A snitty response? I thought those were only reserved for computer tech forums.
No, not at all...
I am a wrench and GEBE newbie, but here's my .02 on this whole shebang:
If you haven't already done so, I would encourage you to buy the Velocity rim with 12g spokes and a drive ring *already* installed from GEBE. IMO, that's one of the few good deals in the whole GEBE universe and solves a number of problems, particularly drive ring installation and spoke breakage.
If you look at the GEBE drive ring, you can see that it tapers where it connects to the spokes. So not only is all that torque pressing on half of the spokes, that force is concentrated in a very small area of those spokes. I used black zip ties on my old 14g spoke wheel, but I seriously doubt they made the wheel stronger. I just don't think that 14g spokes can take a daily fat-ranter, hill-climbing, commuter beating from a GEBE/kit. It's a shame that GEBE-ers (myself included) haven't posted pics of their spoken brokes, because I would bet dollars to Knudesens that they break right at the drive ring.
If you want to go old school like OldPete, I think Schraner has some info on wrapping/soldering spokes in his book "The Art of Wheelbuilding". This is a pretty good book to have in general, and has the clearest steps for lacing and truing a wheel that I've ever seen. You can occasionally find used copies on abebooks.com
If you go to the 12g spokes, I don't think you will need to tie the spokes or JB Weld them. JB weld is great stuff, but I don't think it would be a good way to tie spokes, or a good way to keep the GEBE drive ring in place. Although JB Weld is very strong, it is not flexible. And if you spend any time at all motoring around on your bike, you will subject the spokes to insane amounts of shock and vibration. It's very difficult to believe that a small amount of epoxy, of any brand, could survive week after week of GEBE/kit shock and vibration. I suspect that epoxy gets micro-fractured to bleep very quickly.
I'm sorry for the GEBE troubles that you've had and I hope you will take the time to document them in a separate thread. IMO, that's one of the weaknesses of MBc. I think people are much more willing to post the good GEBE experiences, rather than the bad. It's a shame because there's probably a lot of information that would help others avoid the same mistakes, and when newbies show up, all they see are a bunch of glowing GEBE posts, which is hardly realistic.
And now for some confrontational sarcasm...
I am thinking about buying myself a new pair of shoes this weekend
Heels or flats?
Let me know if that introduction is satisfactory for you or if you wanted to know anything else about me.
You did not say *anything* about sunsets or long walks on the beach. READ THE FAQ PEOPLE!!! Your MBc account is *so* terminated...
Your response to Alaskavan, a senior member in excellent standing...
Van... you are a good guy, but your standing is really not that excellent. Your sitting is pretty good, and your jumping up and down and waving your arms in the air is worth traveling to see, but your standing is really only average. (BTW - if you are still speaking to me, *please* start a Tadpole thread.)
No welcome until you introduce yourself properly.
Jim, this was so good that if we were in the same room right now I would give you a big hug and a kiss and I mean that in a completely no-tongue, John Travolta kind of way. I am not kidding or being sarcastic. Sa mooch.
-Sam