To make a bicycle wheel, you need to adjust the tension of the spokes by tightening the spokes. After adjustment, the spokes will correct the deviation of the rim, allowing you to do nothing while riding the bicycle.
I have been riding a bicycle for more than ten years. During this period, I bend countless wheels and had to adjust myself to save the cost of each trip to the mechanic.
In this article, we will introduce different techniques for trimming bicycles and answer the most frequently asked questions about the art of wheel trimming.
Preparation: Setting up the wheels
Before you start working on the curved wheels, you need to do three things:
1. Loosen the quick release lever and release the wheel from the front fork
2. Prepare each nipple with a drop of light oil
3. Use a tire lever to remove the tire and inner tube
Although not mandatory, this second step is essential for beginners. In the absence of tires, you will be more likely to find rim deviations.
To make a bicycle wheel, you need to adjust the tension of the spokes by tightening the spokes. After adjustment, the spokes will correct the deviation of the rim, allowing you to do nothing while riding the bicycle.
I have been riding a bicycle for more than ten years. During this period, I bend countless wheels and had to adjust myself to save the cost of each trip to the mechanic.
In this article, we will introduce different techniques for trimming bicycles and answer the most frequently asked questions about the art of wheel trimming.
How to use the spoke wrench to adjust the bicycle wheel?
Preparation: Setting up the wheels
Before you start working on the curved wheels, you need to do three things:
1. Loosen the quick release lever and release the wheel from the front fork
2. Prepare each nipple with a drop of light oil
3. Use a tire lever to remove the tire and inner tube
Although not mandatory, this second step is essential for beginners. In the absence of tires, you will be more likely to find rim deviations.
Step 1: Place the wheel on the dressing rack and adjust the indicator
Once the hub is secured to the trim bracket, place the indicator on each side of the rim-approximately 1 inch. You don’t want them to touch, but they must be close enough that you can barely hold a finger.
Step 2: Turn the wheel to find the source of the deviation
To do this, slowly rotate the handle until you hear the sound of contact between the rim and the indicator as the wheel rotates. Make sure to stop turning the handle immediately when the rim and indicator lightly touch each other.
If the wheels stop, you have gone too far. Release the indicator and rotate the wheel again.
Step 3: Find the center of the deviated edge area
Once you have identified the area of the rim with more severe deviations, you need to find the center of that area to understand which spokes to tighten.
To make sure you have found the correct position, grab the two nearest spokes from the center and squeeze them together. If the edge deviates from the indicator, it means you are working in the correct area.
Remember, you need to turn the spoke wrench clockwise to tighten the spoke connector, and turn it counterclockwise to loosen the spoke connector.
Step 4: Use a wrench to tighten the spoke nipple
Keep moving slowly and observe how the rim reacts when tightening the spokes. If it is tightened too tightly, the integrity of the spoke may be damaged.
If you hear a creaking sound, you either forgot to add oil or screwed the nipple too tightly. If in doubt, loosen the spoke.
A good rule of thumb: After each quarter turn of each nipple, rotate the wheel backward and compare its effect on deviation with the indicating finger.
Step 5: Repeat the process until the deviation is fixed
In order to keep the balance of the wheel intact, you need to tighten the spokes on both sides of the rim to ensure the opposite. Once the right spoke of the rim is evenly tensioned, switch sides and focus on the left spoke.
How to know when to stop being real?
If you have been riding a bicycle long enough, your wheels have probably been under a lot of pressure. This means it may be impossible to make them “completely correct”.
For reference, professionals usually think that a deviation of 0.5 mm is the best time to stop tightening the spokes.
In practice, you will hardly notice the difference. A rim with a lateral deviation of 1 mm will not affect your performance on the bike, nor will it affect the life of the wheel itself.
To make a bicycle wheel, you need to adjust the tension of the spokes by tightening the spokes. After adjustment, the spokes will correct the deviation of the rim, allowing you to do nothing while riding the bicycle.
I have been riding a bicycle for more than ten years. During this period, I bend countless wheels and had to adjust myself to save the cost of each trip to the mechanic.
In this article, we will introduce different techniques for trimming bicycles and answer the most frequently asked questions about the art of wheel trimming.
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How to use the spoke wrench to adjust the bicycle wheel?
Preparation: Setting up the wheels
Before you start working on the curved wheels, you need to do three things:
1. Loosen the quick release lever and release the wheel from the front fork
2. Prepare each nipple with a drop of light oil
3. Use a tire lever to remove the tire and inner tube
Although not mandatory, this second step is essential for beginners. In the absence of tires, you will be more likely to find rim deviations.
Step 1: Place the wheel on the dressing rack and adjust the indicator
Once the hub is secured to the trim bracket, place the indicator on each side of the rim-approximately 1 inch. You don’t want them to touch, but they must be close enough that you can barely hold a finger.
Step 2: Turn the wheel to find the source of the deviation
To do this, slowly rotate the handle until you hear the sound of contact between the rim and the indicator as the wheel rotates. Make sure to stop turning the handle immediately when the rim and indicator lightly touch each other.
If the wheels stop, you have gone too far. Release the indicator and rotate the wheel again.
Step 3: Find the center of the deviated edge area
Once you have identified the area of the rim with more severe deviations, you need to find the center of that area to understand which spokes to tighten.
To make sure you have found the correct position, grab the two nearest spokes from the center and squeeze them together. If the edge deviates from the indicator, it means you are working in the correct area.
Remember, you need to turn the spoke wrench clockwise to tighten the spoke connector, and turn it counterclockwise to loosen the spoke connector.
Step 4: Use a wrench to tighten the spoke nipple
Keep moving slowly and observe how the rim reacts when tightening the spokes. If it is tightened too tightly, the integrity of the spoke may be damaged.
If you hear a creaking sound, you either forgot to add oil or screwed the nipple too tightly. If in doubt, loosen the spoke.
A good rule of thumb: After each quarter turn of each nipple, rotate the wheel backward and compare its effect on deviation with the indicating finger.
Step 5: Repeat the process until the deviation is fixed
In order to keep the balance of the wheel intact, you need to tighten the spokes on both sides of the rim to ensure the opposite. Once the right spoke of the rim is evenly tensioned, switch sides and focus on the left spoke.
How to know when to stop being real?
If you have been riding a bicycle long enough, your wheels have probably been under a lot of pressure. This means it may be impossible to make them “completely correct”.
For reference, professionals usually think that a deviation of 0.5 mm is the best time to stop tightening the spokes.
In practice, you will hardly notice the difference. A rim with a lateral deviation of 1 mm will not affect your performance on the bike, nor will it affect the life of the wheel itself.
After the horizontal reality, it is recommended to ride a bicycle to reduce the pressure on the spokes. After a few minutes, check the spoke tension to make sure it has not changed much.
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