In preparation for my upcoming 200km Brevet I am making a few [and necessary] alterations/changes to my ride, one of which is a new wheelset [not to mention... in preparation for Spring and Summer riding -after this long Minnesota Winter has kicked the snot out of my drivetrain, and generally mucked up nearly every aspect of my steed].
This wheelset is special. Special because it will be mine. Special because it is made by me for me. Special because special people have touched it before I began lacing it... and their fingers, i.e. Them, have special powers. Yes... a few of those special people possessing special powers are Nymphs, Night Dwellers, Gnomes, Oak Elves [couldn't find Maple Elves **they, apparently & according to Wikipedia, are still hibernating plus, unfortunately-as I found out later, do not generally reside in Minnesota, only Iowa**], Velocity, Wheelsmith, Phil Wood, Schmidt Nanofreignergemiernichterraptor, Salsa and lastly... BBBB.
Told ya... it's Special.
So lets begin [clicky the pics for big]:
This is my rear wheel and me. I'm smiling because, well... the wheel is special [did I mention this fact already... if not, it is] and I'm also smiling because it was at this point that it hit me, "Damn, this is clearly enough spokes if I want a High-Perf rear wheel". Someone else disagreed, they are the one taking the photo, and they said, "Keep going... I'm getting tired, need to sleep, must work tomorrow unlike you, please get the *&$%#@[email protected] thing done". So I kept lacing, and my dreams of High-Perf were dashed.
This was taken while I still had dreams of Special + High-Perf... it makes me feel bittersweet seeing that pic. Lets move on, please...
Velocity AeroHeat AT rim, Wheelsmith spokes -n- nipples [Chloe finds that ginormously amusing, read: "Mom!! Daddy has a small plastic box with like 2 zibillion nipples in it!!!!!!"], Phil Wood hub, 36 holes for the whole shebang: laced cross-4.
Sweet Melissa... nothing says "Wheel-Jewelry" like Phil Wood. Fear not, Foto-Inspectors... she ain't tightened up yet i.e. some spokes are a touch curvy.
Man+Wheel=Time For A Nice Thick Hunk Of Venison [or in my case, bowl w/Organic Romaine].
Okay, ok... lets move on here:
This is me trying to imagine the hell of Peter White's life [having to field all those inane & banal questions from customers regarding wheels... and also, why he generally doesn't answer my emails?].
After lacing, a wheel must be properly tuned... for it to be truly special. This wheel, my wheel, my special wheel, was tuned to Black Eyed Peas "My Humps" [I think that's what was on the radio at the time... that, or Nickelback]...
...either way, it was Special.
Keep Ridin'... Always
Nice Bling there! I can tell you're skinnier because only a guy who's lost a buncha weight and gotten all healthy and stuff would build up a wheel that takes a FREEWHEEL. Yeah! Rock on! Whoooo!
(God I love Phil hubs)
Nothing in bicycle mechanistry is as inspiring as building up Your Very Own Wheels.
Bravo.
Posted by: beth h | March 21, 2008 at 03:50 PM
What brevet are you planning on doing? Do you know about the TCBC rides this season?
http://www.biketcbc.org/randonneur/index.htm
Posted by: bfeltovi | March 21, 2008 at 07:42 PM
Nice work. I have to disagree with Beth. While wheelbuilding is inspirational, it pales in comparison to getting out the torque wrench to tighten the bolts to spec on a carbon stem or bottle cage. When you get it nice and tight without hearing that crackling sound...pure nirvana.
Posted by: Jim | March 21, 2008 at 08:47 PM
Nice Photos!
Is that your shop?
And what beth said, freewheel?
No really, I was just playing with the phil flip flop fixie hub on my travel bike and they are really nice. So nice, I was going to take photos, but you beat me to it. even crusty phil crap is smoove.
Posted by: Tarik | March 22, 2008 at 12:09 AM
Nice work, Batman! (Hope I got the spoke length right for ye...)
Posted by: hurl | March 22, 2008 at 06:35 AM
Is that Bob's shop? Did you put the tools back? Sweep the floor?
Posted by: fixedgear | March 22, 2008 at 07:41 AM
What the heck? You write that you are doing the wheel build and yet supply photos of some thin dude spoking away. What kind of misleading blog is this "Large Fella on a Bike"? We have been duped!
Posted by: Mike | March 22, 2008 at 08:19 AM
Scott, I have to say I touched your Phil rear hub when it came in - beautiful. Hopefully the weight of my fingerprints don't slow you down.
-Mark
Posted by: mark | March 22, 2008 at 10:16 AM
Tarik-
Shhhh, it someones shop. [wink]
Hurl-
Yep, thanks, no sweat... Ugenda Olobambingalalako Esq.
Mike-
Sorry, my PhotoShop skillz are getting better, what can I say?
Mark-
Didn't know you touched it, but did find one of your beard hairs threaded into the bearings [DNA'ed it to find out]. Please, next time... be more careful.
-Me
Posted by: Scott | March 22, 2008 at 11:34 AM
anyone need a SON hub? I got one laying around the shop I can sell cheap! I got a phil rear too, but I have to cut a bunch of spokes out to get at that one.
bbbb
Posted by: bbbb | March 22, 2008 at 01:46 PM