True wheels

[Rydogg]

I'm new to road biking, so forgive me:

 

How important is it to have your wheels 100% true?

 

Someone just gave me a set of Shimano RS10's which I will be using for commuting / training. They are in really good condition, except for the rear one, which has a slightly bent section at one point. So when I brake, it bumps at that point. Is this critical? Or is it ok?

 

Also, how much does it cost to true a wheel?

[CAAD4]

Probably about R60 to R100, well worth it.

[The OriginalSpartacus]

yip 100% true is best. it'll wear your brake pads unevenly and could alse rub against your chain stays and damage the frame

[Lucky Luke.]

Lance at Epic Bike Shop is good with wheels.

[Rydogg]

Ok, for R100, it's totally worth it! My original estimate was way off.

[AndreZA]

Is it a wobble or a ding in the rim? You don't really feel a wobble when you brake but a ding you will feel.

[Falco]

The truer the better, nothing worse than a wheel that rubs. Learn to fix it yourself, it's not rocket science.

Edited August 31, 2011 by Falco

[Rydogg]

Re wobble vs. ding: Not sure how to describe it. The outer diamter of the rim is perfectly round when you spin it. I don't feel the wobble when I ride.

 

It's the side wall (braking surface) which moves laterally slightly when you spin it, so the brakes rub at one point only. I was just worried that when I pulled on the brakes, the rim would be forced to "bend straight" every tiem it reached that point. Isn't this bad?

 

 

I used to build my bmx wheels from scratch all the time, but then the tension in the spokes didn't really matter that much. They used to snap all the time, but it was ok.

 

I don't think I would trust myself with road wheels.