How to Tune Bicycle Wheels
- 1). Turn the bicycle over, placing it on a towel with the weight on the saddle and handlebar. Be sure that the handlebar is perfectly even, otherwise the bicycle may not be safely balanced.
- 2). Turn the wheel slowly while observing its passage through the brake pads. Where a spoke is loose, the wheel will bulge out in the direction of one of the brake pads. Stop the wheel here.
- 3). Pluck the spokes in the area directly opposite the bulge. Listen for the loose spoke, which will present a comparatively low sounding note when plucked.
- 4). Place the spoke wrench around the nipple of the loose spoke. The nipple resembles a small cone and attaches the spoke to the rim.
- 5). Turn the nipple counterclockwise to tighten the spoke. As spoke tension is increased, the spoke will gradually pull the bulge even with the remainder of the rim.
- 6). Work in small increments when tightening the spoke. Following each turn, rotate the wheel slowly past the brake pads to check your progress.
- 7). Continue along the rest of the wheel. Wherever the wheel appears to bulge out toward the brake pads, follow Steps 2 through 6 for tuning.
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