Which home truing stand to buy???

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I need to rebuild a wheel and will need a truing stand.
I don't generally build wheels but would want to true
the ones I have. Which would be best?

http://tinyurl.com/37ewh, or
http://tinyurl.com/2y83r, or
http://tinyurl.com/3flq8

The Spin Doctor and the Minoura look very similar
in design. One mtbr review for the Park tool complains
about cheap parts in spite of the sturdy frame.
--
- Zilla
Cary, NC
(Remove XSPAM)

I have a Spin Doctor and it works great! The tubular design is stiff
enough to virtually eliminate flex when trueing, self centering too. And
cheap! Get a dishing tool as well, though, don't rely solely on the SS
feature. Even pro's with $xxx.xx stands don't

- -

"May you have the wind at your back.
And a really low gear for the hills!"

Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

Chris'Z Corner
http://www.geocities.com/czcorner

Chris Zacho "The Wheelman" <ChriszCorner@webtv.net> writes:

>> I need to rebuild a wheel and will need a truing stand. I don't
>> generally build wheels but would want to true the ones I
>> have. Which would be best?

http://tinyurl.com/37ewh, or
http://tinyurl.com/2y83r, or
http://tinyurl.com/3flq8

>> The Spin Doctor and the Minoura look very similar in design. One
>> mtbr review for the Park tool complains about cheap parts in spite
>> of the sturdy frame.

> I have a Spin Doctor and it works great! The tubular design is stiff
> enough to virtually eliminate flex when trueing, self centering too. And
> cheap! Get a dishing tool as well, though, don't rely solely on the SS
> feature. Even pro's with $xxx.xx stands don't

My problem with these stande is that they assume they are standing on
a table near eye level. I have a couple of donated stands that can be
used standing on the floor where I can drop a wheel in and do a quick
tuneup. I don't think I've worked on a wheel on a table except in
someone's bicycle shop where the stand was a permanent fixture.

Jobst Brandt
jobst.brandt@stanfordalumni.org

jobst.brandt@stanfordalumni.org wrote:
> Chris Zacho "The Wheelman" <ChriszCorner@webtv.net> writes:
>
>>> I need to rebuild a wheel and will need a truing stand. I don't
>>> generally build wheels but would want to true the ones I
>>> have. Which would be best?
>
> http://tinyurl.com/37ewh, or
> http://tinyurl.com/2y83r, or
> http://tinyurl.com/3flq8
>
>>> The Spin Doctor and the Minoura look very similar in design. One
>>> mtbr review for the Park tool complains about cheap parts in spite
>>> of the sturdy frame.
>
>> I have a Spin Doctor and it works great! The tubular design is stiff
>> enough to virtually eliminate flex when trueing, self centering too.
>> And cheap! Get a dishing tool as well, though, don't rely solely on
>> the SS feature. Even pro's with $xxx.xx stands don't
>
> My problem with these stande is that they assume they are standing on
> a table near eye level. I have a couple of donated stands that can be
> used standing on the floor where I can drop a wheel in and do a quick
> tuneup. I don't think I've worked on a wheel on a table except in
> someone's bicycle shop where the stand was a permanent fixture.
>
> Jobst Brandt
> jobst.brandt@stanfordalumni.org

I plan to mount it on a table, or on a self-made
pedestal to bring it to eye-level.

--
- Zilla
Cary, NC
(Remove XSPAM)

On Sat, 17 Apr 2004 18:04:43 GMT, jobst.brandt@stanfordalumni.org
wrote:
>My problem with these stande is that they assume they are standing on
>a table near eye level. I have a couple of donated stands that can be
>used standing on the floor where I can drop a wheel in and do a quick
>tuneup. I don't think I've worked on a wheel on a table except in
>someone's bicycle shop where the stand was a permanent fixture.

What do you think about not using a truing stand at all? In The
Bicycle Wheel, I got the impression that it's no big deal to just
use the bicycle as a truing stand, and I intend to attempt a wheel
build soon.
--
Rick Onanian

On Sat, 17 Apr 2004 15:25:28 -0400, Rick Onanian <spamsink@cox.net>
wrote:

>On Sat, 17 Apr 2004 18:04:43 GMT, jobst.brandt@stanfordalumni.org
>wrote:
>>My problem with these stande is that they assume they are standing on
>>a table near eye level. I have a couple of donated stands that can be
>>used standing on the floor where I can drop a wheel in and do a quick
>>tuneup. I don't think I've worked on a wheel on a table except in
>>someone's bicycle shop where the stand was a permanent fixture.
>
>What do you think about not using a truing stand at all? In The
>Bicycle Wheel, I got the impression that it's no big deal to just
>use the bicycle as a truing stand, and I intend to attempt a wheel
>build soon.

My first 'shop' truing stand was made from an old bike frame and fork
that I found on the street. I clamped the fork to the table and bolted
a piece of metal into the cantilever brake boss as guides. For the
rear wheel, I hacksawed most of the frame away and used the rear
triangle, again clamped to the edge of a table. No canti bosses? Pony
clamps and a piece of steel. Flip the wheel to check centering.

Truing stands are nice but not necessary. Put your money into quality
rims and spokes, build a wheel, and then decide if a stand would be
helpful for the next wheel.

Dan Daniel <ddandan.remove@pacbell.net> wrote:

> Truing stands are nice but not necessary. Put your money into quality
> rims and spokes, build a wheel, and then decide if a stand would be
> helpful for the next wheel.

On the other hand, even a $50 truing stand makes building easier and
faster. Especially for a beginner they are very helpful, as there are
less things to worry about. It is also going to last a very long time
for a home mechanic. I fail to see how it could not be a smart
investment. The same applies to quality tools in general.

-as

"Zilla" <zilla62XSPAM@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:hP9gc.58511$Lh2.11968@bignews1.bellsouth.net...
> I need to rebuild a wheel and will need a truing stand.
> I don't generally build wheels but would want to true
> the ones I have. Which would be best?
>
> http://tinyurl.com/37ewh, or
> http://tinyurl.com/2y83r, or
> http://tinyurl.com/3flq8
>
> The Spin Doctor and the Minoura look very similar
> in design. One mtbr review for the Park tool complains
> about cheap parts in spite of the sturdy frame.
> --
=

I recommend that Minoura over the Park, having tried both. The nice thing
about the Minoura is that the left and right 'probes' are moved in and out
via a bolt with attached knob. This allows very, very small incremental
advancements towards the rim as you true (if I knew the TPI of the bolt, I
could tell you what portion of a revolution corresponded to a given linear
movement, but no such luck). The Park is certainly sturdier, but the probes
are simply on sliders...makin it very difficult to move in very smal
increments.

Kyle

From: jobst.brandt@stanfordalumni.org

>My problem with these stands is that
>they assume they are standing on a table
>near eye level. I have a couple of
>donated stands that can be used
>standing on the floor where I can drop a
>wheel in and do a quick tuneup. I don't
>think I've worked on a wheel on a table
>except in someone's bicycle shop where
>the stand was a permanent fixture.

>Jobst Brandt

True, but that could be said for other stands too. and the S.D. can be
permanently mounted, there is even a predrilled bolt hole in the base
for this purpose.

I'm not saying it's the best thing going, but for the price *and I doubt
our poster is in the market for a $200 T stand). it's got a lot going
for it!

- -

"May you have the wind at your back.
And a really low gear for the hills!"

Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

Chris'Z Corner
http://www.geocities.com/czcorner

Rick Onanian writes:

>> My problem with these stands is that they assume they are standing
>> on a table near eye level. I have a couple of donated stands that
>> can be used standing on the floor where I can drop a wheel in and
>> do a quick tuneup. I don't think I've worked on a wheel on a table
>> except in someone's bicycle shop where the stand was a permanent
>> fixture.

> What do you think about not using a truing stand at all? In The
> Bicycle Wheel, I got the impression that it's no big deal to just
> use the bicycle as a truing stand, and I intend to attempt a wheel
> build soon.

That is an expedient way of doing it and not having a truing stand
should not deter people from building wheels. However, truing stands,
centering tools, and tensiometers are great conveniences, all of which
I have at home... but not on the road.

I built many wheels using my bicycle, as a "poor" student, and fixed a
few on the road, but I always use my crummy truing stand I have at
home because the wheel isn't in the bicycle in the first place and
dropping it in the stand is far easier than messing with the bicycle,
its chain and brakes. Besides, the bicycle has to be on a stand
upright or inverted and held against the knee. It's cumbersome.

Jobst Brandt
jobst.brandt@stanfordalumni.org

Antti Salonen writes:

>> Truing stands are nice but not necessary. Put your money into
>> quality rims and spokes, build a wheel, and then decide if a stand
>> would be helpful for the next wheel.

> On the other hand, even a $50 truing stand makes building easier and
> faster. Especially for a beginner they are very helpful, as there
> are less things to worry about. It is also going to last a very
> long time for a home mechanic. I fail to see how it could not be a
> smart investment. The same applies to quality tools in general.

That's true if you have $50 to toss out at the drop of a spoke, but
then you have nothing to go on when selecting the model you buy except
someone else's preferences. Having built a few wheels, you know more
about what you want and need. In today's society being fully equipped
before beginning an enterprise seems more important than getting into
the problem. Bicycling is for many a $xK investment before they even
turn a pedal, lighting, clothing, hydration system, optics, headgear,
shoes, gloves, postal system jersey, etc.

Ride bike! Know thine enemy before arming yourself.

Jobst Brandt
jobst.brandt@stanfordalumni.org

Chris Zacho writes:

>> My problem with these stands is that they assume they are standing
>> on a table near eye level. I have a couple of donated stands that
>> can be used standing on the floor where I can drop a wheel in and
>> do a quick tuneup. I don't think I've worked on a wheel on a table
>> except in someone's bicycle shop where the stand was a permanent
>> fixture.

> True, but that could be said for other stands too. and the S.D. can
> be permanently mounted, there is even a predrilled bolt hole in the
> base for this purpose.

> I'm not saying it's the best thing going, but for the price *and I
> doubt our poster is in the market for a $200 T stand). it's got a
> lot going for it!

Can't we just leave the spelling of the title alone? We don't need no
steenkin second threads on this subject.

You need a newsreader that automatically copies the header of the
posting to which you are responding. There are a bunch of these
slightly altered subject lines appearing these days.

Please keep it simple and bottom respond so there are no
misinterpretations of who said what and when, otherwise its like
having the index at the front and the foreword at the back of a book.

Jobst Brandt
jobst.brandt@stanfordalumni.org

On 17 Apr 2004 20:35:56 GMT, Antti Salonen
<aksalone@blah.blah.cc.helsinki.fi.invalid> wrote:

>Dan Daniel <ddandan.remove@pacbell.net> wrote:
>
>> Truing stands are nice but not necessary. Put your money into quality
>> rims and spokes, build a wheel, and then decide if a stand would be
>> helpful for the next wheel.
>
>On the other hand, even a $50 truing stand makes building easier and
>faster.

Actually, I'd consider a dishing tool a far more worthwhile investment
if I was going to spend money on tools for wheel building. You can
jury rig truing, but even flipping a wheel makes me wonder if the axle
is exactly flipped.

>Especially for a beginner they are very helpful, as there are
>less things to worry about. It is also going to last a very long time
>for a home mechanic. I fail to see how it could not be a smart
>investment. The same applies to quality tools in general.
>
>-as

From the few I've seen, quality and $50 don't go together in truing
stands.

Dan Daniel <ddandan.remove@pacbell.net> wrote:

> From the few I've seen, quality and $50 don't go together in truing
> stands.

I've used the Tacx Exact truing stand, for which I paid about 45 EUR at
the LBS:

http://www.tacx.nl/content.cfm?l=en&id=32104

It's not particularly sturdy, no doubt, but I don't see any significant
problems with it. It's true that you also need a dishing tool to get the
wheel centered.

-as

Zilla wrote:
> I need to rebuild a wheel and will need a truing stand. I don't
> generally build wheels but would want to true the ones I have. Which
> would be best?
> http://tinyurl.com/37ewhhttp://tinyurl.com/37ewh[/url], or
> http://tinyurl.com/2y83r"]http://tinyurl.com/2y83r, or
> http://tinyurl.com/3flq8http://tinyurl.com/3flq8
> The Spin Doctor and the Minoura look very similar in design. One mtbr
> review for the Park tool complains about cheap parts in spite of the
> sturdy frame.
> --
> - Zilla Cary, NC (Remove XSPAM)



This is one item on which I economised, and later wished I hadn't. I
have the Park TS7, and the lack of incrimental control, and general
lack of sturdyness made me regret not spending the extra coin for the
professional model. Oh well, live and learn, eh?



--

On Sun, 18 Apr 2004 14:01:06 GMT, Dan Burkhart
<usenet-forum@cyclingforums.com> wrote:

>Zilla wrote:
> > I need to rebuild a wheel and will need a truing stand. I don't
> > generally build wheels but would want to true the ones I have. Which
> > would be best?
> > http://tinyurl.com/37ewhhttp://tinyurl.com/37ewh[/url], or
> > http://tinyurl.com/2y83r"]http://tinyurl.com/2y83r, or
> > http://tinyurl.com/3flq8http://tinyurl.com/3flq8
> > The Spin Doctor and the Minoura look very similar in design. One mtbr
> > review for the Park tool complains about cheap parts in spite of the
> > sturdy frame.
> > --
> > - Zilla Cary, NC (Remove XSPAM)
>
>
>
> This is one item on which I economised, and later wished I hadn't. I
> have the Park TS7, and the lack of incrimental control, and general
> lack of sturdyness made me regret not spending the extra coin for the
> professional model. Oh well, live and learn, eh?

------------------------

I find the Spin Doctor truing stand entirely satisfactory for wheel
truing. The flip-up plate edge is great for roundness, the rounded
rubber nubs move in to the rimsides on both sides. Dish is easily
determined by placing the wheel in the bike frame and centering there,
between the chainstays, where the wheel is actually going to be in
use.

Optimal is the truing stand atop a picnic table, a couple of beers
near at hand, something white (e.g. an old t-shirt) behind the
workview. The nubs can be adjusted in to just barely touching;
alternately one side and the other. A comfortable seat, line of sight
in the sunshine, nice spoke wrench, a few swills of beer, one Zens
into a very nice wheel of roundness, tension, lateral trueness in
short order.

Since the applied forces involved in wheel truing are quite gentle,
one doesn't need a heavy duty frame for the process. The Spin
Doctor/Minoura folds up for easy/handy storage.

On those occasions when you discover a flat at home and you dismount
the tire and tube, you can, within 10-min, flip out the truing stand
and get your wheel back on the nose if needed.

Handy, easy to work with, good results, inexpensive. Werks fer me.

Bruce Ball
Colo Spgs

<jobst.brandt@stanfordalumni.org> wrote:

> Ride bike! Know thine enemy before arming yourself.

Thyself, surely.

James Thomson

In article <hP9gc.58511$Lh2.11968@bignews1.bellsouth.net>,
zilla62XSPAM@bellsouth.net says...
>
>
>I need to rebuild a wheel and will need a truing stand.
>I don't generally build wheels but would want to true
>the ones I have. Which would be best?
>
> http://tinyurl.com/37ewh, or
> http://tinyurl.com/2y83r, or
> http://tinyurl.com/3flq8
>
>The Spin Doctor and the Minoura look very similar
>in design. One mtbr review for the Park tool complains
>about cheap parts in spite of the sturdy frame.

I would not get any of those. I use to own the minoura, which is the
same as the spin doctor. It works ok, but it is so light weight it
moves around too much when working on a wheel. The park is over priced
for what you get, so I would not bother with it either. Minoura makes
another folding stand that costs the same, or possiblly a bit less, than
the on in the link above. It has a bigger base, so it is more stable and
works as well as that stand.
--------------
Alex

In article <u21380h2sct118eieu52lccevtl5vjfcqn@4ax.com>, spamsink@cox.net
says...

>What do you think about not using a truing stand at all? In The
>Bicycle Wheel, I got the impression that it's no big deal to just
>use the bicycle as a truing stand, and I intend to attempt a wheel
>build soon.

This is true, but a stand is more convenient.
-------------
Alex

In article <c6134l$gns$8@newsmaster.cc.columbia.edu>, adr5@columbia.edu says...
>In article <hP9gc.58511$Lh2.11968@bignews1.bellsouth.net>,
>zilla62XSPAM@bellsouth.net says...
>>I need to rebuild a wheel and will need a truing stand.
>>I don't generally build wheels but would want to true
>>the ones I have. Which would be best?
>> http://tinyurl.com/37ewh, or
>> http://tinyurl.com/2y83r, or
>> http://tinyurl.com/3flq8
>>The Spin Doctor and the Minoura look very similar
>>in design. One mtbr review for the Park tool complains
>>about cheap parts in spite of the sturdy frame.

>I would not get any of those. I use to own the minoura, which is the
>same as the spin doctor. It works ok, but it is so light weight it
>moves around too much when working on a wheel. The park is over priced
>for what you get, so I would not bother with it either. Minoura makes
>another folding stand that costs the same, or possiblly a bit less, than
>the on in the link above. It has a bigger base, so it is more stable and
>works as well as that stand.

Sorry to follow up my own post, but I found a link with the minoura stand
I was referring to. Go to http://www.minoura.jp/index-et.html and scroll
down to the T-817 stand. It is cheaper too.
-------------
Alex