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A retiree in Tucson bet me $20 I couldn't true a wheel by feel, and I owe him a sandwich now
A retired wheel builder named Hank came into my garage sale last month and watched me fight a rear wheel for about 40 minutes. He said I was chasing tension with the spoke wrench when I should be feeling for the high spot first, just squeezing pairs and listening. I told him that was nonsense, so he put $20 on the table that he could true it in 15 minutes with no stand and no tension gauge. He did it in 11, and the wheel is still dead straight 3 weeks later on my commuter. I've started doing his squeeze and listen thing on every wheel that comes through, and it's cut my truing time almost in half. Any of you ever get schooled by some old guy who clearly knew his stuff? Wondering if the tension gauge is even worth pulling out on simple hops anymore.
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kevin_murray8829d ago
Man, come on, the tension gauge exists for a reason and it's not just for show. You can't feel a 10 percent difference in spoke tension by squeezing, but a cheap gauge can, and that's how wheels stay true long term instead of just this week. Fine, old Hank has good hands, but most of us aren't Hank, and trusting your fingers on a wheel that takes real load is how you end up walking home.
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