Wanted: Wheel building stand

I feel like crossing the final frontier- after all, how hard can it be?

Anyone have a stand that they want to move?

I will pay in the (traditional but still fashionable) cold hard cash, or beer etc.

by final frontier I take it you want to start building wheels? And you havent done any before?

What you may be glad to hear in that case is that "wheel truing stands" which are sold for anything up to £150 offer no benefits over building a wheel with the use of your frame & fork.

Proper shop quality wheel jigs offer a lot more useful precision but are not something you really need or can afford.

Just make sure to buy the correct size spokes, begin by tightening all of them till the thread is concealed.

Then (with a good condition rim) you wheel will mostly likely be true & correctly dished.

Then go around the wheel doing quarter turns on each spoke till you get good tension.

Then true it using your brakes, or bits of tap/cable tie's, and run you finger at the edge fo the rim while spinning to make sure your hube has not gone off-centre.

I took my first wheel to the shop to check dishing, and it was exactly correct.

Whilst I could use the bike turned upside down I rather fancied being able to put the stand on the table and build/true whilst sitting on the sofa watching TV.

The height of laziness I know.

You are however quite correct in that I don't want to part with the cash that Bonethrone wants for this beauty:

http://www.bonthronebikes.co.uk/474-473505

not sure if you saw the one in my garage? cheap and cheerful, but very handy...it might be the minora one....i bought it from bobob...he may remember which one it is. I find it more convenient than using the forks/brakes method - especially for radial trueing.....

try tacx

i got the tacx one, pricey for what you actually get :(

not sure if you saw the one in my garage? cheap and cheerful, but very handy...it might be the minora one....i bought it from bobob...he may remember which one it is. I find it more convenient than using the forks/brakes method - especially for radial trueing.....

I'll have a look at Minora, how's things over in Beijing?

Using my unique "it's really expensive so it must be good" criteria this one looks nice:

However I'm not spending that money on one!

What features are essential in a good stand?
I (fairly obviously) don't know what to look for so all help appreciated.

i got the tacx one, pricey for what you actually get :(

was that the one I used at the wheel build class at SBB's? I thought it was pretty damn good and @ £35 i don't think its too bad?!

yep.

I'll have a look at Minora, how's things over in Beijing?

pretty good here...managed to blag a ticket for the velodrome on friday.....mens team sprint....yay!

just about to interview emma pooley and got to drool over kristin armstrongs bike.....

Whilst I could use the bike turned upside down I rather fancied being able to put the stand on the table and build/true whilst sitting on the sofa watching TV.

The height of laziness I know.

You are however quite correct in that I don't want to part with the cash that Bonethrone wants for this beauty:

http://www.bonthronebikes.co.uk/474-473505

you mean you dont watch TV with a bike on your lap?

Lacing up the wheel takes the longest, which is done most comfortably sitting down and staring at something more interesting.

Then wack it in a frame and take a minute truing, job done.

if your going to buy anything, buy a dishing tool. Far more useful time saver.

ive got a minoura workman pro ,around 80 quid ,its a great piece of kit

Using my unique "it's really expensive so it must be good" criteria this one looks nice:

However I'm not spending that money on one!

What features are essential in a good stand?
I (fairly obviously) don't know what to look for so all help appreciated.

ive got one of these, and its a lot sturdier than the cyclo/var equivilent, also has the capability of being able to work with 150mm ubs for donhill bikes, and 20mm axles