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Phil Wood have been making the highest quality hubs, spokes, lubes & grease since the 70s. Find Phil Wood spokes, Bio-Lube, Tenacious Oil & more here.
Custom cut Phil Wood spokes
Need Custom cut spokes? Phil Wood is the brand we use for our inhouse wheel builds for their high quality & reliability. We custom cut spokes in our workshop so you can get the exact length you need for your wheel build.
At Abbotsford Cycles we custom cut spokes to your required length using our Phil Wood Spoke cutter. If you are unsure what length spoke you need, give us a call & we can help.
Phil Wood spokes are some of the best you can buy. We would not hesitate to build any high quality wheelset with Phil Wood spokes. But if you have another brand in mind – DT Swiss, Sapim, Pillar, Mach1 – we can get them in for you & build your wheels up with them.
When it comes to spoke nipples we absolutely recommend brass nipples. Thi is to avoid galvanic corrosion. And Phil Wood nipples can be used with Phil Wood Spokes as well as other brands to ensure your wheelset lasts and performs reliably for the life of your bike!
Need components for a wheel build?
Whether you need a rim, a hub, spokes or nipples, we stock the best. Check out our DT Swiss rims & hubs & Phil Wood spokes & nipples.
At Abbotsford Cycles we hand-build wheels in our workshop everyday. On our site you can find some of our recommended rims, hubs & spokes that we would use for any quality wheel build. You can choose the components you are keen on, and have your wheel built by our wheel builders. Or if you were doing your own wheel build you can find everything you need here!
Need more advice on building up a new wheelset? Call us at our Richmond bike shop & have a chat about your dream wheel build with our mechanics and sales staff who love talkin’ wheels!
Are hand built wheels better?
Yes, hand-built wheels are better. But only when they are built by an experienced wheel builder.
Most wheels on most bikes you buy will be built by machines. This means the machine has been programmed to perform the same tensioning to every wheel. The problem with this method is that it doesn’t take material differences into account.
For example, you will find that not every rim is identical in a batch, and nor is every cut spoke exactly identical. A machine will treat them as such, and tension them all the same for consistency. This degree of rigid consistency simply doesn’t exist in reality.
The next problem we will see with machine built wheels is that the tension becomes very poor very quickly. This is because the uniform tensioning can put some spokes under a lot of pressure, and some under none. You will need correct even tensioning on a wheel for it to remain strong & true.
Hand building wheels is by it’s nature accounting for the wheel in hand. A wheel builder will tension according to the wheels components, and not to a rigid series of numbers.
The result is a wheel which will last you longer & perform better than a machine built wheel.
You may not be provided an option for hand built wheels at your average bike shop. This is because it is still very much a specialised field. Many workshops and many mechanics will go their entire careers without building a wheel. And this is perfectly fine! Bike’s are exceedingly complicated and you will find that every bike shop specializes in different aspects. Just like not all shop with perform service suspensions, not all bike shops will be able to build you wheels.
Are wheels worth upgrading?
Yes! Your bike’s wheels can be worth upgrading if you are looking to improve the performance or aesthetics of your bike. Upgrading the wheels can increase speed, improve handling, and provide a smoother ride. Higher quality wheels may also be more durable and resistant to damage, especially if you are building up a mountain bike wheelset.
How long will a hand built wheelset last?
The duration of a hand built wheelset depends on various factors such as the type of bike they are on, the terrain being ridden, the components used, frequency of use, and of course how often the wheels & hubs are serviced. However, with proper maintenance and care, a custom wheelset can last for several years before needing replacement or repair, and will generally out-perform a machine-built wheel under the same conditions.
Which is the best hub to build a wheelset with?
The best bicycle hub for your wheelset will depend on factors such as the purpose the bicycle is being used for (gravel riding, shredding the trails), the rider’s skill level, and the terrain you will be riding on. Some popular and reliable hub brands include the famous DT Swiss, Chris King, and Hope.
If you are unsure which hub you need for your wheel build, have a chat with us at Abbotsford Cycles where we have wheel builders in the workshop & experienced sales staff who can help you find the right solution for your bike.
