Joe O’Callaghan owner of Irish Cycles and Carolina Precision Components Is back for this new edition of Bench Talk where do a deep dive on all things wheels for cyclists. So if you are thinking about buying a new set of wheels off the rack, custom built wheels or even building your very own set wheels this show is a great starting point!

Here is an outline of what we covered!

• Wheel components
  • Hubs
  • Spokes
    • Double Butted
    • Bladed
    • Straight gauge
  • Spoke materials
    • Steel (stainless and oxidized)
    • Ti
    • Alum
    • Carbon
  • Spoke Calc
    • Sapim
    • DT
    • Differences
    • Database
  • Rim
    • Alum
    • Carbon
    • Tubular / Tubeless / Clincher
      • Tire bed
      • Bead channel
      • Spoke channel
• Tools (you get what you pay for)
  • Stand
    • Pro vs. Amateur
  • Dishing tool
    • Pro vs. Amateur
  • Spoke wrench
    • Muti-vs purpose-built
    • Anti-wind tool
  • Tensiometer
    • Inch pounds / bars
    • All spokes act differently.
• Developing Building Knowledge
  • Lacing pattern
  • Nipples
  • Initial Build
• Truing / tensioning
• Finishing