Learning to true a wheel WITH AND WITHOUT A TRUING STAND | Syd Fixes Bikes

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This is a great video for learning how to do this, especially on a nicer wheel with spoke spacing like this!

I would also tend to squeeze the spokes as well flick them for the sound to check them.

For regular bike wheels i would go to tightening the spokes first, to fix the untrue area on the truing stand because for the most part the spokes are on the loose side and you're only moving it a little bit most of the times anyway.
If you hear the spoke make noise like its tight or its just obviously to tight, then i would switch to checking the spoke again and go for loosening them to fix the area then.

However that's for a more normal wheel with more spokes than these nicer MTB wheels.


Nice bigger & more expensive Mtb Wheels like these with very spaced spokes, make it hard to learn on i would feel like..

It's also just harder to get done as quick to have it perfect and done properly, but the quality of the better wheels definitely makes truing the wheel and keeping it true as you go versus cheaper bikes, much better and just more consistent.

We would see a range of "cheaper" everyday mountain bikes up to 10k$+ mountain bikes and road bikes on a somewhat normal basis because of the sales volume, and at the time before covid, when a full suspension downhill bike was 3-4k$ for a Trek, Specialized or Santa Cruz.

We were seeing at least one sold a day at least to build whether for customer or display model, and a few more over the weekend especially during the Summers.
So we got to see and ride all of the cool bikes up and down the price range for bikes like that and also some other nice model like Giant, Cannondales, Custom build bikes, etc..

This was a good video! I loved to true the wheels as it was kind of satisfying to get a crappy 10$ wobbly wheel back going straight again lol or a really nice bike wheel like this and making it nice and perfect as possible for the guys bike.
I would tend to true peoples wheels on the MTB's on the Bike Stand using the gap of wheel between the frame or where you can see easily on each side or the fork spacing on the front..

One thing i don't like is not having a double sided wheel truing stand, even if you're going to use only one side its still easier with the doubled sided truing stand.. Im sure i could get used to it, but it just feels like why not when its already a full wheel truing station..

I'm riding sometimes hard, bikeparks or some jumps with hard landings, every month i see a slightly loose spokes in the rear wheel
I'm trying to tighten them, just to keep same tension (if the wheel is +/-1mm (1 milimiter) it's fine for me, right? equal tension is more important than .1 truiness?)
I was thinking, if Parktool tensiometer would be useful for me or should I just look if the wheels is fairly straight/round in my frame and spokes not too loose (By sound or by touching them) - standard way without tensiometer

The tuning technique totally saved my bacon on an emergency repair to my partner’s commuter bike: broken spoke and everything I did was making it even less true. Used the ‘spoke tuning’ approach was sorted in 5.

Thank you Syd & Matt for your invaluable demonstration!❤😊🎉

You guys are awesome. This is a very helpful video and explains in plain simple terms to follow along truing a wheel. Worked out great tonight. It's been a long time since I've done this and last times I did it took forever to do. Thanks. Please keep your videos coming.

I love the pinging of the spokes. I've rarely trued a tire but was never confident on which to loosen or tighten. that helps

Is it the same process for asymmetric wheels

so cute❤❤❤❤❤❤

You could use a guitar tuner...

Tem que colocar legenda em português

The wheel has a hop ok !

I replaced my spoke guard (aka dork disc) and now my cassette rubs against it and the turning of the rear wheels makes the cassette turn and also the chain moves. Did I install something wrong? Please help

if it is illegal to laugh when you say spoke nipple you and i are going to jail for a long time.

Could maybe even use a guitar tuner to make sure you got the same tension all round

Great instructional video Syd. I've been wanting to learn how to do this for a while. Love the nipple laugh.

As I am studying music, the turning part of it may make this task take longer than it should. Mostly because I'll try to make the pitches perfect....

Clear as mud 😅

Hey guys fantastic video, learned a lot. Came away with a question: beyond the listening/pitch method, do you have guidance on when to adjust only a "single side" of spokes as opposed to adjusting both sides? Will most adjustments involve both approaches? In the video it seemed like you begin with only a single side based on pitch then did your fine tuning by alternately tighthening/loosening both sides. Again, thank you. Incredibly helpful

big mechanic girl ❤❤❤❤

Great video, really helped me understand what spoke to tighten. Thanks.

If you have rim brakes like me, they can also be a good indicator to use if you don't have a trueing stand.

OMG XTR CASSETTE AND ROTOR 😍🔥🔝

Any clue how much wobble is acceptable on old mountain bike rear wheel?? 3mm or ⅛" ish?? Side to side.
Similar on radius out of round??

thank you. guys ❤❤❤

It looks like a truing stand is being used to me. Why call the video "Learning to true a wheel without a truing stand"?

Pk the guitar idea was fkin genius

Go vegan wfpb vegsource n brookegoldneRaw.. its insanely brilliant the most genius medical shit upl ever find

well I’ve learned I’m not doing this myself. To the repair shop I go.

Now I'm curious. And yes, I know this sounds dumb.
Based on the tone method, could you potentially tru a wheel using an electronic instrument tuner? Sounds odd but, potentially, you could determine the note and adjust to that note.

Excellent. Simply excellent.
This covers everything needed including the mental confusions.
The "tightening music" works for me as a check ,an affirmation, of the directional dyslexia the spoke nipples (giggle) bring to this journey.

Great video! Since it's two years old someone probly said it already, but for someone who's tone deaf, there are phone apps, esp. tuning apps, that will tell you the frequency of a pitch.

I could really relate when Syd said "help" as Iv`e been there. It also was very helpful to learn while you were learning. Now I`m a Subscriber. And I like that you recap at the end. A big thank you.

This is brilliant! Love the technique of checking the spoke sound. Thank you! 😊

Very nice tips, never thought of using sound!

Truing a wheel has felt like magic until I watched this video. Not sure I could make a wheel true now, but at least it makes sense. Thanks!

Its a great way to learn something,watching someone else learn! Very good and helpful video!

Thanks

Vocalizing your thought process helped me understand it even in this sleepy state. I will attempt to true my wheel tomorrow! Thanks 😊

clueless and disoriented. learn before teaching.

this video is better than both the GCN videos on truing. The fact that Syd goes through all the steps in the process as if she's someone who doesnt know what theyre doing makes it perfect for those who don't know what they are doing!!! thanks sm

LOVE the plucking idea! As far as the left-loosy, righty-tighty goes...I visualize that I am viewing the spoke head on through the rubber tire. That way, I don't have to flip my mind in reverse to loosen/tighten. :) Great video!

Let’s see. We have a lot of up talk. Awful music. Otherwise a decent video.

great

My father fix the bikes tires ring like that 👍👍👍👍👍

a tip for not forgetting which spoke your trying to keep track of is to wrap a small loop of scotch or electrical tape on that spoke

Can't decide whether truing a wheel or adjusting the derailer is more fun /s
Riding only on gravel "fixes" a lot of minor annoyances on your bike.

Excellent video, I like the format of explaining it through someone who doesn't quite get it (just like I don't) makes it easier to understand from my point of view!! Thank you!

How dare you deal with an "untrue wheel"😂.
I have a few vintage bikes I purchased, but they are not true.. Hoping to learn , thanks ..

I really appreciate your way of doing video. You question, doubt and answer (and add little corrections post recording). You are really giving a colorfull lesson.
Love your work! Hope you can keep it real also in future videos! :)