In this episode, I talk to wheelwright Greg Rowland about the craft of making traditional wooden wheels. Greg explains why different timbers are chosen for different parts of the wheel — elm for hubs, oak for spokes, ash for fellies — and how fire and iron are used to shrink-fit the tyre that locks everything together. We also explore the hidden geometry of a twelve-spoke wheel, and what it means to “cut for your grandchildren” when elm may take fifty years to season.
I also reflect on Day Four of my ride: cycling across South Devon over steep, sharp hills, taking my first fall of the journey, and dealing with a frayed gear cable that had to be fixed roadside. The day finished in Axminster, with omelettes, local craft cider, and the realisation that it was time to start heading north in earnest.
Links
See the visual journey on Instagram: @crafty_cyclist
Click on this link to see more of Greg’s work on Instagram
Discover more about endangered crafts at Heritage Crafts — and, if you’d like to support their work, you can donate via my JustGiving page