Truing Stand Investment: Essential or Overkill for Your Mileage?

You’ve been riding hard. Your legs ache, your chain hums, and your wheels spin true—until they don’t.

One day, there’s a wobble, a shimmy, a betrayal from the machine you trusted.

You could take it to a shop, but that means parting with your bike and your cash.

Or you could get a truing stand. But is it really worth it? Or just another tool collecting dust in the corner?

1. How Often Do You Actually Need to True Your Wheels?

Most people don’t true their wheels regularly because good wheels shouldn’t need it very often. A well-built wheel, treated with a little respect, can roll for thousands of miles without needing a touch-up.

If your wheels are constantly wobbling, you might not need a truing stand—you might need better wheels or better roads.

I know a guy with 30 years of biking under his belt who says he’s never needed a truing stand. He’s got a bike, a frame, and the ability to “do the math.” A lot of other long-time riders agree.

So, unless you’re hitting potholes like they owe you money, your wheels should stay in line without the need for constant intervention.

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2. Are You Building Your Own Wheels?

If you’re just truing a wheel now and then, a couple of zip ties on the frame or a repurposed old fork will do just fine. But if you’re building wheels from scratch, you might want to invest in a proper stand.

Building wheels is like baking bread: sure, you can do it without fancy tools, but having the right ones makes it a hell of a lot easier.

If you’re lacing up your own wheels, a truing stand will save your sanity.

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3. Financial Justification vs. The Joy of Owning One

Let’s talk money. A solid truing stand can run you anywhere from $100 to $300, and that’s before you buy a dishing tool or a tension meter. Most local bike shops charge about $20 per wheel for truing. Unless your wheels are going out of true every few weeks, you won’t break even for a long, long time.

But here’s where it gets interesting. Some riders admit they just like having one. It’s like a mechanic buying a fancy wrench set when a cheaper one would do. It’s not necessary—but it feels good.

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4. DIY Fixes Work Surprisingly Well

A lot of experienced riders don’t bother with a stand. They flip their bike upside down, tape a pen or zip tie to the frame, and get their wheel straight enough to ride.

With practice the “pen method” can get a wheel within 0.5mm of true this way. That’s good enough for most riders.

So if you’re just fixing the occasional wobble, a dedicated truing stand might be overkill.

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5. Do You Have the Patience for It?

Truing a wheel is a mix of art, science, and frustration. It’s a delicate dance—tighten one spoke, loosen another, spin, curse, repeat.

If you have the temperament for it, great. If not, you might end up with a $200 tool gathering dust while you curse at your bike in the garage.

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6. If You Have Disc Brakes, Do You Even Need One?

Rim brakes rub when a wheel is out of true. Disc brakes? Not so much. If you ride with disc brakes, a tiny wobble won’t even matter.

Unless your wheel is so warped it looks like a Salvador Dalí painting, you probably won’t notice a little untrue action with disc brakes. Another reason to save your cash.

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7. Is It Just Another “Guy Tool”?

You know what I mean. The kind of thing guys buy because they like owning it more than actually using it.

A truing stand, in many cases, is a status tool—it looks impressive in the garage, but how often does it actually get used?

But if you’re the kind of person who buys a weight set and never lifts, or a pasta maker and only uses it once, maybe hold off.

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Table Summary:

Factor	Verdict
Frequent wheel truing needed?	No stand needed—get better wheels or watch where you ride.
Building wheels from scratch?	Yes, get a stand. Saves frustration.
Cost vs. Shop Truing?	Not worth it unless you’re fixing wheels often.
DIY fixes (zip ties, pen method)?	Work surprisingly well.
Patience for trial & error?	If not, just let a shop do it.
Disc brakes?	Less need for perfect truing.
Just like having tools?	Then go for it. No shame.

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Here’s the truth. If you’re obsessed with wheel building, get a truing stand. It’ll make your life easier. But if you’re just riding a few thousand miles a year, hitting the occasional pothole, and fixing the odd wobble? Zip ties will do the job just fine.

And if you’re still unsure? Flip a coin. Heads, you get the stand. Tails, you buy a six-pack and learn to true your wheels with a beer in hand. Either way, you’re winning.