How To Lace Every Common Spoke Pattern : In-Depth Guide to Radial, 1X, 2X, 3X And 4X

For commercial use please email me at [e-mail]
chapters available below)
An hour and a half long video on spoke lacing? Yep, you lucky bunch!
Jokes aside, this is my attempt at making a one-stop-shop for how to lace the most common spoke patterns including radial, 1X, 2X, 3X and 4X. I explain the tools needed, the pros and cons for each pattern and then a detailed guide on how to lace them. I never set out to make a video this long but by the time I had included all the information I felt was necessary it ended up being the longest video I've ever made for my channel. This isn't really a video to watch to get hyped up before a ride but instead a tool to whoever may find it useful when building a wheel. Please check out the chapters if there's a specific point you'd like to study.
0:00 - 1:52 Intro
1:52 - 3:19 wheel components
3:19 - 5:10 tools used
5:10 - 6:15 what this video will cover
6:16 - 7:00 asymmetric rim check
7:00 - 7:18 left and right orientation
7:18 - 10:12 radial lacing pros and cons
10:12 - 12:11 1X pros and cons
12:11 - 14:39 2X pros and cons
14:39 - 17:47 3X pros and cons
17:47 - 20:45 4X pros and cons
20:45 - 22:12 radial lacing technique
22:12 - 25:22 spoke head and shoulder placement tips
25:22 - 31:30 radial lacing technique continued
31:30 - 45:48 1X lacing technique
45:48 - 1:01:27 2X lacing technique
1:01:27 - 1:20:38 3X lacing technique
1:20:38 - 1:30:02 4X lacing technique
1:30:02 - 1:31:31 outro
HUGE thanks to Light Bicycle for the Recon rims, I've been happily running their carbon hoops on my trials and MTBs for the last few years with zero issues.
www.lightbicycle.com/
Also a HUGE thanks to Industry Nine for supplying me with their amazing Hydra hubs, I'll be running a set of these on both my Trials and MTB once they're all built.
industrynine.com/
Special mention and thanks to Tartybikes for their support and supply of spokes.
www.tartybikes.co.uk/
I'd love to hear if any of my tips helped you on your wheel building journey, maybe some of my tips allowed you to build your first wheel or maybe it's been a while and you just needed a reminder but either way let me know down in the comments.
Lastly, just remember that these tips are how I lace MY wheels, I'm sure people will have their own methods but I know my advice works as I've put them to use successfully thousands of times before and was taught to me by professional builders. If you build a slightly different way then that's totally fine just be respectful if you have different opinions.
Let me know what you think and 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

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Anyone joining the 1 hour club?

[@luizcarvalho4245]

I'm not able to watch the entire video right now and since i want to really understand the process I'll watch it tomorrow :)

[@luizcarvalho4245]

But already liked it ;)

[@kikeb4406]

My fastest time is half an hour, reguraly is 45 minutes but the regular is one hour (I'm bike mechanich). I like a lot your videos and all the trick from old school. Congratulations for your chanel!

[@kikeb4406]

Also there are more lacing patterns, I tried some of them (very complicated), can I link them?

[@joeldriver381]

Watched the whole thing and don't even need new wheels. Very well done tutorial.

[@vweb00]

Even with following you on IG I can't even imagine what amount of time you put in this just for us. Thank you.

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Thanks Will, this was definitely a full-on video to make...more so than I first thought :P

[@randallmiddlebrook]

I've watched this multiple times... any medals for 5 hour club members... your time and effort that went into this is incredible... and so very much appreciated. You are a man of many talents... and teaching is right up there at the top!! Thank you.

[@Tweaks]

Can tell you were an artist/designer, very well done. There’s nothing out there like this. Well worth the wait.

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Thanks Tweaks!

[@ewan12kd]

Simply the best wheel building tutorial out there, this helped me build an insanely strong hope and dt swiss fr560 dh wheelset that hasn't gone out of true after 2 years of punishing tracks. Thank you!!

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Really pleased to read this! I’m glad the video helped :)

[@BigBikeBMX]

This video changed my life. I was able to build my first set of wheels and I didn't die. So stoked to NOT be dependent on someone else when I want to try new hoops or hubs. This is awesome. THanks Ali.

[@icorlaiti]

this is, by far, the best tutorial for building wheels

[@elijahackl5547]

Just liked the video because I know how much effort you put into it and one day I will need it, thank's Ali

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Thank you :)

[@sebastiannai4381]

Ali, as an amateur wheel builder who has only laced a few, your last wheelbuilding tutorial was the best I've found. This is going to be yet another incredible reference. Who better to learn wheelbuilding from than a trials pro who does 10 ft drops and puts wheels absolutely through the wringer. Thank you! As a side note, I've also now learned by experience why you use aluminum over brass nipples. I laced one wheel with brass, laced it tight, and now 3 of the brass nipples have broken and needed replacement. Aluminum next time for sure. Thanks again!

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Thanks Sebastian, I'm glad you liked my last one :) I hope this one will fill in a few gaps I missed last time and allow anyone to build a wheel with their lacing of choice :)

[@eternaloptimist2840]

Assuming they're not defective, broken nipples suggests that your spokes aren't approaching the rim at a sensible angle. There's only a limited angle available for the nipple to seat properly in the rim. I've seen wheels built where the lacing was wrong for the angle of the rim drilling, and you could see the spokes were pulling the nipples sideways.

[@makantahi3731]

on around 1000 made wheels, i never had broken nipple

[@conradogoodwin8077]

Brass nipples are usually very tough. I'd be surprised if you get better results with aluminum nipples, all else being equal.

[@finnschmidt9514]

Really waited for this one, awesome how much you effort you put into it

[@finnschmidt9514]

Think i`am gonna speak for Everyone here if say Thank you for that great Tutorial

[@luizcarvalho4245]

@@finnschmidt9514 Ali's tutorials are simply the best ones, no joke

[@danielmartin3313]

As a wheel builder who learnt my trade, working in bike shops throughout the 90s, I have always just done it as second nature much like yourself. Often in front of the tv with a coffee etc. But it was great to see such a vivid, organised and well thought out presentation of what goes on. Next time someone asks me for advice on lacing, I'll be directing them to this video. Great job Ali!

[@theandycam6]

WOW, a bit long but well worth the watch, thanks Ali, I've watched your original video and as you mentioned in this one, I was stumped with the key spokes, especially 3x. I'm able to do 4x just about blind folded but 3x was a mystery, until now. I only watched this video once and got the 3x correct on my 1st try. Well explained, thanks bud, much appreciated 👍💪🙏

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Thank you very much!

[@kransurfing]

Thanks Ali, even years later you are helping people with this one! I had watched several videos until yours helped clear up the 3X lacing pattern for me, thanks again.

[@wiseoldman5841]

Thanks ..wonderful work. Had ordered hubs from the engineer that created HiE engineering, a bespoke hub and bike components company in the States. He would send the most complex diagrams of spoke patterns that worked amazing on his hubs. The fronts were always 1 cross heads out. Beautiful wheel that looked radial. The rear was a 30 hub spoke with 20 on the drive 3 cross and 10 on the left 1 cross. Pulling spokes inside. High drive flange and low on the other. The left right balance was perfect, same torque each side due to the different spoke count. I'm still using the wheels from 40 years ago! He made his own flat rolled aluminum rims that used hollow rivets to hold together. The spokes went into the hollow rivets. 212 grams per rim. Amazing kit it was.

[@mandremtb534]

I watched your original video and have rebuilt multiple wheels for friends from that one video. I’m now building building a new wheel set for myself and you can count I’ll be using your technique!

[@wrench_n_ride8159]

You are an excellent teacher. I use a piece of tape on my key spokes.

[@msteiny]

Wow, this is by far the BEST wheel building tutorial, period! Thank you Ali for taking the time to explain all options. I've finished building my first 3-cross 32h wheel, and it was quick and frustration-free thanks to you.

[@ptz0n]

Epic guidance! Yesterday I managed to build my first wheel. Two-cross. Thanks again!

[@twecharclimber]

Sensational! best and most comprehensive wheel building guide I've seen, your effort in putting this together is very much appreciated 👏 👍 👌

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Thank you! :D

[@ryamldess]

This has been my go-to lacing manual for a couple years now. I've probably built almost 10 wheels starting off with this lacing guide.

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Awesome to hear!

[@chrisrantell7898]

Today I watched 6 wheel building videos and this blew everything else out of the water. Every part was succinct and easy to follow.

[@davomoto42]

This is, by far, the single best wheel building tutorial I have ever seen. I just built a wheelset using the 3x instructions and it went perfectly! Thank you!

[@alinabarbieru2370]

This was the best video, me and my boyfriend managed to lace the bike wheel and make it work! Thank you for your drawings and explanation!

[@davet7248]

Best lacing video I've seen. Nice job and much appreciated!

[@Re-cycles408]

Best wheel lacing tutorial I have seen .❤

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Thanks so much 😊

[@ieism1]

Build my 3rd set of wheels with this tutorial. Keep forgetting the steps, so great to have this detailed tutorial. Thanks!

[@lightningslim]

I have never built a wheel, I probably never will, but now I know how it is done! Kudos is due, fantastic job! Excellent presentation, great graphics, you made it really interesting. 👍😀

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Thanks Mike, good to know the hard work was worth it :)

[@ironeinar]

I know im a bit late to the party, but I just cracked my old rim along with my frame and somehow broke the hub and today all the parts for the new wheel were delivered to me 😁 I was really drunk and even though I saw my hand and every spoke 3 times I could build my wheel flawlessly with the help of this astonishingly great video!

[@dorothyclarkson772]

Algorithm, we’re here for you.

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Thanks Mum 😂

[@jeremytellier25]

@@Ali_Clarkson @Dorothy Clarkson how wholesome hahaha

[@lonoreturns]

So much info. Love how you are an hour in and say you might be repeating things. Class.

[@evgeninikolov]

The best explanation/tutorial I've ever seen!

[@JimmyHedman]

Really really good video! At around 1:10:00 I was about to add a comment on how to find key spoke hole when having different patterns on respective side, but you answered it right after! Love it!

[@shaunwise1609]

Your old wheel build video has helped me through 4 new wheels over a few years and they're all still holding strong so thank you for the amazing videos! I'm sure I'll be getting plenty of use from this one over the years so thanks in advance

[@4ir_Daniel]

This was the best tutorial i could find just build my first wheel thx to you❤

[@slimmysan7689]

This is a brilliant resource, Ali! Thank you for sharing it. The hubs I ordered have finally come in, so I'm following along to make a 2-cross 700C wheelset for my gravel bike. Your descriptions make it so easy to follow along!

[@partsbinspecial1457]

Your original wheelbuilding video was what taught me to build wheels, and I go back to it again and again. You explain the technique better than any other video tutorial on the internet. Love the Khan Academy style of this new vid, too! Cheers Ali for teaching me a new skill!

[@graemesmithers2082]

Brilliant. First wheel built with no issue. Legendary work. Thankyou 🙏😎

[@Rbnsssll]

Thanks to this video I was able to lace my first carbon roadbike wheels. I also appreciate the lacing tips especially the one with the rear hub with different lacing patterns on each side. The Instructions were very clear and easy to comprehend. Thank you so much!😁

[@LordHolley]

This is great, you answer so many questions in a nice, "to the point" fashion. Definitely helping my confidence with my 1st set of wheels. thank you very much!

[@rents1977]

This must have been a labour of love, I know you scrapped the original and re-did it and hats off to you this is really excellent.

[@adamsatur7277]

You're a great teacher. Thanks, Ali! Your explanations were really clear and meaningful.

[@manoluisi4281]

This is probably the best lesson on KZbin so far ! Well done. The drawings help a lot, so that's easy to understand.

[@botondrostas]

Just used your guide to lace my first ever wheelset. Thank you!

[@nickmeyring7888]

This is the best wheel building video ever. From all of us, thank you

[@baronkanon]

This was just awesome, Ali! Really appreciated this. Looking forward to more of this!

[@HaveFunBikes]

The best lacing video i've seen. Congratulations! Finally building a wheel makes sense!

[@kurtmunson5719]

This video is an amazing resource. Well detailed but easy to follow. Thank you Ali!

[@andymooresmith5098]

Thank you for taking the time to explain your experience to others. Like you, I was quite excited by the concept of the product, particularly the compact battery as I commute short distances. A few other customers have also shared their experiences and my balanced view has been to cancel the process. Customer service and Aftersales is a crucial part of any purchase like this and I no longer have confidence in the company, nor the idea of waiting months whilst they have the money. I will keep looking...

[@99muddy99]

Extraordinary effort, Ali. Thank you very much!

[@PhorgetFiziks]

Ali, I used your videos to lace up my first wheel and it turned out absolutely fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.

[@newttella1043]

Great information! Thank you. I watched the whole video because it is so well done.

[@daveevans7474]

Wow. Phenomenonal tutorial. Have been wanting to build a set of wheels, this has given me the confidence and knowledge to give it a go. Thanks Ali, absolute legend

[@backcountryridingfriends]

This is the best wheel lacing video/ instructions I have ever watched. Thanks heaps.

[@hondaxl250k0]

I just did 2 wheels in 4x because of your video 👍🏻👍🏻 Thankyou.

[@josiahowen5408]

Awesome. It had been a few years since my last wheel build. I used your radial chapter and a refresher on 3x. Took no time at all!

[@nightr4ven]

Incredibly thorough video which was very clear. Thank you so much!

[@randbaldwin]

@4:11 another handy trick is to snip the tip off a tooth pick and stick it into the top of the nipple just tight enough to grip it. This holds it well enough to thread it on too. Thanks for the tutorial, it's great evergreen content that people like me will keep finding.

[@JimSchrader-vi7vl]

Ali, this is the most comprehensive easy to follow guide for wheel builds i have run across. I work at a bike store and am just starting my second year there. i've done a number of wheel builds, but i don't get them often...just enough time to forget. I use your video each time to get oriented to the plan. I hope you keep this up for a long time, i plan on having new techs review this for their first builds in the future. thanks again!

[@robwaters8589]

That was SOME video! I'm not even in a position to be building wheels yet but still watched it! loved it too!!

[@justinmoss]

Thanks for this amazing video. Brilliant use of graphics - much appreciated!

[@Karl_Kampfwagen]

First time building a wheel from spare parts, I assembled the drive side in a 3x format... And the brake side was either 1x or 2x, because the spokes weren't long enough to do 3x again (I was re-using spokes, don't worry - I learned a lesson on that). Went to have my bike inspected and wheels trued before really riding it hard, and the technician said: "I don't even know HOW you did this, but you mixed spoke patterns, and still ended up making a well-centered wheel... I'm not even mad, I'm actually kinda impressed."

[@Ali_Clarkson]

The system works! 😁 glad to hear of your success :)

[@Karl_Kampfwagen]

@@Ali_Clarkson He convinced me to have it re-laced by the shop, because we had no clue what quality the spokes were... Cheaper than a hospital bill, I figured. Wheel building is half art, half geometry, and half voodoo witchcraft 😂 I would have kept running the 2x+3x laced rear wheel if the spokes were known to be at least "decent." Thanks for all the information, Ali!

[@certain_ed]

This is a great information! Thank you for making this video!

[@ronn_mtb]

An absolutely highly informative video to all the people who are into the cycling industry. All information just makes you sound like a more knowledgeable person in the cycling industry.

[@MTBMcPhee]

Looking forward to watching this, but I've built about a dozen wheels for myself and others following your last tutorial and they've mostly been bullet proof. I put that down to your stamping technique on the spokes to stress them. Thanks again for taking the time to put these videos together.

[@stuartwest5125]

Your first one is my go to for wheelbuilding, this is my new go to.

[@davidgriffin8717]

Thanks Ali! I just re-laced a Wolber Super Champion 36h rim to a Specialized sealed bearing hub as a replacement for my vintage 1983 Specialized Expedition touring bike. Tensioning, truing, stressing here we come!

[@tomwinterstone]

I've come back to this so many times (every single wheel I build...)

[@dems_mtb]

Thank you! great explanation on the science of building wheels!

[@MBLegend89]

Yeee about time one of your vid pops up in notification s normally don't show

[@Ali_Clarkson]

That’s good to hear 😁

[@mattkayaker5084]

Just built my first wheel using your guide, excellent results 👍🏻

[@davidqueree]

Just laced my first wheel using 2X pattern. And thanks to your video Ali it all went well. Thanks for this super informative video. And all the effort you went into making it. 🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@therybes]

I built my first set of wheels using your first wheel building video and theyve been great. Got a bit of an egg i struggle to get rid of. If this videos anything to go by i cant wait to see the next one in the series. Thanks for easy to understand and follow wheel building tutorials 👍

[@jeremymitchell8470]

Watched the first 15-20 minutes then skipped to three cross, then built a wheelset today. Took me six hours to build them up and get them perfectly trued. I’ll feel good about my work after I get a couple rides on my new gravel bike. Thank you Ali for such an in depth walkthrough to include all the illustrations to help us out!

[@HankVanOrden]

Hands down the best wheel video I’ve seen! Thanks for making this! You’re a legend🤘

[@jimschrader3768]

I'm preparing to do my first wheel build, which will be a standard 3x. This is the clearest, easiest to follow tutorial i've found anywhere. I plan on hitting play/pause through the process. Thank you!

[@sherab2078]

Great video! Thank you for sharing it with us.

[@robbed_copy]

This is a long video with loads of great info! Amazing as always Ali

[@mitchellmtb7202]

This is the most insane wheel build vid ever!!!!!!!!!

[@jurikristjouw]

Alas!! finally I made it! thank you for this video!!

[@nautiques1000]

Fantastic video!! I have built lots of wheels and this video made it so much easier. Thank you

[@gavinfitton6111]

Amazing knowledge, thanks for sharing!

[@rossmann611]

ive watched this entire vid twice, thanx!

[@Ricochetmex]

Probably I’m not gonna build a wheel any time soon, but now I know where to come when it’s time. Great illustrations Ali!

[@MarionettaPuppet]

I managed to make a perfect wheel, even though my spoke was a tad too long for the build. Solely because you put lots of amazing details to each type, so i can have many options. Thank you so much for the guide! *Needless to say, I'm 3 hour plus club at this point 😂

[@kjamesk86]

Thank you Ali, this video tutorial is excellent and will definitely help me when I get into building my first wheel set.

[@lucahoell6587]

Great tutorial, Ali. Thanks for your effort

[@serious_cyko]

This is the best tutorial I've seen so far. Very well explained with nice graphics. Now everybody can lace wheels. 😉 Thx

[@sadiaboi]

I never imagined I could lace my own wheels, thank you so much for this incredible tutorial! I used the 1 cross lacing on my front track wheel because my spokes are too long for radial lacing and I worked like a charm! Thank you again!

[@VincenzoAstier]

Will definetely watch this vid entirely. I could have used it today, I was building a pair of wheels and I am not that good at wheel building. Thanks a lot, this is gonna be very helpful for my future projects ! And thanks for all the hard work you put into making this whole video

[@Dave-vr1ov]

Outstanding video. Hats off to you sir.

[@bmx08]

Wow.. great explanation, great video. Congrats. Thanks

[@th_js]

Haven't watched it yet but already liked it and looking forward to watching it! 👍🏻

[@christhrelfall80]

This is the most informative, well put together video I have seen in ages. Congrats ali!

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Thanks a lot Chris!

[@rafsxful]

Since the early video I built some wheel thanks to your knowledge. Thank you very much for the info. Now I'll stop some time to watch your video. Thank you again.

[@steve6942]

Awesome video thanks Watched the whole thing and fully built a 2 cross pattern Now let the truing commence

[@andyrobertson3886]

Brilliant tutorial - Thank you

[@bril9199]

You made this process so easy, thanks

[@user-hf8es5bs8l]

Used a Parktool video to start with that I couldn’t follow and cocked up the first attempt. A mate linked me this, it’s bang on! Done in no time. Wish I’d seen the rim swap video first though….

[@martinkroutil]

Absolutely amazing video man, thank you so much for your work. Iam quite experienced home bike mechanik, but I was always intimidate with wheel building and this video help me rebuild my factory carbon wheels with new hubs and spokes. Results are amazing build worked on fist try and wheels are better than new. Thanks again.

[@robbowker8161]

Thanks Ali, I just built my first wheel! Campagnolo Nuovo Tipo hub and Mavic Module E (both from the 1980s) with new Alpine db stainless spokes. Couldn't have done it without you.