Mountain biking wheel truing is actually something that is very easy to do. Even if you have no experience with mountain biking or truing a wheel, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to accomplish it.
The first thing to do is make sure that none of your spokes are loose. To check, grab each spoke in turn and try to shake it back and forth. If the spoke wobbles, or makes pinging and grating noises, it's loose. If it's loose, add tension to the spoke by turning the spokey anti-clockwise with your finger and thumb pressure.
Keep turning and shaking until the noise is gone and the spoke doesn't wobble or move. Move on to the next spoke until you've gone all the way around the wheel and checked them all.
Now, it's time to see just how true the wheel actually is. Turn your bike upside down then spin the wheel to see where it comes closest to rubbing on the brake.
You may need to rotate the wheel backwards then forwards to locate the middle of the bulge on the wheel. Tighten the spokes which run on to the other side of the rim. If those spokes are already tight, you'll need to loosen a few of the spokes which run to the bulge side of the hub.
Truing a wheel is easier than you may think, although it can be a little tough with some wheels. If you need to loosen spokes, be very careful that you don't break them. They can be very tough to loosen on older mountain bikes.
I got into cycling a few years ago and have never looked back. Anyone who uses their bike on a regular basis will have to deal with at least some minor repairs at some point or time. Up until a short while ago I have been doing my own repairs while using a home-made bike repair stand. I will admit that although I was quite proud of my creation it really didn't help all that much in getting the repairs done.
I decided that I would purchase a good quality bicycle repair stand that offered stability and the proper features to actually make my home repair jobs simpler and more effective. I did a fair amount of research into which repair stand to get and along the way learned which bike stands were worth considering.
Below are the five most popular bike repair stands that I found. Which one you choose will depend upon your own needs.
Park Tool PCS-10 Home Mechanic Bike Repair Stand
The Park Tool PCS-10 is the most popular choice for home mechanics and was the one I eventually chose to purchase. It offer quality, versatility, ease of use and still has an affordable price. This stand is extremely stable when in use and when not in use you can fold it up and store it away. The Park Tool PCS-10 is a great choice for most cyclists who want to be able to perform their own repairs from their house. It works well for many different kinds of bikes including those with odd shaped tubing.
Park Tool PRS-21 Super Light Race Stand
The Park Tool PRS-21 offers the same versatility and is extremely light weight. Therefore it is ideal for those who need to bring their repair stand along on cycling trips or races. Although this repair stand is ideal for traveling it does not offer the same stability as the Park Tool PCS-10 because it is so lightweight. In order to use this stand you must remove one wheel of the bike and you do not have to clamp a tube or seat post.
Ultimate Pro Work Stand
This one is not as popular as the other two but it has some decent features that make it worth considering. It has a good stable tripod base, a decent clamp and also is able to fold up and easily be stored away. It does not have the same great reputation the Park Tool stands have but still makes this list as a viable option.
Spin Doctor Pro G3 Work Stand
Although I will admit this bike stand has been popular it is not one of my favorite. Basically it is a budget repair stand that will be of some help with stability. Its cheap price must be why it is popular but in my opinion you will want to upgrade from this model down the road. For just a little bit extra you could get a really good quality stand that will last a lifetime.
Spin Doctor Quick Stand Work Stand
Last on the list is the Spin Doctor Quick Stand. This is the cheapest of the bunch and is great for those on a real tight budget. It almost reminds me of my home-made stand which says a lot. This bike repair stand will be fine for easy minor repairs but I wouldn't recommend it for anything major. The features do not compare to the other models listed above.
The best way I found to get good information on bike repair stands was to read consumer reviews. Do your research and it shouldn't be difficult to find one that will suit your needs.
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