How to True a Wheel Part 1: How a Wheel Works

Inside the structure of a bicycle wheel, there's a lot going on. This video will focus on how your bicycle's wheels work, including the different parts and concepts that hold it all together and keep you rolling down the road.

#wheeltruing

And once you understand how your wheels works, you can jump into truing your wheel with the help of our Wheel Truing Playlist:

00:00 Introduction
01:07 Parts of a Wheel
02:27 Tires
02:51 Rims
03:36 Spokes
05:30 Spoke Nipples
06:36 Hubs
07:29 Wheel Truing
08:35 Lateral
09:25 Radial
09:35 Dish
09:54 Tension

➤ Related Text Articles:

➤ Tools & materials used:

➤ Fix It:
Did you know that Park Tool is the #1 resource for bicycle repair education?

➤ More Wheel Truing Repair Help:

➤ About Park Tool:
Since our founding in 1963, Park Tool has been the leading name in bicycle tools. Our YouTube channel is an extension of our mission to be the ultimate resource for mechanics and riders of all skill levels. Here you will find comprehensive repair help tutorials for a wide range of components and processes, as well as troubleshooting guides, tips and tricks, and information on the latest Park Tool products.

[apriljones]

I know this probably wasn't intentional, but these videos have been helpful as a disabled person to teach me how to maintain my own wheelchair. So thanks!

[russellclark]

I absolutely adore this guy. Yes, he is teaching me about something I love but so did my drum teacher and I hated his ass. This guy here at park tool is gold. Keep him.

[ernestpaul]

Will I ever attempt to go down the rabbit hole of truing my wheels? No

Did I still watch the entire video? Yes

[clock_roach]

Did my truing stand just show up in the mail? Am I currently staring at five different spoke calculators trying to figure out what length to order? Yes and yes. Clearly Calvin is keeping tabs on everything I'm doing.

[nathansbikeapedia]

I was looking forward to these videos!!!! These videos are literally how I know all of my biking knowledge and can fix all my friend's bikes! Thank you so much!

[EmanueleTruffa]

Not even waiting for Cal to start talking: liked.

[innoxinnox]

0:02 My English is not very good so I turned on the English caption, and it tells me right off the bat that this is a “wheel chewing series”… Okay this is gonna be interesting… 😂

[mastergta]

Old guy from a nearby bikeshop trued my wheel in 5 mins like it was nothing, such a pro

[jandoxbsbnx]

this is too complicated, and i can change a clutch and transmission on a car ..

[jesbo]

I usually have a horrible time understanding this stuff, but this was explained in such a clear, foolproof way! Thank you for not making me feel so dumb

[gregknipe]

great job. thank you. not as hard as it looks or sounds. a great pathway is to start with hubs, spokes and rims. learn to lace the spoke patterns, proceed. I revived my biking life at 19 when a friend gave me a wheel set (new parts) and a tiny instruction book, for my birthday. the coolest, most rewarding part was hearing each nipple seat in the rim on the first revolution, of the test ride. learning something like this was an incredible boost. a great taste of self reliance and gumption. practice truing on a junk wheel!

[sireynolds]

Calvin must have been keeping tabs on my recent YT history. Great tutorial. Loved the way it was all built up.

[Webinthamind]

All hail our Lord and Savior Calvin jones

[Brant_Moore]

Yes!!! No one else will make these videos as good and I finally have a place to point people when they ask!

[rodneyjohnson]

when i watch a park tool video i am immediately in my comfy zone. no hype, no squawking,
no distractions; just the facts, explained in a way i can understand and excellent camera
and sound work. no echo, no bad lighting.
my bike was stolen 5 years ago and am unable to replace it for several reasons.
however, i hold a dream of getting another one someday. i still have my (98% park) bike tools and my faithful pcs-10 stand with almost all the accessories for it.

for those of you who live in apartments, a happy note- you can make your repair stand a
christmas tree. just run ac or dc lights in an isoceles triangle, add a few ornaments and
maybe some tinsel and you're done. all except the repair stand are available inexpensively at walmart after halloween (!). i still have the christmas lights for the bike, also.

[hagakuru]

Just called a local shop - they want $40 each wheel. Wtf

[ironthoughts]

No fluff, just knowledge. Thank you for this succinct and comprehensive intro to wheels.

[matthew_dag]

All I want to do if fix my rim, but I'm learning so much cool stuff

[RRA]

Who knew bicycle wheels could be so fascinating?

[fluffy]

If cycling was a country this guy would be it's national treasure