Spoke and truing question

[UniRock]

Originally Posted by Nurse Ben

Spoked wheels are designed to be dynamic so that they don't break when stressed.

As the wheel flexes, spokes are detensioned and tensioned, which can cause spokes to loosen (detension) or break (tensioned).

There is no such thing as a perfectly build wheel, all wheels need some work over time unless they don't get much use, ie not stressed. A road wheel is not stressed much in contrast to a muni wheel, so you should expect more or less truing depending on how you use your wheel.

You can use thread lock when building a wheel, this will make detensioning less likely, but even threads with thread lock can move over time. I build my own wheels, I use thread prep, but not thread lock. I true my wheels every six months or so unless I do something dumb and mess up the wheel

When a wheel is built or re-trued, the spokes can twist vs tightening in the nipple, so when you ride the wheel you can hear the spoke detwist when it "pings". Generally, the twisted spokes are relieved by the builder/truer while they work, but sometimes they forget a step or they miss one.

When the spokes detension while riding, this generally means your wheel is going to come out of true, but it may not be enough to make a difference. Spin the wheel and see if it's true.

This might be a good point at which to learn how to true your own wheels.

Well put NB! Aluminum will flex and spokes will come loose no matter how good the builder.

[UniRock]

Originally Posted by knoxuni

I got white PCed spokes on my trials and the first ride i went on it pinged for a hour or so and every time i tenton it or true it the wheel will do it a few times.

Mine too!

[knoxuni]

I trued mine before my big ride today and the first thing i did was a 6ft drop and when i landed it sounded like i broke a hand full of spokes

[Nurse Ben]

I trued mine before my big ride today and the first thing i did was a 6ft drop and when i landed it sounded like i broke a hand full of spokes

Maybe if you didn't forget to air up your tire....

[knoxuni]

it had 22 pounds of air in it :P

[MuniOrBust]

Originally Posted by knoxuni

it had 22 pounds of air in it :P

1 cubic foot of air weighs about 0.075 pounds.
22 pounds of air would take up 293 cubic feet!

I don't want to be near that wheel when it blows!

[knoxuni]

[Killian]

I went on my first trail ride ever today on the uni. I've ridden some farm roads around my house but this was my first designated bike trail and the first single track I've ever ridden. To say I was humbled would be an understatement. UPD'd more times than I could count, but what a blast! Can't wait to go again Sunday. My wheel did fine despite me beating the living hell out of my uni in some very nasty rock gardens. With a little practice I'll be able to roll through those in no time though hopefully. I kept up with my biker friend most of the time though, and that for me is a plus even though he's almost as new to trail riding as I am. My uni got pretty thrashed, but held up just fine.

Muni/XC is awesome.

[DavidHood]

Originally Posted by killian

muni/xc is awesome.

+1 welcome to the woods!