Tandem bicycle stem that is clamped around the captain's seatpost. The stoker handlebars are typically bullhorns or drop bars with "dummy levers" instead of brake levers for gripping. Because of the extra weight and stresses, tandem wheels may use a higher spoke count, sturdier rims, higher pressure tires, a stronger freewheel, dishless spoke configuration, or asymmetric wheels. Tandems wear out rear wheels faster than front wheels; therefore, they may use non-symmetrical wheel setups, such as more spokes or a sturdier rim on the rear wheel. The dish of a wheel measures the amount of asymmetry between the rim and the hub flanges.
Wheelbuilding a convention, if the hub has a maker's label on its barrel, for the label to face (and be readable through) the valve hole. See Gerd Schraner for methodology. The rim labels should be readable from the right-hand side (drive side) of the bicycle. The hub labels should face in the same direction front and rear (generally so they are readable from the seat), this means that even an undished, symmetrical front wheel has to be laced to the rim the "proper" way round, if perfection is the aim. Wheelbuilding Wheelbuilding is the process of assembling wire wheels (generally a