…
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, the same one we use a…
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 Hub - 24H Four-cross…
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 the spoke length the …
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 Rapide CLX, but the one t…
Today's another wheel day (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY reverse spoke radial lacing.
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 you fix it?" So I r…
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 tension balancing later.
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 Aero Lite. But anyway.…
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 both ends of the qui…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built Nomunlab Wheel #1 using customer-supplied hubs. The rear hub is a Novatech 482, but with slightly different specifications (more on that …
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) equipped with Nomu Lab…
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 version of the Hyper…
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, so I shot a photo wi…
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 changing the high spoke cou…
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 actually fixed. Obv…
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 relief holes Red alum…
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. The customer initial…
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 understanding. I cur…
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 come in stock, so th…
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 details of its conditio…
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. There are a few thing…
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 lacing pattern with sp…
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, a straight-pull sp…
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 on. There was only sl…
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 tension equalization, and…
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 business hours or af…
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 those bolts. ↑This on…
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 flat on a descent, an…
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 difference between …
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 compete in the 1994 Wor…
Another day with wheels (and so on). Oops, I forgot to take a photo before rebuilding. Looking at the rim's brake zone, it's obvious it's not new, but I think you get the idea. I r…
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. I positioned the tu…
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 discontinued, all the other spe…
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 unfolded diagrams th…
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 soldering. The image…
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 aluminum nipples. I'll do …
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 off. Well, that's fin…
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 when he won the 1994…
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 Campagnolo better than any…
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. White Industries T11 hub, 20H, CX Sprint Built with anti-cross radial lacing.
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. This router—I follo…
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 almost flush with the …
Recently I received a comment about building the front wheel of a fixed gear bike with JIS lacing. I've mentioned from time to time that "for tangent-laced front wheels, I prefer I…
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 nipples. I'll do the rim…
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 (loosely speaking) who had…
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 so on). Built the fr…
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 and Roval wheels that…
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 follow have a hazy lo…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing pattern. This is a repeat order from a cust…
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 nipples and a Campagnolo f…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4. Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY non-aero spokes in radial lacing and silver aluminum nipples. I …
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 Shimano parts (the linked …
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, they'd bought a Nomula…
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 importantly, the sq…
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 that I rebuilt the …
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, but on the manufactur…
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 the same as the CLX50…
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 shipment consists of leftov…
Super important information (at least to me) Starting April 2022, I've decided to include "rim relocation" projects in "Today's wheel-building" (abbreviated hereinafter). Originall…
Another wheel day (and so on). I've taken in a rebuild of a 32H wheel with an Open Pro rim and 7800 Dura-Ace hub. The customer also wants a hub overhaul. The spokes on the freewhee…
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 passed by several, even…
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 got several more comme…
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 complete bike, and they a…
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 than normal. In pitch …
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 something about it. It came…
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. The hub is an HB-900…
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 later. With 24H, if I d…
Wheels again today (you know the drill). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub (エボライト) 20H black CX-RAY spokes built radial lacing with black aluminum nipples.
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. The other day, with m…
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 puncture remained roughly a…
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 more of them. Well, I t…
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 spoke tying later. The…
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-competition (half-comp). …
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY reverse nipple radial lacing.
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, 2-0-2 pattern with dr…
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 spoke tensioning lat…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 7. Evolight hub, 20H, black CX-RAY reverse non-radial spoke lacing. I applied Stans tape and the…
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, 24 holes All #14 blac…
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." The EDGE 25 rim earl…
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-Grande size along w…
Another day, another wheel (you know the drill). A customer brought in a 20-inch WO rim for me to work with. 20-inch is a size designation where both WO (Wired On) rims and HE (Hoo…
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 these are not Alpini…
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 brake rim with a non-dis…
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-spoke lacing pattern.…
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 wheel I'd built years ag…
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, but I'm not going …
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 the spoke wrapping b…
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 components, the quick-…
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 stocked it, This model…
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 do the nipple lacin…
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 requires bleeding th…
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 hub model number is "…
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 arranged in rainbow…
Wednesday is supposed to be my day off, but I've been coming in at irregular hours to work through the backlog of Nomu Lab wheel builds. Actually, I've been doing this for about a …
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 64-spoke style. I'll …
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 model called JET has bee…
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 bent the bead hook …
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 is XT, and the rim i…
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. but then today when I…
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, and the 42mm high rear…
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 the Speed Release a…
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 rear wheel anymore. In…
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 written about this many …
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-drive side for CX Sprint…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolight hub, 20 spokes, black CX-RAY, radial lacing without reverse with gold aluminum nippl…
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＿ ＞ Mission Failed ＜ ￣^Y…
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. Today I'm just doing…
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 spins forever. They wan…
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 where 3 spokes are pu…
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 nipples. I'll do the …
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 to be clear, i didn'…
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, I've rebuilt the rea…
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 your understanding.…
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 certain period onwar…
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 name is ENO, not ON…
Today it's wheels again (etc.). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY, laced radial with reverse/alternating spokes.
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 nipples are arranged in…
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 another one for this artic…
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. Cannondale supplie…
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 both 20H and 24H, ou…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing with purple aluminum nipples.
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 marking tape on one of …
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-cross build. Sometimes …
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 wheel. It's not like it…
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 spoke wrapping later.
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 the first time I've r…
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'll do the nipple wr…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built a wheel using ENVE 1-45 tubular rim. Front wheel is 20H CX-RAY spokes, Rear wheel is 24H Semi-competition build. I plan to do lacing ev…
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 tensioning later.
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're using is a bit lo…
A customer dropped off a rear wheel built with a Shimano MT400 hub and WTB rim for repair. The parts needed for the repair didn't arrive for a while, so I've had it for about 10 mo…
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 wrapping later.
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-712". Well, there we…
Another day with wheels (abbreviated hereinafter). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. The one in the foreground of the image is it, and the one in the back is the exac…
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 the titanium gray s…
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 anodized rim in the …
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the front wheel for のむラボ Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY radial lacing with reversed spokes.
More wheels today (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 deep. The front wheel has some …
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 some rim dish. In the …
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 includes or excludes th…
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 wheel from a custome…
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY, reverse radial spoke lacing.
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 Rear right 282mm Fr…
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 that could fix it. …
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 manufacturers obsessed with aero…
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 straight gauge spokes in…
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. I'll do the spoke …
I received a rear wheel built with Open Pro CD rims from a customer. It had been used for cyclocross. With the "CD" specification where even the rim sides are covered in hard anodi…
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 lacing with red alumin…
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 aluminum nipples. I'll do t…
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 buckling, so the rim …
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 Red Wind XLR and Bu…
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 think about it, so I wa…
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel from a Mercury (brand) S3 wheelset for me to work on. The rim is from the same manufacturer as the Nomu L…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY, reverse Nupo spoke radial lacing.
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 nipples. I'll do the…
A customer left me the rear wheel of their theoretically ultimate NomuLab Wheel No. 5 for repair. It's a 28-hole 4-cross lacing pattern, with the non-drive side featuring true tang…
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, 24H, black semi-CX sp…
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 get around to postin…
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 my regular entries, b…
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 precise, the nipple f…
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 look at the rim side an…
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 tensioning later.
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 there was no need t…
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 defect in the hub shell…
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 "late-model" means …
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I've been holding onto a front wheel built with a 1-45 rim that a customer left with me. For nine months. Before that, I was waiting for …
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 was so long that I'm …
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'd end up relying on…
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 as a special price …
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 inspected. They came i…
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't just a case of lo…
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, there were reasons…
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 ceremony based on acc…
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 feels half like personal…
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 generation, with different …
Gravel bikes... if you think about it rationally there's no way they'd catch on in Japan lol someone help me
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 right after purchasing…
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 do the truing later.
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 "production doesn't mean imme…
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 decided to replace the 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. It's not that I can't…
Another day of wheel building (etc.). I built the front wheel for Nomulabo Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY, anti-spoke radial lacing.
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 almost flush with t…
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 December 6th. That day t…
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 hub body is carbon,…
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 macro shots at the …
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 here Fixed. The anod…
A customer gave me canned coffee and cola. Come to think of it, this refrigerator is also a brand new gift.
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 just doesn't roll we…
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 final result. Rewind…
More wheel work today (you know the drill). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY spokes laced radial (non-drive side).
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 hub. The CCB (Chinese…
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 valve hole on both si…
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 the groupset to 12-…
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 shop and were told …
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built a front wheel using the front rim of the SES3.4. Building a front wheel "with a front rim" seems like it should be obvious, but S…
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 Nabeyatoge Pass with its fr…
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 space in the bottom ri…
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" in the title is the …
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 connections, and purp…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evo Lite hub, 20H, CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing.
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 business, and in the very e…
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 the old road in place …
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" （the wholesaler said s…
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 Team replica color comp…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built a front wheel with a Kinrin XR240 rim and Shimano dynamo hub. Since it's a dynamo hub, the front wheel was a given. The XR240 rim…
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 Roval?」 So I just made …
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 customer had already fi…
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 are completely out …
Today it's wheels again (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Evolite (Evolite) hub 20H black CX-RAY (CX-RAY) radial spoke pattern with reverse nipple l…
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 laced in the 6-cros…
I received a Cosmic Carbon UST (Mavic hub with Instant Drive 360 freebody) from a customer. This one was sent from a distance, but before that there was a consultation about sympto…
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 Warmer" (イヤーウォーマー).…
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left me a wheel that was built with an Araya Super Aero rim. They wanted it rebuilt. There are front and rear wheels, but today's the rear…
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 it's a double-threade…
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 wheel. The temporary c…
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 Tourney Superb Pro, and…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY, with reversed spokes in radial lacing Silver spokes only next…
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 inspected it back in mid…
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. This is speculation, b…
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 remember when this custome…
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 not have been the firs…
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 since I sometimes forget…
I received the front wheel of a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 (custom wheel set) from a customer. Not long after I handed it over, it got caught in a grating and developed some wobble. They…
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 or Hyaku Shiki, but i…
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, but the brake zone …
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, awakening cheat skill…
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 moment you say "hookle…
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 touch and go whether it'…
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 understanding. While I'…
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 they weren't sure of …
Back to wheels today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Evolight hub, 20H, CX-RAY reverse spokes, radial lacing with green aluminum nipples.
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 do a thorough compari…
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 needs inspection, but t…
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-colored nipples. I'll do…
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 spec for Nomu Lab W…
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 called RYDER, and w…
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 nipples on the freewheel …
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, so get one for me AS…
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 high-tension wheels, e…
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 mounting the toe spike…
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 that differ in whether…
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 adjustment later.
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 Racing Zero (レーシングゼロ) th…
Another day of wheels (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel from the GP4 rim to a CX22 rim. The front wheel had the shop's name sticker on it but th…
A friend of mine came by to drop off their road bike. It's originally the one I used to ride. Currently it doesn't have a bottle cage installed, but adding a third hole to the down…
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer dropped off a front wheel built with a Mavic GP4. Since the rim had a sticker with the shop name on it, I'm being considerate and blocking…
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 the spoke tension b…
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 unnecessary kindness — com…
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 standard JIS six-cross patt…
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）, and I'm using a Camp…
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 nor there, but when I…
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer dropped off the front wheel from a Nomulab Wheel No. 5 (custom wheel set). The hub and spokes aren't visible? Must be my imagination. An "…
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 nipple finishing later.
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 is orange anodized,…
Back to wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. I had planned to rebuild the rear wheel on the CL50 today, but I suddenly had to build thi…
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 bearings I removed—the oute…
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 have much value as a to…
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 snapped in quick su…
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 from the CLX50 I wo…
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 regarding how the WH-…
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 lacing equivalent to a 0-…
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, which would normally tak…
Another wheel build day (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evelite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing.
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 shops. Those were red,…
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 been using them for ove…
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 silver aluminum nipple…
More wheel building today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evo Lite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing on the non-drive side.
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-oriented componentry…
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 tension balancing later.
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's runout. ↑There it…
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 long out of stock a…
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, and it had a stretch-…
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 brakes and is a hookles…
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 peel off the sticker e…
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 Grail CB7 in the previ…
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 wheel— using four co…
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 crash or collision with…
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 from 23C to 25C), b…
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 them with for our shop …
With Shimano chains, probably because they're not made in-house and if the outsourced manufacturer raises prices it becomes practically impossible for the company to maintain price…
Another day of wheel building (you know the drill). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evolitehub, 20H CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing (non-inverted).
It's wheels again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Black CX-RAY in reverse radial spoke pattern and purple aluminum nipples.
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. I'll do the truing l…
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 weren't any in this wh…
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 runout and asked me…
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 PowerTap hub — and the sa…
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, so this year I dec…
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. I'll true it up la…
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 Valtteri Bottas, or actuall…
Wheels again today (and so on). Built a front wheel with an AL22W rim. Evoluight hub, 20H, CX-RAY reverse non-radial spoke lacing The nipples are arranged in rainbow colors. I have…
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-wheel bike brand, and i…
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-comp 4-cross lacing …
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY, reverse Nupo spoke, radial lacing The nipples are basically black a…
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 threading later. I told th…
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 nipples. This is one o…
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. I'll do the truing l…
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 XDR (Shimano freehub s…
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 nipples. I'll tension the …
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. EvoLite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY with radial spoking on non-drive side, and black aluminum nipple…
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 the truing later.
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 existed in the past. …
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 are the same as the…
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 to it, though. The on…
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY, built radial lacing (reverse spoke pattern), and gold aluminum nipples. Th…
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 was also a prior spoke…
A customer brought in the rear wheel of a Nomu Lab Wheel #5 for service. At this point, I'd already removed the freewheel body. About this wheel—I'm just going to write down what t…
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 truing later.
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, laced 2-cross on both…
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 tying later.
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 front was 18H and t…
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 your understanding. T…
Today it's wheels again (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Leaf hub, 20H, black CX-RAY, laced in reverse radial pattern.
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 2020 version. I just…
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 tubeless rim with no hole…
Another day of wheel building (you know the drill). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing on the non-drive side.
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 of Amoy (厦門). When y…
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.
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 lacing pattern with …
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 came later, people so…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY spokes in radial lacing and gold aluminum nipples.
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 sides to compare, th…
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-competition 46mm It…
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 it up in the article…
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, but this is the ol…
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. The new Evolution h…
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 maximum values). The key …
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 Mavic Ellipse. Both r…
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 a few years ago. The…
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 already rebuilt is built…
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 black, CX-RAY in a 4-c…
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, competition track bikes often …
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.
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 pattern Same as the fro…
Another day with wheels (you know the drill). A customer brought in a front wheel built with an ENVE 1-45 tubular rim. It's got a Chris King R45 hub in 20H black CX-RAY with revers…
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-cross lacing, red nipple…
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 do the spoke tension…
It's rare that I get the last Saturday of the month off. So, today it's wheels again (and so on). I received an XR200 rim rebuild job. Not that there's anything particularly wrong …
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 blocks that get clamped o…
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 wheel wobble. When carr…
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 during a ride with a lo…
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 to its name it has …
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 orders for "semi-comp…
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 taking the day off. While…
I received a rear wheel from a customer for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Since this is a rim replacement job, it doesn't count as wheel building (hereinafter omitted) for today, but actua…
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built a front wheel with an AL22W rim. Evoraite hub 24H CX-RAY semi-radial spokes with black aluminum nipples.
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evol-lite hub, 20H, CX-RAY spokes, semi-radial laced.
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 lacing pattern later…
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 yesterday, the whee…
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 everyone yesterday, bu…
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, and there are no bit…
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 Italian lacing.
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'll do the spoke tens…
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 bent pretty badly. …
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 pattern. I'll do the…
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 unusable. What I mean by th…
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 it right there in fr…
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.
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 sealant that looked lik…
It's wheel day again (etc.). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 (※). ※ I corrected the numbering that was listed as No. 1. Thanks to everyone for the multiple comment…
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 got some emails to r…
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-phase holes, and ins…
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 ties. The rim model nu…
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 this isn't a dual-use …
Another wheel build today (and so on). I built a front wheel using a Smart Envision System 3.4 rim. EvoLite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY, laced radial (non-radial on drive side) pattern.…
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 several seized nipple…
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 doesn't show clearly in…
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 Purple aluminum nipple…
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 spoke wrapping.
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 28H black half-comp 4…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomulab Wheel No. 5. Evo Lite hub, 20H black, CX-RAY spokes in radial lacing with black aluminum nipples.
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 USB connection to sha…
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 from the anodize color …
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 since I ended up replaci…
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 it hardens, it turns…
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-Lite, and as the tire…
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 10 days. I'm plannin…
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 the truing later.
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 the spoke joints la…
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, this rear wheel isn't …
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 distributor that's the only on…
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 green aluminum nipples. …
Following up from the rear wheel the other day. I received a front wheel built with an XR200 rim from a customer. Novatech 291 hub, 20H, pillar slit hole black aero spokes. Anti-sp…
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 hub's freebody to Sh…
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 aluminum nipples. I'll do t…
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 brackets come in: XTR g…
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 spokes, I don't think it …
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 3.4, and this is a cl…
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. ↑This is the SRAM XDR …
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 aluminum nipples. I'll d…
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 no spoke ties. I noti…
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 Italiana lacing pattern.
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 written many times befor…
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 is actually with the …
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 know the rim weight,…
Back to wheels again today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY spokes, laced radial pattern.
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 do the spoke tension…
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer entrusted me with a LEW brand 32mm high tubular rim. The serial number label embedded in the tire bead area also starts with HZ, same as t…
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 tension the spokes lat…
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 released to make it…
Another day working on wheels (and so on). I built a front wheel using an AL22W rim. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing on the non-drive side. I don't think I'll be run…
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, ENVE makes both hooked…
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 nipples, and red nipp…
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. （You can distinguis…
Another day of wheel building (you know the rest). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY spokes laced radial Green aluminum nipples.
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 know I'm being inconsi…
It's wheels again today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY with reverse non-spoke radial lacing Silver spokes with black nip…
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 released the spoke tens…
A customer brought in the rear wheel from their Racing Zero Night (high-performance wheelset) for repair. While doing maintenance at home, they accidentally stuck a tool into the s…
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 shallow that it mak…
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 an old wheel, it nat…
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 for ones with unusua…
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 wrapped around the rim. …
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 semi-competition fo…
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 lacing later.
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 that definition, so h…
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 because I could start bui…
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-competition four-cross…
More wheels today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolight hub, 20H, CX Sprint reverse radial lacing with basically silver aluminum nipples, with red…
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 all-black Campagnol…
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 tension balancing l…
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 rim seam is a sleeve…
Another day, another wheel build (et cetera). I built a front wheel using a Mavic CXP40 rim. Looking at it, the rim itself appears to be nothing more than a pre-built wheel rim tha…
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 and double chainrin…
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 before this I had a …
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 from an ordinary wheel …
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 bicycle chain—got caught …
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 spokes get bent from stu…
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 truing later. Bonus…
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 work is part of the…
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Today I'm also working on a separate job— a wheel that some terrible shop gave up on and comple…
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 spoke on a super high-lo…
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 Comp spokes in cross…
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 tensioning later.
Another day of wheel work (and so on). A customer dropped off a rear wheel built with a DT XR361 rim. It's a 29-inch, by the way. FH-M9000 32H, all-black competition laced JIS-styl…
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 interesting story: Th…
I built a wheel using a customer's Record rear hub. I'm only building the rear wheel. This hub isn't in stock at the distributors right now, and I need several pairs for another jo…
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 owner, and things w…
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, though I'm not certa…
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 the only time slot av…
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 as F*ｃｋ, so I ordered…
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-branded Roval specificati…
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 it's also available a…
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-SYS. Apparently they …
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 the customer with that…
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 nipples. I'll do the trui…
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 from a customer. The…
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 lacing. It was tensioned…
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 with that rim, the …
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 customer had to ste…
This is the partner to the rear wheel I rebuilt the other day. Chris King R45 hub, 20H Black CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing. The customer asked if I could tighten it further if there…
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 runout— I didn't tak…
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 holes, and they want m…
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a front wheel with an AL22W rim. With an Aerolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY reverse non-radial spoke lacing Gold aluminum nipples. What I'm emphasizing …
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 because the customer who…
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 minutes in time and …
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 in the photo above,…
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 became smaller with…
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 model. The customer brou…
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 the reason for the …
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 and rebuild the rear w…
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 just putting cerami…
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 in black, large size…
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 nipples. I'll do the spoke…
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 the rim. This is th…
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 component is A56. Chris …
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 in the spokes on th…
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 on the serial number…
Another day of wheelbuilding (and so on). I built a front wheel using a tubular rim from the SES (Smart Envy System) 4.5. The rim's standalone model name is A48. Yesterday's SES 3.…
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 make the correction. …
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 the iPod camera. Half…
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, and then gave it awa…
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 feeling it's not just tha…
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 wheel, but after inspe…
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 see! I hadn't consid…
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 conventional sense.…
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 weren't yet standard on …
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 distributor has low stock on…
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 right rims for this…
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 the No. 2 rims, so I…
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, and the centering …
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 posts. I'm still in the…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H black CX-RAY counter spoke radial lacing with blue aluminum nipples.
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 manufacturers' lock rings, inclu…
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 twisted from some half-hea…
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 inside the sprocket,…
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 wobble in one spot, a…
Another wheel day (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm rebuilding the rear wheel with an Open Pro CD ceramic rim. FH-7700 32H #15 plain true stainless (super magnetic!) Lace…
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. I'll do the spoke …
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer left me front and rear wheels built with Open Pro CD ceramic rims. Today I only worked on the front wheel though. HB-7700 32H Sapim #15 la…
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 straight spokes Bui…
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in the rear wheel from a Smart Envy System 4.5 (a high-end rim brake road wheelset). Actually, I had once inspected this wheel whe…
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 rear were laced in re…
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 wheel has a Reynolds-b…
Tomorrow, February 18th (Thursday), I'll be taking the day off due to pressing personal matters. I apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. The reason the…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel from a Prime AT01. The rim is made by ALEXRIMS, but there's no AT01 available as a standalone rim model— it …
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-pull hub, 24H. Built wi…
Another day of wheels (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY radial spokes with reverse pull lacing and purple aluminum nipples.
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 wrapping just past the lev…
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY with reverse spokes, radial lacing.
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 that doesn't make muc…
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 nipples. I'll do the truin…
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 can be used," which …
I want to start clearing out the Nomu Lab Wheel backlog, but I'm having trouble getting the workflow organized. If I dedicate myself to wheelbuilding without compromising quality, …
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 a loud crack while …
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 didn't ask for details …
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomulabo Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX Sprint reverse Nupo spokes, radial lacing.
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 the nippling later.
Another wheel day (etc.). Unlike the front wheel, I started by disassembling the original wheel. A customer entrusted me with a rear wheel that had an Open Pro rim. FH-9000 28H, fu…
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 understanding. While I'm at …
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 doesn't have orange,…
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. The hub being hidd…
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 tightening later. This …
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 reverse Italian lacing. C…
I took in a wheel rebuild job for a ＰＬＡＮＥＴ Ｘ. Looks like an Ｆ２Ｒ, doesn't it. But the specs are different. It had the company's hub laced tangent with Revolution spokes, but they wa…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evolight hub, 20H, black CX Sprint, non-Nupo spoke radial lacing with red aluminum nipples.
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 the "typical" spoke…
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). I built a front wheel using a Kinlin XR240 rim. There's a rim with the same name for 700C as well, but this one is for small-wheeled b…
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 severe that the wheel wa…
I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY spokes in radial lacing. I also glued on the tire with rim cement.
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 straight gauge / blac…
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 spoke tying later.
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 rear wheel from a R…
Back to wheel building today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evvolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY anti-spoke radial lacing with red aluminum nipples.
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 toe shoe covers since…
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 Italian six-on-six. Too…
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 pattern, but this is th…
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 Lab Wheel #5 front whe…
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 nipples—or rather, silver…
Currently, the DT wholesaler only stocks two types of spokes in regular inventory: Champion and Competition. The manufacturer's website still lists Revolution, but only in the 14-g…
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 rim, even though I'm p…
Another day working on wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20 hole, black CX-RAY spoke, laced radial on the non-drive side with red a…
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 nipples. I'll do the t…
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 tubeless-ready rim w…
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—two spokes total. The…
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 lacing. I'll do the cab…
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). Built up a Woodman carbon hub with a Tni 50mm carbon rim. Like I mentioned before, this hub has pretty wide flanges. They wanted it bu…
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 mudguard lifts upward …
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 around the valve hole is …
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. I'll do the spoke wr…
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't appear to be disc…
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 diameters are very sim…
Another day, more wheels (and so on). A customer left a Bontrager front wheel with me. The rim is a WO narrow aluminum rim, The hub is 20H large flange, laced in radial zero cross …
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 the actual measurement…
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 loosen the cap while …
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 plastic greenhouse" and s…
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, there was an inquiry as…
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 Premier perpetual calendar…
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 wanted me to check o…
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 leaving without doing so…
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 nipple relief. The Gr…
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evolite hub, 24-hole, black Compé reverse Nupo spokes in radial lacing.
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 rim at 31mm depth an…
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 available, I deliberatel…
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 long-term backorder…
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 of the part number a…
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 asking, "Are you sure a…
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 thing's for sure—the ri…
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 start with the front w…
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 lacing. Utility bike fro…
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 that guy's jobs. Fro…
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 replace it. This is a WO …
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 off the rear wheel fr…
Today it's wheels again (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5. Evo Lite hub, 18H, black CX-RAY, radial lacing with anti-rotational spokes (counter-laced). …
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I took in a rear wheel built with an Ambrosio Montreal rim from a customer. I have the same rim myself, but in silver. This one's hard anodi…
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 pans before. Apart fr…
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". Setting aside the price, …
Rat guard Prevents rats from entering grain storage facilities. Ninja guard An ingenious design used on castle stonework. You can't climb it easily. Nupork flange Damn it, damn it!…
↑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 ). It has our shop's na…
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-comp four-cross lacin…
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 bridging. By the way,…
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 broken ones the first…
More wheel work today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4. Tni Wing Hub, 20H, CX-RAY, laced radial. This hub was entrusted to me by a customer. The sil…
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-the-shelf wheel, th…
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 do the nipple tight…
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 wheel. It's not bran…
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 Champion #14 on the freewhe…
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 actually way more labor-…
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, so I was able to bui…
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 a Smart ENVE WO rim.…
I got it! Don't be fooled - this one's a flatfish.
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 offset rim, the non-…
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 valve hole drilling late…
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 around 60 km/h downh…
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 used for cyclocross…
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 same as this genera…
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 threading later. I add…
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 spoke nipple soldering l…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built a front wheel with the AL22W rim. The hub is basically a different color variant of the Evolite hub, the original being a Novatech 291S…
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 yesterday. There's the matt…
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 but this is originall…
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a front wheel with Araya's Aero 2 rims. Tradizione Classico hub (← there's a typo on the brand's website that they never fix) 32H, fully Comp…
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, and at first glanc…
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 wheel and only inspect…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I received a rear wheel from a customer built with a 120mm-high tubular rim. It's a trike rear wheel, but the trike (three-wheeler) I'm referri…
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 for your understanding…
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 lacing. I'll do the wire …
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-cross) pattern. Since…
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.
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.
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, but there's no disc r…
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 square aero spokes, 24H…
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 not brand new, but it …
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 clearly in bad shap…
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 the nipple had broken…
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 it with tape, ↑cute …
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 engaged. The flange hol…
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 loosened the tensio…
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 replace the rim. Since…
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 standard way. In the stock …
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 crankset, but decided a…
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 customer is requesting tr…
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 or polished, and th…
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 (the 6-cross side) u…
Unrelated to the title, but Today I did a rim swap on the Nomu Lab Wheel #5 with silver spokes on a PowerTap G3 hub. Separately from that, I also fixed the rear wheel of the Nomu L…
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 Speed 40C (clincher…
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 it before at our sho…
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 pattern. I'll do the sp…
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 barely any runout, but t…
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 lightweight are tagged …
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 on the other day, bu…
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 orders were still possibl…
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't agree with me: Rov…
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 adhesive residue isn't t…
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 offset. The hub is …
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 ADX-5. ↑These are th…
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 the butted section an…
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-generation model cal…
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 spoke, all black CX-RA…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I received a front wheel from a customer — a Mechanico 25mm high carbon tubular rim. 16H black CX-RAY with washers under the spoke nipples, bui…
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX Sprint reverse non-radial spoking.
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 specifically designed as a bra…
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 right. There's nothin…
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 caught in the wheel," …
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 the Racing 1, but tha…
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, Aerocomp/Aerolite,…
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 32 hole, all Campag…
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 on a rim, it indicat…
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 nipples only on eit…
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub (Evolite hub) 20H black CX-RAY spoke radial lacing with red aluminum nipples.
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 the image above. I sa…
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 using aren't tubele…
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, and 32H models. If…
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.
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evo Lite hub, 20H, built in reverse dish radial lacing The spokes are CX Sprint, not CX-RAY.
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. I'll do the spoke w…
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 kind of predetermined s…
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 (the manufacturer's…
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 for cyclocross. Eboli…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I assembled the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Evo Lite hub, 20H, CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing.
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).
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 Portuguese name for Taiw…
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 wrapping later.
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 Kit USB, and Hub Kit …
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 between the left and ri…
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, but Today's is a T…
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 that name as the top …
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 for the price of a r…
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 offset rim design, s…
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 in 28H spec) Half-C…
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 that. But before th…
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 one came in at 289–290…
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, unlaced, with black sq…
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-country racing (all-mount…
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 other day, but this…
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 hit from behind, an…
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm also rebuilding my partner's rear wheel. Since I changed the front wheel to silver spokes, I'll do the rear wheel in …
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 rim. The number at …
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 it'd end up in stor…
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 semi-comp 4/6 cross JIS…
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 with the rear wheel…
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 and quick-release en…
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 free to customers wh…
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 nipples. I'll do the…
Wheels again today (and so on). In the image, the rear wheel in the back is the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 that I built the other day. I've now built its matching front wheel. Evo Lite h…
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 the month, which is…
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 nipples. I'll do the…
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 with the latest XT M…
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 shop, but they sell s…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolight hub, 20H, black CX-RAY spokes in radial lacing with red aluminum nipples. This isn't…
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 spoke connections, a…
Another wheel day (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4. Reife hub, 20H, CX Sprint reverse two-cross radial laced with red aluminum nipples. This wheel was suppo…
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 buckling, so they aske…
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 worn down, so I replace…
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 in the process. Ther…
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 is 10mm longer than …
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 as well. Earth-mark …
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. Goodyear calls their …
Another day of wheel building (details omitted). I built a wheel using the AL22W rim for rim brake. The front wheel is (obviously) a non-offset rim with Evolite hub 20H black CX Sp…
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 the handlebar) on th…
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 it here. Previously, …
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 pattern. I'll do the s…
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 and arranged them in…
Today's wheel building (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolight hub, 20H, CX-RAY radial spokes in reverse-pull lacing.
Another day on the wheels (and so on). From a customer An Ambrosio Metamorphosis (Metamorphosis) rim rear wheel that I received for work. The hub is a Campagnolo globe-marked Recor…
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 cross, but since it's …
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 through the rims that…
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 plastic end caps. The…
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 colors total. I prefer th…
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 rim height. Just not…
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 between rim holes sti…
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 clincher version of t…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY spokes in radial lacing.
I received the rear wheel from a customer's Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 (custom wheel set). The rim got crushed because of a tire lever being used with too much leverage force when mounti…
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 some radial runout i…
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 wheel appears perfectl…
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 centering was spot-on,…
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY, non-drive side radial laced with red aluminum nipples.
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 something got caught and ben…
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 Using red and blue …
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.
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 anyway. Recently I p…
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, and there's no way …
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 the lateral truing …
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 spoke pattern swap. …
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 direction, ↑The first imp…
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 nipples. I'll do the spok…
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evo Lite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY, radial lacing on one side. I'll peel off the sticker on t…
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 with orange aluminu…
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 properly, the rim wou…
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 the customer bought th…
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 reversed Italian lacing …
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 have some models wit…
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-colored, and the "5000"…
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 tubular, but if only the f…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY reverse-pull spoking in radial pattern With orange aluminum nippl…
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 for any inconvenienc…
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 the wheel. Also, I …
Another day with wheels (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. The front wheel would work as-is without rebuilding it, but I couldn't just leave the extra Record rear hub sitting …
When you really think deeply about competition bicycle equipment, and bring together the most advanced materials, manufacturing methods, and theories of that time, I believe the ul…
Another day with wheels (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, but the previous spec was (→…
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 sections. In my front wheel…
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. wiring. At the customer's…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I received an LWC 25mm high carbon rim from a customer. When weight is applied in this way, it won't show up in the archive. So I figured I'd a…
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 the continuation (the…
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 303 wheels. I haven't …
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 I'm aware of is the …
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 comes in a "no-box" …
Another day of wheels (you know the drill). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolight hub, 20H, black CX-RAY spokes in radial lacing with red aluminum nipples.
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 the rear wheel felt c…
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 height. Chris King R45 hu…
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. You can see in the ima…
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 recovered it had frac…
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 it turned out the c…
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 red aluminum nipples. …
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 wheel. It's a rare case …
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer dropped off the front wheel from an FF Yamaguchi F4R. One spoke flew off during riding, which would normally be a quick fix on its o…
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 Lefty fork. The hub a…
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 same rim height and…
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 safety slogan where:…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I received the front wheel of a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 from a customer. It was built more than five years ago, but since the customer is a compet…
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 Cosmic Pro Carbon SL UST…
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 Italian laced with tie-…
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 runout. The spokes were …
The matter from the previous article still doesn't meet the conditions today (wheel inspection abbreviated). So today is the same (wheel inspection abbreviated). A customer brought…
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 myself back in the da…
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 laced. I'll do the spo…
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 followed Araya's offi…
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 ).
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 produced across a pr…
I received a front wheel from Nomu Lab Wheel (a Japanese custom wheel builder) from a customer. The rim had buckled The rim was deformed, so it needed to be replaced. Transferring …
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 tension balancing later.…
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 (confectionery shop) in Zo…
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 arbitrary distinction— I r…
Wheels again today (you know the drill). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY spokes in reverse radial lacing with silver aluminum nipples.
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 were from our regula…
Four more to go. Anyway, it's another wheel day (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evo-lite hub, 24H, black half-comp lacing with black aluminum nipples.…
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, this is the only to…
Another wheel day (and so on). I received a Reynolds Assault T front wheel from a customer. Reynolds hub, 20H, black Revolution radial-laced round spokes. I've never really underst…
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 customer had put marker…
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 to wheels today (an…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY, radial laced (non-drive side).
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. Both wheels have XT…
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 with a price adjustme…
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 customer-attracting…
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing.
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 breakage has occurred…
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 do the spoke wrappi…
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 nipples. I'll do the tru…
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 tuning later. About th…
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in the front wheel of a Rolf Vector Pro for repair. It's hard to tell because of the paired spokes, but one spoke is broken.…
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 wheels) arrived and …
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer dropped off Prime 50mm high carbon tubeless-ready rim wheels with me. The sticker is holographic and shimmers when you rotate it (pretty …
I took a couple days off to create a conversion table for the 1st ST / 2nd ST of Sapim CX Sprint spokes, which I've been using more frequently since they became consistently availa…
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 4-packs have a high…
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 3-day break through…
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 lacing (that's all that'l…
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 and someone had add…
Another day of wheels (you know the drill). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY with reverse spokes in radial lacing, with green aluminum ni…
More wheel work today (and so on). A customer brought in the front wheel from a Token Resolute C45 for repair. The rim had buckled after being heated up by brake friction, and the …
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 later. I noticed while …
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the Nomu Lab wheel No. 4. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY reverse non-spoking radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evolite hub 24H semi-comp …
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 wheel I'm building now. …
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 stands for clincher …
A customer left me with the rear wheel of a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 (custom wheel model). It's built with a Hope Pro RS4 hub 24-hole, semi-comp 4-cross lacing with spokes crossed, wit…
We will be temporarily closed tomorrow, May 30th (Thursday). We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Thank you for your understanding.
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 homemade bentos to sala…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY anti-spoke radial lacing.
Another day with wheels (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I'm replacing the rear hub on the Reflex Rim with a thru-axle spec version. The original hub was an FH-M985 32H,…
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer dropped off a front wheel built with Mavic Reflexlite rims. HB-M985 32H, all CX-RAY, laced reverse Italian. This was a wheel used for cycl…
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 later.
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 the original box from…
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 wheel built on it before…
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 I thought had been s…
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-black CX-RAY four-cro…
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in a wheel built with an EDGE 1.38 rim. One of our regular customers had asked me about this wheel that appeared on a cer…
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 can sense the consid…
Another wheel build today (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 46 JIS lacing, unbr…
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 seen it: This one—re…
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 cutter or knife to ope…
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 spoke threading later.
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 by a continuous "shu…
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. ↑The spoke I repla…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolight hub 20H CX-RAY anti-spoke radial lacing.
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. The front wheel has a …
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 nipple turning in l…
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer left me a front wheel built with a Mavic CXP14 rim. It's a 650C rim, by the way. There was uneven braking at the rim seam, so they filed …
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 arrive in large quantiti…
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 was combining it with…
～Heads Up!～ Recently, at a certain shop, when building wheels some folks have been persuasively steering customers toward CX Sprint spokes for the left/right spokes on rim brake fr…
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, I'd say it's only …
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 that description too...…
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 previously. The alu…
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY radial spokes Black aluminum nipples.
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 Eiji's novel "Romanc…
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 hub in the most diffi…
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 era (↑my personal rim…
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 that appeared to be…
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 article, I thought …
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 (non-interlaced) On…
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 early June, and the ne…
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 actually, there's on…
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 holes for front and…
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 days, and now the f…
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. I didn't make any p…
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 we've built wheels wi…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY reversed non-radial laced. This customer ordered five wheels aro…
Another wheel day (and so on). I built the front wheel with a Shimano hub dynamo. The hub is a DH-C3000-3N-NT in 36H, fully Campagnolo #14 spokes in radial spoking (non-drive side)…
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 tried truing and touche…
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evoolite hub 20H black CX-RAY anti-spoke radial lacing with black aluminum nipples.
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. Anyone who visits in …
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. The rim sidewall is…
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 the spoke wrapping la…
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 the comment） The sea…
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 some tires having reve…
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 with cross-lacing o…
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. The rim joint was of…
A customer left me their XR331 rim rear wheel for service. This is something I built back in the day. The Stan's Ironman nipples had cracked and collapsed, so I built it with a rep…
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 image is bent. ↑This…
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 the SG-S700, and as …
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. Shimano XT HB-8110B (Boo…
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 nostalgic 10-speed-…
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 service work. The ri…
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. It's a 24H non-DT hu…
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 wheel, the detailed hi…
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.
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 like. I built the fr…
I received a rear wheel built with a Stanz Centry MK3 (MTB rim) rim from a customer. The rim bead hook was deformed due to buckle damage, so they requested a rim replacement. The h…
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 converted to 11-speed wi…
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". The box in the image…
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 out in the comments.…
Another day of wheel building (et cetera). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evo Lite hub 20H with CX-RAY spokes built radial on the non-drive side.
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 down, it seems "Tomoda…
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 nipples. I'll tie the s…
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 hub is a ZIPP 177 wit…
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 flange design and the p…
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, I've had to go with…
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 lightweight bike, the re…
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 done. Which means, as …
Another day with wheels (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I'm swapping the rear wheel from Nomulab Wheel No. 4 onto No. 1. A Gran Compe 32H hub, all Compe 6x6 JIS laced w…
...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 like I've been igno…
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 final Saturday of the m…
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 finish the spoke wrapp…
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 install later.
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer left me with Nomu Lab Wheel #4. Whether it's because tubulars are a hassle, I'm not sure, but they requested a rim swap to Nomu Lab …
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), but I forgot to bring …
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 shape combined with …
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 Envision. Since this …
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 inspecting the entir…
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 laced with a 20H rear hu…
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 label on the rim's outer…
Another day, another wheelset (and so on). Writing from home today, hehe, looks like the whiskey's getting to me. Milk whiskey goes down smooth, but at 40% alcohol the buzz hits di…
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 like "I won't lace whee…
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 centering was perfect…
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, JIS 6-cross lacing…
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 "Whoa, you've got a co…
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 Lab Wheel No. 5, but i…
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 the customer's request…
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Aero Lite hub 20H black CX-RAY spokes in radial lacing with green aluminum nipples. Close-up since it…
「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 you can never know exa…
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 things like "we can't d…
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 aluminum nipples. Truing…
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'd promised. ZIPP 303…
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4. Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY with non-aero spoking in radial lacing with black alumi…
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 are either straight o…
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 bearing ball size is lar…
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY spokes in radial lacing and blue aluminum nipples.
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 aluminum nipples. I'll…
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 another RED rear der…
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 called the "Caliper Mo…
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 customer felt the wheel…
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 out that this shape al…
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 received a comment abou…
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.
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.
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY anti-spoke radial lacing One gold aluminum nipple and one red aluminu…
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 are more supple, as…
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 specification where Smart i…
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 surface isn't brand …
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 would have turned ou…
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 introduction post（→ he…
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 one spoke is broken on…
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 gauge fits perfectly at…
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 part number starts with…
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 for the rear wheel I …
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 aluminum nipples on j…
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 installation, And th…
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 hub, but on the new wh…
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 unforeseen circumstances in t…
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 the shop down the st…
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a front wheel with SES4.5 rims, using the hub I pulled out for the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6. Crisking R45 hub, matte slate color, 20H Black CX-RA…
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 understanding. Regarding the…
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 black CX-RAY straight-g…
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 about that itself here…
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought me a front wheel built with a Fillwood hub and SES 4.5 tubular rim. Black CX-RAY with reverse nipple spoke radial lacing—it'…
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 Ksyrium ES (limited ed…
More wheel work today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY anti-spoke radial lacing.
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 later. Same specs as …
I received a Shamal Mille (wheel set) from a customer. They requested inspection and the "fashionable theft" treatment. Brand new. Dead centered, basically no runout. What's remark…
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 a WO (Welted Offset…
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 and when I copy-paste…
Another day of wheel work (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel built with a hub from ONYX Racing Products. As I've mentioned before, ONYX is definitely pronounced "onyx,…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I received a front wheel built with a Reynolds 32 rim from a customer. It was originally built with all-alloy 20H spokes in reverse spoke radia…
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 rear wheels. There …
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 the spokes. If this…
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 for the 808 tubular…
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 January 6th.
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 Tap hub assembly and …
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'll do the spoke wra…
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 later. I used up a t…
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 bearing, there's a risk…
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 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, bought personally) were …
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) has an AL22W—a tubel…
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 when folded it fits o…
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 inside the rim, so this i…
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 must have gotten caugh…
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 of color spec has ri…
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. Squeezing the freewheel s…
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 tall. When it comes to…
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. They come in brown and …
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. Yep, the usual hub…
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 pattern. Will finish the…
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. As I've mentioned bef…
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 manufacturer, but it's bec…
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 check how the seala…
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 both cases it was a s…
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, full CX-RAY 46-spok…
Wheels again today (and so on). Continuing from the other day. I'm rebuilding the SES 2.2 rear wheel with an SES 4.5 rim. ENVE carbon hub 24H. Based on the hole pattern it's techni…
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 bad news. I can rot…
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 prototype wheel I've been l…
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 name. If you're wond…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I received a wheel from a customer built with an SES (Smart Envi System) 2.2 tubeless-ready rim. Starting with the front wheel. They wanted it …
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.
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a front wheel with A23 rims. Chris King R45 hub, 32H, radial lacing with CX-RAY spokes. Chris King and Dura-Ace hubs come with the bearing cup …
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 wheel, though there are …
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 the current owner is…
The other half of the rear wheel recently got a rim upgrade Nut-axle large flange hub, 32H Built with 14G plain spoking in JIS standard pattern. When replacing the rim, I'd like to…
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 day. The numbers in t…
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. A customer gave me…
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 don't really consci…
Another day with wheels (you know the drill). Today I rebuilt a wheel that had slack spoke tension. Before rebuild Nice save there I've been doing a lot of rebuilds from this parti…
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 wheel right away. It'…
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 emoji, and the last name…
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-freewheel side has a thro…
Another day of wheelbuilding (and so on). I built up a PLANET X 20mm high carbon rim. This is a customer's build. This is also the third one from the "Seven Dyers" series (→ here )…
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 the colors on my pe…
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 shop said "the rear wh…
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 from a crash, but even …
I received a Reynolds DV46 (Reynolds tube brand) from a customer. They asked me to increase the spoke tension a bit more if possible. Since it's laced with radial spokes on the non…
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 prematurely. Squorx n…
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 final truing later.
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. I'll do the spoke w…
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 after all — this is the…
A customer dropped off the front wheel of an Iron Cross bike. We'd just built this one recently at the shop with RS-770 hubs front and rear, but the customer told me: "When I got h…
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 neighborhood who claims to b…
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 inexplicably use narrow …
「MAVIC Quick Release」 When you hear that, what did you think of...? ↑This one, right? This is Metallism
Back to wheels today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 20H, CX-RAY spokes laced radial (reverse) with red aluminum nipples.
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 all the time on it, bu…
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 gamble, and even a sadd…
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-comp 4-cross lacing. I…
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 your understanding.…
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 threading later. Hmm, depe…
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 wholesaler, so I ca…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built a wheel with an AL22W rim. Front wheel with Evolite hub 20H, CX-RAY spokes, reverse radial lacing Rear wheel with Evolite hub 24H, …
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 rim is dented from buc…
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 spokes. Sapim Race featu…
It's wheels again today (and so on...). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. The front wheel is an Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY anti-radial spoke pattern radial laced, and the rear wheel is an …
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 comes in three types: S/…
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 about half a year aft…
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evo Lite hub 20H, black Sapim CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing on the non-drive side. I use a certain …
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 couldn't tell anymore…
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 customer caused the damage…
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 heavy with strange nois…
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 pattern. I'll do the spok…
Another day at the wheel department (and so on). I was asked to rebuild the ZIPP 303. Currently it has a 7800 hub, but the rotation was getting rough so it needed rebuilding. As it…
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 Ultra" comes in bot…
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. The front wheel was s…
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, intended for XC-type…
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 caused the damage is…
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 significant deformation, so t…
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-drive side had damage. …
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 cross pattern. As fo…
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-T780 32H all-compet…
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, Champ/Compé 1.6x spoking…
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 not like a tin can, so…
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 for crash-related run…
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 itself, it's almost …
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 without damage (at l…
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 Famicom version only in…
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 warning about brake shoes,…
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 pictures of it. ↑That's …
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 nipple seating later…
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 mainly produces hubs, and…
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 additionally has an offset rim…
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 recently a 54-tooth ratc…
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 hub axle was broken. I…
Today, another wheel build (and so on). Built a front wheel with an AL22W rim (with brake zone). Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY reverse nipple radial lacing with green aluminum nipples. Bu…
Another day of wheel work (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolight hub 20H black CX-RAY spokes in radial lacing.
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 looks like this. To…
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's a rim called Aero…
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 the middle of transf…
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 with spokes that re…
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, you ask? Compared to Nomu Lab Wheel #5. It's all-black…
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 Lab Wheel No. 4, but t…
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 the valve hole, gold…
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 made (or was it?) —we…
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 nipple tightening late…
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-spoke reverse Italian l…
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 claimed weight is 100g—…
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 2020 model. First, the…
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 reassembled it before…
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 that a customer left…
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 wrapping later.
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. With straight spokes,…
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. They took it to a nearb…
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 have a head stamp wi…
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 non-drive side, you…
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 obligatory "the brake zone is…
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've mentioned a few t…
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 down） for repair. B…
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, but that one had s…
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 (High Modulus), but it's…
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 about it, as a quick…
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 its 650C counterpart. …
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 tightening later. I've …
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 wet. While condition…
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 all! This is bad news …
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 has existed for a w…
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 to be an inspection…
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 customer cut the hub …
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 file-finish surface, s…
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, built with DT Aero Co…
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'll do the spoke ten…
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H black CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing, with silver aluminum nipples.
We received the limited edition Continental Competition tubular tire, the TdF LTD (Tour de France Limited). It's an official licensed product. In commemoration of this year's Tour …
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, so I fixed it. Next…
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. Among cyclists in …
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY non-radial spoke laced wheel.
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 inspected at the same time,…
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 so I thought). I had…
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 riding with a cable lock …
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 accident, but there …
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 be saying things li…
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 here ) I don't know) …
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 truing later. The f…
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY spokes in radial lacing pattern with red aluminum nipples. Same specs…
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 rim and shoe isn't tig…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the rear wheel for the Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 24H black semi-comp, four-cross lacing pattern. I'll true the wheel later. …
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. The hub went bad, …
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 lacing pattern and spoke …
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, all-black CX-RAY 4-cro…
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 as possible. That's …
Another wheel day (and so on). I built a front wheel using an ENVE "25" rim that a customer brought in for work. Leaf hub 20H, black, CX-RAY spokes, radial spoking on the non-drive…
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 and now it's complet…
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. Apparently it hit a wheel …
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 aluminum nipples. I'll…
Another day with wheels (details omitted). A customer brought in a rear wheel built with a Reynolds 66 tubular rim. Not a "66 rear wheel" but rather a "rear wheel built with a 66 r…
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 brand) Squadra 2.5. I…
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 and the sticker's arc …
Another wheel day (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built a front wheel using Light Bicycle's carbon tubeless-ready rim. The hub is Prime's R0020 front hub, which is an OEM…
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). Next to the valve hol…
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, apparently. ←←← →→→ Whe…
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 a 600 but a current…
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 spoke nipple tensionin…
When you gaze into the abyss of the rim, the abyss is also gazing back into you. It is.
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 when it was painted on…
Another wheel day (etc.). Built a front wheel with a FLO carbon WO rim that a customer entrusted to me. The rim is 50mm deep and weighs an insane 561g. Even if it were somehow supe…
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 sibling of the "Bora Ul…
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," but the current st…
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, fully CX-RAY, 64-sp…
Another day, another wheel (you know the drill). A customer dropped off a wheel built with a Stan's Alpha 340 rim. Apparently everyone who sees it tells them "that rim's gonna crac…
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 — they need replacement.…
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. The year and specs …
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 asked me to take a look…
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 is for disc road/cyc…
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 spoke tie-wrapping later…
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 arrived was Lambda Ezy…
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. Bonus Regarding th…
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6. Rolf hub 20H black CX-RAY anti-spoke radial lacing.
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 straight four-on-four lacin…
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, and refers to the a…
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 rear rim is 56mm deep.…
Another day with wheels (and so on). Here's an ENVE 25 rim, now known as the Classic 25. The 45 and 65 come in two types: a light "1" and a durable "2" and the rim markings are pri…
Today it's wheels again (you know the drill). Built the front wheel with a SMART ENVE 4.5 WO (non-tubeless) rim. Chris King R45 hub, 20H, black, laced radially with CX-RAY spokes.
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, but the head tube and…
A customer left me the rear wheel from のむラボ Wheel #5 (custom wheel model). It's a wheel I'd built just the other day, but it was wobbling all over the place, so they asked me to ta…
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 it into a front wheel…
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 request, it's got a silver…
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 analog TV static) du…
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 centering issue, but …
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 roller stand. G3-built…
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 wrapping later.
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 later.
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 it already had 20 ap…
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 came off first, so the…
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. Starting from the left in…
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't normally release …
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Reif hub 20H CX-RAY with anti-spoke radial lacing Red aluminum nipples.
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 seatpost, and I foun…
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 serviced before. Since it …
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, Rear wheel: AC Standa…
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 hub was an FH-M975 fro…
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, but the Crest on this…
Well, another wheel build day (and so forth). A customer brought in the front wheel of Nomu Lab Wheel #1 for repair. Leaf hub 20H black CX-RAY counter-radial spoke pattern with bla…
It's wheels again today (and so on). I received a front wheel built with an XR200 rim from a customer. It's a Tni Wing Hub 20H built with radial spokes and reverse flange configura…
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 pattern, no rim tape. T…
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 does a lot of breve…
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 ) I didn't write an…
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 distinctly feel the effects.…
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 today, but things got…
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 converted to 11-speed. It …
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 for your understandin…
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 dead center, and the ru…
"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 from the start? Wer…
A customer brought in the front wheel of a Corima Aero Plus. A while back they brought it in for front and rear wheel inspection, but there was a problem with the front wheel so I …
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 said, if you know th…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY with reverse non-spoke radial lacing and red aluminum nipples. T…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evolight hub 20H, black CX-RAY, reverse nipple radial spoked.
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 bead hook has several …
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 Prototype (→ here ). The …
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 fracture, and there are imp…
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 and crashed, resulti…
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 championship 64-spoke reve…
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. It's from the gene…
Another day working on wheels (details omitted). A customer brought in wheels built with ENVE 25 rims—now classified as "Classic Enve," a category where all models have been discon…
It's wheels again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY, reverse spoked radial lacing Since it's the pair to the rear wh…
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 Kingdoms, though these…
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 ripped it off is (→ h…
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 you have a stand like …
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY spokes in radial lacing pattern.
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 silver spokes with sil…
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 Organization) shows no room…
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built a wheel using a rim and hub that a customer brought in. "It's a privilege of people visiting from other prefectures—could you do a rush j…
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 touches the bar tape, in…
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer brought in a 16-inch WO aluminum rim wheel for a Brompton for me to work on. The front hub is a Shutter Precision dynamo hub, but…
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 right forced 2-cross l…
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 it should be classifi…
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 caused the bend, since …
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 with a Hope hub yest…
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 and the rear deraille…
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 they couldn't fix it. …
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 build it with this and …
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evo Lite hub 20H, CX-RAY reverse non-spoke radial lacing and such. Silver spokes with silver ni…
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 experiencing slippage during l…
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 other day while I was …
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 you can feel while ri…
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 our shop could becom…
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 black spokes and bl…
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 corrected it. Next,…
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 the image above, I'…
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. I also built a rear …
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 the spoke tension bala…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Rebuilt the rear wheel from a brand with a ridiculous name. Evolight hub 24H, black semi-competition, 46-spoke lacing with spoke tension measur…
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 mentioned in the article…
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 precision is impress…
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 falls into two catego…
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 catastrophic failure. Just t…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built Nomu Lab (custom wheel brand) wheel No. 5. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY reverse spoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evolite hub…
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 position like on a clock f…
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 model back then. Af…
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... and decided to send …
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 components Built 44-spoke …
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. In terms of being abl…
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 upright." I received a…
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 Nomu Lab. Looks lik…
I'm getting swamped with various jobs and deadlines, but I still need to build the seven hubs of Konpaya. The customer brought in a front hub with an exceptionally wide flange. Ser…
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. 2.5. PowerTap G3 hub…
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY anti-counterclockwise radial spoking Basically with red aluminum nipples, and …
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 AL22W. Evolite (aluminu…
Another wheel build today (and so on). Built a front wheel with an AL22W rim. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY inverted spoke radial lacing.
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 knowledgeable distrib…
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 apologize for any inco…
The other day I rebuilt the rear wheel on the ENVE 2.2, and I inspected the partner's front wheel. ENVE carbon hub 20H, black CX-RAY reversed radial spoke lacing. There was a sligh…
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 wheel with 2-cross lac…
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-used can we have in…
Back to wheels again today (and so on). I received ENVE 3.4 WO rims from a customer to work on. The combination is a 38mm depth 20H front rim and 42mm depth 24H rear rim. The wheel…
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 before, they stoppe…
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 Zero and Shamal Ult…
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 of them — and the s…
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 valve—the rim joint…
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer dropped off the WO wheelset from an ENVE 2.2. I'll check the front wheel later, but they want the rear wheel rebuilt. ENVE carbon hub body…
Another wheel day (and so on...). A customer brought in wheels built with Campagnolo Omega 19 WO rims for me to work on. The size is 650C. All the spokes on both wheels are CN spok…
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 crash the day before…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). The title says "also" built Nomu Lab Wheel #5 but that's not a mistake. I received a rear wheel built with an AL22 rim from a customer. It's th…
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 nipples installed.
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 found a clearly bent sp…
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. You can make it out in…
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 rims and 1 complete whe…
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 wheel, I mean the s…
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 wire connections Deep r…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY spokes in radial lacing With red aluminum nipples.
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 the final truing later…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5. HB-9000 18H black CX-RAY reverse 2-cross radial lacing.
Back to wheel building today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY with reverse nipple radial lacing Deep red aluminum nipples. Deep…
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 to do this for ages, …
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a wheel with a Chris King pink anodized hub and an Open Pro rim. Front wheel: Classic Low Flange hub 32H in black, competition lacing, radial s…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). A customer brought in the Nomu Lab Wheel #5 built with a PowerTap G3 hub. When I tried to install the tire using Grunge's "Tire Install" …
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 wheel: FH-7700 28H …
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. We're taking a bre…
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 reason we didn't activel…
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 installations that follow…
Another day with wheels (and so on). The other day I built a rear wheel using a 24H 24mm high-modulus carbon tubular rim, but I hadn't gotten around to building my colleague's fron…
I wrote about considering rear wheels in terms of spoke count, so I'll also write about "front wheel spoke count" while I'm at it. For example, a CX-RAY 32H front wheel has 65×32 =…
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 regular hours, so I c…
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 generalized the Ksyr…
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 replace the two spokes ma…
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-championship lacing …
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 visible centering offset…
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 price increase sche…
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, but I still have 2 mor…
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 too, but this one is…
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 do the spoke tensio…
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 only have fragmented…
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 nipples. I'll finish the…
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.
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 tried to pressurize it …
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 threading later.
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 orientation is 90° …
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 culprit Fixed it. ↑The re…
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. That was close. It was …
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 foot slid forward, st…
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 spoke pointing in the a…
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 on the left and rig…
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 centering (slight misalign…
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 had touched the hub…
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 lacing with spoke ties, R…
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 aluminum nipples. Buil…
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheels #2. Leaff Hub 20H CX-RAY reverse Nupo spoke radial lacing. Yesterday's was black spokes, and this one…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Reefhub (custom hub brand) 20H black CX-RAY anti-pull radial spoke lacing.
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 made by OGK Kabuto (J…
Another day with wheels (and so on). Another day with the Power Tap (and so on). ↑Before the rebuild. Time to call in the wheel jig. It was built with DT Revolution spokes, but eve…
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 brand-new front and rea…
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 afterthought really At the…
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 locks up in the middle"—…
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 ultra-rare case— a spoke…
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 your understanding.…
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.
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 day. 18-hole CX-RAY s…
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 wheel overall. The br…
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 tubeless setups! But…
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 rim （though there's …
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 (with brake zone / offse…
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 aluminum spokes. Sin…
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 nipples. I'll do the trui…
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 direct-mount style on…
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 connections.
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 distributor for quite some tim…
Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Both use Evolite Hub 20H CX-RAY anti-Nupo spoke radial lacing, silver spokes / silver nipples, and black spokes / silver nipples, an…
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-drive side being "thr…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. The wheel in the back is the rear wheel I built for my partner the other day. Evolite h…
「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." シンプルですね。 Pretty simple, ri…
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. They're equivalent to …
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 aluminum nipples, but of …
～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) is scheduled for Sep…
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 aluminum nipples. I'll do t…
It's wheel day again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evo-Lite hub 20H with CX-RAY spokes, reverse radial lacing pattern Gold aluminum nipples.
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 second bead of a tire…
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 aluminum nipples.
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 with "that deal"? F…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY reverse spoke radial lacing Silver aluminum nipples.
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 reverse, it felt sluggish …
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 they had to buy a 10-s…
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. I've finally got a t…
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. True to its name, it…
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 wheel: Chris King R45 …
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 and convert it to 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 ended up replacing both …
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 nipples. I'll do the…
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 Fulcrum wheel box s…
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 black spokes, but silve…
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. They wanted me to re…
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. I received a rear …
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 spoke tie-wraps lat…
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 the first generation…
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 centering issues, virtuall…
Another day of wheels (and so on). A customer brought in the rear wheel from a Smart Envision System 7.8 (SES 7.8). The customer said it "feels like it flexes quite a bit during st…
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 the neighboring spoke…
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 one under the Reynold…
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 high-low flanges, 24-…
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 taping later. This D791 …
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I 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 mistakenly …
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 design, the hub, sp…
A while back I built a front wheel with DT XR331 rim and HB-RS770 hub, and never actually used it. I've now rebuilt it from half-competition lacing to full CX-RAY lacing. I had to …
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 might touch the seats…
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 some truing work, but…
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 had become twisted. I…
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 Gold aluminum nipples…
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 recovered. They asked…
Another day of wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a Reynolds DV46T rear wheel for me to work on. It's not at the point of spoke breakage yet, but the tension is loose, so th…
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 nominal dimensions a…
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 rebuild it with a sli…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I replaced the rear rim on the Nomu Lab Wheel #5. This is covered by an unwritten warranty so it's normally not the kind of thing I'd write abo…
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 play in them. The fro…
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, but the adjacent spo…
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 requests about Nom Lab …
Today it's wheels again (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolight hub, 20H, black CX-RAY, radial lacing with gold aluminum nipples.
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 with the brake zone …
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY non-round spokes radial laced Black aluminum nipples. Not the co…
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) the activity tracking …
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, and gold aluminum nipp…
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 in case. The front wh…
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 the brake contact i…
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 hub rebuild. This w…
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 tension, you can't rea…
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 mentioned wanting to writ…
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 connections.
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 it. Separate from tr…
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 to deal with brake a…
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. The wheel got twis…
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 system) first start…
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. From above, it really b…
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 aluminum nipples.
I recently built the rear wheel for a fixed gear with an 88mm high rim, and now I've built its matching front wheel. This one is a 50mm high carbon tubular rim. HB-7600 28H CX-RAY …
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 from a customer for th…
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.
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evo Lite hub 20H black CX-RAY reverse DT Swiss spokes, radial lacing.
Today I was planning to build the front wheel to match yesterday's fixed gear rear wheel, but I didn't have spokes in the required length, so I couldn't get it done. The distributo…
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 red hubs and rims, …
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 version with 36 piece…
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's not that noticeab…
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-7600 36H hub laced w…
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 different customer. What's t…
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 because that's what the…
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.
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 grating covers—not …
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.
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 nipplex (spoke-joining…
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evoright hub 20H black CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing.
Today's another wheel day (and so on). A customer dropped off a Power Tap hub rear wheel. The rim is also from the Power Tap brand, and it's all black with a competition 4-cross la…
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 just snap from fatigue …
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 gauges wouldn't even…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite (Evolite hub) 20H CX-RAY anti-spoke radial lacing with red aluminum nipples.
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 mentioned above, but a…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I received the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5 from a customer. HB-RS400, 28H, silver and black alternating, CX-RAY Nupoke radial lacin…
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 it, and they said t…
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 might have worked to…
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 photographing it after mo…
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 each has its merits and…
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 it's back to being …
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer left me a pair of front and rear 5.6 rims from Smart Envision System (SES). The image above is the front rim, which is 54mm tall …
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 Consideration (配慮) …
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 with solder joint. ↑Th…
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 fellow builder from Toky…
Another day with wheels (etc.). A customer dropped off a rim from a brand whose name I shouldn't say out loud... Oh wait, that's wrong. This was actually a different job (different…
More wheel building today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6. It's my personal bike, though. What's wrong with building my own wheel on my day off (defen…
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 generally shifted toward th…
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 wheel, as is usually …
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 white fish The fattening…
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 buckling, and I tried to…
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—"jak-ko"—that would h…
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evo Lite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing on one side, and gold aluminum nipples.
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— and with an odd runo…
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, 2-cross lacing both …
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 is 142×12mm thru-axle…
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. I'll do the spoke w…
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 competition spokes With gold…
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 different parts with…
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY reverse Nupo spoke radial lacing, and it matches yesterday's rear wheel, so…
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, thickness, and size. T…
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'll do the lacing late…
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 twisting later.
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. With a Racing Zero fron…
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 true. One spoke is mi…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel built with a Kinrin TB25 rim. If this were a rim we sold at our shop, it would be the Nomu Lab Wheel #4. It'…
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 there were no spokes t…
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 the oldest spec in …
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 wobble, but no hub cen…
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 multiple models with the…
Back to wheels today (you know the drill). I built the front wheel for Nomulab Wheel No. 6. Evolite hub, 20H, black, CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing, reverse pattern.
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 later.
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. I'll do the wiring…
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 a condition where re…
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 slightly from the fram…
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 now the third generat…
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a front wheel built with a rim from the brand that shall not be named. The image above is already after the work was done…
Another day with wheels (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 thought it was a 440, but …
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, it becomes a model c…
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 Ambrosio Excellight SSC an…
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-R7070 36H semi-competi…
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 apologize. I have writ…
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 24H CX-RAY in 4-cros…
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer brought in the front wheel from a Reynolds Stratus DV. This Reynolds dates from an era when manufacturing methods descended from LEW (Lesm…
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 is warped. While re…
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 Chicken" to the officia…
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 brand for cyclists in Y…
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 honestly the non-fre…
A customer brought in a Smart Envy System (スマートエンヴィシステム) 3.4 WO spec for me to work on. Let me start with the rear wheel. Both wheels are built with DT 240S hubs, but the rear whee…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H, black CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing. This is the matching pair for yesterday'…
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 tying later.
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, I've been checking …
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-center toward the non…
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 properly, so their …
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, but this black/red/b…
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 tension balancing later…
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.
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 truing and centering. Bo…
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-hole, semi-competit…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolitе hub 20H, CX-RAY spokes with reverse radial lacing Green aluminum nipples.
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, so I bought them all…
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 here, they'd give u…
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 the rim was warped,…
Not another day of wheel building (abbreviated). Well, actually yes. The last Saturday of the month is normally closed, but I've been coming into the shop for the past several mont…
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 original spare parts…
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... There's a crack o…
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 damage too. Fixed it. A…
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 a simple truing issu…
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 been covered in a past …
I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2, but first. The Black Hub we stocked at the shop as a backup for Evolight Hub shortages has the following specs: the front hub is N…
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 it's in order, so the…
Another wheel building day (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY spokes built radial lacing with red aluminum nipples. I built…
Wheels again today (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel is Evolitе hub 20H black CX-RAY anti-spoke radial lacing, Rear wheel is Evolite hub 24H black semi-Competé…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel is Evölite hub 20H black CX-RAY reverse Nupo spoke radial laced, Rear wheel is Evölite hub 24H black ha…
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 BOOST rear hub to SRAM…
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 shop and dedicated my…
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 decided to take tom…
A customer brought in the rear wheel from a Miyata Click Folding folding bicycle. ↑They didn't just bring the rear wheel—they rode the bike here and removed it from the frame. Two …
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer left me a Rooval SLX24 wheel to work on. This is totally beside the point, but it's probably rare to see the manufacturer name and m…
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 — that's the customer's…
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 pattern.
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 spokes in the porcupin…
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 there should be a ri…
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 quantities. We apologize.…
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 noticeable lateral runout in…
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 front wheel at the same …
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 quickly, but the selli…
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. The HS33 R, HS22, HS…
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 valve hole), and the…
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.
More wheels today (you get the idea). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY reverse laced radial, Rear wheel: Evolite hub 24H semi-comp 4-cross laced with…
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, 46-spoke lacing with …
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 the rim stickers on ra…
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 mechanism adopted after th…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for the Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5 model, which I'd been waiting for the 18H front hub to arrive. Evo-Lite hub 18H, black, CX-R…
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 and connectors Matchin…
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 slightly used. Both wh…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). But first, a detour. Despite what the title says, today I was planning to build an 18H front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2.5, but for so…
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, but the actual rim he…
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 abnormally, so I snuck…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Front wheel is Evolite hub 20H, all-competition reverse Nu-spoke radial laced, Rear wheel is Evolite hub 24H, semi-…
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 that. It's done. Ev…
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 has become potato-c…
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 rather than a Neutron Ult…
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 attaches to the qui…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY with reverse 3-cross radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evolite hub 24H semi-competit…
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, so it looks like it …
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 mention, so I took some …
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 surprisingly quickl…
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 spring. Separately, …
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 last year's cyclocross …
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 recently updated their…
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 28 holes. The front w…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I received two tubular rims from a customer—one 18-hole EDGE or ENVE 1-45, and one 24-hole. Since there are no stickers, I can't distingu…
Another day with wheels (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel is Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY with reverse spoke radial lacing, and the rear wheel is Evolite hub …
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 lacing with junction…
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 for a fixed gear, and…
It's wheels again today (and so on). A customer brought me a rear wheel built with a carbon WO rim where the outermost decorative carbon finish looks Colima-ish. It's a Meccanico (…
Another wheel day (details below). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel is Evolitehub 20H black CX-RAY, reverse spoking radial lacing, Rear wheel is Evolitehub 24H black semi-…
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H, CX-RAY reverse radial lacing. Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5…
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, If this tire had a d…
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 nipples. I'll finish t…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built a wheel using an ENVE 1-45 tubular rim. Front wheel is Evo-Lite hub 24H (not 20H) CX-RAY reverse spoked radial lacing, Rear wheel i…
I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY in radial lacing pattern with black spokes, but with silver aluminum nipples.
Another day of wheel building (and so on). A customer left me a rear wheel built with HED Belgium rims. Chris King R45 hub, 24H, black, CX-RAY, 4-cross reverse Italian lacing. This…
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 the spoke nipple con…
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 there's no inspectio…
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 uses silver spokes wi…
More wheel building today (and so on). The last Saturday of the month is technically a day off, but since we hardly get any customers, I came into the shop to work through the back…
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 threading. This is for a…
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 quantities have also chan…
I've finally managed to build the 88mm high rim ( see here ) that I wasn't able to get spokes for until now. Before rebuilding, this had black spokes, but now it's silver spokes at…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). A customer brought me a wheel built with Ambrosio Excela Light rims and White Industries T11 hubs. The customer lives in Canada but is visiting…
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 pattern lacing, Rear wh…
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. As of 2011, the Bo…
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 the later black/red/…
Another day of wheels (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomulab Wheel No. 7. Evolight hub 20H CX-RAY reverse non-radial lacing.
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 involved to use their n…
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 runout directly below…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. I'm planning to get back into the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 building hell a bit later, but given our current spoke…
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4. Veloce 32H hub, all Competition spokes, Italian 4-cross lacing with gold aluminum nipples. This front w…
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" (pedaling monitor) has …
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 a CX-RAY 6×6 JIS lac…
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 lacing pattern. They bro…
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 White Industries CL…
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 the rear wheel just…
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 nothing to post abo…
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 like just replacing th…
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 spoke got the wheel …
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 halfway around one side …
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 soldering. The black sold…
Another day with wheels (and so on). Wait, so I can build wheels other than Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5? Awesome. I received a Campagnolo Berlin 36 rim from a customer. The spoke hole cou…
Another day of wheels (and so on). Built 3 pairs of Nomu Lab Wheel #6. If I were to mention opening the shop today to make up for yesterday's day off, I could see myself getting sw…
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 well. I apologize fo…
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 misalignment. Given …
I can't leave after just building one Reynolds rear wheel. I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolight hub 24H, semi-competition 4-cross lacing with spoke connections. I…
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 the time. They wanted …
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evorite hub 20H CX-RAY anti-cross radial laced. I prepared 60 spokes (3 pairs worth), built t…
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 spokes, half-comp 4…
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 spokes are bent, an…
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 deteriorated to a com…
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 managed to avoid crashing,…
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 the outer edge of the …
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. But the real issue t…
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, but rather an acquai…
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 that would identify the…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). A customer entrusted me with a 7800 rear hub. They purchased it used and requested an overhaul, but since they bought it from a private i…
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 explain the bearing adjus…
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 is what it looks like…
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 it was tensioned qui…
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). Since the spoke holes…
I've been using the expression that left-right different-diameter lacing corrects the difference in spoke tension, but I received a comment about that. "I think it's completely wro…
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 braking zone and a disc…
A customer dropped off a front wheel they had me build just recently. It's an Evolight Hub 24H black CX-RAY semi-radial spoked front wheel, well, you know, that one, That famous ri…
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 the spoke nipple relie…
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 tension, and it was s…
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 freebody clearly looks unu…
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't come back to pick …
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 shows the right Erg…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomunlab Wheel #5. Evolitе hub 20H CX-RAY reverse Nupo spoke radial lacing with blue aluminum nipples. The ri…
Another wheel day (and so on). I received a rear wheel built with a PowerTap hub from a customer. The rim is a Mavic CXP33 Built with Sapim black race spokes, 32H in a 6/6 JIS laci…
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 bent like a potato chip…
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 per month, and I tr…
Another day working on wheels (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 didn't a…
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 snapped one after anothe…
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't need to be neuroti…
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 — the spoke tension …
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 that it shipped this …
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 7. Front wheel is Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY reverse U-spoke radial lacing, Rear wheel is Evolite hub 24H semi-comp 4x6 laci…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4. The other day, I was building the Nomu Lab Wheel 5 with silver spokes and gold nipples, but after I finished …
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. The first one is a front wheel with Evorite hub 20H, CX-RAY spokes in radial lacing on the non-drive side. Now I …
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 condition. I removed them i…
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, but the CULT sticker…
Wheels again today (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Lately I've basically become a machine for building Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5, but I can't move on to other wheels until I …
chainring, but ↑ there's stuff like this too. Since the tooth profile isn't narrow-wide, a chain retention device is absolutely necessary.
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Everlite hub 20H CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing (non-drive side).
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 time in years, I tried…
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. I only built this o…
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 aluminum nipples. I'll …
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 of the same spec ASAP…
Another day with wheels (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel is Evolight hub 20H black CX-RAY reverse Nupo spoke radial lacing, Rear wheel is Evolight hub 24H bl…
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 was an Evo Lite hub, …
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 are bent so they wa…
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 mentioned suspecting…
I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #6. With this, I should finally be done with having wheels where only one of the front or rear pair is built. Evolite hub 20H, CX-RAY spo…
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 aluminum nipples.
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 lower-tier model—tha…
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 different too. The cus…
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 decided to stock the …
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-speed freewheel bod…
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 repair on this a whil…
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, the rear hub only, is…
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 lacing with spoke wrap…
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 what the point is o…
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 "this orientation looks …
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 replace this spoke, t…
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 hub is a Racing 1. Th…
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 weaving Installing …
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 the last Saturday of…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built a front wheel with Velocity Major Tom rims. One is the matching pair to the rear wheel I built the other day: White Industries T11 …
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 generation onward ca…
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 former "Escape" tubu…
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 canister-like ones are…
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 wasn't severe enough to…
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, but at this point the…
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 quite a bit. I thought…
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 inspection, but the …
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 name on it, so it's …
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 later. The outer holes a…
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 with 23mm outer width…
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 that I'd only accept …
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 built with a PowerTap G…
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 stranger. Both the front an…
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 is "Cosmic Pro Carbo…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built wheels using front and rear rims from the Smart Envi System 2.2 and Crisking R45 hubs. It might look like only the rear rim has a…
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 on Bora One and Bora …
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. The front wheel is an Evolitehub 20H black CX-RAY reverse spokeradial laced, The rear wheel is an Evolitehub 24H …
Today, more wheels (et cetera). A customer (sort of) brought in a wheel built with an Ursus TS58 carbon rim. This was something I previously called "a waste of Chris King," but I f…
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 original Cosmic Elite and r…
Another wheel day (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel is Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY reverse nipple radial laced, rear wheel is Evolite hub 24H semi-competé four-cross …
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, packages with differ…
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. Specialized tubes—w…
Another wheel day (and so on). Today I built a wheel with a Capreo (small-wheel hub system) hub. But there was a problem before building. The Capreo hub is designed for 135mm over-…
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 hub with 140kgf on th…
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 yesterday. Black hub, 24 s…
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 of stock on ○○". I'm…
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." Fortunately, this shop has…
So it's possible to relocate. L.E.D. lighting finished Well, I guess I have no choice. I'll pass it along. The following is an addendum from March 29th I want to build the old Nomu…
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 like a bite mark from…
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 depending on the situa…
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. 5. Brand new, with …
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 second generation, but t…
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.
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Per the customer's request, we're keeping the sticker on the rim. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY in reverse non-sp…
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 the down tube, but …
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 (No. 14), 4-cross patt…
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 runout all over the…
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 ended up coming to the…
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 front and rear are 24H…
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. Yeah, those are defi…
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 outside the Kansai region…
Another wheel day (and so on). I took in a rear wheel built with a PowerTap hub and an Open Pro rim from a customer. One spoke was broken, but rather than just repairing it, the cu…
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 the ones that are ju…
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 wheels show twisted sp…
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I assembled the Nomu Lab Wheels Pre-6. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evolite hub 24H black se…
Today it's wheels again (etc.). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1 using all customer-supplied parts. Even if a customer brought in, say, an XR300 rim and I built a wheel with it, that w…
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 through two generations …
It's been a while since I've had such a challenging job. The same customer requested a rebuild of three carbon rear wheels all at once, and I really struggled with various issues. …
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 their business!） The rea…
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 thought I'd snap some…
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. Based on the amoun…
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, they'd end up at Nomu…
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomulab Wheel No. 5. Revolite hub 20H black CX-RAY with reversed radial spoking. It's the matching pair for …
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 tension adjustment l…
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 customer from Shiga Prefect…
It's wheel day again (you know the drill). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel is Evo Lite hub 20H, black CX-RAY, reverse-pull spoked radial lace, Rear wheel is Evo Lite hub 24…
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 brand new and hasn't…
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 on the anti-freewhe…
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 built one pair from a c…
The other day, I wrote something like "there's some merit to reverse Italian lacing on the freewheel side," and I got a comment asking "why?" so today I'll write about that. ↑On th…
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 lock-on grips secure…
There's a previous article with the same title (→ here ), and an acquaintance of that wheel's owner brought in a "similar" rim and asked me to build a wheel. However, whereas the m…
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 without building a whe…
A customer dropped off a Tni tubeless-ready carbon rim and an Evolite hub for me to work with, so I built up the wheel. Today I only got the front wheel done. Going back a bit in t…
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 laced up a 24-hole …
Today it's wheels again (and so on). A customer entrusted me with a wheel built with a Tni ROAD38 rim and a Gokiso hub. This rim is the same as the one on the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2,…
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 24H, and on the freewh…
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, there are elements lik…
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 thinking it's an April F…
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 10th of the followi…
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 removed from a bike the…
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 freewheel body idle, I co…
A customer brought me a set of tubular rims for the SES (Smart Envy System) called the "4.5". From the model name, you might think they're 40mm and 50mm high, but they're actually …
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY reverse spokes radial laced with red aluminum nipples. Since it's meant …
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 because we can't guaran…
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 understanding. I asked …
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 crossing of seven p…
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 nipple wrapping later…
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 when inspected after …
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, half blue and half red…
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 tried to rotate it b…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. All of them used Evolight hubs CX-RAY with reverse sapoke radial lacing, From left in the ima…
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 Reynolds Assault rea…
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 somehow... It was abnorm…
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 bracing later. Next I w…
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 Power Tap wheel. A cu…
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Continuing from yesterday. EvoLite hub 24H, semi-comp 4-cross lacing with spoke nipple connections. Buil…
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 inspected it. There's so…
Another day of wheels (et cetera). There are wheel bags lined up that I'm handing off tomorrow, but since the order matters, I skipped the hassle of moving them. Separate from that…
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 rim replaced because i…
Another wheel day (long story). I received wheels built with silver Open Pro from a customer. Starting with the front wheel. HB-7400 32H hub, stainless steel #15 plain 6/6 Italian …
This is a continuation from the other day. I built the front wheel with WTB's i23 ASYM (asymmetric = offset rim). HB-CX75 28H all-comp reverse Italian lacing. I'm building the fron…
Another wheel day (and so on). My mentor (the racing one) had left a rear rim replacement with me. It's been quite a while since I took it in, but he called saying to come pick it …
More wheels today (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Front wheel: Evolight hub 20H, CX-RAY reverse non-drive radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evolight hub 24H, half-competition 4-c…
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? I honestly don't kno…
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 filling instead, thi…
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 was rubbing on the fra…
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 spokes, 4.0mm gauge build…
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 due to vibration. I …
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 The spokes are Wheels…
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 Italian pattern, but th…
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 we can tighten it u…
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 nipples. I'll do the tr…
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 day, in my article …
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—maybe the width of a she…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY spokes, reverse radial lacing with black aluminum nipples.
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 marks from being gripped…
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 were three models—Ra…
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 reserved—the last pair in t…
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 left and right DT Compe…
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 it was pretty much tr…
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 stepped spline 10-sp…
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 it shifts to one si…
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 left-right different…
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 rotor mount. It has 7H…
Another day with wheels (et cetera). A customer left me a pair of wheels built with Chris King hubs. The front rim is a DT RR440, and the rear is an RR440 Asymmetric, which is an o…
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 particular. Not the customer…
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-center. Sure enough, i…
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 that I've built this…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY anti-spoke radial lacing. One of these is a front wheel-only order from a c…
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 prefecture, I felt bad ab…
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 flavors available (all 200…
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 freewheel side are c…
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. ↑Here it is. The spo…
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 nipples included, one o…
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 bikeradar.com, and I…
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 the records, I've only…
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 customer, I'm writing it up…
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Both are Evo Lite Hub 20H CX-RAY spoke radial laced wheels, but one of them isn't for sale — it…
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 above is after the wor…
↑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 instead. Since we didn't…
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 replacing just thes…
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 Bora One 35 WO, but th…
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 whatever you have" and …
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built Nomu Lab wheel No. 5. Front wheel is Reef hub 20H CX-RAY reverse Sapim radial laced, Rear wheel is Evolite hub 24H semi-comp 24-36 laced …
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 the hub shell side, a…
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 to see in the photo,…
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 (and so on). But fi…
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 rim, spoke tension …
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. The rim side has only …
More wheels today (and so on). I built Nomulab Wheel No. 7. 35mm deep (technically 34.5mm) tubeless-ready carbon rim wheel. Front wheel is Leaf hub 20H, black CX-RAY reverse-spoke …
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6. Front wheel: Evo Lite hub 20H black CX-RAY reverse Nupo spoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evo Lite hub 24H bl…
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 pattern, I'm not just …
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 (rotor side), so I to…
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 swarf was mostly lodged…
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 side, but there's a…
Another day of wheels (and so on). A customer brought in a rear wheel built with Tni's ROAD 50 carbon rim. The rim is the same one used in the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2.5. There's a mar…
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. Two valve extenders pl…
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 head priest at Ukishima…
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 time the other day.…
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 customer asked me to weigh…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evo Lite hub 20H black CX-RAY reversed spokes, radial lacing, and gold aluminum nipples.
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6. It's the pair to the rear wheel from the 46 AERO yesterday. Evolight hub 20H black CX-RAY reverse Nu…
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 through. The cause was…
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 crashed afterward, and the…
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, sprocket, and other pa…
Another day of wheel work (and so on). I received a front wheel from a customer—a Reynolds Strike SLG rim. The bead hook has come loose from buckling, making the wheel unusable, so…
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 produces various smal…
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 it's time to replace…
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 404 version. Appare…
It's wheels again today (and so on...). I've built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Front wheel is Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY inverted Nupo spoke radial lacing, Rear wheel is Evolite hub 24H …
Another day on wheels (and so on). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY reverse-Nupo spoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evolite hub 24H semi-comp 46-lac…
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 with some bent spokes…
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 apart, I had to reas…
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 operation or multiple …
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 one is Evo Lite hub…
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY reverse non-spoke radial lacing. I had planned to build the rear wheel…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6. Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY semi-radial spoked pattern. It might look like the same wheel as y…
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 there's also a watch b…
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, center alignment checks, …
True・Today's also a wheel (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6. Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY anti-spoke radial lacing.
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Well, that's what I'd like to say, but rim relocation jobs aren't included in "wheels again (and so on)" (according to my own interpretation), …
Another day of wheel building (abbreviated hereafter). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing. I've been waiting for a chanc…
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 stripped threads, and t…
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 dressing later. Per th…
Another wheel build today (long story short). Built up a wheel with a Ganwell carbon WO rim. Front wheel: Chris King R45 hub, 20H, all Champion #15 spokes, reverse radial lacing, R…
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 rear wheels, and th…
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. At our shop, we curr…
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 pattern on the non-fre…
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. The cleat bolt snapp…
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 any given speed. Eve…
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 this opportunity. A …
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 somewhat better recently. …
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. ↑Unlike the half-com…
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 write an article alo…
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.
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. When it wins (seatpost …
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 with a 36H crossed 8x…
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-Ace track hubs, the …
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 company's DEEMAX downhill …
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-comp...? Wait, what…
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 having to pay for them.…
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 ES (limited edition) …
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 bigger pulley—either…
More wheels today (and so on). Built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. It's the companion to yesterday's front wheel. Evolite hub, 24-hole, semi-comp 4-cross lacing with int…
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolight hub 20H CX-RAY reverse non-radial spoke lacing.
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 for now These are fo…
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 an elaborate spec, b…
I built the のむラボ (Nomu Lab) wheel #5 with a disc brake hub. The #5 rim is currently out of stock with no confirmed restock date, but this wheel was built using a rim that had been …
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 Competition, and nipples…
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 "Nomu Lab Wheel #5 bu…
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 replace the hub shaft and …
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer dropped off a pair of front and rear wheels with 50mm-high carbon tubular rims. These are wheels I built back in the day. Front whee…
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 because I don't even tak…
Another day with wheels (and so on... Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Hub is a BITEX (probably) brought in by the customer, 24H CX-RAY in reverse non-drive-side radial lacing. Over loc…
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, but a few years ago…
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 wrench for one-side…
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 traditionally comes with double…
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. They want me to rebuild…
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 for the three-rolle…
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 difference has a maj…
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 that, there was a m…
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). I've assembled Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. The front wheel is an Evolite hub 20H with CX-RAY spokes laced in reverse radial pattern, and the…
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 lacing. 24H would've …
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 requested sticker rem…
「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 is loosened, but the…
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 is because that R co…
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, that wouldn't be part…
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.
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 distributor. The hubs are C…
Another day of wheels (abbreviated from here on). Rim relocations are technically counted under "today is also wheels (abbreviated)" per house rules, but since I'm building a separ…
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 blessed with happin…
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 to a WTB Frequency i1…
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 lacing. The custome…
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evolight hub 20H, black CX-RAY spokes, reverse radial lacing.
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. ／Crack＼ The thing about t…
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 a rim replacement. …
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 Torque puller. Later…
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, but they want it r…
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 box myself. Like Mavic…
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 pricing, but I'm unable…
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 hubs also don't come w…
This is an article that was supposed to be posted after 11 PM on Tuesday, October 10th but I just realized it's been sitting in draft mode. Except for the time when my truing stand…
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 some reference point…
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 this, I back myself int…
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 had been out of stock…
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 retrieved the broken spokes…
Another wheel day (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6. Front wheel is Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY reverse-pull spokes radial laced, Rear wheel is Evolite hub 24H semi-competition 4-…
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 (not the RS version) w…
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 other places). ↑Same th…
It's wheels again today (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel: Leaf hub 20H CX-RAY reverse non-spoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Leaf hub 24H semi-competition 4-6 pat…
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 needs replacement. I …
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 freewheel body from Shim…
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 shaft that was about t…
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 axle failure situation…
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 strong enough to complain…
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 worn away, so they …
Wheels again today (you know the drill). Built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1 that I was supposed to build yesterday. Front wheel is an Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY with reverse lacing i…
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 possible, and also have …
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 either. Plus, Deda h…
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. ↑probably forgotten someth…
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 your understanding. …
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 deformation, so it needs repla…
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 incredibly thin and…
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 noticeable lateral runo…
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't a replacement due…
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.
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 instructions explain that…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Evolite hub 20H with CX-RAY spokes in reverse radial lacing.
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 wrench. The customer…
Another day with wheels (et cetera). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY anti-spoke radial lacing.
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 and deformed. Based…
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 spoke joiner.
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 offset rim are positio…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY reversed non-spoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evolite hub 24H semi-comp 46-lacin…
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 a disc hub front whe…
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 nipples. Couldn't buil…
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 condition, but it wasn'…
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, they wanted me to ad…
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.
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 customer's request,…
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 issue—nothing to wor…
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 was so swamped. If …
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 lacing with spoke b…
I t w a s t h e r e
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 wrapping later.
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 tape are actually b…
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 the middle section, an…
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 the customer's request…
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 saddle came flying at…
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 lacing with spoke wraps. …
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.
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. Different project, but…
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 is being offered und…
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 the spaceship behin…
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 good condition. Lik…
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 is shot from the non-…
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 centering problem before eve…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built the front wheel with a DT RR1.1 rim. HB-6800 32H hub, Champion #15 plain spokes Built in reverse radial pattern. All parts except t…
Back to wheels today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY anti-reverse spoke radial lacing. Next, one more. Black hub 20H, same specs …
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 customer said it's oka…
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 integrated spoke system.
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolite hub 20H, black CX-RAY reverse spoke radial lacing.
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 rim's 28H, even thou…
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 call them by the numb…
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. Instead of the standa…
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 off-the-shelf build, t…
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 whether they'd do shoe co…
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 model has a token amo…
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 parts when you buy …
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-spoke reverse Italian…
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built Noma Lab Wheel #2. Front wheel: Evo Lite hub 20H black CX-RAY spoke, radial lacing (reverse pattern), Rear wheel: Evo Lite hub 24H black …
Tomorrow, July 27th (Thursday), I'll be taking the day off due to unavoidable business. I apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. ～Bonus～ I just stocked …
We've received an adapter from Lezyne (Japanese bicycle parts manufacturer) for mounting pedaling monitor cycle computers to Garmin-compatible mounts. Strictly speaking, this is ou…
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 the same-spec wheel…
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 the anti-freewheel s…
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.
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 got fixed.
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 somewhere, though we're no…
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 truing later.
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 fixed right away.
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 severely bent—probably…
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY reverse non-spoke radial lacing.
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. The spoke tension on…
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 cosmetic carbon finish.…
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. Since it has internal…
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 magnet fixing method,…
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. Campagnolo's direct mount …
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" (and so on). So now for…
Continuing from the other day. I received a front wheel built with a White Industries H2 hub from a customer. All-black Campagnolo Record JIS lacing. If we consider the side of the…
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 spoke tension balanc…
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 time the customer wan…
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), but then it passed …
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 tape.
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 that requires rubber c…
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 stand, and since we're…
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 the spoke tension adju…
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 inside the rim. I could…
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 32H with half-compe…
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 above, the bottle cag…
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 bought this wheel at an a…
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 twisted into a potato ch…
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 reverse Italian lacing …
Today it's wheels again (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY radial lacing with counter-spokes.
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 nipples. When it comes to …
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 four types: star, heart…
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. It's a wheel distrib…
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer entrusted me with a ZIPP 340 rim and a 440 rim. In terms of rim height, they're equivalent to the current 303 and 404 models. Since both a…
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, the RT was a tubel…
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. Current Mavic wheels b…
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 to the Isopulse patt…
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, so I just shot it as…
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 they couldn't true i…
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 other shops' quality c…
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. ...Seriously, there's nothing…
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 Shimano 10-speed "dedicate…
Another day working on wheels (and so on). A customer dropped off the rear wheel from a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 (custom Japanese wheel builder). The other day while riding, the rear w…
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 zones, so we decided t…
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 from the hub. ↑The CULT…
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for my partner's bike from yesterday. Everlite hub 20H, black CX-RAY spokes built radially, with black aluminum nipples.
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 black aluminum nipple…
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 customer's request I c…
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 something extremely…
A customer brought in a rear wheel from their Racing Zero Night (high-performance wheel) for repair. The derailleur got caught up and bent some spokes. ↑Right here. When the derail…
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 was that it came rig…
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 rim was out of true. J…
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 the relevant work fir…
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 some radial runout. B…
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 spoke snapped. Neither …
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 spoke tension truing l…
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. The spoke and nipp…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolight hub 20H black CX-RAY reverse radial spoke lacing.
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, and the spokes are be…
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'll do the spoke nippl…
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 least, the claim by …
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 customer and are Darkラベル tu…
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 since they started using…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2 with Gokiso hubs. 18-hole, black CX-RAY anti-radial lacing. This hub has flanges that protrud…
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 true. Both front and …
Another day of wheel building (details omitted). ONYX is a brand name, and I built wheels using hubs from this brand. By any logic, it should really be read as "Onyx Racing Product…
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 couldn't be straighte…
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 was noticeably loos…
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 one spoke was bent …
Today's all about wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3. Black hub 20H with black CX-RAY spokes in radial lace pattern.
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, 24 spokes Half-comp…
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.
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 sibling of the Leaf hub…
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 was turned upside dow…
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 the condition before a…
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 the customer too), and…
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.
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 ask which ones). The c…
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 runout wasn't something…
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6. Front wheel: Leaf hub 20H black CX-RAY reverse radial spoke lacing, Rear wheel: Leaf hub 24H black semi-comp 46-spoked lacing with cross-lacing. A custo…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY spokes in radial lacing (reverse laced). I've taped it with Continenta…
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 Lights (model name) by D…
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 customer is from quit…
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 it. When I pinched th…
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 nipple tightening la…
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 previously rebuilt the …
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, the wiring is actua…
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 rim that didn't need…
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 group with that name)…
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 can cause unnecessary …
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). Built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Front wheel: Evolite 20H hub with CX-RAY spokes laced radial reverse (alternating pattern), Rear wheel…
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 true. Looking at it, t…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY reversed radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evolite hub 24H semi-comp 4-cross lacing …
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 Pro aluminum rim mo…
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 side unilaterally, s…
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 some spots the spokes h…
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 they don't need the…
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY reverse nipple radial spoked.
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'll do the truing late…
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 existing distribution inv…
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". Selcof was originally …
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer left me a FiR Speedlight—a carbon tubular rim wheel—for work. Among carbon rims from that era, European brands like Campagnolo, A…
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 that broke. When divi…
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 on the spoke direct…
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. I need to finish this before I can build the Pinarello that's currently in the shop. Front wheel: Black hub, 20H, C…
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 same rim width, rim …
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 wheels are both rear whe…
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 grinding. I initially…
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 model, is not tubel…
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 didn't. There are so m…
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 lacing, but it's loos…
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 tar. The plating on…
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 Bonus Fulcrum Campa…
Another day, wheels and such (et cetera). A customer (sort of) brought in the front wheel of a Reynolds THIRTY TWO tubular wheel for a rebuild. The matching rear wheel has been reb…
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" series for enduro, wi…
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, so I just corrected …
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 the rim side, but it a…
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.
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 to meet the owner mys…
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 question said "it's okay t…
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 available. With inter…
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 mounted, so while I'…
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 bundles decreases by one, …
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 brand new and needs i…
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. If there were no run…
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 really nothing to wr…
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 the front wheel befo…
A customer dropped off the rear wheel from a Nomu Lab Wheel #5. The front wheel had a silver hub with black rim, and the rear wheel had a black hub with silver rim, with silver spo…
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 consecutive spokes on one si…
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 suppose the real solu…
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 freehub body. When I to…
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 either but there was a ce…
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 perfectly centered with v…
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 spokes are 14-gauge plain…
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 name "Métaille d'Or,…
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 adhesive residue of…
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. （Though there are some e…
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-Ace hub, so I did that…
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 spec, why would you c…
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 considering replacing it if …
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 tubeless rim?" It's been ha…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Front wheel is Aerolite hub 20H CX-RAY reverse aero spokes radial laced, Rear wheel is Aerolite hub 24H semi-comp 4-…
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. They already have a Sha…
Wheels again today (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H black full competition reverse Nupo spoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evolite hub 24H black …
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab (のむラボ) wheel No. 5. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY reverse nipple radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evolite hub 24H semi-…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the rear wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evolite hub 24H black semi-competition two-cross lacing with internal junction. At this point wit…
Wheels again today (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6. Front wheel: Leaf hub 20H CX-RAY anti-spoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Leaf hub 24H semi-comp 4x6 lacing with spoke cros…
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 slightly wider squar…
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Front wheel is Evo Lite hub 20H CX-RAY reversed non-drive side radial laced, Rear wheel is Evo Lite hub 24H semi-comp …
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 customer wants hub inspecti…
Another day working on wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Black hub 20H, black CX-RAY, reverse radial lacing. Moving on to a different matter. I …
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 was one spoke bent …
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 tensioned the rear whee…
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 make noise with vibr…
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 work got in the way, so…
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 SLX doesn't come in …
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. I'll lace the spoke…
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 runout. As for the rear …
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 was asked to do the …
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 slotted hole design. I used 18H CX Nupo …
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY anti-radial spoke lacing with red aluminum nipples.
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. What's taped on th…
More wheels today (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY radial reverse spoking pattern. This is a separate job from the one I built…
A notice for a customer. Your low-profile sprocket is ready Come by again with your bike and we'll swap it in.
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 it on the frame somet…
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 is 45mm deep, with th…
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY anti-spoke radial lacing with two black spokes and one silver spoke.
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 color too, but matte whi…
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 5mm to the rim heigh…
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 with this diagram. Pai…
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 attempted to true t…
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 tensioning later. I…
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 yesterday. They happened to …
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 sticker on the rim, …
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4. Evo Lite hub, 20H, black CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing. With red aluminum nipples.
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 scandium rim. The matching…
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 are broken, but the cu…
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 the braking zone. Whe…
Back at the wheels again today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for the Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5. Evolite hub 18H, black CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing.
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 without putting it in a …
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 matter what they tried,…
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 spokes (yellow) set to 4…
Today it's wheels again (etc.). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel is Leaf hub 20H black CX-RAY reverse non-spoke radial lacing, Rear wheel is Leaf hub 24H black semi-comp 4-c…
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 anyway, so I'll go …
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 rear wheels have late…
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 enormous weasel—abo…
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 nipples so loose that…
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 spokes with damage mar…
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 wheel I built the othe…
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 it might be counterf…
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 deep carbon tubular ri…
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 that if the right end l…
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 their request made it o…
Another wheel build today (and so on). I built the front wheel using a Kinlin XR31T rim. Stella hub (ステラハブ) 20H black CX-RAY with reverse spokes in radial lacing with black aluminu…
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 to separate as you m…
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 positively, saying "it r…
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 (←what kind of situati…
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. The rear wheel is 20…
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 EURUS, unlike today. …
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 lacing. I'll do the tying…
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.
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 and rear was actually…
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 numbers for electronic…
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 is ¥17,000, but on t…
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 always keep at leas…
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 circumstances," but that's act…
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 has some potato chi…
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. The rear wheel's te…
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.
Wheels again today (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel: Leaf hub 20H black CX-RAY reverse radial lacing, Rear wheel: Leaf hub 24H black CX-RAY 4x lacing with cross…
More wheel work today (and so on). I built the front wheel for the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY with radial/non-radial mixed spoke lacing. There was a year-end part…
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #5 using the Shimano RS400 hub that I introduced the other day—a budget-grade hub that oddly enough comes in a 28-hole spe…
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) we'll be open until…
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 nominally 195g. The actual m…
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 what happened. ↑This r…
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 in a Campagnolo right…
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 right alternately... bu…
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 beyond Kiyotaki Pass on…
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 just a slight wobble…
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 possible to do it, but it …
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 experiences freewheel body twi…
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 bike itself, and as par…
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 wheel #5, and I offered…
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 spokes have become cosmet…
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 perfectly centered with vir…
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 no runout. The provi…
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 this into a 700C Op…
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 look like much from the…
Another day of wheelbuilding (and so on...). I built Nomulabo Wheel #5 using 7700 hubs. For the front wheel, I built the HB-7700 32H with CX-RAY spokes in reverse semipull radial l…
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 customer said that …
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 are expensive, so plea…
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 was whether I could t…
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 Yonzero lacing. The d…
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 since it would be better…
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 didn't polish the brak…
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 the spoke removed, as …
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 bent left and right…
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-cross pattern. The hub…
Up until now, this blog has used the term "phase" without defining it. I should have written this much earlier, but I've been putting it off and here we are. By "phase" in this blo…
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 soldering? Thank yo…
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 all wheels? (aluminum …
I've received a comment from someone using hand-built wheels. "The spoke head on the non-freewheel side of Italian lacing, which should theoretically have the easiest spoke tension…
Another day on wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evo Lite hub 20H, black CX-RAY in non-Nippon radial lacing with black aluminum nipples, but the…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY anti-radial spoke lacing.
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer dropped off a wheel built with an Alpine brand rim—actually a wheel I'd previously rebuilt myself. The original setup had a Chenghao…
Another wheel day (etc.). I received an 18-inch wheel from Outplay (a brand) from a customer. While they do make road wheels, they mostly handle small-diameter wheels. It's a 12H s…
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 spoke tension meets t…
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, but ended up getting …
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 spoke cross-connecti…
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 height of the rim side…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolight hub 20H CX-RAY reversed radial spoke lacing.
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 adjustments at 2 nipples, t…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel is Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY anti-cross spoke radial lacing, Rear wheel is Evolite hub 24H semi-comp 46-…
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 hard to believe — like …
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 remove the traction…
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 incidentally, there are cha…
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 Filwood hub I built b…
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 already had the wheel t…
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.1 SL is a stock spe…
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 nipple threading later.
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 one's beyond repair, …
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 called Oxydrive Supplemen…
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 to see if anything c…
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 any obvious cause on …
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 replaced the cracked…
My PC internet connection got reset so I'll post the images later but it's fixed now. The connection setup requires a CD, but the notebook PC I'm using doesn't have an optical driv…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4. Evolite hub 20H, CX-RAY spokes in radial lacing, with blue aluminum nipples. Kinlin rims come in…
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 to investigate. ↑Sure…
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—sometimes it's out, somet…
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 puff with an air dus…
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 it spins. It seems l…
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 drive-side lacing later.…
Back to wheels today (and so on). This is a continuation from yesterday. I managed to build it without any issues. Filwood fixed gear hub, 20H, black CX-RAY, built with non-drive-s…
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-profile aluminum rim…
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 Velomax wheel— it's…
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 cross (two-pass lac…
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. As you can already se…
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 wanted me to fix it…
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 upgrade the freebody to 1…
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 closed. Also, October 29…
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 are praised as "that …
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, which shows up in ho…
Another day working on wheels (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Leaf hub 20H CX-RAY counter-spoked radial lacing. These simple posts are usually the days wh…
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 do the brake cable r…
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 spoke repaired, and…
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 mine had to relocate…
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 with CX-RAY spokes. Sin…
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-section to a flattened …
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 clincher tire in 25C and t…
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 by Kinrin, and I alm…
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 differences are that th…
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 sticker removal reco…
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 minimal wobble. The…
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-black CX-RAY spokes,…
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 to that, a customer w…
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 shown in the image, …
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 the customer, there w…
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 side have scrape mar…
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. Front wheel: Tni dis…
Back to wheels today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Leaf hub 20H CX-RAY reverse spoke radial lacing. There are (for now) no plans to build a matchin…
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. ↑Right there. Just r…
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, they became semi-comp…
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, he'd been turned down…
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 box" meant this. Oh w…
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 centered provisionally, but…
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 hub shaft with a gr…
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 with crossed spokes…
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 cyclocross bike instead…
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. It's got one of th…
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 operation is to replace t…
I've been getting a lot of hub overhaul requests lately. Must be because it's pre-season.
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 had quite a bit of ce…
Another day of wheel work (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I'm about to disassemble the front wheel with the Nemesis rim and 7900 hub, but first. Normally when I post images…
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 below the spot with lat…
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 customer. All the whee…
Today it's Easton. ↑As expected, they're really pushing the sprocket stack spacing tight at the end. Part 1 is (→ here )
I recently received a comment regarding something I wrote about the flange shape of a Circus Monkey hub on a wheel I built. "Isn't the notch on the high-side flange actually more c…
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 the rim had already b…
Another wheel day (etc.). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5 using a Circus Monkey disc hub. The front wheel is an HDW2 hub, 24H, all-black Campagnolo Revo, laced in reverse Italian cros…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3. Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY non-drive side radial spoke lacing.
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 Italian lacing pattern. …
Another day, another wheel (and so on). About a month behind my partner's rear wheel (→ here ), I finally built the front wheel too. This wheel's customer is extremely busy, so the…
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 cyclocross too. Evoligh…
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 colors to create th…
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 like Nomu Lab wheel…
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). Built a wheel using customer-supplied XR200 rims. Front wheel uses a Tradizione 20H hub (equivalent to Tni's Evo hub) with CX-RAY spok…
It's supposed to be my day off, but I came to the shop without thinking twice so I'll just work anyway.
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. Laced a 20H black CX-RAY hub with reverse NuPo radial spoking and used red aluminum nipples.
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 nipples. I'll do the…
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 spokes, depending on how…
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 (DT 240S) with 20 hole…
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 inner diameter that's c…
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 case, but there are so…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built a wheel with Equinox carbon WO rims. The front wheel is a Chris King R45 hub, 20H, black CX-RAY spokes, laced radial (non-drive sid…
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.
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 flipped over, leaving o…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). A customer brought in the front wheel from a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4. They wanted me to swap out the rim for one from a Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. If t…
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 "I'm worried that Ka…
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 cyclocross, but this rim wa…
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, and ↓ pixelating the …
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. It was bent fore-a…
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 bent. Another shop appa…
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 bag containing cliple…
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 Campagnolo cross Italia…
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 "having fun" with d…
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 wheel. The bearings…
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 measurements with the gau…
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 "About the rim color, tha…
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 competition straight-pull…
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 embarrassed to say, bu…
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't need to qualify th…
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 paper—and some minor r…
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 particularly to write abo…
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 had the latest logo …
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 build them a practice…
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 themselves. It was a s…
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 with spoke nipple leads…
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Evolite hub 20H with CX-RAY spokes, radial laced.
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 transferred the sprocket and …
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 wheel, there's definite…
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 surfing the net. There's…
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 cleaned up nicely. …
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 configuration with a 20m…
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 a slight centering …
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 differentiate it from the Racin…
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 tires and injected s…
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 in 2014, the BORA U…
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. Anyway, moving on—…
A customer dropped off a pair of wheels built with Ambrosio's X-CARBON (X-CARBO) rims. The rim is an OEM Colima "Aero" rim. This remained unchanged for a long time, but at some poi…
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 that was also built …
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H, black CX-RAY, reverse Nupo spoke radial lacing. I've already built the rear …
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" (if you start hear…
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 quite understand what th…
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. The original wheel was an XR200 rim that the customer built themselves, then when that broke, I bu…
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 rear wheel for Nomu …
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. The rim is an Araya T…
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). I built a wheel with the Smart Enve System 3.4. Since it's the 3.4 series, the front rim is 35mm wide with 20 holes, and the rear rim …
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 when the chain drop…
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 of break only happens…
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 buckling, so they can'…
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 colleague in the bike indus…
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 wheel's centering ha…
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. The bottle cage holes…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built a front wheel with a 16-hole carbon rim. The hub is HB-7700, the spokes are CX, and it's laced in reverse radial pattern. Since t…
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 exaggerated, there's a s…
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 name are handwritte…
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 earlier that: ・Only …
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 shop multiple times …
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 ) they requested a comple…
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 Starbrite, and it's built wi…
Another day with wheels (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 the hub flange a…
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 pattern of being a pro…
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's center was slightl…
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 centering deviation—a…
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 issues, and play in…
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 the entire inventory o…
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 apparently some susp…
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 almost no runout. Since …
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 instead. Even though…
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: 32H semi-comp 46 lac…
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. EVolite hub 20H black CX-RAY reverse nipple radial laced. The matching rear wheel for this set is …
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 (Seiko's youth-orient…
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 other day, but the st…
More wheels today (and so on...). I built a wheel using the rim from yesterday's build as donor parts, with an internal nipple XR300 rim. The front wheel is a Black Hub 20H CX-RAY …
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 2014 Norikura event, bu…
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 to swap in non-OEM …
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY reverse non-spoke radial lacing. Since the rear wheel I bu…
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 remembered it mentioned…
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 both the front and rear…
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. I'll do the spoke te…
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 marks on the rim side, …
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H with CX-RAY spokes in radial lacing and red aluminum nipples.
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 the shaft itself, w…
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 slight centering issues…
Wheels again today (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Front wheel is Exalite hub 20H CX-RAY in reverse radial spoke pattern, Rear wheel is Exalite hub 24H semi-comp 4-cross laci…
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 they requested a ful…
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 bizarre explanation: "My …
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 Ultra hasn't existed …
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 warning stickers still…
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, and there's also a de…
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 aluminum nipples.
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evrolite hub 20H black CX-RAY spokes in radial lacing with red aluminum nipples.
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 Campagnolo wheels, t…
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 did exactly as instru…
Another day, another wheel (and so on). A customer left a Corima Medium rear wheel with me. After years of use it's gotten loose, plus strange noises are coming from the hub, so th…
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 wear — it was like tha…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel #1. The front wheel is an Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY counter-clockwise spoke radial build, And the rear wheel is an Evol…
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 had some minor runout…
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 generation Shamal Ultra (Go…
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", but in this case t…
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 black aluminum nipple…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY spokes laced radial (non-crossed) pattern with black aluminum nippl…
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 "good" — it wobbles on …
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 attached to the fram…
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've tied off all the …
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 customer also wanted a…
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 Zonda before... Oh righ…
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 toward the freewheel …
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 there's always a compro…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5. Ebolite hub 18H black CX-RAY with reverse-butted radial spoke lacing.
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 soldering.
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Leaf hub 20H black CX-RAY spokes, anti-spoke radial lacing.
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 aluminum hub axle, they h…
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 problem or somethin…
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 asked me to do a checku…
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. While I've got the bi…
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built the Nomulabo Wheel No. 6. The front wheel is a Leaf hub 20H CX-RAY in reverse non-driveside radial lacing, and the rear wheel is a Leaf h…
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 here on use the black …
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 CLX mode…
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 unavoidable due to the "rest …
Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. I'm also installing tubular tires that the customer sent over. Front wheel: Ref hub 20H black CX-RAY anti-spoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Ref hub 24H b…
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 spokes and black nipples…
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 went with black alum…
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 later. And as it tu…
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 up craving udon.
Wheels again today (and so on...). Continuing from yesterday. I built the front wheel. Black hub 20H CX-RAY with reverse non-spoke radial lacing Red aluminum nipples.
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 finished the drillings fo…
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 that happens when y…
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 gauge, which they mod…
Another day with wheels (and so on...). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5. Both use Evo Lite hubs, 18H, black CX-RAY spokes, anti-drag radial lacing, but they're for dif…
Another day with wheels (and so on). This is the matching wheel to the rear wheel I rebuilt the other day. I'm just replacing the spokes with silver CX-RAY ones, but I mistakenly a…
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 can't be built with …
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 caught in the gaps of a …
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, though the catalog spec m…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. The front wheel is an Evo Lite hub 20H CX-RAY non-radial double cross laced, and the rear wheel is an Evo Lit…
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 with spoke nipple conne…
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 wanted me to do something…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). The parts needed to build Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2 are all together again. I sincerely apologize for the long wait. Today I built the front wheel. …
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 the slightest turn. …
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 stock for repairs on th…
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. They said they did …
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 sure enough, it was …
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 side of the front wh…
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 tensioned it a bit firmly …
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 shop they bought it…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I received a Rolf Prima Vigor wheel from a customer. It was built with Sapim aero spokes for round-hole rims, but since these spokes have a gre…
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 centering issues. Befor…
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 runout in one spot. The…
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 "Bullet 50" anymore. …
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 of an OEM freebody i…
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 out to be 16H, and …
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 spokes later.
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 flat spokes with slit…
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 runout that couldn't…
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 20,000 km since acqu…
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 shoes, but they want…
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 pedals, it would beh…
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 gritty and rough, rath…
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 pretty consistent— the di…
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 #4 as my daily rear…
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 had started making a…
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 Italian lacing pattern. Th…
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 it had been used fo…
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 sticker from some shop …
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 cross pattern. The Gra…
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 bracket. So I gave it…
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 the top tube came loo…
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 about the thickness…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4. Evolite hub 20H, all Campagnolo reverse nipple radial lacing. And another one on the side. Blac…
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 spoke tension balancing…
Another wheel day (and so on...). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel: Evolite (evo-lite hub) 20H black CX-RAY in reverse spoke radial pattern, Rear wheel: Evolite hub 24H bl…
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 pattern. I'll do the spok…
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #6. EvoLite hub 20H CX-RAY, radial spoke pattern. Separately, just the other day I handed a Nomu Lab W…
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 force to knock the priz…
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 two bottle cages in t…
Wheels again today (and so on). Built the front wheel for the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2.5. Evolite hub 18H black CX-RAY reverse radial spoke lacing. The rear wheel is Nomu Lab Wheel No.…
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 stem model and situatio…
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 responsive. It was b…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I received EA90SL rims from a customer. For whatever reason, Easton has started selling rims individually. It's not like they've started supply…
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 alignment later. By the way…
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 night ride. From my prev…
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 successor XC717 are simila…
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 phase at which I appl…
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 needed any work. I on…
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 when I corrected a sli…
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 sportif in Hyogo and n…
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 wheel, so I took a look…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Evolite hub 18H with CX-RAY spokes in radial lacing.
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY reverse radial spoke lacing. This might not be related, but when I hear the…
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 hub bearing rotation …
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 the label shows R-SYS…
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer left me with a rear wheel using an 88mm high-end carbon rim. It's a WO rim, by the way. It was built with CN spokes—flat aero spokes…
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel #6. Front wheel is an Aerolight hub 20H black CX-RAY with reverse non-drive-side radial lacing, Rear wheel is an Aer…
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 the pawl spring appear…
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 from the other day,…
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 was able to call ou…
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. When it comes to o…
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 titanium rear hub axle …
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY reverse radial laced. Using the same logic as yesterday, the WH-9000-C…
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 front wheel I'm switchi…
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 it shouldn't end up …
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 build. I'll do the truin…
Our shop is closed on the last Saturday of the month. Just figured I should mention it once in a while.
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 entirely with Comp …
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 Exalid brake zone se…
Wheels again today (and so on... I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. The front wheel uses an Evo Lite hub 20H black CX-RAY spokes in radial lacing, built with red aluminum nipples and go…
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 cyclocross has been f…
Another day of whee— (and so on). I laced up the front wheel for the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3. That's right, just as the post category indicates, this is supposed to be the Nomu Lab Wh…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Please don't peel off the sticker on the rim. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY reversed U-spoke radial lac…
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 Mode — a free pass …
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 an integrated stem ca…
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 the mark identifyin…
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 did a grease job in…
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 since it was built. As f…
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 centerline gauge, but o…
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 the front wheel has be…
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 suspicion of the rear…
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer left a Bontrager Aeolus rear wheel with me. It originally came in for an inspection, but... It's a Bontrager labeled as an Aeolus, b…
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 said, and sure enough…
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. Actually, the front hub is…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I was in the middle of an Open Pro build, but since it has fewer spokes, I put that on hold for now and built the Nomu Lab Wheel #1. The front …
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 Open Pro. By the wa…
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 I built it with a ha…
More wheel building today (details omitted). Continuing with the Open Pro build. Compared to if I were taking official time off and could dedicate myself entirely to wheel building…
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 Chris King R45 32H …
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.
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-comp four-six laced. I…
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 with a Mavic Reflex Ri…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I won't say the name, but I built a wheel for a customer who goes by FJT. It's a replacement front wheel since their Shimano C24 got comp…
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 cap combination had…
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 the older model is …
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 customer wants me to …
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 the next year they re…
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 standard hand-built hu…
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 for this wheel in N…
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 understanding.
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 brass nipples. This w…
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. Almost all the spo…
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, and it turned out to b…
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 the rear wheel rebuil…
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5. I think I've mentioned this before, but I don't make a habit of intentionally loosening spoke tension when I…
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, which is different fr…
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 ahead. That means the…
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 model year right at …
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-on and there's bare…
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 spokes, so it has t…
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 tubular tire, and s…
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 different in track ra…
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 to heat warping, so t…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5. The Nomu Lab Wheel 2.5 front rim comes only in 18H spec. So I wanted to build it with CX instead …
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. I'll do the truing l…
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 rear wheel, but the…
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 roughness in the fron…
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 area between the E and…
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 things. Plus the re…
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 I checked it, the ru…
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 the freewheel side a…
Wheels again today (and so on... I built the front wheel for Nomulab Wheel #2. Evrolite hub 20H black CX-RAY reverse spoke radial lacing.
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 windings.
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 daughter along when she cam…
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 not the original owne…
Another day, another wheel (and so on). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Front wheel is Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY reversed 2-cross radial laced, Rear wheel is Evolite hub 24H semi-co…
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 customer, and since …
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 regular production after…
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, they suddenly released …
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 any tool (Torx T30) fr…
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 spoke is bent clockwi…
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 first-generation Hyp…
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 about a sheet of paper…
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 someone had already don…
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 otherwise there were …
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 surprisingly high assembl…
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 the local shop where…
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 there and ended up w…
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 spot that needed abnorm…
Another day with wheels (and so on). Continuing from the other day. Built them all CX-RAY with reverse (non-radial) lacing. For the front wheel, apart from just getting used to it,…
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer dropped off a blue Vigor rim with me. It's been ridden a little bit, but it's basically brand new. ↑They want me to rebuild this whe…
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 complete bike manufac…
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. However, this rod is qui…
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 lacing pattern built…
Today's work doesn't fall under the "wheel rebuild" category (and so on). I received a Cosmic Carbon PowerTap (Mavic) hub from a customer. The hub is an SL+ 20-hole, but this wasn'…
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 wiring today. The actu…
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 rear. That's indeed…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Just as the title says. Built the 24H front hub entirely with competition-grade radial spokes. By the way, this hub's flange thickness an…
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 looks like a red spok…
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 nearly true. However,…
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 amazingly enough the…
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 "Italian three-cros…
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 of a hassle than th…
↑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 one rim would be out…
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, There's a marking ind…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evo-Lite hub 20H, CX-RAY reverse nipple radial build.
A customer brought in a Rolf Prima Vigor Alpha wheel for me to work on. Apparently the wheel center was significantly off when they first bought it, but they had it adjusted at the…
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 while on the stationar…
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 bolt are separate co…
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 wheel was significa…
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. When it came into the s…
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-RAY spokes, 4x lacing…
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 here is 36H . There …
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 spec. The rear wheel …
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 overhaul. There was almo…
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 generation, but it uses the o…
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 dedicated Trek shop, not j…
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 wheel spokes were tw…
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 wheels hanging on the…
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 fine—actually, I th…
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 specifically, the di…
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 side is bent, but it …
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 rear wheel being out …
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...? While I'm at it, let …
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 to do. I was thinki…
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 heavy, so they have…
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 play was pretty subs…
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. It was built entirely…
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 the Axiom series is …
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 runout and rim center…
More wheel building today (etc.). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. It's the matching wheel to the rear wheel I built a while back with black spokes and red nipples…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Front wheel is an Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY with reverse non-spoke radial lacing, Rear wheel is an Evolite hub 24H with…
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 Excellences— I'd li…
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 customer's request, I wen…
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 was also stuck on some…
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 a "gift," but I rec…
A customer dropped off an Open Pro front wheel with me. It's one I built a while back. It has a Centaur Century hub, but they wanted me to replace the hub. I disassembled it. The r…
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 inspected first. The…
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. This is a continuation from yesterday. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY reverse non-drive side radial laced.…
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.
I received a comment the other day, and it gave me a push to write about something I'd been planning to leave alone. Before I get started. Setting aside the origins of complete whe…
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.
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, boss. I called it …
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 20H stock at the dist…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4. The hub is a 7700 Dura-Ace 24H. CX-RAY spokes laced radial, but I'm well aware that 7700 hubs ar…
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 article: "The depth of t…
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 itself and push the axl…
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 configuration with "ordinary …
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 individually. Unless of cou…
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 out of true. The cen…
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 with crossing. The …
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 picked up an extra c…
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 24H semi-comp 4-6 laci…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Evolite hub 20H with CX-RAY spokes in radial lace (non-drive side).
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 front wheel, but it w…
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, but it was clearly …
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 something—the spokes ar…
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 headset. Since we hav…
Another day with wheels (and so on). I received a Reynolds R2 rear wheel from a customer. The wheel itself is light, but during hill climbs he feels flex, so he's actually been usi…
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 and grinding, so they …
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 out of the wheel bag, …
Another day of wheel building (and so on...). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6. Front wheel is a Leaf hub 20H CX-RAY with reverse non-spoke radial lacing, Rear wheel is a Leaf hub 24H …
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 sticker instructing which…
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer left a front wheel with a carbon rim with me. ↑On the left side of the image, the braking surface is in rough shape. It looks like i…
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-hole configuration, so …
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 maintains flexibility…
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 dimensional conditions…
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-competition, reverse Ital…
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 the front wheel specs…
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 did capture the i…
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 managed to shave it down…
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 lacing pattern. The in…
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 spokes on an Open Pro, …
When building a wheel, you need to calculate spoke length, and the information necessary for that includes rim support length (the distance between tire-bearing surfaces), hub flan…
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. For some reason it h…
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, but they were quic…
A customer dropped off a front wheel with an Open Pro rim and Chris King hub. 32H, all competition reverse radial laced. I built this one myself back in the day, but the customer w…
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 constantly, so I can't really…
↑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 become a mysterious creat…
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 bearings on the righ…
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 tooth count difference …
「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 tubular rim depends on …
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 version — as the manuf…
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 28H Grail rim, so I bu…
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 understanding. The next …
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 have Exalith processin…
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 overhaul, and this is …
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 and rim wasn't set ext…
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-cross) I probably won'…
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 this photo on August 9t…
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 thinking "Hey, I had m…
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 deviation. The hub see…
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 put together this li…
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. Since it's always Mav…
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 closely and feel aroun…
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 measure in place to insta…
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. 5. The matching fro…
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 me to look over a f…
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 solder joints included…
A customer brought in a Rolf Prima TDF6 for service. There's a component maker called 3T that makes handlebar parts, but back in the day they were headquartered in Turin, Italy. Th…
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 later. Unlike wheels (th…
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 I've been cleaning s…
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 was a spare parts kit…
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 asking "what about my bi…
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 both sides, but not…
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 said it suddenly devel…
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 wheel was nowhere t…
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 runout, and there was …
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 bit complex, so the n…
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 pricey, so we decide…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Leaf hub 20H in black CX-RAY with reverse Nupo spoke radial lacing and red aluminum nipple…
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. The black spokes came in, so I laced it radial with an Evolite hub 20H black CX-RAY spokes. And on…
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. ↑That's how bent it…
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 first, but the R-SYS, wh…
"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 answer Yes, that wheel …
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 time. The rear 20H …
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.
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 few nastier problems…
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—with no play or loosene…
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 spec. The stock #1 i…
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 of that project. Evo…
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 what happened to it.
A customer dropped off a Kishirium SL for me. One spoke was missing. Fixed it. ↑It was like this.
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's bent partway throu…
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. Luckily (?), the rim was …
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 excellent precision lately, …
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 right side had somethin…
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.
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 12 blades (6 pairs)) …
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.
Today I was building just the front wheel for a Nomu Lab Wheels #5 order, and I built it with a different nupoke lacing pattern than the hanging method. Regarding nupoke radial lac…
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 that, I received a …
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for the Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY counter-radial spoke pattern build. This is a separate project from t…
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 the XR300? Like the …
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 Sapim Leader straight…
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 also inspected the rea…
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 28H and 36H options …
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 more so, the quick r…
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 write about here. If I…
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer left me with a rear wheel built with a Reynolds Stratos DV 26-inch tubular rim. The hub is a PowerTap SL+. It's built 20-hole, all-b…
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 crossed at the hub …
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 circulation runs out,…
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 of that, I always h…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY reverse radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evolite hub 24H semi-comp 4-cross lacing. …
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 mention anything about the…
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 millimeters as "MM" instead o…
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 demonstrate. The steel …
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. The recent finishi…
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 tire off, and both wh…
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 it?" They mentioned s…
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, handlebar drop, and…
I named it #33 because I'm building it with Mavic GL330 rims. Details coming soon.
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 stand, right!?" Alon…
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, black half-comp, 4-c…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). But first. I built a wheel with the ALEXRIMS R390 rim, and the recent R390 is completely different from before—the seam finish has improv…
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 rough the hub felt when …
I received a Tōken (Japanese wheel manufacturer) C22A wheel from a customer. It's a light-looking aluminum WO rim. For some reason, I feel like I know the tension tolerance of this…
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. It also had center…
Today it's wheels again (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY reverse non-spoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evolite hub 24H semi-competition 4…
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 start with the rear.…
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 subtle grinding sound…
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, but that's because w…
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 issues that you couldn'…
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 rear wheel from the u…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built a wheel using ENVE's SES (Smart Envi System) 3.4 rim. The "3.4" refers to the name of the set: a 35mm deep front rim with 20 hole…
Another day of wheel building (etc.). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Front wheel is an Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY straight gauge radial lacing, Rear wheel is an Evolite hub, 24H, semi-comp…
Wheels again today (and so on). The cross spokes came back in stock, so I'm building the matching front wheel for the one I laced the rear wheel on the other day. Nomu Lab Wheel #1…
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 written as "Eurus". This…
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 possible. Chain dro…
Back to wheels again today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Both are Evolite Hub 20H CX-RAY reverse non-radial laced spoke patterns. We ran out of …
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 spoke tensions, but i…
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 bar has been subject t…
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 CX-RAY 46-spoke cro…
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 particularly dirty, so i…
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 Meilenstein. The cus…
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 deliberately made it …
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 what to do about it…
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 and tubeless, but th…
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. The work only neede…
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 customer, and they replied:…
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 correction. Originall…
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... that's not how this whe…
Wheels again today (et cetera). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3. Front wheel: Evolight hub 20H CX-RAY anti-Nupo spoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evolight hub 20H semi-comp 4-cross…
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. Our stock of XR200…
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 list price for Alteg…
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 cable hole is drille…
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 of use, but the bear…
。（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 freehub specification. It…
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 three years without ma…
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 side, they interfer…
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 that when you tighten…
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 could show the custom…
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, and it became bothers…
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 customer already tried app…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I assembled the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Mystery wide-flange hub, 20H, CX-RAY, reverse Dura-Ace spoke pattern, radial lacing. I've…
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 it. Now, this wheel,…
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 connectors.
A customer brought in a wheel built with XR200 rims for service. Front wheel 20H, rear wheel 24H, all spokes are CX-RAY. I heard about the builder from the customer. Since they see…
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 lacing with connectors.…
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: standard and fat tire. The…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 6. This is a prototype before sales. I'll write more details later, but the rim I'm using is a tubular rim that …
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 carbon model. Both are…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY reverse non-drive side radial lacing.
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 handle it without removi…
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 acronym SMART ENVÉ SYSTE…
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 specced for cyclocros…
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, but it's bent in th…
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 disassembled the wheel, th…
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 nipple reinforcemen…
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 maintenance and inspecti…
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 necessary, but I'll likely…
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 is what center runout…
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 runout, but the rear whe…
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 this time would turn…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Front wheel is Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY anti-spoke radial laced, Rear wheel is Evolite hub 24H semi-competition…
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 closed. A few customers…
Mavic, which popularized the de facto industry standard for tubeless specifications in MTBs, 「UST TUBELESS」, is oddly passive when it comes to road tubeless. The pioneers of road t…
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 not." I also think I …
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 history, but it does l…
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—this kind of quality…
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 a lesson on how to g…
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 loose while riding, b…
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 connections.
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 not to use emergenc…
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 them for this photo. …
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 is all over the pla…
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 truing work done on…
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, but the hub had so…
More wheels today (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomulab Wheel #2. Evolight hub 18H with CX-RAY spokes in radial lacing.
Wheels again today (and so on). The Nomu Lab Wheel #2 that used up its rim stock the other day has been restocked already. Front wheel is Leaf Hub 20H CX-RAY anti-radial spoked, an…
Today is wheels again (and so on). But before that, two things. First point: My Excel spoke calculation formula columns have exceeded 3,000 columns with this project. It doesn't ma…
Wheels again today (and so on). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel 2.6. Though I have to say, I've never built a wheel called "2.6" before. It's not a limited model like Nomu Lab Wheel No.…
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 Veloce (※) from my pe…
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 Shimano 10-speed to Shim…
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 sure most of the one…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1 "The Origin". It's the matching pair to yesterday's 28H rear wheel. Evo hub 24H CX-RAY non -dr…
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 manufactured by a contrac…
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 wheel had quite a bit o…
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 the freehub body, my …
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 lateral runout. Every…
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 seemed minor to me..…
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 ). The front wheel looke…
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 pattern. I'll do th…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. This rim is our shop's last remaining stock. I built it with an EvoLite hub 20H, CX-RAY…
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 I want to introduce…
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. The chainline came out…
Yesterday's post wasn't about uniformly accelerated motion—it was uniformly linear motion. Thanks for pointing that out. ↓The whiteboard shows uniform velocity, but I'm not sure wh…
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. ↑Generally speaking,…
Yes, another long post. Today I'm talking about nupoke. Not spoke, but nupoke. When you search Google for it, it shows "Did you mean: spoke" So it's clear there's no common homonym…
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 rim is unreasonably …
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 it 28H in bla…
Another day of wheel (you know the rest). I built a wheel with a Mavic Open Pro. I had recommended our Noma Lab Wheel #1, but the customer is in a position where they have to use M…
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.
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 beforehand. The Tni Aer…
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 revolution." This is dete…
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-imported Seiko brands cal…
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 rim centering was way …
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"... Just kidding. This …
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 black versions of th…
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, you can't assemble…
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 drivetrain, but the owne…
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 and Friday off tomorro…
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 stickers without hesi…
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'd make it through to…
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 they offered "just one…
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 took a look, it wasn't…
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 ). I have no idea if …
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 out to be a 182. Than…
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 everything up properly. I'…
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 serviced before. The warn…
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 been using them for ab…
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 manufacturer shipping stand…
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 barely any runout. …
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 probably should have…
I said I'd write more later, but I managed to build it today so here's the continuation. The rear wheel is built too. Usually I'm the type to say things like "everyone and their do…
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 the best parts from…
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. Still need to build …
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3. The front wheel is a Leaf hub 20H CX non-radial laced rim. I wanted to use CX spokes, so I went with a Leaf hub that …
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 another wheel later. Thi…
Another day of wheels (and so on). A customer left me some PowerTap wheels for work. The hub and rim are both PowerTap, with all-black competition spokes, and both wheels are 32-ho…
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. On the rim's outer …
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, I can't rely too muc…
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Evolite hub 20H, CX-RAY spokes, anti-radial lacing.
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 called the CX28, bu…
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 content I could bump …
Another day working on wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomulab Wheel #3. Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY reverse spoke radial build. I wanted to build another one with exact…
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 that I had removed for …
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, according to Specialize…
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 with a method that'…
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 noticed there was some pl…
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 line. It's because …
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. There was a slight w…
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 normal/reverse orientatio…
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 1-65 with the ENVE …
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer dropped off a rear wheel with me. Actually, they kind of abandoned it here without asking. It's built with an ENVE 1-45 rim and a Chris Ki…
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 for size comparison …
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 3. Not the match to the rear wheel from the other day — this is a different project. Léaf hub 20…
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 spoke nipples. This …
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 like it was running…
I'm thinking about building Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4. I'm considering building No. 4 using the Kinlin TB-25 tubular rim I built before. Within the range of what I can source, 28H is th…
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, which were the sam…
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 replacement, I left it as i…
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 had shifted toward …
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 Mavic's "Helium" that…
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. 24-hole, semi-aero…
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 connection. Since they w…
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's hoping for an over…
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 some shop, but immediat…
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 condition was good, with …
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 centered that it seem…
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 position of the coaster br…
Today it's wheels again (and so on...). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Front wheel is an Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY spokes radial laced, Rear wheel is an Evolite hub 24H semi-competition 4…
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-spoke lacing, but I c…
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 no provisions for i…
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 cement, but since it had …
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 Novatech Croix de Fer, The…
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 been supplied since…
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 in bicycle maintenanc…
I see a lot of hand-built and factory-built wheels where the non-freewheel side of the rear wheel is laced radially, and there are so many of them that today I want to write about …
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 the four mounting bo…
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 received a comment sayi…
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 other. ↑They're hittin…
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 this one from Suntour ↑…
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 was getting stiff, so…
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 they always read the b…
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. Apparently it's been …
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 front wheel was so …
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 repairs and the wheel…
Back to wheels today (and so on). Continuing from yesterday. I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Reefhub 20H black CX-RAY reverse Nupo spoke radial lacing.
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 do the truing and bui…
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 for replacing it uses…
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 are gray. I used to…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Three days in a row of Nomulab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel is a Leaf hub, 20H, CX-RAY, reverse nipple radial laced, Rear wheel is a Leaf hub, 24H,…
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 about its history, so I …
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 portion of the spoke w…
I wrote the other day that "the AL300 rim has no radial runout," but I apologize. It does have slight radial runout. It's the kind of runout where "you can't tell by looking at the…
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 not be in great con…
Wheels again today (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evolite hub 24H, semi-comp 4-cross lacing. I'l…
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 images are after the work…
Another day, another wheel (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel: Evorite hub 20H CX-RAY Nupoke radial laced, Rear wheel: Evorite hub 24H semi-comp 4-cross laced wit…
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 (CHINHAUR/Chinguo I…
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 wanted me to swap out th…
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, with spoke twisting co…
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 they'd just had it s…
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, which was a relief. …
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 centering issue on the r…
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 too optimistic... I …
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 where the center gauge …
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 had a grinding sens…
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, I removed the spok…
More wheels today (and so on...). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Front wheel is an Evolite hub, 20H, with CX-RAY spokes in radial lacing, Rear wheel is an Evolite hub, 24H, with semi-c…
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 a large-flange hub …
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, so I had to true it…
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 inner sidewall thicknes…
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 wheel center was of…
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 shop had inspected and…
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 wheel, so I'm planning …
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 available as a rear …
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 thoughtfully designe…
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.
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 delivering flowers to you…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built Nomulabo wheel #2. Front wheel is Rohloff hub 20H CX-RAY, reverse non-drive side radial lacing, Rear wheel is FH-9000 24H semi-comp 2x la…
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 Technology) hub inside…
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 lateral runout from…
Back to wheels again today (and so on). This is a different project from yesterday's. Built Nomu Lab wheel No. 1. Front wheel is Leaf hub 20H CX-RAY reverse nipple spoke radial lac…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Front wheel is Aerolight hub 20H CX-RAY spokes radial laced, Rear wheel is Leaf hub 24H half-comp 4-cross lac…
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 straightforward — they wanted …
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. The rear wheel seemed …
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 preference, they achieve …
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 Tsuntsun-san's family h…
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 brake and hub dynamo…
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built the front wheel for the Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Evolite hub 28H, CX-RAY spokes, reverse radial lacing pattern.
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 cardboard, so I did …
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 bearings were adjus…
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 is a V2 model, but un…
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 482SL hub, which is …
Another day, another wheel build (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #1 using a White Industries T11 hub. 20H CX-RAY straight-pull spokes, radial lacing. Not on all models, but Whi…
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. This means you hav…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). But before that. I received front and rear wheels with carbon WO rims from a customer. I'll be rebuilding the rear wheel anyway, but the specs …
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. Built it. The rim is t…
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'm setting it up so t…
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 I had to temporaril…
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 use, but it hasn't e…
Another wheel day (and so on). Built up an ENVE 1-45 tubular rim. Front wheel: Leaf hub 20H CX-RAY in reverse radial lacing, Rear wheel: Leaf hub 24H semi-competition 4-cross lacin…
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 it's more of a homa…
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 tires （attached but no…
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 wanted the spoke tensio…
Another wheel day (and so on). Built Nomu Lab wheel #5. Front wheel is an Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY Nupoke radial laced, Rear wheel is a Leaf hub 24H semi-competition 46-cross laced w…
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 stripped, and they ask…
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, the customer requested…
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 some play in the rear…
Somewhat based on a true story.
Another wheel day (and so on). A customer dropped off a rear wheel built with a PowerTap 32H hub. As for the rim, the joint finish is unmistakably Mavic. Based on the height, shape…
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 causing wrinkles in the l…
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 hand-built wheel. The…
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 decided to build a fresh o…
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 it here. My apologi…
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 and brought this whee…
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 handed it over straig…
Another day with wheels (and so on). Built the Nomu Lab wheel No. 1. Front wheel: Evo Lite hub 20H CX-RAY Nu-spoke radial laced, Rear wheel: Leaf hub 24H semi-comp 4-cross laced wi…
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 to investigate a few …
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, something pretty s…
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 tire—towel at the re…
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 wheelsets, but I can…
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 shredded cinnamon rolls, …
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.
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. The only difference fr…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. The front wheel is an Evolite hub, 20H, CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing, and the rear wheel is a Leaf hub, 24H, …
Another wheel day (and so on). I received a SMART ENVE 3.4 rim in WO spec from a customer. The "3.4" is the name for a set consisting of a 35mm-high rim and a 45mm-high rim, but it…
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. It had just been true…
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 tubeless tire, they sa…
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 that to them, but th…
Another day working on wheels (and so on). A customer left me a carbon rim from the Ganwell (ガンウェル) brand to work with. Ganwell is an original brand by Iwai Shokai, and the name co…
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 a simple kickstand—t…
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 me to disassemble i…
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 instead. They wanted t…
Yesterday this wheel (details below). The wheel I built yesterday, the customer wanted gold aluminum nipples. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Oh no, I totally lost it there. Of cour…
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 with hand drills, bu…
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 felt it needed it bas…
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 sticker with the cu…
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 have been ridden hard. …
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 Revolution, but I bu…
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 (which is unusual fo…
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 flange spins around befo…
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, but neither was anythi…
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）, but for other sizes…
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 source rims like this, I'…
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 runout you'd expect…
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. Various customers g…
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 of runout. The front…
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 ago when "hub shells…
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 called GS Astute for…
Today is the last Saturday of the month, so we're closed. But I came in for a bit anyway. More wheel building today (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel #4. Front wheel: vintage Evo h…
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, but I suspect the wh…
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 something wrong with the fre…
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 satisfying about adjustin…
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 take a photo before…
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 the wheel. I could'…
We will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, November 27th. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
It's wheels again today (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Front wheel is a Reaf hub 20H, anti-radial (反ヌpo) spoke lacing, Rear wheel is a Powertap G3 hub 24H, half-comp 4-cr…
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 Tottori and stopped by O…
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 an illusion. The ni…
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 24H tends to create a…
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 aluminum spoke models, th…
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 able to true the wh…
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 areas (※), the spoke…
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 lateral runout, there…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4. I deliberately chose a 24H old Evo hub for the hub. The spec suddenly switched to an Evo Lite hu…
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
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 spoke on the non-fr…
Back to wheels today (and so on...). I built Nomu Lab wheel No. 5. Front wheel is Leaf hub 20H CX-RAY reverse non-spoke radial lacing, Rear wheel is Leaf hub 24H all CX-RAY 4/6 lac…
Another day working on wheels (and so on). Built a practice wheel for Rokko Mountain training. ↑It's just a code name for communicating with customers, nothing deep about it. Evoli…
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 to work on. Regardin…
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 with. These are tires …
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 this a comparison of…
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, and several spokes o…
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 tires before the work…
I thought if I took two days off (though I didn't really take them off), I could get through a long tunnel but I couldn't. Which way was the exit again...? Anyway, back to wheels t…
We will be closed tomorrow, November 18th (Tuesday). We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Front wheel is Evolite hub 18H CX-RAY with reverse non-spoke radial lacing, Rear wheel is Leaf hub 24H with h…
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 distinction. Only the…
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 a total backorder of…
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 simply can't handle wh…
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 Ultegra upgrade. To judge …
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 saying that because mo…
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 times with the La Vi…
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 brought in their own rim,…
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 that something is "…
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 serious noise problems. …
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 a 2009 model. Appar…
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 Racing Speed, don't …
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 sure why the text got b…
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 question. He pointed at som…
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 non-freewheel side.…
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, but since I happene…
Another day with wheels (and so on). A customer brought in some carbon wheels for me to work on. Out of respect for the builder's work, I won't say which rim it is. There are vario…
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 couldn't build the front …
Today it's wheels again (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Front wheel: Aerolite hub 24H CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing, Rear wheel: Aerolite hub 28H, semi-comp lacing with …
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 spoke tension, you cou…
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 inspect the hubs. T…
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-hole radial pattern on …
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 myself. The letterin…
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 secret to it. I can't qui…
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 mushy, or more like c…
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 and rim height cond…
Another wheel day (you get the idea). A customer left me with Reynolds Attack rims to work with. 32mm deep carbon rims, this time in WO (clincher) specification. Built the front wh…
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 arrive is still up i…
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 understanding.
Another day of wheels (and so on). Built Nomulabo Wheel No. 5. Front wheel is Evolite hub 20H with counter-pull radial spoke pattern. Anti-pull radial with Evolite is pretty rare t…
A custom order. I made a motorized mud flap saddle bag. Does that ↑Looks like Snoopy When you press the switch... Vroooom
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. Apparently you don't need to peel off the sticker on the rim. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY spokes, radial …
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, the owner of the b…
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 precision, and while…
Another day working on wheels (and so on...). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel is a Leaf Hub 20H CX-RAY with reverse spoke radial lacing, Rear wheel is a Leaf Hub 24H with 4…
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 they wanted just the f…
I bought a wristwatch called the GRANT from Fossil. Fossil is an American fashion brand centered around watches, and besides timepieces, they handle leather bags and wallets. When …
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 sloppy and they want i…
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 on the front wheel we…
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 rear wheel). ↑The fr…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built a wheel with a Honfu (honfu) rim. Front wheel is a Leaf hub 20H CX-RAY with reverse radial spoking, Rear wheel is a Leaf hub 24H wi…
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 tire has to be removed.…
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 to that list. ↑With t…
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 custom wheel-building b…
Another day with wheels (and so on...). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. I'm lacing the super wide flange 20-hole hub with CX-RAY spokes in a radial pattern.
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 happened to notice I…
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 all like this.
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 ball bearings, spinning…
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 and nothing major w…
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 it was retailed for…
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 shipping standards. …
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 could replace them …
More wheels today (and so on). A do-over from yesterday. I built Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H, CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing, Rear wheel: Reef hub 24H, semi-comp …
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 build the front wheel…
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 there's been so much…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Built a wheel with ENVE 1-45 rims. Front wheel: Evolight hub 20H black CX-RAY radial spokes (non-pulling), Rear wheel: Evolight hub 24H b…
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 inconvenience, and thank you …
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 asking me to route it for…
What... what are these things...!? Anyway, today it's wheels again (you know the drill). A package scheduled for delivery on September 19th is already here at the shop as of Septem…
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 see, but the brake zo…
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 noticeably in aluminum s…
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 nice is that they don'…
Another wheel build today (and so on). A customer left me with some Honfu rims. Today's are tubular spec with a matte finish. The hubs look like Bitex ones that I have on hand. The…
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 further out toward the …
Another wheel day (details omitted). A customer left me some carbon rims from Hong Fu with me. WO spec. The glossy finish is apparently a recent model. These rims are basically a s…
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 centering was sligh…
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 prediction that the s…
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 rear wheel, the clear…
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 Nomunlab Wheel #4 for cycl…
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 385g. The EDGE 1-68 I h…
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 the hub shell. I'm bu…
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 return them the same d…
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 from a shop. I figured…
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 replaced them with n…
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 unfortunately it did, so…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). A customer left me a PowerTap rear hub wheel. I noticed the non-drive side seemed oddly tight, and when I looked closer... It was a 24-ho…
Another day, another wheel (and so on...). A customer entrusted me with a PowerTap hub. 32H. It shows signs of previous assembly, so it's not brand new, but the condition is excell…
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, there was a beetle…
I've been getting a lot of comments lately, and I've been replying to them here in the blog. Sometimes I even get further replies to those responses. So here I'm replying to severa…
Another day of wheelbuilding (and so on). But first, a note. At our shop, when building wheels with Powertap hubs, we've been performing "overhauls involving cartridge bearing extr…
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 overall, so I tightene…
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer crashed and damaged the front rim on the Nomunlab wheel #2, so I took on the repair job (rim replacement). But since the original rim has…
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 hassle to revive. ↑This …
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 enough runout or centeri…
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 once you true them know…
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 flat, so applying s…
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've done truing work o…
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 since the first generati…
Another day of wheels (and so on). I've taken in a Campagnolo Barcelona 92. It's one of the last two hand-built rims that Campagnolo ever produced. Campagnolo had an old rim series…
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 in human history, n…
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 take time off during Ob…
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 centering. There were no …
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 prohibited." In response to…
Another wheel day (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel is Evolight hub 20H black CX-RAY spokes radial laced, Rear wheel is Evolight hub 24H black semi-competition 4…
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 yesterday. The rim we…
I received a question 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 with similar specs. Bef…
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. Hmm, no matter how I p…
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, so I run into deer …
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, the down tube bottl…
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 apparently things went c…
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 separate companies, but …
More wheels today (and so on). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. The front wheel is an Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY with semi-radial spoking. Currently, I've made it a principle not to d…
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 exhibition.
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 certain reasons we ne…
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 customer even point…
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 understand what I mean whe…
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 hole offset is wrong…
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 tuning parts floati…
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 body first, but... T…
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 these are tubeless rim s…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I took in a wheel that was completely destroyed in a crash during a race. Since only the hub was in a reusable condition, I regreased it while …
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 corrections and repost…
Another day, another wheel build (and so on...). Built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H CX-RAY radial spokes, Rear wheel: Evolite hub 24H semi-comp 2-cross la…
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 side, so we don't do …
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #4. Though to be honest, the rim, hub, and tire were all customer-supplied, and since they're not the …
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 cut off the upper f…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Front wheel: Leaf hub 20H CX-RAY reverse J-bend radial laced, Rear wheel: Leaf hub 24H semi-comp 2-cross laced with…
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 the freewheel side, …
A customer gave me an assortment of Bourrimiesh (French pastries). There are all kinds — financiers, madeleines, and more. The truffle cake has truffle chocolate and the Gâteau aux…
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 originally came only …
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 hard to see, but if w…
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 release the tension it sh…
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 rear, but they asked…
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 is definitely Colima …
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 condition of the spr…
Please stop calling a visit to our shop a "pilgrimage to sacred grounds"... Anyway, wheels again today (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. I'm also photo…
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 coming in soon. ↑Looks…
Another day of wheel building (et cetera). I received a Chris King rear hub on consignment. Since it's for MTB, the over-locknut dimension is 135mm. The front hub is a King. The "K…
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 variations in comple…
Today I'm writing about Colima's aluminum body hub. It's pretty amazing in many ways. ↑Here it is. The left flange position is slightly inboard, which is a bit disappointing, but t…
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, of course, but sin…
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 position and triathlo…
There's a rim manufacturer called Corima, but it doesn't seem to get much recognition lately, so I'm going to write about why I think Corima is amazing. Corima could be called the …
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 almost immediately …
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Front wheel: Aerolite hub 20H CX-RAY Nipo spoke radial lacing, Rear wheel: Aerolite hub 24H semi-comp 46 cross lacin…
Another day of wheels (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #5. Tni old Evo hub 24H with CX-RAY spokes, radial lacing.
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 the manufacturer's spe…
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 it in already mounte…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built a wheel with the ENVE 1-45 rim. Front wheel is Evo Lite hub 20H CX-RAY reverse radial laced, Rear wheel is Evo Lite hub 24H semi-comp lac…
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'll refer to it as…
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. There's been an in…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. Front wheel: Evolite hub 20H with CX-RAY spokes in radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evolite hub 24H with semi-competition…
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 stripped it! (Title …
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 rim and hub spoke h…
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 and have been using…
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 clockwise from direct…
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 routine. There are s…
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 considerate about is…
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 in three types: K-140…
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 my collection and g…
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 replacement and other…
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 is a different job, j…
Another day of wheels (and so on). Built Nomunlab Wheel #5. Front wheel is an Evolight hub 20H CX-RAY Sapoke radial laced, Rear wheel is an Evolight hub 24H semi-comp four-cross la…
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." It's basically chann…
I'm always writing about wheels and various other things here, and while I slip in some cold jokes (like the title of this article), it seems many people are viewing me favorably, …
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. They're planning to bri…
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 meticulous true job on both …
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, and rims that I've r…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I often can't build wheels during official shop hours. This isn't a recent thing—it's been this way for a long time. I've noticed a pattern: on…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Front wheel: Leaf hub 20H, all Campagnolo, radial lacing with inverted spokes, Rear wheel: Leaf hub 24H, all …
This thing really gets the work done.
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 has cross-connections…
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 spoke weighs per 1mm o…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 5. The front wheel is a Leaf hub CX-RAY built in reverse radial spoking, The rear wheel is a Leaf hub with semi-comp…
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 this F-22 has sharp,…
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 write about the act…
Another wheel day (and so on). Built a wheel with an ENVE 1-45 rim. Front wheel is a Rolf hub 20H CX-RAY with reverse-Nupo radial lacing, Rear wheel is a Rolf hub 24H with half-com…
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 correct spoke tension dif…
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 form. You can contr…
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 through the applause …
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, and thank you for yo…
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 was busy with bike as…
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 courses that include c…
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 centering, and also tension …
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 took apart. Evo front h…
Today I also built a PowerTap wheel. PowerTap wheel builds have been really common lately.
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 there. I had been w…
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 circumference. A quick side …
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 the term "chain clear…
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 purchased online from a…
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 long they've been in us…
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 asked me to take a lo…
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 Wheel #5, but there…
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 generation silver hub, but t…
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 hubs in stock, with sil…
A customer brought in HongFu (Hong Kong carbon rim manufacturer) carbon rims for me to work with. It was a while back, but when I built a wheel with this rim before, I got a commen…
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 Tri Sports' homepage…
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 rim tape were Powertap…
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-length, but since it'…
Wheels again today (and so on...). I built the Nomu Lab wheel #1. The rear wheel uses an Evo Lite hub, 24H, semi-comp 4-cross lacing with no spoke weld, I've built two front wheels…
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 while I had it. The re…
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 designation (for spoke…
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 directly between opp…
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 a Tange Seiki (Japa…
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 so I discarded it. I …
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 engagement" (歯離れ) is ac…
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 rather than LWC. The…
※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 before building a w…
I built a wheel with an ENVE 1-45 rim. The front wheel uses a Leaf hub CX-RAY with reverse spoke radial lacing, and the rear wheel is a Leaf hub with semi-comp 46-hole lacing with …
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the front wheel for Nomu Lab Wheel #1. Evolitè hub 20H with CX-RAY Sapim spokes built radial. The aero-butted section of the CX-RAY is …
Today it's wheels again (and so on). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 2. I built two pairs of front and rear wheels, but both rear wheels use Evolite hubs, 24H, semi-comp, 4-cross la…
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 note that the tape wen…
To continue (→ click here )
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 build it without muc…
I built the front wheel with a TNi (Treviso Nippon Inc.) carbon 50mm rim! I've already built the rear wheel with an Aero 80, but since I approached the front and rear completely di…
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 business hours are 9 PM to …
Wheels again today (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4. Front 20H and rear 24H. I'd prefer to build both front and rear as 24H for myself, but since customer orders for No. 4…
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 your understanding.
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 with these hubs. Front 24H and …
Another day of wheels (and so on). The last Saturday of the month is normally closed, but I opened the shop anyway because I had promised to deliver wheels and complete bikes. I'm …
I received a wheel from a customer. ↑There was an illustration like this on the box they sent, Do they think that if they draw something like this they'll get their bike featured i…
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 saying 「With the SM-…
Wheels again today (and so on). A customer left me a PowerTap SL+ hub in 24H to work with. Right off the bat—heat shrink tubing, no questions asked. The bearings on the non-freewhe…
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 inspection. Nothing maj…
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 said "Yeah, it hits so…
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 guess though. I've b…
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. ↑Carbon 50 ↑Aero 80…
I built the front wheel, the matching pair to the rear wheel I assembled the other day for Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Leaf hub CX-RAY with reverse spoke radial lacing.
It's wheel work again today (and so on). A customer dropped off a front wheel with me. The rim is a Mavic CXP22, but it has a FELT brand hub, so I'd guess this is a wheel that come…
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 asking "If you have them,…
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)...Is there some specia…
This is a follow-up to my earlier post about American Classic's slitted spoke hole hub design（→ here ）. I had written that the hub was limited to JIS or Italian lacing patterns, bu…
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... But looking at how the…
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 Italian pattern lacin…
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 did set up an article …
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 only posting about i…
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 to know how long the …
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 it felt stiffer once…
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 is an XR200. The spo…
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 for the counter-test …
Wheels again today (and so on). I didn't come to the shop specifically to build a wheel, but I can't settle down unless I touch the truing stand, so I built one. Built Nomu Lab Whe…
I have an apology and correction! (→ here ) While I could edit the article text, I prefer to leave things like this as-is so I'm keeping it unchanged. Regarding the recent American…
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. I've been falling be…
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. Even with 7,600 piece…
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 final version. ↑The mark…
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 OSTRICH (Japanese saddle…
Another day with wheels (you know the drill). Built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 4. Evolight hub 20H, CX-RAY reverse Nupo spoke, radial lacing. I want to build the 24H version of this fo…
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 a bottle cage, getti…
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 build the best wheel fo…
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 line traced by the sp…
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 inquiries. Sometimes i…
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 onto the saddle rai…
Another wheel day (and so on). I received a wheel with an ENVE 1-45 rim from a customer. The front wheel was laced with an American Classic 20H hub in black CX-RAY reverse spoke ra…
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 defects, mind you） I a…
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 I did know, I'd neve…
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 photos look washed ou…
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 had incredibly high …
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 today (and so on). …
Before I get into the wheel story in the title. About the origin of the 88mm high rim wheel I rebuilt the other day (→ here ) I was being evasive about it, but I'll continue that s…
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 has been processed. …
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 aware of symptoms that …
I've finished building 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 today (and so on a…
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 of that, are lighte…
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Front wheel is Evolite hub 20H Nupoke CX-RAY radial laced, Rear wheel is Evolite hub 24H semi-comp 46-laced. Not do…
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 seam that made a cli…
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 compatibility marking. To be …
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 build was done by the …
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 contact point on the…
It's wheels again today (and so on). The residual adhesive from the Tni stickers varies quite a bit depending on how you peel them off. "Difficult to peel = lots of adhesive remain…
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 use specific details…
Another day of wheel work (and so on). A customer brought in a wheel for work. The rim is a Kinlin XR200 in 20H, the hub is a Novatech 291, and the spokes are CX-RAY, so it's a fro…
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 first model in silver fi…
I told myself I wasn't going to build a wheel today but my hands had other ideas . . . I built Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. The front wheel is a Leaf Hub CX-RAY with reverse spoke radial …
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 someone commented asking …
Another day of wheel building (and so on). I built the Nomu Lab Wheel No. 1. Front wheel: Evolite hub CX-RAY with 2:1 radial lacing, Rear wheel: Evolite semi-competition hub with 4…
I won't be fooled by those round, innocent eyes
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 and fork. I can cle…
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 you shouldn't touch …
Today it's wheels again (and so on). Built the Nomu Lab wheel no. 1. Front wheel is an Evolite hub CX-RAY with radial spoke lacing, Rear wheel is an Evolite hub semi-competition wi…
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 your understanding.
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-RAY wheel lose a spo…
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 thread pitch, and th…
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 that engages 3 out of…
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. But somehow it worke…
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 bring him back, but s…
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 crossed lacing. I built…
Wheels again today (and so on). I've got a pile of ENVE rim orders. I want to get them done quickly, but it's all about the queue... Separately, I've also got an order for SMART EN…
Not just today... I built a wheel yesterday too. Even on days that are officially off, there are times when I end up building wheels, but I should probably stop since it could be b…
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 considering how well…
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 under the surface. ↑My …
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't absolutely necessa…
Another day of wheel building (and so on). Nomu Lab Wheel #1 with leaf hub, radial lacing, Nomu Lab Wheel #5 with leaf hub, radial lacing, Nomu Lab Wheel #5 with Evo hub, radial la…
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. ↑The rear wheel was be…
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 tangled up pretty b…
It's wheels again today (and so on). I built Nomu Lab Wheel #2. Both front and rear use Evolite hubs. The front wheel is CX-RAY spokes, laced in an alternating radial pattern, and …
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 tangent lacing pattern, w…
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 conducted at our shop） …