episodic

Hey, after a 50 mile ride on my new bike - 3 spokes were so loose that they could almost be turned by hand. I snugged them up with a spoke wrench after lubing them with some oil.

This made the wheel out of true laterally.

So I took a deep breath and fastened some zip ties to my triangle and cut them down for feelers so that I could see where it bumped the zip tie.

I got out my road bike book by zinn and trued it laterally per the book's instructions, and I got it 'pretty' close laterally. I did this on the bike with my tire on.

I noticed there is an ever so slight 'hop' in the wheel. I'm assuming this is the radial trueness. I rode it some today, and the hop isn't something you can feel riding. If I had to put a measurement to it, I'd say it is 2-3 millimeters in height. Is this 'harmful' until I can manage to either get a truing stand or back to a bike store (long way away). Thanks.

Homebrew01

No, not harmful, and not annoying if you don't notice it.
Complete truing can be done on the bike, although a stand is more convenient. Check the dish too, while you're at it.

HillRider

If the bike was truly new, not just new to you, a visit to the selling dealer is definitely in order. The spokes came loose because the wheel was improperly tensioned from the beginning.

episodic

Sadly, I live about 60-80 miles from any bike store. About once every 4 months, I intend to ride to the nearest store (make a day out of it) and return the next.

Sigh.

The wheel was new and I asked for sure for it to be tensioned, etc. So I don't know. It is a salsa delgado 32 h rim laced to formula hubs on a Salsa Casseroll bike. I'm thinking I'm going to get a truing stand next and loosen all of the spokes and follow some of the guides online for tensioning the wheel. Any trick ways to check dish with tire on? Or do I need to remove tire for that.

dabac

Sure. Set the feelers, then flip the wheel over. If dish is OK the rim should remain centered regardless of how you flip the wheel.