What can I use to tighten bike spokes?
Like other maintenance and bike tune-up processes, tightening spokes requires tools, the most important of which is a spoke wrench. In fact, you can make do with only a spoke wrench if necessary, and the good news is they fit even in small pockets.
What happens if spoke tension is too low?
If a wheel’s tension is too low, it can cause the spokes to relax too much during a ride, creating a snapping effect and causing excess stress to both the spokes and the rim. This can lead to de-tensioning, which is when spokes lose tension over a short amount of time.
How tight should spokes feel?
Put your thumb around one spoke and your fingers around the spoke next to it and squeeze. The spokes should feel tight and firm. They should have just a little give when you squeeze them fairly hard.
How do you measure bike spoke tension?
Pull the spokes across each other with your fingers to see which is looser. Lift the looser spoke away to pluck the tighter one alone and check its pitch. Check for rim damage or a crooked rim joint near the unequally-tensioned spokes.
Are lighter wheels worth it?
Lighter wheels can go faster because there is less weight to control. They’ll help you speed up your acceleration while decreasing the time it takes you to come to a full stop. They can also contribute to greater fuel efficiency because lighter vehicles use less fuel.
How does a spoke tensiometer work?
Basically they all apply a preset tension to a spoke (the same spoke and desired tension required for the particular wheel build), then a tensiometer reading is taken. The reading is just a number, that’s all, and you tension the spokes in the wheel to the same number.
Are lighter bike wheels worth it?
“Light weight wheels accelerate faster than heavy ones, which helps when you’re taking off from a stop, but heavy wheels maintain more of their momentum than light wheels, which helps you keep your speed on rolling roads and trails.
How do I know what size spoke wrench to get?
The best method to determine the correct spoke wrench size is to use a caliper and measure the nipple across the wrench flats. It is important to know that the diameter, or so called “gauge”, of the spoke does not determine the spoke wrench size.
Why do my spokes keep coming loose?
Spokes loosen mainly because they stretch, and much of the “stretch” is due to the elbow straightening out. During the dawn of downhill racing in Scotland we would build the wheels up, use red loctite, take them out and put some stress (jumps) on them and come back to the shop for a final true.