If you have a carbon bike or plan to get one, you may be wondering what you can and cannot do with it, in particular, truing the wheels…
Can carbon bike wheels being trued?
Yes, although not very frequently unless you are experiencing a wobbly wheel. Ideally, you want to have your bike wheels trued once a year as a form of ‘preventative maintenance’ to help ensure a longer life for your wheels.
The spokes can go loose over time, which is why truing is necessary. The actual process with a carbon bike wheel is a simple matter where the mechanic will tighten up the spoke tension and test the wheel periodically until it is deemed to roll ‘true’.
Do carbon rims need truing?
Carbon rims will still need truing once a year, but compared to aluminum they are the stronger rims. That said, this robust construction can make it a little harder to spot when the rims need truing, which is just another good reason to do it every year.
When this is not done, small signs of warping will eventually appear on the carbon rims, but these can be difficult to spot if you haven’t had a lot of experience in checking them over.
By regularly maintaining them and keeping an eye on your wheels, you’ll eventually learn the difference and if you miss any warping, it will still likely be dealt with before it can become a worse problem.
Do carbon MTB wheels need truing?
As they are quite robust, carbon MTB wheels will seldom, if ever need triune. Having them checked once a year safeguards you against any potential issues, but the good news with carbon MTB wheels is that they are pretty hard to damage.
That’s not saying that you can’t pull it off – just that they are designed to ‘take a beating’ and so you’ll be getting your money’s worth if you invest in carbon MTB.
How much does it cost to get a rim trued?
If the wheel only has a slight wobble but otherwise seems to be in good shape, then it is likely that truing will only run you about $20 – $30 at your local bike shop.
Mechanics will typically have access to a machine that assists with the process, to ensure that the spokes are properly tightened and aligned as ‘perfectly true’ as possible by the termination of the work.
How long does the carbon rim last?
It ultimately boils down to how hard you are on the rims, but technically they will last as long as the carbon and resin fibers are still bonded.
Damage from heavy use in unruly terrains can certainly reduce the overall life, but with standard usage, you can expect a good 4 to 5 years of life from a set of carbon rims.
That’s not to say that you can’t get a little rough with them from time to time, but be sure if you do that you get them checked and trued yearly. With regular maintenance and care, you’ll be more likely to get the ‘5’ years, rather than the 3, and possibly even more if you’re careful!
Do carbon wheels feel better?
Yes, carbon wheels handle wonderfully once you’ve gotten used to them. The carbon material is significantly lighter than aluminum but stiff and very supportive. You’ll quickly notice the difference that this makes in both the handling and the performance.
You’ll get more speed and more control, and the extended warranty on these durable wheels means that you’ll get a lot of mileage out of your investment.
Are carbon bike wheels worth it?
Yes, compared to the alloy options out there, carbon wheels are definitely worth the extra sum that you’ll invest in your bike to get them. The wheels are going to be stronger and lighter, which means that you’ll be able to go faster, jump higher, and you’ll have much more control with the wheels.
They also tend to come with a 3 to 5-year warranty, and you won’t need to have them ‘trued’ quite as often as you would with aluminum or other options that are simply not as strong or lightweight as carbon.
This makes them a very good investment for your bike and one that you certainly will not regret.
When can a bike wheel not be trued?
It all boils down to the spoke tension. If the spokes on the wheel are too varied, then it’s simply not going to stay true for as long.
For the most part, if the wheel still has its spokes in place and only a slight wobble, then you can likely still have it trued, but once you’ll need to bring it into the shop to be sure.
Some wheels will have semi-loose or even overly tightened spokes by design, and these also may not be good candidates for truing.
It’s best to ask at the time of purchase for your new wheels, otherwise, you can bring it in once a year for truing and the shop staff should be able to give you a good assessment at this time.
How often does a bike wheel need to be trued?
You should bring your bike into the shop for truing once a year and this should be enough unless you are using it for riskier rides, such as downhill or other competitions where your wheels will be getting a lot of wear and tear. In such cases, twice a year would be ideal.
The material of the wheels will also come into play, with carbon rims needing the least amount of maintenance, while aluminum should be checked more regularly. If most of your riding is low-impact, distance runs, then once a year should be just about perfect.
Can you true a wheel with a missing spoke?
You might be able to tighten the remaining spokes enough so that the wheel will be ‘true’ enough to get you back home, but you wouldn’t want to ride it much beyond this until the spoke has been replaced.
As such, you are tightening the other spokes is a makeshift fix and not recommended for more than simply getting you back to the house until you can arrange for repair.