What makes bike wheels bend?
Rims can get bent out of shape from hitting a big pothole, by getting twisted when you try to wedge your bike in or out of a rack and when a spoke breaks. Pro mechanics remove a bent wheel from the bike and put it on a special truing stand, but this is not needed unless you want to get a racing bike in tip-top shape.
Can I ride bike with slightly bent rim?
Riding a slightly bent rim is typically not dangerous. I’ve continued to ride bent rims on my bikes for many months. Eventually, it may get worse, especially if you are learning 180’s or how to jump. The bend is a weak spot that can get worse if you land on it with the same side loads again.
How do I know if my bike rim is bent?
Having said that, a rim that isn’t bent should have more or less even spoke tension across all the spokes when it is true. On the other hand, a bent rim will require higher tension in some spots and lower tension in others. So, noticeably uneven spoke tension in a true wheel is one sign that the rim might be bent.
Is it hard to true a wheel?
Truing a wheel involves tightening and loosening the spoke nipples to realign warped sections of the rim, and it’s something you can do at home. “It’s meticulous and time-consuming, but the actual principle of it is pretty simple,” says Justin McCloud, professional bike mechanic and owner of Blackbird Bike Co.
Can I true a wheel myself?
Yes you could try truing yourself, but also yes you could “destroy the whole thing”! Well, not destroy it, but end up with a wheel more out of true and maybe some damaged spokes. Out of any repair on a bike this one is one you need to get your head round first and take your time on.
Should I True my own wheel?
Can I True My Own Wheel? Absolutely! You don’t want to over-tighten one side and under-tighten another just to get the wheel into shape. You’re looking for even tension across every spoke.
How long does it take to true a wheel?
Except when you complain. Then it takes 1-2 weeks. During the busy season, which is now, a bike mechanic can do 5-7 tune-ups a day, less if he has to deal with customers. BTW, if he trues your wheel, and your derailleur shifts into the spokes, you are ok with that, right?
Should all spokes be same tension?
Spoke tension is important to ensure your wheels are strong, reliable and long lasting. Spokes that are too tight will cause damage to the rim, spoke nipples and hub flanges. All of the spokes in the wheel should have approximately the same average tension.
How do I know if my spokes are tight enough?
Once the rim is free from blips and serious flat spots, check the tension of the spokes. Put your thumb around one spoke and your fingers around the spoke next to it and squeeze. The spokes should feel tight and firm. They should have just a little give when you squeeze them fairly hard.
How do you radially true a wheel?
Radial truing (the roundness of the wheel) Gradually move the callipers up until they make light contact. Identify to the two spokes nearest the problem area and tighten each by a quarter turn. Spokes work in pairs when it comes to radial truing, so always tighten two at at time.
What does truing a wheel mean?
Wheel truing is the process of using a spoke wrench to change the tension of spokes to improve the straightness and roundness, or trueness, of the wheel.
How much does truing a wheel cost?
If the wheel is fixable–it generally looks good but has a wobble–you can expect your local bike shop to charge $20 – $30 to true it using professional equipment like a truing stand for the perfect line and roundness.
How do you true a wheel up and down?
Work your way around the wheel until it no longer touches either brake pad. If you are using a truing stand, you will be tightening or loosening the spoke nipples at the bottom of the wheel. To tighten the spoke, turn the nipple counterclockwise. To loosen the spoke, turn the nipple clockwise.
Which way do spoke nipples tighten?
Note that the spokes have nut-like devices at the rim called nipples. When viewed from above, nipples are turned clockwise with the spoke wrench to tighten spoke tension and counterclockwise to loosen it. To ensure that you turn the nipple the correct way, always rotate the wheel to bring the nipple to the top first.
Can you tighten spokes with pliers?
I know a lot of people are telling you to take it to the bike shop, but if you have just one or two loose spokes it’s fine to tighten them with pliers or an adjustable spanner. It won’t magically bend the wheel unless you really overdo it. Just aim for the same tension as the neighboring spokes.
Can I true a wheel without a spoke wrench?
If you don’t know how to true wheels, it can still come in handy if you ride with friends who can – or if a good Samaritan who can stops to help you. To make your own house key spoke wrench, simply clamp the key in a vise to hold it so you can cut a nipple-sized slot in it.
Can you ride with a loose spoke?
Never ride with a loose spoke. The friction created will cause the rider to burst into flames and may even cause the Earth to slip off it’s axis. A wheel with so few spokes, and has a loose spoke, AND is still true, has major problems.