Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:  
Summary: More than an instruction manual
Comment: I've been building wheels for a while, though infrequently, and have used The Bicycle Wheel along with internet sources to help build wheels.
I still look for a good reference book, and Jobst's book is a very mechanical way of writing. It can be followed, but I've read and followed better instructions. Hire a ghost writer for this section with the next revision of the book if you have to.
I'm still looking for a better book, and while this book does have it's flaws it also gives background into why the author instructs you the way he does.
Like many others, an updated version would be well worth the time invested. I admit to being curious on Jobst's take on trends like prebuilt wheels, low spoke count wheels, wheels with aluminum alloy spokes and other fads in the marketplace.
As a pure instructional piece, it would be only 3 stars. It reads like stereo instructions. With the extra FEA and charts and background it demystifies the art of wheelbuilding, but to get there you have to muddle through it's science. :)
Customer Rating:
Summary: the original and one of the best
Comment: This is the classic book on wheel design and construction. There's a reason it's been in print since the early 80's: and that's because it's a thorough book. 2 parts - first explains why wheels are built as they are and the second is how to build one for yourself. The only thing missing is the parts and a wheel building stand. I recommend buying the best Park stand you can afford (review forthcoming).
I've built two sets so far. One for my tourer and another for my road bike. Both have turned out better than I expected for my first time through. Happy wheel building!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Essential for every home bicycle mechanic.
Comment: 'The Bicycle Wheel' by: Jobst Brandt is a must have for every home bicycle mechanic.
It explains in simple terms the theory of the spoked wheel and how to build, maintain and repair them. It contains many pages of diagrams and graphs for reference and a glossary of terms.
If you are interested in building your first wheel set, this book is a MUST!
Customer Rating:
Summary: The best
Comment: This is the 4 wheelbuilding book I have read. And simply the best. A must for a Wheelbuilder.
Customer Rating:
Summary: The authoritative work on bicycle wheels
Comment: Despite Jobst Brandt's engineering background, the book is written in a pleasent, easy to understand, straight forward style. The illustrations are plentiful and beautyfull. Layout, illustrations, typography, subject matter and writing style are matching each other very well.
This book is not only about building bicycle wheels, but also about understanding how the wheel works, and why some wheel designs are better than others. Jobst Brandt has performed a lot of experiments and therefore dispels a lot of myths based on research.
The book is too terse in my opinion, regarding spoke length calculation and hub measurements. It is not that the information isn't there, but complete beginners, who perhaps aren't using math equations very often, must find it intimidating.
In that regards, Roger Musson's ebook "Wheel Building" is much more practical and easy to understand.
But Jobst Brandt's book is still better than any other source on wheelbuilding I know of.
Finally, the most important myth Jobst Brandt dispels is that you have to some kind of special talent to build wheels. Jobst Brandt demonstrates that wheelbuilding can be easy and that everyone can do it with good results. So go get a truing stand and a spoke key and start to build your own wheels.
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