Truing a Unicycle Wheel: How to Do It and Why It Matters

Have you ever “trued” a unicycle wheel, or a bike wheel, for that matter?

It’s an easy and straightforward process that only requires basic unicycle/bike tools, but knowing how to do it is critical to ensuring proper handling and preventing premature wear to the wheel and tire.

Here’s what to know.

What Unicycle Tools (Bike Tools) Will You Need?

First, you need to make sure you have the right unicycle tools (or bike tools, if you will) in order to get the job done.

One thing that’s nice to have (although it isn’t completely necessary) is a jig to hold the unicycle (or bike) upside down so that the wheel is sticking up. You could also use a vise or rest it inverted on the floor.

In terms of other unicycle/bike tools, you will need a spoke key (spoke wrench), and it also helps to have a spoke tensioning tool that measures the tension on the spokes.

You’ll also need a tool to measure the gap between the frame and the wheel. You may also need wire cutters (clippers) and some cable ties.

How to True a Unicycle Wheel

While you don’t need a spoke tensioning tool, it’s helpful to have one to make sure the spokes are under the right tension.

If you have a tensioning tool, apply it to each spoke to check the tension. Ideally, all the spokes on each side will be under the same tension as each other.

If you don’t have a spoke tensioning tool, just grab the middle of each spoke with your fingers and wiggle it a little. Once again, all the spokes on each side should be under relatively similar tension.

You can also perform a “listening” test; give each spoke a twang with your finger and listen to the report. The spokes on each side should produce a similar pitch to each other when plucked.

You may also want to measure the distance between the wheel rim and the frame. For most unicycles, you can use your thumb’s knuckle; there should be enough room for you to get your knuckle between the rim and frame, although for those with larger hands, it might be a bit snug.

If the wheel fails one of these tests, it’s not “trued,” and will wobble a little while it spins. You can check this by placing your thumb between the wheel rim and the frame and spinning the wheel.

If the wheel is under the same contact with your thumb the entire time, you’re in a good spot. If it wobbles so that the rim either grinds against your thumb or pulls away from it while spinning, it needs to be tuned (trued).

Wobbling occurs when the spokes are not under even tension, which is easily rectified by “truing” them.

If the wheel wobbles to one side, the first thing you need to do is count the number of spokes that are affected or are causing the problem.

Pick the middle point of the affected area on the wheel; for instance, if 7 spokes are not properly tensioned, pick the 4th one at the midway point, and tighten that spoke using your spoke wrench, by one turn.

Then tighten the one next to it by one turn, then the one on the other side a half a turn. Then go back to the other side and tighten that spoke by half a turn.

Give the wheel a spin, and see if that has solved the problem. You should notice that the wheel should be wobbling less.

Repeat this process until you’ve trued the wheel and it doesn’t exhibit any wobble to one side or the other.

One thing to note here is this: find the split in the rim where it is joined. Be aware that this will be a particularly hard area of the wheel to true because it represents an area of asymmetry in the wheel.

Why It’s Important to Know How to Do This

Knowing how to true a unicycle (or bike) wheel is not just a matter of good handling. While it is a fact that wheels that don’t run true will not handle well, they also will respond to braking inconsistently, and they may cause uneven tire wear.

Worst of all, a wheel that doesn’t run true will likely incur premature wear to the components of the wheel, which will require replacement or repairs within a short timeframe.

All in all, learning how to true a wheel is not particularly difficult to do and is a skill that all riders should master.

If you have additional questions about how to true a wheel, feel free to get in touch with us or consult the following video.

Here for Unicycle or Bike Tools?

Whether you’re looking for unicycle or bike tools like spoke wrenches, we can help. Take a look through our full collection of tools via the previous link and then get in touch with us if you have more in-depth questions about how to tighten (or loosen) your spokes so that the wheel runs true.