We had the uncommon opportunity to build up a traditional set of Campagnolo road wheels for a customer the other day. It was quite refreshing to handle hubs, a bundle of stainless steel logs in the form of DT Competition spokes, and Mavic Open Pro rims. Took me back to the last century before all of these pre-built wheel systems took over the market. Not that I am against new technology and all of its various benefits but for over 100 years traditional laced wheels were the rule and they still offer some unique ride characteristics that an entire generation of cyclists have never experienced. Of course, some of my affection for wheel builds like these are simply the musings of an older nostalgic bike mechanic. Lacing spokes into the three cross patterns, tensioning while simultaneously dishing, truing, and making a wheel round was a nice reminder of when there was still an art to working on bikes.
Need Help With Your Bike Wheels? We Can Help!
Contact us or give us a call (703) 777-2252 to see how Plum Grove can help you with your next wheel build-up. We are located in Leesburg, VA.