Safe to use a bit untrued wheel?
09-26-19, 05:31 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Safe to use a bit untrued wheel?
My front wheel is a bit untrued if you would take a close look at it, but doesn’t hit the brake pads on either side. Is it ok to use it for a ride? Not gonna ride fast though. I’ll have it trued next week.
09-26-19, 05:42 PM
#2
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Sterling, MA
Posts: 20
Bikes: 1983 Univega Alpina Sport • 1974 Schwinn Paramount P10 • 1977? Schwinn Super LeTour 12.2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Assuming you keep the speed down, it should be okay. Pay particular attention to the downhills where it is easy to gain excessive speed that results in wheel shimmy and loss of control. Headers and road rash are no fun and can be serious injuries.
09-26-19, 05:42 PM
#3
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,631
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4729 Post(s)
Liked 1,531 Times
in
1,002 Posts
Safe? Yes as described.
09-26-19, 06:14 PM
#4
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Thanks. It’ll just be a commute, i’ll just pay my mama a visit at the memorial park coz i haven’t in a while. I’ll be avoiding the downhill and just pass by where it’s mostly flat.
09-27-19, 04:34 AM
#5
Senior Member
Bicycle wheels do not rotate fast enough for minor imbalances to matter. As long as your spokes have some tension in them, you will be fine.
Likes For mihlbach:
09-27-19, 04:36 AM
#6
Banned.
Likes For Cyclist753:
09-27-19, 06:22 AM
#8
Junior Member
Thread Starter
I cancelled my ride coz there was a chance of rain in the afternoon. Just took it to a bike shop and had it trued. All good now.
Likes For iamLefty:
09-27-19, 06:30 AM
#9
Sophomore Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 2,531
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1628 Post(s)
Liked 1,057 Times
in
631 Posts
Great you are still in one piece. I once destroyed a front wheel that had uneven tension, it was one of the first wheels I ever built, and the rim arrived bent, so spoke tension was not very uniform. Was riding it up a hill and swerved at low speed to miss a small pothole, and the wheel folded, leaving me stranded. Wasn't hurt, but had to thumb a ride home.
09-27-19, 06:49 AM
#10
Junior Member
Thread Starter
09-27-19, 06:58 AM
#11
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Great you are still in one piece. I once destroyed a front wheel that had uneven tension, it was one of the first wheels I ever built, and the rim arrived bent, so spoke tension was not very uniform. Was riding it up a hill and swerved at low speed to miss a small pothole, and the wheel folded, leaving me stranded. Wasn't hurt, but had to thumb a ride home.
09-27-19, 07:06 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: NE Tennessee
Posts: 917
Bikes: Giant TCR/Surly Karate Monkey/Foundry FireTower/Curtlo Tandem
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 169 Post(s)
Liked 84 Times
in
62 Posts
I would manually check the spoke tension to make sure that one hasn't loosened too much. Plucking them like a guitar string is sufficient for a quick field test. On a truing stand though, I use a tensionometer.
09-27-19, 07:09 AM
#13
Sophomore Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 2,531
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1628 Post(s)
Liked 1,057 Times
in
631 Posts
I agree, but fortunately it's hard to swerve as sharply at high speeds, as you can when you are climbing a hill at 8-10 mph. I was only able to turn the bars that much because I was going so slow.
When I'm going 40 mph down a hill, no part of the bike is under much mechanical stress fortunately. At that speed I'm more concerned with obstacles in the road and having enough time to brake, than I am with the bike failing, though that would certainly be catastrophic.
09-27-19, 07:37 AM
#14
Senior Member
I don't think any of my bikes throughout childhood and adolescence ever had a completely true wheel. Never had a problem with that.
Likes For subgrade:
09-27-19, 08:03 AM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,545
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5222 Post(s)
Liked 3,576 Times
in
2,340 Posts
I've improved wheels on my kids bikes & my own, but it's so nice to have a pro do it
09-27-19, 08:33 AM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times
in
364 Posts
Are you sure it's the right size? There are 2 sizes that are currently common and using the wrong one is going to create new problems.
__________________
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
09-27-19, 07:25 PM
#17
Super Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Ffld Cnty Connecticut
Posts: 21,843
Bikes: Old Steelies I made, Old Cannondales
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1173 Post(s)
Liked 927 Times
in
612 Posts
If tension is good, and nothing's rubbing, you can ride them forever.
__________________
Bikes: Old steel race bikes, old Cannondale race bikes, less old Cannondale race bike, crappy old mtn bike.
FYI: https://www.bikeforums.net/forum-sugg...ad-please.html
Bikes: Old steel race bikes, old Cannondale race bikes, less old Cannondale race bike, crappy old mtn bike.
FYI: https://www.bikeforums.net/forum-sugg...ad-please.html
09-27-19, 08:56 PM
#19
Junior Member
Thread Starter
09-27-19, 09:05 PM
#20
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Yes, the tip i give is higher than what they charge, hehe. I’m from the Philippines and we have bike shops here that offer cheap service, fine tuning’s about a buck too, even cheaper in some shops. Then i just give the mechanic 2 bucks tip. Higher end bike shops do charge higher. How much does it cost in your area?
09-28-19, 03:43 AM
#21
Member
If it only costs a buck, pay to get it trued?
Anyway, the price reflects how easy it is to learn the skill. Grab an old wheel that isn't true and look at some tutorials online.
Anyway, the price reflects how easy it is to learn the skill. Grab an old wheel that isn't true and look at some tutorials online.
09-28-19, 09:13 AM
#22
☢
Mostly wear and tear (if it rubs), but you're also losing a lot of efficiency.
