How to True a Bent Rim

Hitting a pothole in the road or riding over some extra-rough terrain on your mountain bike should be expected as a cyclist. While hitting these and other obstructions doesn’t always result in damage to your bike, it can cause a bent bike wheel in Naples, FL.

If the wheel or spokes appear significantly damaged, you’ll have no choice but to bring your bike to a repair shop as soon as possible. But there are many instances in which you may be able to repair that bend yourself (at least for the time being). Continue reading to learn the steps to true your bent rim.

Perform a full inspection

Get off your bike as soon as you notice something’s amiss with your wheel. Turn your bike upside down and observe where and how severe the damage is. You can perform a temporary fix if the spokes are damaged, but a professional will need to perform repairs to get your bike back in tip-top shape.

After you’ve checked the rim and spokes for damage, check the axle. If it’s in the wrong position, your rim shouldn’t be made true again—you’ll need a new wheel. You’ll also want to check the brakes to see if they’re displaced or damaged.

Check the alignment and identify problem spots

While your bike is upside down, slowly rotate the wheel to inspect the size of the gap between the wheel and brake pad. The gap will be even throughout if the wheel is perfectly true. That won’t be the case if you have a bent bike wheel in Naples, FL—the gap will be closer in some spots and farther away in others.

The areas where your wheel touches the brake pad are your problem spots. You’ll need to tighten the spokes on the opposite side of the problem spots to true your wheel. Once the spoke on the opposite side of the bend is tightened, it will pull your wheel away from the brake and provide a smooth ride.

Tighten the spokes

Now that you know which spoke to tighten, it’s time to do so. Place your spoke wrench on the spoke nipple (the spot closest to the rim) and turn it counterclockwise to tighten the spoke. You can pluck the spoke like a guitar string to ensure you’re tightening it and not making it looser.

Double-check everything

The final step in how to true a bent wheel in Naples, FL is double-checking your work. After tightening a spoke, spin the wheel again to see if it’s straight. If the wheel is still bent or wobbly, you may need to tighten more spokes. Keep in mind that the wheel doesn’t have to be perfectly true, but the straighter, the better.

Bring your bike to Big Momma’s Bicycles!

If you’re unable to true a bent wheel in Naples, FL by yourself, or if you’re not sure if the bike is 100 percent rideable, come to Big Momma’s Bicycles. Our team of professionals can fix any problem with your bike, and we even offer free pickup within 10 miles of our store! Contact us today to set up an appointment for repair.

Categorised in: Bike Repair