What did everyone do before tension meters? None of the people I know who build wheels use them. My last build, I laced them up trued them then a friend came over tightened them up and siad this is what they should feel like. I said dont I need a tension meter? He laughed, told me what the tension on them was. I told him he was full of it. Ended up betting a 6 pack on it. Went to the LBS bummed the use of their meter. He was spot on. I gues 20 years of experence is a good thing.