gholt

Another question about my wheels. My front wheel either has a slight bend in it or it is out of true. I wanted to see if I can straighten it out, but I have one reservation. It is the bladed spokes and the number of spokes is reduced. So, my question is do you go about truing the same method with the reduced number of spokes. It looks like there is about half the number of spokes as my mountain bike.

I am real new to the road parts. So, sorry if this is a dumb question. Any help would be appreciated.

tool boy

Truing a wheel is still the same. When spokes are removed the remaining ones have to have increased tension to make up for the lost ones. When you turn a nipple one quarter turn, it moves the rim much more due to the increased tension. My advice, slow and slower. I will use 1/8th to 1/16th turns for truing such rims. Also, remember that tolerances are slackened on lower spoke count wheels. They are almost never as true as good ol 36ers.

vpiuva

One nice thing about bladed spokes, too, is the ability to see if the spoke is twisting when you are tightening. When your rim is back to true, eyeball the blade, you may have to twist it back a little and retighten that small amount.

gholt

Thanks for the help. Hopefully, I will be able to get this wheel back to where it needs to be. One other question, I was wondering, how do you make sure the bladed spokes stay straight. Sometimes when you oil the spoke nipples, the spoke can still turn.

vrkelley

As you spin the wheel, how much play or wobble makes the 'wheel out of true'?

Severian

There's a plastic disc that Mavic sends with all of its wheels. The thing has some slots around its edge and it is designed so the user can hold the spoke straight while he turns the nipple. If any of your LBSs carry Mavic spokes they may have one or more of these discs lying around and might be willing to give you one.

Give that a shot?

gholt

It looks like it is mainly one spot. It only hits the brakes slightly when you are riding. So, I think I should be able to get is back in line. I will stop by the bike shop and see if they have any of the discs.