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DailyBicycle.com by Oliver Carbonell Quick Q&A with Dave Thomas of SpeedDream Wheels We interviewed master wheel designer and builder, Dave Thomas, of SpeedDream wheels to see what he’s been up to lately in the world of bicycle wheels. Read on to learn more.  DailyBicycle: What’s new at SpeedDream wheels? Dave Thomas: The newest thing in the marketplace is the proliferation of through axles for mountain bikes. I often get a frustrated response when asking a client what the axle configuration of their bike is and they don’t honestly know. With no less than five rear and six front types of axles, it is a challenge for the manufacturers to offer compatibility with all the different bikes, unlike motorcycles where a Yamaha wheel only fits a Yamaha. For bicycles, it seems that a Yamaha wheel must somehow also fit a Kawasaki, Suzuki, Honda and KTM!  DailyBicycle: With more wheel manufacturers adding carbon to their offerings, will you also do the same? Dave Thomas: Back in the ’90s I did a lot of carbon wheels, but have avoided them for a few years due to the nipple alignment issues that result in prematurely broken spokes. I am now building with the Enve rims which have a concave fixture moulded into the spoke holes to allow for a good alignment. They also have a very high compaction of fibers due to the removable pneumatic bladder used in the manufacturing process, resulting in a very light and strong structure. Most of my clients, however, are interested in “everyday race” wheels which are light and inexpensive to repair.  DailyBicycle: When you show up at a mountain bike race these days you see a bunch of riders on 29” format bikes. Are you now building just as many 29” wheels as 26”? Dave Thomas: So far this year I’ve seen 45% 29ers of overall mountain wheels, which is up from about 35% last year. DailyBicycle: For the riders seeking a good ‘everyday wheel’ build, which of your builds do you recommend for a mountain bike and for a road bike? Dave Thomas: Typically I’m building with aluminum rims from Stan’s Notubes, Velocity or Kin-Lin, which I have no problem warrantying for two years. Some of these rims are even lighter than the lightest composite clinchers. “Crash replacement” costs are about $130.00 each wheel. Virtually all the configurations I offer are appropriate for everyday use. DailyBicycle: What other types of wheels do you build? Dave Thomas: If I’m not totally swamped, I will tend to build whatever is available in the aftermarket- I’m always on the lookout for new designs that will better serve the needs of the diverse types of riders I encounter. Many times though, the “aftermarket” is a small manufacturer that may not have availability of parts for a while. Some unique niches may have features that are not addressed in the aftermarket and even the bike manufacturer themselves have no options. Such is the way for exotic designs. DailyBicycle: Thanks Dave! Copyright 2011 DailyBicycle

DailyBicycle.com

by Oliver Carbonell

Quick Q&A with Dave Thomas of SpeedDream Wheels

We interviewed master wheel designer and builder, Dave Thomas, of SpeedDream wheels to see what he’s been up to lately in the world of bicycle wheels. Read on to learn more. 

DailyBicycle: What’s new at SpeedDream wheels?

Dave Thomas: The newest thing in the marketplace is the proliferation of through axles for mountain bikes. I often get a frustrated response when asking a client what the axle configuration of their bike is and they don’t honestly know. With no less than five rear and six front types of axles, it is a challenge for the manufacturers to offer compatibility with all the different bikes, unlike motorcycles where a Yamaha wheel only fits a Yamaha. For bicycles, it seems that a Yamaha wheel must somehow also fit a Kawasaki, Suzuki, Honda and KTM! 

DailyBicycle: With more wheel manufacturers adding carbon to their offerings, will you also do the same?

Dave Thomas: Back in the ’90s I did a lot of carbon wheels, but have avoided them for a few years due to the nipple alignment issues that result in prematurely broken spokes. I am now building with the Enve rims which have a concave fixture moulded into the spoke holes to allow for a good alignment. They also have a very high compaction of fibers due to the removable pneumatic bladder used in the manufacturing process, resulting in a very light and strong structure. Most of my clients, however, are interested in “everyday race” wheels which are light and inexpensive to repair. 

DailyBicycle: When you show up at a mountain bike race these days you see a bunch of riders on 29” format bikes. Are you now building just as many 29” wheels as 26”?

Dave Thomas: So far this year I’ve seen 45% 29ers of overall mountain wheels, which is up from about 35% last year.

DailyBicycle: For the riders seeking a good ‘everyday wheel’ build, which of your builds do you recommend for a mountain bike and for a road bike?

Dave Thomas: Typically I’m building with aluminum rims from Stan’s Notubes, Velocity or Kin-Lin, which I have no problem warrantying for two years. Some of these rims are even lighter than the lightest composite clinchers. “Crash replacement” costs are about $130.00 each wheel. Virtually all the configurations I offer are appropriate for everyday use.

DailyBicycle: What other types of wheels do you build?

Dave Thomas: If I’m not totally swamped, I will tend to build whatever is available in the aftermarket- I’m always on the lookout for new designs that will better serve the needs of the diverse types of riders I encounter. Many times though, the “aftermarket” is a small manufacturer that may not have availability of parts for a while. Some unique niches may have features that are not addressed in the aftermarket and even the bike manufacturer themselves have no options. Such is the way for exotic designs.

DailyBicycle: Thanks Dave!

Copyright 2011 DailyBicycle

Posted 8 months ago