Wheel building and wheel repair
Kevin takes great pride in building wheels and has been doing so for over 30 years. Golden Goat uses a Morizumi spoke machine to cut and thread spokes down to 0.5 mm to achieve a smoother and more accurate wheel building process.
- 30+ years
- Building wheels
- 0.5 mm
- Spoke-cutting accuracy
- $110
- Per wheel, plus parts
Wheel craft
I began building bicycle wheels back in 1994 out of a small shop in Milwaukee. Learning the craft was out of necessity since I was always bending stock BMX rims. The go-to back then was the venerable Peregrine HP 48. After a short while I found myself building wheels for friends and eventually customers.
As time went on, I became the resident wheelbuilder at various shops, then my own shop from 2004 to 2018. Afterwards, I worked at Bicycle Technologies International as a production technician for AMG, DT Swiss, Industry Nine, and performed warranty services for Reserve Wheels. Subsequently, I established my own online custom wheelbuilding business out of my garage, building mostly carbon wheels for discerning customers. Over the years I’ve tried my hand at crow’s foot, twist lace, tie & solder, and even Berd spokes.
To learn the craft of wheelbuilding takes time, concentration, and many wheels to master. There are hard and fast rules to follow, however the critical aspect of the process comes from being able to read the materials and anticipate the desired effect. Not all new rims are perfectly round and true, and this requires an ability to distribute forces accordingly. Therein lies the mastery.
Over the years my approach has become increasingly refined. Acquiring premium tools, materials, and techniques is essential to the ever evolving technology of the bicycle wheel. Golden Goat Cycles is proud to house a Morizumi spoke machine that allows me to cut and thread spokes down to 0.5 mm, and a Noble wheelbuilding table that lets me place the wheel in a fixture rather than on my lap, reducing the chances of scratching the hub and rim. A highly accurate Wheel Fanatyk tensiometer is also one of my most beloved tools and is essential for a high quality wheel build. I take great pleasure and pride building bicycle wheels for customers who only expect the best!
However you make your living is where your talent lies.Ernest Hemingway
Kevin
Golden Goat Cycles
Custom wheels
Golden Goat is able to build your carbon dream wheelset to exacting standards, using the most modern equipment and refined techniques available.
Repairs and truing
Golden Goat also replaces broken spokes and damaged rims.
| Service | Labor |
|---|---|
| Wheel truing | $30 |
| Tubeless setup, per wheel | $40 |
| Tubeless refresh, per wheel | $12 |
