v1nce

I was wondering about making a type of Truing device out of some larger size metal "clothes pegs"/clamps some metal strips/shims and something to attach this set up together/that allows you to adjust the metal strips. I have heard people do this (or even just eyeball/use brake pads) when they can't afford a or have no access to a truing stand. I actually own a truing stand but would be very interested to make something of this sort to carry on tours. It would be unlikely to work as well or especially as easily as a proper truing stand but that wouldn't be neccessary either. Most standard truing stands are large and almost always too heavy for touring.

The idea would be to put a bike (different wheel sizes and fork lengths preferably!) upside down, attach the clamps to the fork and set the feelers so that you can true.

Any thoughts? Is this feasible and what materials and parts would be good to use? Any ideas how it could be put together and be modified to detect whether your wheel is not an egg and/or dished (or centered) properly?

Or is this idea daft? Thanks!

AndrewP

I take the bike frame and fork with me when I tour (and all other times I ride my bike). You also need a spoke key, which is part of my Alien multitool. The problem with your proposed set-up is that it is likely to be very flexible so you will not know if it is the wheel that is wobbling or the stand.

BostonFixed

Use your brake pads.

raverson

A couple of zip ties positioned on the seat stay or fork blade and cut to just clear the rim works at home or on the road and weighs next to nothing.

roadfix

yep, brake pads..

capwater

Brake pads are perfectly adequate. If you spend any kind of cash on parts trying to make a ghetto stand, you'd be better off buying one from performance or nashbar for $35.

v1nce

Ah ha. Yeah the brake pads thing i have tried, it worked for me but i did find it kindoff cumbersome & hard, the brake pad is sortoff long to ascertain the warp easily. Lastly some of my bikes have coaster brakes.

@ Raverson: I really like the Zip Tie idea! Nice one! Thanks! Sometimes these simplest of solutions (and best) slip by me.

As for making a ghetto stand, well if i make one (though the zip tie thing seems like the best) it will cost under $ 10 for sure. Any more and it doesn't really seem worth considering. As for buying a new stand, i already have a proper one.

Hey btw any of you guys ever had your wheel go out of true in an egg shape (vertical warp) while underway/cycling around? This would be hard to fix without a stand i reckon? Though i guess you could fix some sort gizmo to your axle sides as well ha ha? Hmm or maybe a zip tie coming down from you fork?

koine2002

I've built wheels using nothing more than my frame and some basic household stuff. I used the brake pads for lateral truing. I used a rubber band/bungee cord wrapped around the fork/seatstay for roundness and a cheap vernier caliper gauged to the chainstay/forkblade for the dishing. All of those wheels are still alive and have yet to be retrued--still straight.

koine2002

Great idea, I'll use that for my next truing/building project.

San Rensho 

Just true the wheel using only one brake pad as a guide. Flip the wheel and if you have the same distance from the pad, then the dish is also ok, if not adjust the dish.

peterbarson

I use an old fork, (I cant seem to throw any thing away) and a clamp. seems to do the trick thus far, but I'm prety new, and haven't tried to dish a wheel yet.

v1nce

About the fork, yeah i always figured almost any fork could be converted to a decent truing stand. That's another reason for wanting to see about a clamp type thing. I am surprised there aren't any kits around or anything to convert a fork to a decent stand.

linux_author

- see 4-1_Figure 1 on pg. 53 and 4-1.1_Figure 1 on pg. 54 of C. Calvin Jones' "Big Blue Book of Bicycle Repair"

(it's the zip tie tip!)

:-)

Rincewind8

Since you probably take some kind of tape if you go for extended touring, you can use just some tape and some sturdy piece of cardboard or plastic or wood or... taped to your fork as a truing stand. it is somewhat similar to the zip tie approach.
If you tape a pencil to your fork, it can even mark where the whobble is if you do it carfully.

v1nce

Turns out something like i proposed already exists, check this out (pretty nice product for the money/Tourers) :

https://www.bike4travel.nl/product_in...roducts_id=286

Bobby Lex

A rear wheel wouldn't fit.

Bob

Al1943

You can do a reasonable partial truing job with a felt tip pen. Brace the pen against a seat stay or fork leg tightly and gradually move it inward toward the rim's brake surface. As you spin the wheel (not too fast) let the felt tip mark the "high" spots on the rim. Use your spoke wrench to reduce the high spots. With a good dose of common sense you won't throw off the dish or tension too much. I would consider this a temporary fix but it's better than no truing.

Al