Centre the wheel: The right key for repairs
Centre spanners are available in different sizes. Make sure you get the right tool for your wheel, as incorrect spanners can irreparably damage spoke nipples. Wheels with aluminium spokes (e.g. from Campagnolo, Fulcrum or Mavic) require special spanners, which are supplied with the wheels. At least on tours lasting several days, it makes sense to have such a spanner in your tool kit, as not every bike dealer has them in stock.
Centring aids for self-repair
On bikes with rim brakes, you can use the brake to help centre the wheel. Align the brake in the centre, position it as tightly as possible and secure it well with the fixing screw so that it does not twist easily. As you cannot work directly under the brake, mark the points where the wheel runs off track so that you do not lose your bearings!
Road bikes with disc brakes often lack any orientation for the centre. You can remedy this by tying cable ties (or adhesive tape) around the seat stays or fork blades. Find a place where the rim is centred and cut off the protruding ends as close to the rim as possible. Make sure that the cable ties remain in place when centring.
Centre the wheel: Which spoke to turn in which direction?
There is a mnemonic for the correct direction of rotation: Grasp the spoke with your right hand so that your thumb is pointing towards the hub. The fingers of the closed hand indicate the direction of rotation with which the spoke is tensioned, i.e. pulls the rim in its direction.
Sometimes the wheel no longer runs completely straight. Then you have to centre the wheel by tightening the spokes. TOUR workshop manager Christoph Allwang shows us how to do this and what problems are lurking.
More on the topic: Tips and information about road bike wheels
How the Centring a wheel on a road bike works in just a few steps, we show in our Workshop video. So even beginners can do it:
Tool tip for aero bladed spokes
Aerodynamic bladed spokes must be held in place when centring the wheel so that they do not twist. The DT Swiss spoke holder has proved its worth, allowing the spoke to be held close to the nipple. A suitably slotted, small block of hardwood will also do as a temporary solution.
Jens Klötzer
Editor
