Wheel building · Dynamo
Dynamo wheel builds
Why
Lights that never need charging
On a multi-day ride, the battery is the weak link. A dynamo hub makes the power as you roll, so the light is always ready and a charger is one thing fewer to carry. That is why so many bikepackers fit one.
The catch is that you need a wheel built around the hub. Most off-the-shelf wheels do not have one, and a dynamo wheel is often built to order. That is what I do: you choose the rim, the hub version and the spokes in the builder, and I build it by hand in Rochford.
A hand-built dynamo front wheel starts at £699 including VAT (rim, SON hub, spokes, nipples and £84 build). About 7 weeks.
The hubs
SON disc dynamo hubs we build with
| Hub | Hub from |
|---|---|
| SON 28 SL 6-bolt disc dynamo hub | £254.99 |
| SON 28 SL Centre Lock disc dynamo hub | £254.99 |
| SON delux SL Centre Lock disc dynamo hub | £254.99 |
| SON 28 6-bolt disc dynamo hub | £269.99 |
| SON 28 Centre Lock disc dynamo hub | £269.99 |
| SON delux Centre Lock disc dynamo hub | £269.99 |
| SON 29 S 6-bolt disc dynamo hub | £389.99 |
| SON 29 S Centre Lock disc dynamo hub | £389.99 |
Which versions can be built depends on the rim you choose (hole count, axle, colour). The builder shows only what is available.
Next
The rest of the system
- kLite kits: complete dynamo lighting for gravel, mountain and bikepacking.
- The dynamo lighting guide: the four parts, in plain English.
- Bikepacking at Travers: frames, wheels, fork and lights that work together.
- Fitting: the workshop can fit parts you buy from us (labour from £15), booked as a service.
Questions
Dynamo wheel FAQ
What is a dynamo wheel?
A front wheel with a dynamo built into the hub. As the wheel turns it makes electricity, which powers a light (and, with the right kit, charges a phone or a GPS). There are no batteries to charge on a long ride.
Can you build a dynamo hub into a carbon rim?
Yes. Choose a Nextie carbon rim, then a SON dynamo hub for the front wheel. The builder only shows the hub versions that suit the rim you picked, because SON make them in different hole counts, axle sizes and colours.
Which light should I use?
Any hub-dynamo light works. I distribute kLite, which makes complete dynamo kits for gravel, mountain and bikepacking, and the kits are on the kLite page. The dynamo lighting guide explains the four parts you need.
Disc brakes and thru-axles?
The builder asks for the axle size and the brake rotor mount, and only offers what the hub is made in. If your front end is unusual, email me before you order.
How long does it take?
About 7 weeks. The rim is ordered in from Nextie, then the wheel is built, tensioned and trued here. You pay 50% when you order and 50% when it is ready.
What is guaranteed?
Free re-tensioning and truing for 12 months, and the build labour is guaranteed for 30 days. Because the wheel is built to your choices it cannot be cancelled once the rim is ordered. A faulty one is refunded in full.
Should I fit it before an event?
Order early. Seven weeks is a long time when the start line has a date. If you are close, email me with the date and I will say honestly what is possible.