"I don't build wheels and I'm not
> going to." Could you explain this comment?
Sure. I do basic maintenance on my bike. I keep it clean -- especially the drivetrain. I keep it
lubed where it needs to be. Mostly, I ride it ... and ride it and ride it and ride it. But I have a
job and a family. What time I have to devote to my bike I spend riding it. And if I have time to
read a book, I have other books I'm WAY more interested in reading than The Bicycle Wheel. No slam
intended. That's just the way it is.
You said rough roads don't produce untrue wheels. WHAT? I know who you are and that you're THE
expert and all, but do you really mean to tell me that riding high mileage on rough roads won't
tend to cause a wheel to come out of true faster than riding on smooth roads? That defies logic
and reason.
As for what's wrong with my Minoura stand. First, I don't have it anymore. It arrived with a device
that you could use to make sure the stand was properly aligned. It wasn't. It couldn't be adjusted.
I bought it on sale, so the catalog company wouldn't take it back. I didn't figure the way to start
getting a wheel true was to start with a device that was out of true itself.
I posted a simple question. I should have known better than to expect anyone in a newsgroup to be
able to give a simple answer. Sheeeesh ... y'all have WAY too much time on your hands.
Bob C.
<
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Bob C? writes furtively:
>
> > I want to find a decent stand or device or whatever I need to do basic wheel truing. I don't
> > build wheels and I'm not going to. I just want a good tool for truing up my wheels when they
> > need it. I live in an area with very rough roads and they take a beating.
>
> Rough roads do not make untrue wheels. At best the destroy rims if the tire n=bottoms, usually
> causing a snake bite flat as well. I suspect your wheels are poorly built if that is your
> experience. I don't understand your protest of "I don't build wheels and I'm not going to." Could
> you explain this comment?
>
> > In the past, I bought a Minoura "consumer" truing stand. It was a cheap product and couldn't
> > produce a good, true wheel. I don't want to spring $160 for a Park Professional stand, but I'm
> > wondering if a Park "consumer" stand is worth the $79 most of the catalogs want for that. Or, is
> > there something less expensive that will help me do a quality truing job?
>
> I built wheels for years using my bicycle and got great results. Because I fixed and built wheels
> for some of my riding companions, a couple of them gave me truing stands that they had a nd were
> not using. I just use it to hold wheels and sight across a probe. As with many things, it's the
> operator that counts the most. Build your own wheels but learn about it first and you may change
> your mind about wheel building and bumpy roads.
>
> Jobst Brandt
[email protected] Palo Alto CA