Professional Bicycle Wheelbuilding Program [C2D/C2W]

You may view the course outline for this program here.

Wheelbuilding is a skill that many seasoned bicycle mechanics and even certified professionals do not comprehend fully. In fact, wheelbuilding is considered to be a disappearing expertise with most wheels being pre-built nowadays. Most bicycle shops offering wheel repair services like spoke replacements and wheel alignments only have basic knowledge of how wired spoke wheels as a system work. When the occasional shops offer wheelbuilding as a service, most consumers would be surprised to learn that shops do so with very surface-level knowledge of the craft.

Indeed, an overwhelming majority of bicycle shops can assemble wheels, but do not grasp the physics, materials, history, design, and theory surrounding bicycle wheelbuilding. This knowledge gap not only makes the local bike mechanic slow and inefficient when building wheels (thus raising the labor costs, as you may observe that a single wheel can cost as  high as 100$ in labor alone), but also makes it difficult and nearly impossible for complex issues to be correctly diagnosed and permanently fixed by shops. The absence of wheelbuilding expertise means that shops may be capable of putting custom wheels together, but cannot vouch for the quality of the build in terms of assembly and parts chosen. Custom wheels aren't just about aesthetics: they are about function, durability, utility, cross compatibility, ride quality, performance, and more. Our Pro Wheelbuilding Program's purpose is to teach everything about wheels from A to Z from a mechanical standpoint, and equip professionals with the expertise necessary to become master wheelsmiths in their own right.

This class is designed for students to fully grasp expert-level wheelbuilding skills and knowledge to build and maintain wheels in a professional setting. This program is dense with learning material and homework, since students will be tested for the completion of the course.

Upon Completion of the Professional Bicycle Wheelbuilding Program [C2], students will:

• Have a firm grasp about bicycle wheel design and history
• Understand modern bicycle design in relation to bicycle wheels
• Know the advantages of Wheelbuilding
• Have an in-depth understanding of rim, hub, bearing, nipple, spoke, tire and pneumatic design, engineering and history
• Understand the physics of bicycle wheel dynamics
• Have knowledge of compatibility in bicycle wheel components
• Understand how spoke tension works in wheels as a system
• Understand the advantages of specific lacing patterns
• Know how to measure components of a bicycle wheel and calculate spoke length
• Know how spoke tension ratios work and how to effectively apply them
• Have a good understanding of how to pick components effectively to build a bicycle wheel designed for a specific purpose
• Know how to cut and thread bicycle spokes and have a functional understanding of how spoke cutting and threading machines work
• Know how to lace a variety of wheels quickly and effectively
• Know how to tension bicycle wheels to spec using a tensiometric analysis
• Know how to dish wheels properly
• Have a firm understanding of wheelbuilding tolerances
• Have been introduced to multiple quality control protocols and methodologies to ensure high standards
• Be capable of maintaining a variety of hubs and bearings
• Have been introduced to a variety of proprietary wheel systems
  
• Have a functional understanding of internally geared and specialty hubs
• Know how to avoid common wheelbuilding mistakes
• Have professional diagnostics training to be the sharpest eye in the shop when it comes to wheels and related mechanical issues

Duration: This course/program has a total duration of 42 hours. It is available as a weekly program (two 3-hour classes/week for 7 weeks) or an intensive (7 days, 6 hours per day, not for the faint-hearted). 

Cost: Both versions of the Professional Wheelbuilding Program have a total cost of 1500$.

Accreditation: A passing grade will provide the student with documentation and a diploma describing the student's tested knowledge and skill level. We are also currently in the process of applying with the Quebec Ministry of Education to make this course an accredited college-level program.

Capacity: Maximum of 4 students per group.

Prerequisites: Prior experience in bicycle mechanics is mandatory. This is a professional level course that is extremely dense with information, as well as having homework and tests. Learning material is complex and highly advanced. This course is designed for adults and individuals with preexisting knowledge and demonstrable experience in bicycle mechanics. We welcome bicycle mechanics from other shops to join the course and catch up on their wheelbuilding knowledge.

Materials: All tools and learning material will be supplied by the workshop. Bring a notebook and binder if necessary to store learning material and take notes during the class. If you have wheels you wish to learn to build, you are welcome to bring your own parts.

HAPPY BUILDING!