Build Your Best Ever Wheel : How To Tension, Pre-Stress and Straighten Your Bike Wheel

Please check the chapters below for specific tips.
This is the follow up to my previous video where I went in-depth on how to lace a wheel.
• How To Lace Every Comm...
Today I'm going to take you through the steps on how to lube, add tension, tru, pre-stress and finish a wheel. These are my tips I've picked up over the last ten years of building wheels professionally in a shop, for a popular bike brands full bikes and for riders such as Duncan Shaw and Danny MacAskill. My current wheel are over 2 years old and I've not had a spoke come lose or the need to tru them despite the abuse I give them as a Trials rider and MTBer. I'm not saying this is how you HAVE to build wheels, it's just how I like to do them. If you do it a different way then that's great, just be respectful that there is other ways.
0:00 - 1:46 Intro
1:46 - 7:12 Tools I use
7:12 - 8:39 Lubing the threads
8:39 - 10:21 Making the spokes equal
10:21 -12:50 Adding tension
12:50 - 16:47 Truing the wheel side-to-side
16:47 - 17:43 Dishing the wheel
17:43 - 20:21 Truing the wheel vertically (removing the egg)
20:21 - 23:53 Pre-stressing the wheel
23:53 - 25:33 Manipulating the spoke angles
25:33 - 26:47 Adding final tension
26:47 - 28:38 Second Truing
28:38 - 30:28 Second Stressing
30:28 - 32:29 Checking spokes for equal tension
32:29 - 33:22 Outro
I hope these two video have been helpful, please let me know if so, I'd also love a tag on Instagram showing the wheel you built!
HUGE thanks to Light Bicycle for these awesome rims
www.lightbicycle.com/
And also to Industry Nine for their Hydra hubs!
industrynine.com/
Special mention and thanks to Tartybikes for their support and supply of spokes.
www.tartybikes.co.uk/
Thanks for watching!
Patreon / aliclarkson
Instagram @aliclarkson
Merch: aliclarkson.com/
Paypal: paypal.me/AliClarksonGB?local...
Sponsors: Inspired Bicycles www.inspiredbicycles.com/ Tartybikes tartybikes.com Sunlight Motorhomes www.sunlight.de/en/ Ride Concepts Shoes rideconcepts.com/ Light Bicycle Carbon Rims www.lightbicycle.com/ Chris King chrisking.com/ Industry Nine industrynine.com/ ODI grips odigrips.com/ Rimpacts Tyre Inserts www.rimpactmtb.com/ MIX Hydration mxitup.com/ HKT frame protection and mudguard www.hktproducts.co.uk/collect...
#wheelbuild #wheellacing #mtb #road #bmx #bike

[@underbikedoverconfident1142]

I followed Ali's guide when I was building my own wheels. It helped loads Ali really knows his stuff. The fact you get this level of advice for free is insane!

[@Ali_Clarkson]

The first few are free to get you hooked and then BAM! Paywall 😉

[@Neilukuk]

@@Ali_Clarkson My 26inch ebike wheel tension is at 22 with tyre on, is that about right? Thanks

[@kalveend]

@@Ali_Clarkson And that´s the way it has to be. Congrats for your vids. Very useful and calm voice.

[@dorothyclarkson772]

Well, Algorithm, I didn’t think I’d be watching this as I can’t imagine I would ever build a wheel (why would I, when I could just ask Ali to do it for me?), but I watched it all the way through because I found it interesting.

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Thanks Mum!

[@barstat1002]

@@Ali_Clarkson classic :)

[@KHos73]

This is wheely going to be good, so spoked to check it out, the channel is the hub of trials 😀

[@Ali_Clarkson]

This video stressed me out, the tension whilst filming was high but I didn’t buckle and stayed tru to my vision.

[@policies8534]

Shakespeare

[@KHos73]

@@policies8534 I did not even know it

[@markfisher6917]

Punbelievable🤦🏼‍♂️

[@deltafour1212]

What a GODSEND! Found this video on the 11th hour when I was about to take my wheel to the LBS to have them do it. Followed your instructions to a tee. I didn't rush it (which I normally do) per your advice My wheel came out PERFECT! I trued my first wheel for the first time in my life at 60. This is HUGE! You took the mystery out of it. It's not the "dark arts" I thought it was. Now I'm hooked! THANK YOU!!! Like/Subscribe/Bell

[@jbstillman]

I watched a lot of truing videos after re-lacing my rear wheel on my road bike. I couldn't get it off centered. I started over 3 times in a row, snapped a spoke, rounded out a dozen nipples, etc, etc. Then I came across your video. I went out to the garage one more time, loosened everything back up to where threads were showing, then followed this video step by step. It was so much easier. I didn't even need the tension gauge. After getting it near perfect both laterally and radially, it was still not off-center (was rubbing on the frame). The dishing the wheel section, where you talked about loosening up one side, as the other side would pull it over from it's tension did the trick. After doing this for a few rounds, I got it off-centered enough and perfectly trued. I spent over 4 days worth of evenings messing with this wheel, and this video did the trick! Thanks so much!!!!!

[@Ali_Clarkson]

I love this! It may not be a viral video but knowing it’s helping people is way more satisfying :)

[@bigbird2451]

I learned to build bicycle wheels, then got a job at a motorcycle shop and built about five hundred motorcycle wheels there. That tuning fork method is a crucial and easy way to find balance without a fancy tool.

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Motorbike wheels must take some amount of pre-stressing haha!

[@911tj]

Best video out there for building wheels

[@orbiss11]

Easily the most easy to understand wheel building video on the web,absolutely superb

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Thank you, I’m glad you found it useful 😊

[@JohnathanIplik]

Such a good teacher omg. Thanks Ali

[@horukuru]

The best video on wheel truing with simple methods!

[@davidpayne2805]

What a true craftsman you are. Top video.

[@GaborL]

Wow, this video has been sitting in my 'Watch later' for a while - I just got to watching this now, during a lunch. It's a pleasure to see how you handle equipment, and all the hints you give are invaluable, all in a very concise but easy to follow presenting style. I learn a lot from you!

[@andysoles849]

Dude! Incredible! Thanks so much for this!

[@ExtraLiT7]

By far one of the best bike wheel tutorials that I've found. Helped me build my wheel. Now going onto the thension part.

[@jerryriding]

This video is just sooo helpful!!! Thank Ali!

[@Losimantom]

You have motivated me to build my wheels this week! Thanks for the straight forwards tutorial. Cheers

[@th_js]

Such great videos. I've built a few wheels using your old tutorial and they all built up to be very strong. Thanks for these 💪🏻

[@kotelettschweiss7811]

I need this, thank you for providing such in depth information :)

[@felgon001]

You are trully amazing. I have much more confidence to build my own whells. Thank you so much! You are a star!!!

[@Foxtrot0scar]

Best one I’ve seen. Simple.

[@nukacookie4755]

Huge knowledge on your channel. Thanks for sharing !

[@BentonWilliams-tm2co]

This is a great video! Especially the stressing part, this is exactly how I build my wheels

[@Wroe]

watch your first vid on wheek building still use your techniques to this day .. this is a good update

[@delboynz1]

Built my son a new rear for his DJ yesterday using your videos. Not my first build ever but maybe my most accomplished one?!. Plus I learned a lot of “why” that had been absent in many videos I’d watched previously. Thanks a ton.

[@noahfence4969]

Many Thanks !! Off to tension / stress my wheel that I have just laced. You are a superstar Ali.

[@tristanwoolven]

Well since I’m building my dirt jump wheel this weekend I gotta say this was very useful

[@michaelcharles4596]

Wonderful, thanks so much. Answer every question I had about tension and adjustment. 😎

[@ieism1]

The lacing video and this is the best one on yt. This safed my butt, as I received spokes that were too long and had to go to 4 cross. Using my frame as a guide I got a BMX wheel super straight and tight. Thanks!

[@user-vp3li4zx4z]

MANY THANKS ALI-THE BEST TRU-ING VIDEO YET!(watched more than a few)AND THE TOOL TIPS,INVALUABLE !CHAPEAU !!

[@kattskrall]

Nice vid, i've built like 10 wheels after seeing you first video way back with the same stamping and getting the most important thing right, the hub logo in the spoke hole :D. Thanks for sharing

[@charlesmansplaining]

I've watched a lot of these videos and I like yours the best. I've built a couple dozen wheelsets and always struggled with stressing or destressing the spokes and a couple of builds the spokes would loosen after a month of riding. I am going to try it the way you did it and hope this makes my builds better. Thanks for the video.

[@nahuelise4055]

Absolutly helpful,i just dished my rear wheel cause i went from single speed to an 8 cog pinion.tensioned the pinion side and loosened the non driving side and then went by ear on tension and was pretty much spot on.for the final trueing used the rim brakes as reference and corrected what was needed.

[@danielegray666]

Nice one Ali. I've built 5 wheels now from your fist video on it and they're all still strong and true. I only had to tweek one once and even that was such a small adjustment to not really need doing.

[@godfellas483]

Well done mate...great viddy

[@mikefronczek7862]

Al,s wheel building videos are by far he best, Watched dozens of other guys and always thought were was to much editing.

[@spammy3164]

Building my first set of wheels this weekend and it's entirely your fault ali, clear and easy to follow videos, cuts through all the bs. Proper good job

[@mrrdhh]

Thanks Ali! Really cool stuff ❤

[@X41N3]

I wish the mechanics in my local shops did their job as good as this guy, thumbs up bro

[@bcr1973.]

Brilliant, extremely helpful!

[@benrozema8007]

Just watched this and your wheel build tutorial from 4 years ago. Used the knowledge to rebuild my wheels to a new hub. Looks to be a success at this point. Thank you for your videos mate, made a daunting task quite simple, still tedious tho. One thing i found a huge help was putting some coloured tape over the valve hole to help locate it easily.

[@davea8212]

Fantastic tutorial thanks.

[@recyclespinning9839]

Thank you, Im starting a bike hobby and have a few almost NOS vintage bikes, but the wheels need truing. You explaine very well. Im saving this video..

[@metalmuchkin1342]

This explains a lot, thanks Ali, hopefully my next wheel will go smoother, but watching at almost 4am makes me want to go build a wheel haha

[@mathisgraening1931]

very insightful, thank you

[@bilko1989a]

Quality video lad. I was thinking about buying a whole new wheel as my rim was broken, but after seeing this video will have a go myself. Goods tips….

[@julesnfriends]

Really REALLY useful and great presentation - thank you

[@rob1984p]

Great video Ali, it was really well explained. I have built many over the years and was taught by a couple different chaps at the same workplace. Everyone has some slightly different ways of doing things. Your stressing is, as you say, extreme: I wouldn't want to do it on anything old or weenie and pushing the hub end on the floor whilst pushing opposite rim sizes has always done me well. The soft tool twist on the spokes is a great tip and something I hadn't ever seen before. Keep up the great work.

[@DigBipper188]

Just put a replacement rim on an e-bike hub motor - for a first proper go without a truing stand I have to say - this has helped a tonne and my bike's gonna ride way nicer for it... I found out that if you back the nipples off until they're jumping threads, then thread back on with a set number of turns (I used 2 to start the thread then 2 turns for a couple of rotations until the tension started to build), you will have a much easier job getting the rim to sit central to the hub, resulting in less work when you adjust for the egg of the rim. I only really had to do a couple minor tweaks (about 1/4 to 1/8th of a turn per nipple) to get the rim almost dead-nuts on

[@charlies418]

Wow - I never even thought about correcting "the egg" until I saw this video! I usually true the wheel on the bike but I'll now take the tyre off to check for roundness! Great video tutorial!

[@MichaelRei99]

Man that was really exciting!!! In all seriousness I learned a hell of a lot about tensioning a wheel! I’ve been curious about doing this for quite some time thank you very much!!.

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Great stuff Mike, let me know how your build goes when you do it :)

[@rickjamesurbanadventures4912]

Awesome video Ali and that Hub sounds naughty.

[@Beesno]

Thought I had all my tools laid out for this, but nope. Gotta go grab a wrench, a mallet, and a... shoe? Thanks as always, Ali, for the amazing tutorial. I learned how to trackstand from you, and now I'm building a replacement wheel for my CX bike. :-D

[@winnmahuron6314]

Excellent video Ali. I really liked seeing how you stressed the rim. I have never used that much force. I have a better understanding of how to build a better wheel now!

[@robfulton7490]

Thanks for the great wheel videos! I've been building my wheels ever since I saw your videos. Used to suffer through brokens spokes from full wheelsets. Haven't broken a single spoke since I started building my own! Great instruction, I'll take a handmade wheel over a machine built one any day.

[@mrshaneyt4356]

I had missed this and your last video because KZbin decided I don’t need notifications anymore 🤨 Least I have 2 in a row to watch now 👍

[@MidwestMountainBike]

Awesome video! Super thorough! I’ve been toying with the idea of building my own wheels so this was super helpful!

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Thank you, let me know how your build goes when you eventually do it 👍🏻

[@mihaistoescu1039]

VERY VERY good helpful video!

[@SinclairBikeTrials]

Thanks so much Ali, I just finished the first video doing the 3 cross method as advised by Ben at Tarty Bikes and followed it up with this final trueing and stressing video. I had not built a wheel before and now I have, I am pretty happy with the tensions and I spent quite a while being certain that I got the straightness and egg as good as possible. If you have a preferred inbox, I would love to send you an image of the wheel jig I ended up with. Between the initial stages of building the wheel to its now complete stage I basically built a jig from a set of carbon Echo forks I no longer use and using fasteners in the rim brake mounts with spokes, I have an adjustable egg tester and the nipple end with nipple installed makes a great straightening adjuster because threads are quite fine.

[@AmazingChinaToday]

Fantastic advice and technique, watched the entire video. 👍

[@tees_trials]

Sound tips Ali. Only thing I can add is my lazy boy technique for removing the twist… a bit like your stamping, I prop the wheel up against a wall at apx 45* and push the hub with my foot repeatedly for two laps on each side *ping*. Saves the auld wrists and elbows a bit. Keep up the hard work lad. ✌️👍

[@taniel666]

nice work ali...i already know how to built a wheel but ur make it so much entertaining that i have to watch it till the end...love your foot-style-stressing...im doing it the same way..love to hear the pings^^ ive tryed to find something you may have forgot but cant find anything...godlike work...well done...now im waiting for the rinding video with over 600 engagementpoints :)

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Really pleased it was still entertaining enough to watch through and you couldn’t find any faults, this pleases me!

[@robertubner7570]

Hit a stump - ruined a rim. Your videos helped me to build a new one. Thanks

[@timhobin8490]

brilliant guide...many thx

[@kasparondrej2938]

Thank you, Ali!

[@berndkraemer2832]

Thanks Ali for your great wheel building videos. I've followed your older tutorial for a number of wheels that I built and I have yet to have an issue with any of them after riding them for many thousand kilometers (I am also using the Lightbicycle hoops)!!!

[@Ali_Clarkson]

That’s great to hear! 😁

[@artistunter7098]

Thank you very much from Ukraine, amazing video. A lot of gold information and experience)

[@hyperhippyhippohopper]

The second stressing procedure @ 29:35 you can also do by mounting on the tyre+tube, then pump it up to maximum allowed pressure. Does all the stressing, without any muscling!

[@jacqalas]

Amazing advice. Thanks

[@andrewlewis4253]

My stressing method is the Musson method of parallel spoke squeezing. Another thing I always do is during lacing I hand bend the spoke at the j-bend so it has the proper angle thus precluding the need to rubber mallet them down. Also I use plucking to set tension. 700hz is my sweet spot.. Everyone has their own way which I think is awesome.

[@richardggeorge]

Thanks for the video Good to see I am on the right track with my Light Bicycle wheel build! I have a dishing tool and would recommend one if you build wheels more than occasionally. However, I don't think I will destress my more delicate wheels with your technique. I am building with a triplet lacing (2:1 ratio) for the first time which should be a challenge for me.

[@zidnyknight3611]

Such great videos.

[@kepadi6939]

Great tutorial!

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Thanks Patrik!

[@davidburgess741]

I like gleaming silver spokes. Car polish the spokes before assembly and some wax will stay on the threads. Your 2nd building video was the best I've ever seen. 0x,1x,2x,3x,4x. It is my reference. Wheels lasting longer recently.

[@SIC6SIX]

Brilliant 👏

[@jamespartington7835]

Brilliant video - really liked the clear explanations. The only thing I am a bit cautious about is the stamping the spoke technique - but this may be because I weigh about 115kg!!!

[@ballerman3430]

This Tutorial is worldclass!! I have a suggestion for a future Video! Could you Lance a Road wheel with 2:1 ratio and maybe show the calculation for the spokelenght? Best regards and keep this content coming. Sub 4 sure

[@wilf3102]

While watching I wondered, when truing (Initially and again after stressing) , whether it would be important to keep even tension, by only ever tightening spokes. I imagine that when you tighten one but loosen the opposide spoke, you could actually loosen below the ideal tension . I would have suppposed only tightening would be the preferred method. But, you perfectly answered by question!! You said to always loosen opposed spokes to true an area, or else if you tighten only, you could run out of tightness! 28:02 Thanks !!

[@gavinfitton6111]

Sounded like jingle bells when the rubber mallet came out. Thank you for this knowledge really useful 👍

[@janeblogs324]

Hey Mr Ali, try zip tying a piece of chalk to your truing arm. Instant visual marks on the rim where it touches

[@royspeakman1157]

Brilliant !

[@GTijoN]

I don’t even need any wheels building but good content and very interesting as always.

[@Jerbrown]

Thanks!!

[@sergey_lukyanets]

I also use a tension meter to equalize the tension on crosses where one spoke is overtightened and the other is not tight.

[@munrowheels]

Instead of a adjustable wrench I use old drum sticks. I build quite some 20" wheels and they fit pretty good between those tighter angles. Still standing on all of my wheels for pre-stressing as your vid was one of the ones I watched when I just started building

[@Yonatan.C]

Thank u for the video sir

[@Metal-Possum]

If you want some adapters, just use some headset top caps. You can probably fit a couple of inexpensive seatpost QRs by unthreading the lever/cam and using a short M6 bolt instead.

[@dara_1989]

plz make a vid on all d tools a wheel repair may require .. esp very badly bent rims ❤️❤️❤️

[@metal-gods]

5:45 that's what she said

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Haha I wanted to say that many times while making this video 😂

[@MTB.Trials.Student]

Awsome video. Your wheel build videos are the gold standard. I have used your videos to build all my wheels. Thanks!

[@1981Matteo]

Very interesting and well explained tutorial, and this raises a question for me now: if you had to build a wheel with a hub that's already been used and is therefore already dented would you use those dents again or build it swapping the spokes heads/shoulders around? I'm just done lacing a wheel but now that I saw your tutorial I'll be waiting for an answer before I put tension in it! Cheers! :)

[@philwilby5686]

Just built my first wheel! The eggness is out by a mile but it is on the bike and being ridden! I guess this will stress it but it will have to come off. It was an £9.99 rim from sjs cycles, might try a better rim next time? Video very useful.

[@Markikuunn]

I watched your first video on wheel building. Yout taught me how to build wheels, and to this day as I work in a bike shop every wheel that I build is built using your method. However, theres been a couple of carbon rims that scare me to death, they gave me insane levels of stress while tensioning the spokes. Ali, tell me the thruth, what would break first? the spoke or the rim wall?

[@isaacyoung1868]

the quality of the truing stand is the most important thing? i'm sooo jealous of how stiff your stand is.. you can literally push and pull the wheel as much as you want and you can rapidly detect the bumps.. i have to be soo delicate or else the whole stand wobbles and ruins my ability to detect the rubbing points.

[@palicar]

I built a set dry and half the spokes came very loose after a few miles. I'm sure there was something else contributing but it was a fun ride home to fix it and a fun learning experience. Now I use WheelSmith spoke prep sometimes or lube like Ali and I've tried a specific type of LocTite recommended in some other tutorial. I'm afraid they will be fused later though. Like most things, there are many different ways and it's fun to experiment. I'm about to tension a fresh set of Light Bicycle rims with CX Rays and White Industries hubs. Bling.

[@johnlucas452]

Hi sir very good video ,been building wheels for years but your tips and techniques are amazing.Just a question ,is it prudent while stress relieving to just put moderate pressure with foot on spokes at first to see and get the feel of the wheel.Then when I get brave start to jump up and down. I think I under estimate just how strong the wheel really is ,afraid of making a taco out it.Again superbe video can’t wait to use your techniques on my next build.

[@Gledii]

thanks for sharing. great video. just a question: i understand to check by ear if they are all the same but how do i now if they all are too tight or too loose ? is there a specific note, like A, or G ? :P

[@joselarrarte6964]

Hey! Great video. Is there any way you can help me determine what spoke size I need to upgrade my road wheels to a deeper rim? I have the hub spec sheet and rim depth.

[@andychoe2486]

Thanks for e guide. But I was wondering what is length should I buy for e spokes and how to measure?

[@rubentesell20]

Hi, I want to start riding trial but dont know what bike to get. I would love some tips if you have any. P.S. Love your channel

[@fullbiciman]

Que bien Ali! lo máximo!

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Thank you 😊