Not because it was planned that way. But because it developed the way logical things tend to develop: inevitably. If you stock hubs by Chris King, rims by ENVE, or spokes by Sapim – if you advise customers who know exactly what they want and are prepared to invest in it – you can't just shrug and point them to off-the-shelf wheelsets. That would be like a bespoke tailor choosing his own fabrics, but leaving the cutting to someone else. So we did it ourselves. From day one.

What began as a logical extension of our range has today become a core part of what R2BIKE is all about. Customers from all over Germany – and well beyond – entrust us with building their wheelsets. Not because we are the cheapest option, but because they know: here is someone who builds with parts he knows inside out. Someone who understands why a wheel works – and why, sometimes, it simply doesn't.

Designing your custom wheelset

Our wheelsets, which are built entirely by hand, are hugely popular and have a steadily growing fanbase. Here, we’d like to show you how your bespoke wheelset is created and how we achieve the perfect balance of lightweight, stiff yet durable wheels.

Your custom combination of hubs and rims

We have an extensive range of hubs and rims. For you, this means a wide choice and the ability to customise your set; for us, it means the opportunity to combine the best possible wheel components from this variety to suit your needs. Our aim is to build the perfect wheelset for your intended use. Whether it’s a mountain bike, road bike, gravel bike, cyclocross bike, fat bike or e-bike – we’ll find a wheelset perfectly tailored to your needs. Once we’ve agreed on all the specifications together, the handcrafting begins.

Determining the correct spoke length

The first step involves determining the spoke length based on the geometric data of the hubs and rims. This step is always necessary when we have not yet had a particular hub-rim combination in our hands. As new parts and brands frequently come onto the market, we are constantly busy calculating spoke lengths. Once the spoke length has been determined, the assembly process begins.

Defining the lacing pattern

In most cases, we lace wheel sets using a three-cross pattern. Exceptions may apply depending on the hub manufacturer or if it simply makes more technical sense. In such cases, we use either a radial or double-cross pattern. We use 14 mm Sapim Polyax nipples. If the rim manufacturer specifies particular nipples, we will of course use these. We are happy to implement customisations for you, such as spokes in a different colour next to the valve or multiple nipple colours. You can let your creativity run wild – after all, that’s what handmade wheelsets are for!

Assembling your custom wheelset

Now it’s time to align the hub. We always align it so that you can read the lettering when looking through the valve hole. We tighten the spokes until the thread is just covered by the nipple. The hub should now wobble only very slightly. If using bent spokes, these are bent back slightly with the head facing inwards, and the wheel is now fully laced.

Truing the wheelset

We take no less care when it comes to truing. Here, as with lacing, we use only the very best tools. A Centrimaster analogue truing stand and tension gauge, as well as high-quality nipple tensioners, form part of our standard equipment. The high quality of our wheelsets is, of course, also made possible by the skill and years of experience of our wheel builders. Now comes the demanding, meditative fine-tuning of the truing process. We are committed not only to truing out lateral and vertical run-out as perfectly as possible, but also to maintaining a consistently high spoke tension. We increase the tension in small increments, keeping the rim as free of runout as possible. At regular intervals, the wheel is pressed on both sides to secure the spoke seats and relieve localised tension.

Achieving top quality and optimal stiffness through meticulous care

We then pull the wheel back into the centre of the hub and start the process all over again. This approach results in a wheel that is as stable and durable as possible. This method also helps to quickly identify spokes with lower tension. On each side of the wheel, we thus create a uniformly high, but not excessive, spoke tension. This prevents the nipples from loosening later on and the associated wobble. You can feel the perfect wheel through a crisp, instant response and high cornering stiffness.

The optimum for uniform tension

In ever finer increments, we thus approach a state in which, after truing, the wheel exhibits a maximum runout of 0.3 mm, a maximum centre deviation of 0.2 mm, and an average spoke tension of around 1000 N on the side of the wheel subjected to greater load. The exact spoke tension also depends on the maximum values permitted by the hub and rim manufacturers. Spoke tension can therefore be significantly higher than 1000N if the hub and rim allow it. Repeated truing during the process subjects the spokes to multiple loads, ensuring they sit perfectly. The spoke tension reaches a perfect level in every respect, as our experienced wheel builders always work with optimal and proven values.

Why choose a wheelset from R2BIKE?

You get a wheelset that has been built by skilled hands from start to finish. We do not rely on automatic lacing machines or rigidly follow a set routine. Every wheel undergoes the steps required to make it durable and as perfect as possible. Unlike with system wheels, we offer you complete freedom in the configuration of your wheel. Our system is all about variety, not one-size-fits-all!