Wheels and spokes are the most abused items on my bike. I rarely check them, rarely have to adjust them, and they never get the lova and attention they deserve. What they do get is after about a years use they go back to my wheelbuilder to be retrued and tensioned. They difference he makes to a wheel is hardly notivcable, but Then I don't have wheel problems either. One thing I do though is to "Twang" the spokes every month or so. I just twang them and listen to the tone. All spokes should be around the same tone, but when I get that appreciably lower note- I know I have a problem. The spoke has become loose- either by a knock that has pushed it out of shape, or it is beginning to stretch or the thing called necking has occured.
On the rides- I always carry a spoke key. Then if I get a bad knock and the wheel goes out of true I can correct it to get home. Doesn't happen very often but the key does get used quite a lot on my mates bikes. Just to keep them running.
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How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.
Spike Milligan