I am having a wheel rebuilt. How will the builders know the correct chainline?

Question

They said that they don't need the bicycle frame brought in, but I am a bit skeptically. I don't want to have to get it re-dished afterwards - how will they know the correct amount of dishing required to make the chainline straight?

Answer 1

The rim needs to be in the center of the bike which generally means the rim should be centered over the axle.  Thus, they don't really need to have the frame when they build the wheel.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

The rim is centered on the axle. So the geometry of the bike is irrelevant. Unless it's a really odd bike there should be no problem.  

Answer 3

They build it on a jig that keeps it all straight.They do not need the frame.

Answer 4

If you have a multi geared bike it's not going to matter that much, most of the gears wont match up. They make spacers for other ones, see the link.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chainline.ht...

Answer 5

If you're using the old hub and they don't shift the spacers on the axle, then don't worry about it......in that case they're correct and dishing it normally won't require having your frame present.  

In the event that you or someone monkeyed around with chainline by monkeying around with axle spacers, and in the simultaneous event that this shop further monkeyed with the spacers, then you could be in for chainline issues when you get it back...in which case you'd have to re-space the oddly configured axle and re-dish the wheel.  But I'm betting you won't have to worry about any of this, just let them do their job.    :o)

Answer 6

The chainline is based on the hub. Rims are always centered between the locknuts.