Tbh, I've always built wheels without a truing stand and it works for me

Honestly, a lot of mechanics act like you need a truing stand to build a good wheel, but I just use my bike frame and some zip ties. Tbh, I got into restoring old bikes as a hobby, and buying a stand felt like a waste when I started. Ngl, it took practice, but now I can lace and true a wheel pretty fast by mounting it on the frame and adjusting spokes by eye. I use zip ties clipped to the chainstays as markers to see where the rim wobbles. This way, you really get a feel for how spoke tension affects the wheel, more than with a stand. Sure, it's not as quick, but it saves money and makes you better at fixing wheels out on the trail. I think new folks in the trade should give this a shot before dropping cash on gear. It's a solid skill to have when you're in a pinch.

2 comments

2 Comments

the_derek11d ago

Sounds like a lot of extra work just to avoid buying the right tool. Not sure it's that big a deal for a casual builder.

logan_dixon1810d ago

Nah, it's not just about saving cash. You learn how a wheel actually works by feeling it in the frame, way better for fixing a bent rim on the trail later.