User manual of wheel building, tire mounting, stikcer installation when receiving LB products.

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WARNING

***Important, please read carefully!***

WARNING

• Check the condition of product as soon as you receive it

If the product is significantly damaged during shipment, please contact us within 7 days after signing and keep the original waybill, packing boxes, etc. If the product does not match your order, please contact us within 7 days after signing for the package.

• Avoid Improper Storage and Transport

Make sure to transport and store the rims away from extreme heat. If you are transporting the bikes on a rear mount vehicle, make sure the wheels are not in the line the exhaust fumes from your car. This heat can damage the resin in your rim and is not covered by warranty.

• Choose the right spokes

DO NOT use the straight gauge 2mm or thicker in diameter spoke when building the wheel. Doing so will void the warranty. Straight Gauge spokes are too stiff to build with LB carbon rims and can cause the rim to crack prematurely. The thickest spokes that can be used on our rims are double butted 2/1.8/2mm. For more issues regarding warranty please visit our official website.

Wheel buiilding tips

• Make sure your new rim(s) built by certified or experienced carbon wheel builder.

A professional carbon wheel builder will use a tension meter and ensure that the wheels are built with a very even tension and are properly stress relieved.

• Follow the spoke direction shown on arrow sticker.

The rims have angled nipple holes that alternate left/right/left. Please lace spokes in the correct direction to avoid spoke hole damage. The direction is shown on arrow sticker near the valve hole.

• Asymmetric rims building tips.

For asymmetric rims, there are shorter and longer arcs. When viewing from the rim channel, it's easiest to find the shorter side and longer side by looking at the valve hole in relation to the nipple holes. Please make sure the rim is in correct orientation - It is different for front and rear wheels!

Front Wheels: shorter side for drive side, longer side for non-drive (disc) side

Rear Wheels: longer side for drive side, shorter side for non-drive (disc) side

• Build the wheelset with the suitable spoke tension.

Bring the spokes to an even tension, with a maximum tolerance 5% for all drive side and all non-drive side. For our recommended spoke tensions, please see the chart below. During and after building, have the wheel stress relieved properly. If a spoke develops a sharp bend in it while building, please replace the spoke.

We apply the following spoke tension range while building wheels. The following spoke tension chart is for your reference.

	front wheel non-drive side	rear wheel drive side
MTB/road disc wheelset	120-130 kgf	120-130 kgf
road non-disc wheelset	100-110 kgf	125-135 kgf
fatbike wheelset	100-110 kgf	100-110 kgf

*It is better to make sure the max spoke tension less than 135 kgf while building wheels.

Tips on tire mounting

Custom carbon rim color painting in white

Put either side of the tire bead COMPLETELY into the deep centre (quite important to ensure gap space for smooth mounting), then push the other side of the tire into the rim deep centre. And then go on.

Check out how to install a tight tire on our YouTube video.

Before reaching out to us for more assistance, please double check:

A) Recommended tire width?
B) Intended tire (Tubeless/Tubed)?
C) Too thick tubeless rim tape?

• Max tire pressure. For hookless rim, DO NOT inflate the tire to more than 40 psi, or it may result in the tire blowing off. Light Bicycle hooked rims are recommended less than 120psi.

• Use a plastic tire lever. We recommend using a plastic tire lever. DO NOT use any stronger (metal) tire lever as that may lead to rim damage.

• Tubeless compatible wheelset set-up. All of our wheelsets are tubeless compatible with the addition of tubeless rim tape, a tubeless valve stem, sealant, and a tubeless compatible tire. To set up the wheelset tubeless, you will need to install tape, install the valve, mount the tire, add sealant, and inflate. The rim must be completely cleaned and dried before installing rim tape. Apply 1 or 2 laps rim tape and be sure the nipple holes are well covered. The rim tape should be overlapped about 2 inch from where you started.

Having trouble mounting your tires

Installing road tires on tubeless compatible rims can seem like a challenging task, but the use of proper technique makes the job significantly easier. To learn the technique we used to mount a Continental Gatorskin, a tire infamous for being a challenge to mount, without the use of tire levers, please have a look at our tire mounting video.

If you are still having a problem mounting your tires on our rims it may because you are using regular tires that are intended for use with tubes. Our rims are designed for tubeless tires and, as a result, the tolerances are a little bit tighter. Non-tubeless compatible tires usually have less consistent tolerances on the bead diameter so it is really hit and miss on how they will fit on a tubeless rim. Some might work, but generally they will fit too tight and it will be a challenge to mount the tire. If that is the case, we recommend using a tubeless compatible tire and you could still use a tube in those if you want.

Schwalbe Tire Test

We wanted to ensure that our rim tolerances did not make mounting tires too much of a challenge, so we sent a number of rims to Schwalbe to be tested. Each one of them came back rated as "Simple, By Hand" when it came to mounting the tire.

Installation Steps

1.Read all of the instructions first before starting the application so you understand the entire process.
2.Clean the rim with isopropyl alcohol and let it completely dry before applying the stickers.
3.You can count your spoke holes and divide by 4 in order to figure out the 90 degree orientation to the middle of the sticker. If you have a 32h rim, the middle of the sticker should be 8 counts from the valve sticker.
4.You can fold the sticker in half to double check where the middle is, just be sure not to press down to hard to avoid making a crease.
5.Leave a 1.5-2mm gap along the outside of the rim.
6.Pull the sticker off the backing and apply from the outer diameter first so that you get the correct gap along the outside of the rim. Smooth the sticker on with your finger going back and forth across its length and work your way to the inner diameter.
7.Watch out for any air bubbles as you apply. If a bubble forms, gently lift the sticker to open up the spot with the bubble, and apply pressure to work it out. Do not handle the sticker too aggressively or it can stretch out.
8.Be sure to use clean hands when working with stickers, and if you must touch the back (sticky part) then it is best to use a piece of the wax paper so you do not contaminate the sticker.
9.If there is a contaminant on the back of the sticker, you can try a drop of water on that spot to work the debris off of it. If left on, it may show through.

light bicycle sticker application instruction

Which direction does the grooved rim brake wheel rotate?

The grooves help evacuate the moisture between pads and brake track during rides in the wet and thus improve the braking performance - only when you attach the wheels to your bike in the right rotation direction which is where the grooves curving outwards, as the illustration below shows.

COMMENTS

James 2019/10/26

I'd like to build a wheelset using your tubeless rims, without rim bed nipple holes. I use 2mm Sapim CX-Ray spokes and brass nipples. Do you recommend a magnetic nipple insert for assembling the nipples? Does one of the Fulcrum Racing tools fit 2mm nipples? This will be my second Light Bicycle wheel build this year. Excellent product! Thank you, Jim

LightBicycle 2019/10/26

Hi Jamies, We published a little article around tubeless rims 700c . Also mention the wheel building tips, you can check it out at https://www.lightbicycle.com/newsletter/TUBELESS-READY-OR-TUBELESS-RIMS--WHAT-S-BEST-FOR-ME.html . And, you are right, you should use magnetic nipples. Please let me know exactly what specs you looking for buying, Do you like 700C disc or non disc rims? Thanks, Lightbicycle

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Kendall 2019/10/17

I just purchased a pair of WR50 rims and noticed you have an ERD that does not consider the nipple. I plan to use the standard Sapim 16mm nipples you use and recommend. What is the proper adjustment to the ERD with that rim and nipple combination that I would put into a spoke length calculator? Thanks.

LightBicycle 2019/10/18

Hi Kendall, Nipples with standard heads - Most online calculators can use our standard ERD dimension to get an accurate spoke length. Round up to the nearest mm when the calculator gives you the spoke length. Nipples with raised heads (Hex, Squorx, Double Square etc.) - Add 2mm to our ERD dimension. Round up to the nearest mm when the calculator gives you the spoke length. Or you can let us know your hubs specs on WR50 32mm wide wheelset, then we can get the spoke length accordingly for your reference. Thanks, Lightbicycle

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Timothy 2019/07/22

I own RRU35C02 rims with grooved graphene brake track. Which direction should the grooves face, with closed end or open end toward the direction of rotation?

LightBicycle 2019/07/31

Hi Tim, We sent the instruction through email to you. And we will take your advice and add it in our user guide ASAP. Thanks, Lightbicycle

Tim 2019/10/24

I am looking for this info as well, what direction should the grooves face

LightBicycle 2019/10/25

Hi Tim, We sent the groove face direction picture of road rims with rim brake to your email. Please check. Thanks, Lightbicycle

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rino 2019/07/04

salve posso sapere se ci sono spese doganali??

LightBicycle 2019/07/05

Hi Rino, Where would be your destination of shipping? If you purchase from our Global warehouse, there will be customs fees in most cases. But what we usually do is to lower the declared value so you can pay less tax. There is also TPD delivery. It is tax included, you will not have to pay tax. For TPD delivery, it is USD89 for 2 rims and USD155 for one wheelset. Thanks, Lightbicycle

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Rick 2019/04/28

What does weight limit mean? Total weight of bike and rider on two wheels or weight limit per wheel?

LightBicycle 2019/04/29

Hi Rick, The weight limit refers to the rider weight without gear. What's your weight? If you are a heavy rider and worry about the weight limit or wheel strength, we can customize a heavy duty version for your profile. Don't you worry about it. What rims/wheels you got your eyes on? Could you tell me more about your profile so I can make some recommendations for you? Or check if the rims/wheels are a good fit for you. Do you like road rims/mtb wheels 29er? Thanks, Lightbicycle

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John 2019/04/11

Hi. What cleaning products do you recommend on matte rims? I used one degreaser I got from the shop and it looks like it might have stained the rims.

LightBicycle 2019/04/15

Hi John, The carbon fiber bike rims can be cleaned with a clean rag and any mild degreaser such as Windex®, Simple Green®, or 409®. You can also use Acetone or Isopropyl Alcohol. It is recommended to wear safety glasses and rubber gloves. Make sure your workspace is well ventilated. It is usually easiest to clean your rims when the tires have been removed. Thanks, Lightbicycle

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Spencer 2019/03/26

Hello, I have a 2019 tarmac disc comp, what wheel set would best fit my bike? https://www.specialized.com/us/en/mens-tarmac-disc-comp/p/154557?color=227227-154557 THank you

LightBicycle 2019/03/27

Hi Spencer, Are you still using 26mm*700c tires? We recommend our 25mm wide/35mm deep, disc wheelset for you. Is it okay? Or do you prefer 28mm wide/36mm deep or 46mm deep road disc wheels? Thanks, Lightbicycle

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kj 2019/03/12

Do you recommend for or against using nipple washers inside the rim bed?

LightBicycle 2019/03/13

Hi Kj, We don't have a stand on this matter. The fact is that we do not use nipple washers here for building wheels considering the spoke holes’ wall strength is strong enough. Our engineers cover this when they design our rims, and the spoke hole performed very well during the lab test. But if you insist to use nipples, it is okay if you do not mind weight adding. Thanks, Lightbicycle

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Simon 2019/03/08

Hello! Does the white sticker with the blue arrow in the rim bed indicate the drive side of the wheel?

LightBicycle 2019/03/09

Hi Simon, Do you have LB bike rims on your hand now? We can't find your order record in our system. Do you have a symmetrical rim or asymmetrical? If it's the symmetrical rim, the left side an right side are identical, so you can build with either side as the drive side. Thanks, Lightbicycle

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jared 2019/01/28

I just recently bought some LB hoops and I currently have DT Swiss straight pull hubs. There is a disclaimer stating Not to use 2mm spokes. What size straight pull spokes can I use?

LightBicycle 2019/01/29

Hi Jared, As our User Guides indicated, The thickest spokes that can be used on our rims are double butted 2/1.8/2mm. You can check out our video episode "Spokes We Build With" on YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovwoEXuisWM&t=2s Thanks, Lightbicycle

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