Our Tools
We’re committed to using the best quality tools available and adopting some of the latest technology to guarantee that your wheels are perfectly true and tensioned.
Our Tools
We’re committed to using the best quality tools available and adopting some of the latest technology to guarantee that your wheels are perfectly true and tensioned.
Tel: 07879 785543
About Leadout Cycles
Who I Am
I'm Dave Walker, owner and mechanic at Leadout Cycles. I've been building custom wheels since 2010 and servicing bikes for over 15 years. Based in Whitegate, Cheshire, I am IMI Level 3 (VRQ) trained, I'm a member of the Association of Cycle Traders (ACT), and I'm an authorised Bosch eBike and Shimano STEPS service provider.
But credentials only tell part of the story. What matters is why I do this work and how my background shapes the service you'll get.
Why I Build Wheels
I started building wheels in 2010 after repeatedly breaking factory wheels in sprint finishes and road races. I knew there had to be a better way - wheels that could handle the forces of competitive racing while being properly matched to a rider's weight and riding style. So I learned to build them myself.
That frustration turned into a passion. Over the past 15 years, I've built hundreds of wheelsets for riders across the UK - from weekend warriors to competitive racers. Every wheelset is hand-built to precise tolerances using professional-grade tools and carefully selected components. I take pride in creating wheels that are not only stronger and more reliable than factory options, but also repairable and sustainable.
Racing Background
Cycling has been a huge part of my life since my early twenties. I've competed for the Army Road Race Team in British Cycling stage races and won multiple Army Championship and Combined Services titles. My strength was rolling courses - selective enough to drop pure sprinters. I spent most of my racing career as a domestique, working for teammates - something I genuinely enjoyed.
These days I'm an active member of my local Cheshire club and still compete in time trials, recently focusing on breaking 50 minutes for a 25-mile TT. That racing experience means I understand what riders need from their equipment - whether it's a lightweight climbing wheelset, a tough gravel build, or a bulletproof training wheelset for British winter roads.
Military Discipline Meets Cycling Passion
Before cycling became my business, I served 16 years as an Army Officer after training at Sandhurst. The Army instilled discipline and attention to detail that carries through to every wheel I build and every bike I service. Your equipment gets the care it deserves.
Now settled with my family in the heart of Cheshire, Leadout Cycles brings together my passion for cycling with professional service and straight-talking advice. Whether you need a service, a repair, or a custom wheelset designed specifically for your riding, I'm here to help.
The Leadout Cycles Difference
Precision spoke tensioning - I use professional tension meters to check and balance spoke tensions across every wheel. Most workshops don't consider this level of detail, but it's the difference between wheels that last and wheels that fail. Spokes don't break from being too tight - they break from being too loose or from unbalanced tensions that create metal fatigue.
No-nonsense service - I'll tell you what needs doing now, what can wait, and what's fine. No upselling, no pressure. Just honest advice from someone who maintains their own race bike to the same standards I apply to yours.
Hand-built wheels - Every wheelset is hand-laced and stress-relieved, built to precise tolerances. I select components specifically for your weight, riding style, and terrain. My wheels have been raced to victory at the Welsh National Road Race Championship and used to both qualify for and compete at the UCI Gravel World Championships - proving custom builds perform at the highest level across all disciplines.
Understanding what riders needs - Because I race and ride seriously myself, I understand the difference between what the industry wants to sell you and what actually matters for performance and reliability.
Visit the Workshop
My workshop in Whitegate is ready to welcome you. Drop me a message or give me a call to discuss your requirements - whether that's servicing, repairs, or designing your perfect wheelset. If you can't get to the workshop, collection and return is available.
Dave Walker
Leadout Cycles
Whitegate, Cheshire
Tel: 07879 785543
Email: dave@leadoutcycles.co.uk
email us – dave@leadoutcycles.co.uk