Talking to a retired mechanic made me question my whole approach to wheel truing

I was helping an old timer clean out his shop in Portland, and he said 'you know, a lot of guys chase that last half millimeter of lateral runout like it's gold, but a happy customer just wants a wheel that doesn't rub.' I've been overthinking my builds for years. How do you decide when a wheel is 'good enough' for a daily rider?

4 comments

4 Comments

logan5252mo ago

Man, that old timer is right lol. I used to spend an hour trying to get a rear wheel perfect, only to realize the rim itself had a tiny wobble from the factory. If the brake pads don't rub and it spins smooth, it's a win for a daily bike.

nathan1002mo ago

Honestly, @logan525, did you ever read that old Sheldon Brown article about acceptable rim wobble? He basically said if you can't feel it while riding and the brakes work, it's fine. I remember him writing that some factory wobble is normal, and trying to fix it completely can make the wheel worse. It really changed how I look at my own bike maintenance.

ward.kim2mo ago

Wait, the rim had a wobble from the factory? That's wild! I'd be so mad after all that careful work. It totally makes sense though, some stuff just isn't perfect when it shows up. You're right, for a bike you ride every day, no rub and smooth spinning is the real goal. Chasing perfect is a trap!

jamie_webb671mo ago

Used to be the same way man, I'd stress over maybe 0.2mm of lateral runout on a wheel. Then I built a set for a buddy and the rim had this one spot that just would not come perfect, I fought it for like an hour before giving up. He rode that bike for three years without ever touching the brakes and never noticed a thing. Made me realize chasing that last tiny bit of perfection just wastes time and makes you frustrated for no real reason.