Cycling UK Forum

I'm interested in building a rear wheel (to gain the knowledge) in order to convert a vintage bike that has a Sturmey Archer internal hub gear. The wheel size is 700cc. I can't remember what make the rim is off the top of my head, but I think it was built for touring. The front wheel is 27x1 1/4. The rim on the front is an original Dunlop stainless steel. I was thinking of using a modern Mavic rim and DT Swiss spokes with (if i can afford it) a Phil Wood track hub. Will running a lighter 700cc rear wheel cause any issues? I'm assuming because the wheel size isn't changing i won't have any issues with the centre-pull brake drop? Can anyone recommend a rim? The bike is a Holdsworth from the late 1960s, and the professional racing bikes used Mavic rims. Although this isn't a racing frame I like the idea of using a Mavic rim, but am not committed to it.

Not sure I understand your post. Originally the bike would have had 27" wheels. Are you saying the back wheel is now 700c, so you know the brake is OK for that size?
Check the bottom bracket height will give you plenty of pedal to ground clearance if you want to ride fixed.
For your first wheelbuild i would recommend avoiding top price components. Rigida Snyper rims will fit tyres 25 to 32 mm. they are reasonably priced and a nice stiff rim which is easier to build than a true lightweight. However Snypers are of modern semi- deep section which you may not want for the appearance. System EX (etc) track hubs are good quality large flange hubs with caged ballraces without breaking the bank, and which will cover any usual dropout spacing.

I should point out that i build wheels for a retailer "well known on this forum" , so you must make what you wish of the above advice!!

What you will probably have to do is file bits away from the axle, or the dropouts on the frame.

It is rather permanent.

Colin will build you a first class wheel.
In spite of the fact that he works for a well known retailer,and therefore tells lies and is biased.
Unfortunately,either I tell lies too,and am similarly biased,or we must accept the fact that he's reached an age,as have I ,where he can't be bothered with anything less than the truth.
If you want to know anything about wheelbuilding that is not in Jobs Brandts book,you better ring God.
He may refer you to Colin,or any one of about half a dozen others ,very much excluding me,whose grasp of physics is considerably greater than their ability to even spell fashion.
Robin

Originally both wheels would have been 27 x1 1/4. About 1990-1991 my dad had the rear wheel replaced with a 700cc diameter that has a Sturmey Archer internal hub gear. It is this one I want to replace. I'm just not sure what I should be considering. I want to build a wheel myself, and see loads of great advice on this forum (including the book recommendation - just purchased a copy!) on how to do that. I think the rear centre pull drop will be ok as I'm not changing wheel size.

I called into Ghyllside Cycles in Ambleside recently and the guy there seems to know a lot about wheels. He showed me some he'd built using Mavic Open Pro rims - available in silver and black. It's contemporary but would I think still look 'right' on an old Holdsworth or similar, esp in silver. Looked really nice. Apparently the distinctive feature of the open pro is that the thingy that the spoke goes in goes through both walls in the rim. He also uses DT Swiss double butted spokes. I have seen advice on here and elsewhere that if you're going to the effort of making your own wheels you might as well use double butted spokes. As well as the book Sheldon Brown has lots of guidance. Im a complete beginner in these matters.

Brandt's book is fine, although it's not a pure "how to build a wheel" manual.

Get the spokes as tight as possible, and as evenly tight as possible, and torture them a lot. The Sheldon Brown method of wedging an old crank into the spokes and levering them is more effective than squeezing pairs of spokes by hand, and the only real option if you have to build very small wheels like 16".

The Open Pro is a bit "meh" for the price. Look at Rigida Chrina (Spa Cycles).

rogerzilla wrote:wedging an old crank into the spokes

Steady on! Somebody may take that personally