Abbey Bike Tools The Truing Stand

With The Truing Stand, Abbey Bike Tools' team has ‘hacked’ the traditional truing stand. By treating it like a piece of metrology equipment, rather than simply a mount, they have succeeded in enabling it to reliably mirror a centreline, so that it's always in dish, regardless of hub or rim width.

Six years of development has resulted in a stand that is compatible with both QR and Thru Axle hubs, with axle diameters of up to 14mm, with no adaptors required. Wheel security can be increased by bolting into the dropout plates, which is especially critical when dealing with internally geared hubs and hub-based motor systems. The Truing Stand is compatible with a vast range of hubs, from 70-220mm wide.

Also on the team's wish list was being able to straighten rotors while the wheel was in the stand, to ensure total accuracy and eliminate the risk and resulting noise of disc brake rubbing. This was achieved by including a rotor indicator that can accommodate rotor sizes from 120-210mm. Furthermore, the rotor truing mount can accommodate a Mitutoyo analogue dial indicator if desired.

Lateral and radial indicators are also included, to detect deviations so that they can easily be corrected. The lateral indicator, which rides on a sealed cartridge bearing for smooth operation, is compatible with rim widths from 15-65mm and operates on a push-pull motion, so it's always mirrored from the centreline.

Meanwhile, the radial indicator can be positioned wherever you like and used for single sided lateral truing if desired.

There's also an option to boost the levels even further using the analogue Mitutoyo indicators for enhanced accuracy, or the digital Islandix Instruments quantitative truing and tensioning system, which turns live measurements into visualisations for wheel work. It does this by combining the data from multiple sensors and using it to find the shortest path to perfect alignment, which speeds up the process of advancing past ‘good enough’ to perfect’.

As a bonus, this modern technology eliminates the need to zero indicators, remembers the alignment around a wheel and scales to work quantitatively or assist with complicated repairs.

Equally at home truing wheels for a general tune up or being used to build wheels worthy of elite competition, The Truing Stand requires practically no maintenance, thanks to the inclusion of Igus drive components, and includes linear rails to promote the smooth movement of the uprights.

Three versions of the stand are available, so whether you chose the stand alone, with lateral and radial indicators, increase the accuracy further with analogue indicators or opt for the most accurate version with digital Islandix optional technology to modernise it, the results won't disappoint.

As well, the control of digital functions by a foot pedal ensures that these won't interfere with the muscle memory of working with your hands and that the craft of wheel building will remain at the centre of this supercharged stand.