Introduction to Wheel Building

Two-Day Hands-On Workshop

• Tuition: $995 per student (includes a complete DT Swiss wheelset valued at approximately $800)

• Location: Elevation Cyclery at Sleepy Hollow Ski & Bike Center, Huntington, Vermont

• Class Size: Maximum 1 student

• Schedule: 8:00 AM to ~5:00 PM each day

Students will work hands-on throughout the workshop, learning the principles of bicycle wheel design and building using professional bicycle-specific tools and equipment.

Each student will build their own complete set of DT Swiss wheels from individual components and take the finished wheelset home at the end of the workshop.

This is an advanced hands-on class that involves working with small components and precise measurements. No previous wheel-building experience is required, but students should be comfortable working with bicycle components and tools.

Email jason@elevationcyclery.com with any questions.

Workshop Description

Ever wanted to know how a bicycle wheel is actually built?

Wheel building is one of the most fascinating and rewarding skills in bicycle mechanics. In this two-day, hands-on workshop, you'll learn how the different components of a wheel work together and then build your own high-quality wheelset from scratch.

We'll start with the fundamentals of wheel design and component selection, including how hubs, rims, spokes, and nipples work together to create a strong, durable wheel. You'll learn how to select components for different types of riding and how to determine the correct spoke length for a particular combination of hub and rim.

Then you'll build the wheels yourself, working step-by-step through measuring, spoke preparation, lacing, tensioning, and truing. You'll learn how to bring a wheel into proper lateral and radial true, achieve the correct dish, and balance spoke tension throughout the wheel.

With a maximum of just one student, you'll receive plenty of individual instruction and hands-on time. By the end of the workshop, you'll have built a complete set of wheels and, more importantly, you'll understand how and why they work.

What You'll Learn

We'll work through the complete wheel-building process, from choosing components to putting the finishing touches on the finished wheel.

Topics include:

• Wheel mechanics and design

• Wheel components and selection

• Rim and hub measurements

• Spoke length calculations

• Spoke preparation and loading

• Spoke lacing

• Wheel tensioning

• Lateral truing

• Radial truing

• Wheel dish

• Balancing spoke tension

• Wheel inspection and final adjustments

Hands-On Work

This isn't a class where you simply watch a mechanic build a wheel. You'll build your own wheels from start to finish, with step-by-step guidance throughout the process.

You'll begin by leaning about wheel design and engineering.  Then you'll measure the hubs and rims, calculate the correct spoke lengths, and prepare and lace the spokes.

From there, you'll progressively tension and true the wheels, learning how to identify and correct lateral and radial deviations while maintaining proper dish and balanced spoke tension.

The goal isn't simply to get you through the process of building one wheelset. You'll learn the techniques and principles you can use to build and service wheels for years to come.

What's Included

• Complete DT Swiss wheelset to take home — approximately $800 value

• Two full days of hands-on wheel-building instruction

• Use of professional bicycle wheel-building tools and shop equipment

Your wheelset will use DT Swiss 350 hubs paired with DT Swiss rims appropriate for road, gravel, or mountain biking.

Wheelset Selection

Because your wheelset needs to be built specifically for your bicycle, registration is required several weeks in advance to allow time to select and order the appropriate components.

After registering, we'll work with you to select a DT Swiss wheelset configuration based on your bicycle and intended use.

We'll need to confirm:

• Type of bike — road, gravel, or mountain

• Wheel size

• Front and rear axle sizes

• Brake mount — 6-bolt or Center Lock

• Freehub body — Shimano HG, SRAM XD, or Shimano Micro Spline

Wheelset configurations are subject to supplier availability. We'll work with you to find an appropriate configuration if your first choice isn't available.

Who Is This Class For?

No previous wheel-building experience is required. This workshop is designed for cyclists and home mechanics who want to understand how bicycle wheels are designed, built, and serviced.

Whether you're a cyclist who has always been curious about what's inside your wheels, an experienced home mechanic looking to expand your skills, or someone who wants to learn one of the more specialized and rewarding areas of bicycle mechanics, this class will give you the knowledge and hands-on experience to get started.

Because wheel building requires working with small components, precise measurements, and significant amounts of hand tensioning and truing, students must be at least 16 years of age.

About the Instructor

Your instructor, Jason Peters, is the owner and mechanic at Elevation Cyclery. Jason is a Certified Professional Bicycle Mechanic and Certified Suspension Technician, having completed professional training and certification through the United Bicycle Institute (UBI) in Ashland, Oregon. He is also a DT Swiss Certified Wheel Builder.

Jason enjoys helping cyclists understand not just how to fix their bikes, but why things work the way they do. His goal is to give students the practical knowledge, skills, and confidence to maintain, repair, and build their own bicycles.

Cancellation & Refund Policy

Because each class is limited to just one student and each wheelset must be ordered in advance, each registration reserves a very limited spot and requires advance preparation.

Cancellations made 14 or more days before the class are eligible for a refund of tuition paid beyond the non-refundable deposit.

Cancellations made less than 14 days before the class are non-refundable unless the reserved spot can be filled by another student.

If Elevation Cyclery cancels or reschedules a class, students will be offered the option to transfer their registration to another available class date or receive a full refund, including the deposit.