Sage-Tips

Why do bike wheels go out of true?

One of the most common reasons wheels go out of true: loose spokes. Check tension by squeezing two spokes at a time between your thumb and fingers, says LaPorta. A really loose spoke will be obvious (as you do this more often, you’ll be able to feel subtle differences). If the wheel’s still wobbly, it’s out of true.

How does a bike wheel become untrue?

In general, the fewer the spokes the more likely the wheel will go untrue. Good training rims are box shaped instead of ‘aero’ and have 28 or more spokes/wheel. You say you ‘have your bike cleaned’. That’s part of the problem.

How often are bike wheels true?

If you ride only on flawless dry roads and in perfect weather conditions, it is recommended that you still check your bearings at least every 8 weeks. While the wheel is attached to the bike, try to move the wheel from side to side, if you feel it’s loose, adjust accordingly. Clean and re-grease the wheel’s bearings.

Can you true a wheel with the tire on?

The absolute answer to your question is yes.

How do you align a bicycle front wheel?

The wheel should be centered between the fork blades. To adjust wheel centering, open the quick release, move the wheel either left or right until the wheel appears centered, then close the quick release. For non-quick release wheels, loosen the axle nuts and center the wheel, then tighten the nuts fully.

How true should a bike wheel be?

The wheel does not have to be perfectly round or true; slight runouts are acceptable (a few millimeters). As long as there are no loose spokes and the wheel is reasonably straight (the rim and tire mustn’t rub on the brake pads), it will ride nicely and hold up fine.

When should I true my wheels?

If you have a higher quality wheel, you should only need to true them once following approximately 200 miles (ca. 322 km) of riding regardless of the weight of the rider or amount of abuse the wheels encounter. For lesser quality wheels, it’s a good idea to continue to check them every few months for safety purposes.

Is it easy 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.