Pro tip: My whole approach to wheel truing changed after a shop visit in Tucson

I was working at a bike co-op in Tucson last spring and this old mechanic showed up with a wheel so bent I almost laughed, but he had it straight in 8 minutes using just a spoke wrench and a zip tie as a reference. He said he never uses a truing stand anymore because it slows him down and makes you overthink every little wobble. So what do you all think - is ditching the stand for a zip tie and some feel a valid method or just a shortcut that'll bite you later?

2 comments

2 Comments

lisa_wilson873d ago

Dude, 8 minutes with a spoke wrench and a zip tie? That's insane. I've seen guys at co-ops who can true a wheel blindfolded but that's next level. I bet he didn't even check tension afterwards either, just sent it. Feels like one of those old-school tricks that works great until it doesn't. Like sure, it's fast, but I'd still trust a stand for anything you're gonna ride hard.

wyatt8622d ago

8 minutes and a zip tie, what's next, true a wheel with a twig and some bubble gum? I'd trust that fix about as far as I can throw a full-sized pickup. Guys at co-ops do some wild stuff but at least they take the tire off and check the damn thing. This guy probably just gave it a few twists, called it good, and then went ripping down a rock garden. He'll find out real quick when that wheel starts wobbling like a shopping cart with a bad wheel.

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