Bicycle Mechanics - Wheel/Spoke question

I took a pretty bad spill two weeks ago and messed my arm up. After inspecting my rear wheel I notice it is out of line...it doesn't spin straight. I was wondering if anyone had any resources or advice on how to true a rim? I have all the tools just not much experience trueing rims...thanks for any help!

http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/howfix_truing.shtml

Do not rush the job. i.e., don't even think about touching that wheel until you understand what they're talking about in that link.

It's fundamentally simple. If you shorten a spoke on one side, it pulls the rim toward that side. If you shorten two nearby spokes on both sides, it pulss the rim in toward the hub.

Go easy (like 1/4 turn at a time) until you get some experience. Also, spokes tend to twist as you turn the nipples. Be sure to turn the spoke about 1/8 to 1/4 turn past where you want it and turn back to unwind the twist. Otherwise the spoke will loosen up while riding and the wheel may go back out of true.

Supcom's advice about wheel truing is good. However, he is wrong about my needing a new bike. :)

Also be sure to balance your tension. If you tighten spokes pulling on one side, loosen spokes pulling from the opposite side in the same area. If you don't, you can end up forcing the wheel out of round, even though it may look good side-to-side. Usually you want to make no more than three adjustements laterally, then check roundness and adjust as necessary. Repeat this process until you get it true.

truing a rim is only half of the problem..ALL the spokes must be tested for tension, then the hub eyelets must be checked for damage.. truing a rim is an art form .. only done by someone who has done hundreds of them.. not for first timers

truing a rim is only half of the problem..ALL the spokes must be tested for tension, then the hub eyelets must be checked for damage.. truing a rim is an art form .. only done by someone who has done hundreds of them.. not for first timers

All those experienced at turing wheels began as a first timer.

It's really not that as hard as people make it seem. You start out by maintaining a wheel that is slightly out of true so you can get a good feel for how the adjustments work and their interaction. As you get some confidence, you do bigger and bigger adjustments until you gain the confidence to build a wheel from scratch. Read Shelddon Brown's site, Park Tool's site, and the Jobst Brandt book, The Bicycle Wheel, take it easy, and you can do just fine.

If you are really scared to work on your own wheels, go down to a Salvation Army thrift store and buy a really cheap used bike. You get two wheels that almost certainly need truing. If you screw them up beyond all hope (not likely) you have gotten a very cheap education. When you have mastered the art, donate the (now better) bike back to the Salvation Army.

Supcom's advice about wheel truing is good. However, he is wrong about my needing a new bike. :)

Ah, from you sig I see that you are a lover of classic cycles. Remember, a new bike does not imply recent manufacture any more than a new friend implies recent birth.

Surely there is yet another vintage ride calling your name.