Originally Posted by
Andrew R Stewart
I usually aim for ft spoke tension somewhat between the two sides of a typical rear wheel (that has rather off set flange to center of axle ends due to the many cogs on one side. A flip flop will have much less offset and thus less tension difference).
I will take some issue with the mechanic who placed trueness over tension. Both are nice to have proper but I would place a higher value of evenness of tension then absolute trueness. A consistently tensioned wheel will tend to be more stable and reliable over the miles then one that initially looks straighter but has some spokes fatiguing faster then others. Andy
Agree.
Question1:
In my experience, some wheels (rims) get "too untrue" when spoke tension is withing 1% of each other. In those cases, In those cases, I aim for spoke tension to be within +-7 % (even 10% on some rims that aren't in "nice condition") of a certain medium value - in order to get the wheel straight, without (what I think would be) too much difference in tension. I think of it as a compromise: even spoke tension makes a wheel last longer, but trueness (with at least decent amount of tension) makes it ride nicer.
Do you think that's a good policy, or should I aim for tension eveness, even if a rim is more noticeably out of true?
Question 2:
Could it be that what I said above, the OP's mechanic was also saying, only more awkward with words?
I've seen good mechanics who don't explain stuff all too well - combine that with an average novice (no offence meant to anyone) - you get all sorts of "but the mechanic said..." that you would never think a mechanic with a grain of experience would say.
Hell - I've heard people draw wrong conclusions from Sheldon Brown's and my website - then having asked them: "show me/tell me where that's said, it should be corrected ASAP" - they realize it's just bad reading/understanding on their part.