learning how to build your own wheels is a surefire way to save money, and maybe even scam some off of your friends, but access to a truing stand helps ( check your local bike collective) it's awesome, easy, fun, and kind of impressive...and then you won't have to rely on a mechanic in podunk, wherever you said....

-jason

but i've done some damage to my radial laced front wheel, no broken spokes though...give it another chance...