How To True A Bicycle Wheel

[@Moneyalmenial]

Great video, taught me that I'm never going to bother truing a wheel

[@davidh6300]

Lol

[@snoop35L]

Practice makes perfect I’ve been doing it for years on all my bikes and pretty much do it by eye now !

[@blizzbee]

I was very nervous at my first time truing a wheel myself. But once i started, it was an addiction :)) Nothing difficult.

[@proscons3271]

@@snoop35L den watchu doin on this video? chekin for nostalgia? respect snoop!!

[@RaphaelDawkinsCombatRadio]

Oh lord, half way in and i started visualising walking in the shop. Which i don't want to do because the peeps there are not particularly welcoming or friendly 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@turbo2000gt]

The length of this video is perfect. You tell and show just enough to get the job done, without over-explaining as so many other videos do. Good job!

[@rulesOfChaos_]

How is this 10 year old GCN video so much better than the 3 year old GCN video on the same topic? Much more concise and a great illustration to make it 100% clear which way to turn the spoke key

[@robertprivera]

thank you for allowing do-it-your-selfers to true a wheel GOOD ENOUGH, using just the brake pads and not a high end truing stand. very encouraging! Thanks! I think I can do this.

[@AussieKopite]

At 2:04, are those arrows pointing the same way?

[@jamesdrake142]

Exactly. This is the only thing I came to this and half a dozen other videos. Which was is clockwise, with respect to the nipple and the rim? The infographic shows clockwise and anti-clockwise as the same rotational direction. wtf dude.

[@blue_beephang-glider5417]

Fantastic Video! I have tried and failed to do this in the past. I blindly followed all your steps and have a straight wheel now. Many Thanks. 😎👍

[@TheTravesty2012]

did u do it freely spinning in the frame with brake pads? or do you have this fancy wheel trueing machine to help?

[@dav2mai]

The rabbit hole gets deeper and deeper. Geez, so many specialized tools

[@ReedoAce]

So true.. the more complex it is the more they make money from it.. a shame really when ordinary people have no alternative or choice. This is where the industry becomes monopolistic and makes it unaffordable to buy and maintain a bike

[@PhunkyChikin]

Not, really, all you need is the wheel on a bike and a screwdriver to tighten the heads of the nipples with the tire and rim strip off. Upgrade to a good spoke wrench so you can do it with the tires mounted. The stand is nice, but only gets you more precision. Good to grease or oil the spoke threads if there creaky too.

[@daltiniapiarylaunceston7908]

Replace 6 spokes so i put my wheel in my Jet trainer stand, got it running true and then found when i tried to fit to my bike the dish was way out, so followed the instructions, adjusted to true again and sweet! First time ever tried - big thanks GCN!!!

[@Vivungisport]

Oh man ! This is one of the best youtube videos i have seen in years,,, and i spend 2-3 hours daily. Your voice /instructions/ illustrations/ lenght at the vid etc . I enjoed the moment :) ! Thousand thx Bud !

[@GodlyEndeavor]

I don’t even know why I watched the whole video. After about 30 seconds, I realized I would never be able to do this on my own.

[@GizmoBitz]

The clockwise arrow at 2:04 is pointing the wrong way is it not?

[@edit11]

typo.

[@tylerdurden2598]

i second that

[@brisfocus3648]

the method in the video is to get it super accurate - you can leave the tyre on and simply turn the bike upside down and spin the wheel and use the brakes or something else as a guide for the alignment. Then loosen a spoke on one side and tighten the one on the other to adjust - you can get it fairly close simply using your eyes.

[@kdflf]

at 2:01 the arrows for anticlockwise and clockwise are in the same direction!!??

[@Soknik01]

At 2:00 your diagram shows clockwise and anti-clockwise as being identical to each other.

[@psychprof2]

At 2:03 you show the same direction for clockwise and anti-clockwise tightening

[@lesio333]

did anybody noticed at the marker 2:00 that the instructions are correct but the picture is wrong? LOL both arrows point to the same direction - clockwise and counter-clockwise :)beside that - very nice video

[@smartcatcollarproject5699]

Which one is correct ? if the text is correct it means the thread is the opposite of most ? To open a bottle you need to turn anti-clockwise.

[@dice3000]

so basically it is impossible to do it yourself if youre a mere mortal

[@gcn]

***** we wouldn't go that far... Just requires a bit of time.

[@mogeoofficiel]

I do it myself with a very cheap material, and the result is less than 0.5 mm . ;-)

[@alantaylor6691]

@@mogeoofficiel Honestly it's way easier than people think. My first wheels I was very surprised when I got them within 1mm in an hour or so. I thought I was gifted but it's not that, it's just not as hard as people say. I think why people think that is because of the time, it does take time. Going closer than 1mm takes a lot more time as it gets harder. But getting to 1mm really isn't difficult.

[@danzirulez]

@@alantaylor6691 The difficult part is getting a decent truing stand... that costs a fortune... :S

[@alantaylor6691]

@@danzirulez I suppose you wouldn't want to use a cheap truing stand, better off just using your bike frame!

[@MyConor10]

to anyone trying to true a wheel I've got a cheap solution, if your brakes can be adjusted make sure to have them adjusted so that they are just slightly clearing the rim therefore if the brakes start rubbing you can tighten or loosen the spoke in the correct places Happy fixing :)

[@oklahomasupercell]

I watched 15 videos on trueing but yours was the only one that added COUNTERCLOCKWISE/CLOCKWISE and which one of those corresponds to tighten/loosen. Thanks much 🚴

[@forzaviola9512]

Good overview. I would have liked to have seen some of the homebrew trueing options explored in greater detail.

[@hcraig8484]

After a long time using lightweight Shimano C24 wheels 16/24 aero spokes (or similar) I got tired of constantly truing them, and experiencing bad handling when they went out of true, which was always within a few days of truing them. Then I got a set of sturdy Velocity A23 hubs with size 14 round double butted steel spokes 32/32 hand built wheels - the builder offers a lifetime service guarantee because such a setup never (well, almost never) goes out of true - IF BUILT WITH EXPERTISE IN THE FIRST PLACE. He's built over 4000 wheels and hasn't gone bankrupt yet. And surprise, after the initial service (within a month after purchase) I haven't needed another tune up in the following 6 months. And these wheels (including build) were 1/3 of the price I paid for my C24s. It's hard to imagine going back to the world of broken spokes / loose spokes just happening in the middle of a ride. If you are a racer I understand it could be different - but then it wouldn't be worth doing lightweight wheels on the cheap - to make it worthwhile you have to get your low spoke count wheels from expert wheelbuilders to start with so that your spoke tensions are nearly all the same at perfect true, and then make sure your wheels are always perfectly trued before you race.

[@alantaylor6691]

I suppose for all the spokes to be nearly all the same tension at perfect true, that's determined by having a rim that's straight?

[@GabrielAmyot]

Great video. Thanks for the great advice. Note: If you are a noob (like me) and you are feeling adventurous enough to re-center the dish of your wheel, keep in mind to center it based on the dropout contact points, which is not necessarily the center of the wheel hub is you have a disk break/cassette/etc . I was replacing 2 spokes on my back wheel and I noticed the dish was not centred with the wheel hub. So I applied the method at 1:21 to center the dish. I managed to center it an I was feeling like a pro..... but when I mounted the wheel to the bike the wheel was not centered on the frame anymore and it rubed on the side. I'll have do undo this now.... 😶‍🌫

[@matthewchong-nee5596]

Hello Global Cycling Network, I find this tutorial interesting. For employment, I'm a bicycle mechanic on a level of novice when it becomes to obtaining this essential skill and as well as the knowledge of truing a bicycle wheel. Right now I'm still in progress of practising wheel truing, I just like to say thank you for having the time to do a demonstration. It really helps me out. 👍

[@Kroche71]

Mistake in the graphics @2:00. Anyone else spot it?

[@mevszach]

yup, the clockwise arrow is turned the wrong way.

[@sevenwhitehorses]

yep

[@JesusCarrilification]

@2:00, look at your graphic. It shows the same directional arrow for both "Anti clockwise" and "Clockwise".

[@tomislavgaleta1330]

Thank you this simple and still so useful video!

[@lloyd.8272]

I learn to true wheels when I was 15 while doing trial riding, after watching this I realised I didn’t have a clue what I was doing, but some how I made them true…. Well some of them. 😂

[@choobr549]

Great vid, but the graphic at 2 mins shows turning the same direction to tighten or loosen the spoke. Unless I am looking at it wrong.

[@HikingFeral]

Thanks, I managed to pick it up pretty quickly and that's with my bike upside down. So for me, upside down working - at the bottom of the wheel, it was anti clockwise to tighten and clockwise to loosen the spokes. I find a gentle creaking noise is when it's actually adjusting through tension. I've got the wheel running smoothly between the brakes now and that's good enough for me. I'll probably make small adjustments every week as I learn more and get better at it, because canal tow paths certainly smash my wheels about anyways lol that babies head gravel.

[@seangilbreath7378]

My experience exactly. Once adjustments started to become visible, it started making more sense. The creaking of the tensioning spokes is really helpful to note

[@skankhunt-zw6gg]

@ 1:30 and @ 2:30 are the key steps (as @Jake Wilson pointed out, @2:30 the clockwise arrow in incorrectly drawn)

[@charithmettananda7129]

Very helpful. Good thing he used day to day tools that’s laying around a lads home

[@georgemacdonald3087]

In the diagram at 2:01you show tighten =anticlockwise and loosen clockwise but the arrows are BOTH pointing anticlockwise. = confusing.

[@Psps218]

The ccw and cw arrows in the graph are showing the same direction...

[@grahamrandle]

Thank you sir. Thought I was out time and money on a MTB wheel. One pair of pliers, steady finger to track deflections and I'm ready for the trails again. Good stuff.

[@danmaku88]

very helpful thanks! Riding an old pair of shimano wheels that came with an old giant ocr1 bought second hand online. Gets out of true every 200kms so have to deal with it until i get a new pair of lighter wheels.

[@alantaylor6691]

Do you like Ultegra?

[@RadiantFreeEnergyResearch]

I have always felt a sense if wonder, when i see someone truing, a rim. but when i purchase a bike, i prefer the non spoked rims. with the thicker metal. i know this would weigh more, but i like the low maintenance requirements of the non spoked, thick metal type rims.

[@AlexGreenwoodUkulele]

FUUUUUU I've tried all sorts of equipment and been to bike repair classes. I CAN'T HIT THIS ONE ON THE HEAD! Every time, I make something go SOOO wrong, it's three times worse than what I started with. Also, I'm not wanting to fork out £30 for a high-end truing stand, and was hoping there is something like a house-hold item I can use for the job? Thanks for the vid, GCN! Staying subscribed for life. My friend is joining the road bike community and I'll show him some of the How To videos.

[@scorpio5493]

I'm confused, I just read on another website that to tighten the spokes, you turn it clockwise and to loosen turn counter clock wise? Which is it? Thanks

[@paulgruen1]

I find this confusing as well. At 2:00, the arrows are both showing the same direction, yet one is labled clockwise and the other anti. Difficult to find anyone who can make this clear.

[@christianideryd9558]

One of your best videos! Thanks a lot GCN!

[@uvwuvw-ol3fg]

Agreed, except for not a single word about importance of even spoke tension within a specific tolerance.

[@DMcTyke]

Thanks very much Dan, just what I needed to give me the basic knowledge to have a go at this myself (remembering, of course, that confidence is a highly over-rated quality!)

[@MelkorHimself]

You got it within 0.1 mm of perfect true? Who the hell would scoff at that? Most wheel companies say that anything within 1-2 mm is acceptable for new builds.

[@mlee6050]

my mountain bike is 2 years old and I even trued those wheels to 0.1mm just last week I hear so many aim for 0.2mm but I aim for half but if it wasn't a mountain bike I might make it more true

[@abdelkaderbennaoum3882]

Yes, Simon, but truing a wheel to the best of your ability ensure you won't have to true it to the same extent next time.

[@abdelkaderbennaoum3882]

Never thought about that actually, good point.

[@goride564]

@@SimonWoodburyForget Depends on your riding style I'd say. In my experience it's pointless to spend a lot of time trueing a wheel precisely on my Enduro bike. There will be side forces and it will be bend a bit soon anyway. On my road bike I'll take my time. I'm sure it helps last longer during normal riding stress.

[@declanflynn6126]

the graphic at 2:01 shows the spoke spinning the same direction, looks like an error to me

[@omabubaker]

thanks for the video it did not take long for you guys to make it Cheers

[@Ianjeffery2500]

Good advice, but your graphic showing "Anti-clockwise - Tighten" and "Clockwise - Loosen" (at 2.02 in the film) have the arrows of rotation both going the same way. Think you need to change the "Loosen" to the other way around.

[@pallingtontheshrike6374]

Maybe, just maybe, he was putting counterclockwise (Amuriken) a seen from the other orientation of the weel ;D

[@johanncat-s007]

bizarre, mind-bleeping error in the graphic, that, at 2:02

[@lxtwin]

Hi there, how do you decide to tighten one spoke on one side or loosen two spokes on the opposite side ?

[@scootosan]

At 2:02 your illustration is incorrect for tight and loosen (direction arrows)

[@baconpancakes8899]

Bro thinks I own all these equipment

[@sharpnup]

I had my wheels trued professionally but guy suggested that they were SO far out it might be worth investing in new wheels. Yesterday training ride back wheel wobbling so bad bad brakes are sticking to wheel fully opened! Quick repair-Enough to get home. However, my question- Once your wheel gets out of true vertically (as well as horizontally) does this mean a new purchase is due? Eyeing up Campagnola Zonda currently. All replies gratefully received. Top videos GCN!

[@alantaylor6691]

Hell no, the radial true (vertically) is a normal part of a wheel getting out of true just like the horizontal true. Truing stands have a thing where you judge the radial true as well as the side to side wobble, and you fix them both in any normal truing job. In fact when you buy a new wheel they are very often out of true radially and side to side and need to be trued to get them right.

[@forfengeligfaen]

2:02 both arrows are anti clockwise?

[@MrBulshoy]

There needs to be a version of this video for people who have none of the proper tools and have to just wing it.

[@HOLLANDisDISTURBED]

What about wheel balancing? I saw a video of Shane Miller showing some drastic wheel shaking due to the weight of the valve on one side of the wheel. I never heard of this phenomenon before and couldn't find a video explaining it on the GCN page. Cheers!

[@dadsfreetimeclassicgaming1220]

I wish I would have noticed that you used the same Arrow graphic for anti-clockwise and clockwise

[@jonmcgoey83]

Tightening by going clockwise versus counter clockwise... ??? It depends on whether you're looking down into the inside of the rim at a spoke at six o'clock versus looking down from the outside of the wheel at a spoke at 12 o'clock! If you look from the outside of the rim, your spoke wrench should go clockwise to tighten. The trick is to always maintain the same perspective or similarly always use the spoke wrench at the same spot on the truing stand or frame

[@audunjemtland8287]

I have a bike without spokes. It's these racing wheels. How do you straighten the wheel then?

[@alantaylor6691]

They sound expensive lol

[@Cartoon_Physics]

Reverse threaded, got it. That's what I was looking for.

[@quirkatron]

What is the importance of a true wheel? what happens if your wheel is slightly untrue vs very untrue vs perfectly true how does it affect your riding?

[@kings9634]

wears brake can damage Brake Caliper unstable riding better true then not

[@lenuetshikangaoyalo9291]

Kindly show me a video on how to true a Shimano WH-R560 wheel set

[@reverendbluejeans1748]

wheel truing stand. I believe got one of those in the shad.

[@fckusoogle875]

+Gerald Davis I keep mine out in the sunligh.

[@SegioDokic]

+fckusoogle Keeping it out in the sun will make your truing stand to go out of true

[@fckusoogle875]

SegioDokic err.. no, i meant.. oh never min.

[@kurtismckemmie4850]

Where can I get one of those? I have a ton of rims in my storage unit. I have no money to buy new rims.

[@spanish111japan]

Do ALL the spokes tighten and losen in the same directions?

[@gcn]

Yes they do, but remember that the orientation of the wheel is key!

[@c.j.burtwell8430]

Shimano spokes/nipples on some wheels are lefty loosy righty tighty.

[@Princeton_James]

What if all the spokes on the side that you are trying to pull towards are too tight, while the other side is loose?

[@FLBLUE777]

Oh wow, I actually got it 😂 thanks man 2:14 is the most useful info

[@sl2k4u]

Your praphic is wrong at 2:02, both are going the same direction.

[@edit11]

it doesn't mislead. if you understand what anti clock and clockwise means then you would know its a typo.

[@joshuaruddiman987]

You realise that at 2:00 in your arrows of clockwise and anti-clockwise are going the same direction right?

[@lcc8394]

just picked up a cheap second hand winter bike...............it's got stock wheels on....................on the rear wheel while it runs true a lot of the spokes where very loose when I had a feel of them and had a lot of play side to side........................so I took my spoke key to them and gave them around a half turn or so and tightened them all but now the wheel is way out of true and pulls to the left....................doI back off the spokes a bit and try to get the wheel trued again but have loose spokes or do I try and tighten the spokes that are laced on the right hand side of the wheel.....? thanks

[@alantaylor6691]

I'm not a wheel expert but have some minimal experience with truing wheels. From what I understand, spokes have to have a tension between 15 and 25 units of whatever. When I was working as bike mechanic in a bike shop for a short time and we had a simple spoke tension tool. You can buy them on ebay or whatever I think for about $50. It's very easy to use, you just place it on the spoke and it tells you the tension. I know your comment is 2 years ago and may not apply now, but I'm answering anyway. What I think you would have to do is use the spoke tension tool on those loose spokes. If they are below 15, tighten them to just above 15. I'd then go around all the spokes and make sure they are within the 15-25 range. Bring them just within range if any are out. Then I'd go ahead and true the wheel, checking periodically with the spoke tension tool. In answer to your specific question, I do think you need tighten your spokes so they are tight enough. Then as you said, loosen the other side so you get it dished correctly again. No good having loose spokes, even if the wheel is true. I think it would be better to have a buckled wheel than really loose spokes. If you can't get the wheel true while having the spokes within tension range, then perhaps the rim itself is bent too much out of shape. I'm not an expert I'm just guessing there.

[@jbirdperez6003]

i hate when my foot fall asleep during the day watching videos ... cause that means it's goin to be up all night .

[@Scrogan]

The diagram at 2:04 is wrong, both the clockwise and anti-clockwise arrows point in the same direction.

[@kieranobrien9737]

Great video. I’m going to try myself rather than bike shop. Thanks

[@cathyshiley3388]

Just go directly to the bike shop

[@alexanderwayne9145]

Thx bro ! Perfect! I am ready to build my new rim with fresh spokes and a hub! BTW, I am thinking theses Pros are a bit who scoff at your wheel would faint at my DH bike. Rear wheel has been 6-12mm off or so for more the 7 years !!!!! hahahaha It has never failed! just keeps pounding the trails out. Cheers !

[@saneejdodisam6724]

Hi team . I find I am breaking my j-bend spoke every second day of riding. If I change the the spoke and hub to straight spoke will it hold up. If so how please

[@Dbz4life26]

Is the loosening and tightening process the same for all bikes?

[@makantahi3731]

it depends how much is offset and spoke tension

[@KevHw]

I was hoping for some additional advice on bladed spokes and how to keep them angled correctly whilst truing.

[@T-female]

wow ...nice wheel truing stand ts-3?

[@lucian-catalinstupariu5918]

I have a question: What's the name of the support where you put the wheel? Thank you.

[@pallingtontheshrike6374]

A trueing stand.

[@JohnChishala-nt4ip]

interesting making bro hoping to get ideas from you.

[@theonlyalan731]

Marty Feldman... am I right? I like this guy, always has lots of good information and he presents it well.

[@normandiegonorman768]

Hi Sir I'm frm South Africa. I would just like to know what is the name of the tool that u have put the wheel in. I've seen it for the first time in your videos

[@rohaanazam3594]

Norman Diego Norman a truing stand

[@normandiegonorman768]

rohaan azam thnk u

[@normandiegonorman768]

Hi Sir. Could u tell me what is the price of these road bicycles in the UK. Could u tell me? My cell 0621967413, are u an engineer. im doing Boilermaking. Would like to hear from u soon

[@rohaanazam3594]

Norman Diego Norman you can go on a website called Evans cycles and find a toad bike. the prices are around 3 to 400 pounds and it will be delivered to your house. all you have to do is put the petals and handle bar on and you can find tutorials easily good luck

[@miguelacaballero19]

i have a truing idea but idk if it would work. Im thinking of releasing tension on all spokes which will cause the wheel to untrue greatly but then slowly Increase tension on all spokes just enough to hit the same note/pitch with a guitar tuner. (lets say the tuner reads an "A" on all spokes which means in return that all spokes have the same tension. the A would be the truing base point. Then begin to actually true like it shows here? The point being is to have the closest stress on all spokes vs uneven stress by truing directly. What do you guys think?

[@debdinoogmai]

Won't work. If you increase tension in 1 spoke there are many other spokes directly affected. Some will decrease in tension, others increase. Truing a wheel from scratch requires lots of practice and skill.

[@davidbui1151]

Clockwise and anti clockwise point in the same direction?

[@PeterHenrichsen]

Really good discription! Thank you!

[@AmineRahmani_]

Does it work with really twisted wheels?

[@yongling9825]

Nope, that one's screwed, you're better off getting a new rim.

[@gustavobruzadelli8531]

I weigh 77 kg and I have a ztr mk3 rim, cube tune king and kong and spokes sapim cx ray. I would like to know how much voltage (tensiometer) I put in the rays. Because when I ride of standing the wheels pop

[@schizoidhaus]

how tight do the spokes have to be? is there something like too tight? can i over tighten them with just the spokie?

[@yongling9825]

There is a limit & it varies with different spokes & wheelsets.

[@cd2stw]

How important is the balance of the wheel? Mine vibrates at the frequency of rotation, it could be the valve of course plus some of the "no flats" liquid. My question is: Should I do something about it or not?

[@Weepypostman]

What do you guys recommend for a stationary trainer?

[@mnovo]

I have the Tacx basic. 29,000km and still going strong. The kurt kinetic does interest me though

[@sitiaisyahsg]

Is the spoke key size 48x40x13mm/1.89x1.57x0.51'' ?

[@NewbArchitect]

Thanks so much Dan! How about carbon wheels? Or should I just send it back for maintenance? Most lbs here seem to not be so gentle...scratched my frame too...:-(

[@gcn]

+jcc2150 probably best to let a pro deal with carbon spokes. Dan

[@homerelesperance2857]

Good explanatory & demonstration video! :)

[@geraldbull9272]

Nice chap, really well presented, no hype, down to earth. Sorry about this but why do we always have to have music in the background, for me it serves no purpose other than it distracts, agitates and annoys me. I still say this chap,does a good job and in heart am not a moaner but I think there is some truth in what I say.

[@xuxumatu]

this is the best and simple way

[@JiangHongrie]

I have been riding my bike with a wonky wheel for months thinking to myself what the hell is going on...Well, after 9 years on the same wheels this is the first time I ever needed to true a wheel.

[@JiangHongrie]

Damn dude, same here!!!

[@luped.5581]

2:00 the picture fails! What, they're both the same graphic :(

[@theodoro89]

I actually didn't know you could fix that. I am such a noob. Thanks for the video !

[@Cook1393]

Great video man. Very informative.

[@alexs1429]

Is there a video on how to fix your bearings?

[@gcn]

Yep, right here: gcn.eu/17PPGPT This tutorial uses Shimano hubs, which all use ball bearings. If it's sealed bearing hubs that you need to service, we might have to work on a video for that :)

[@jackieboyborden]

I just like listening to him talk

[@m0rdecai89]

Does it matter how centered the wheel is on the stand and therefore in the fingers?

[@BAK87]

If you rely on the stand only, then it's a must to be centered ! And also the stand must be well calibrated. When using a dishing gauge, you check how off-centre the rim actually is. You can have a perfectly true wheel, which is off-centre ("not aligned with the seat-tube") and it will likely cause tracking and braking problems, maybe wont even fit in the frame without rubbing. A good wheel is True and Centered :)

[@MuvoTX]

my spokes must be threaded reverse... turning the "nut" clockwise shortens it, and pulls the rim to that side. I was able to true my rim easily using the rim brakes as a gage.... one advantage to rim brakes, lol!!

[@jamesalbis4425]

How do you adjust the wheel wiggling up and down?

[@Lolimaster]

I think that comes from bad weight distribution, you add some tiny magnets to test.

[@alonzocalvillo6702]

Why don’t the truing stands have rubberized tips? That would prevent a lot of scratched rims. I built my own and I used plastic tips.