Park Tool spoke tension meter debate finally got me

I always thought Park Tool's tension meter was overpriced and you could just go by feel. But I was at a shop in Portland last week and this old mechanic showed me how two wheels I built by feel had spokes all over the place tension-wise. He let me use his meter and I found spokes that were 15kgf apart on the same side. I get it now, you can't really feel that difference. Has anyone else changed their mind after actually trying a precision tool?

2 comments

2 Comments

luna5198d agoTop Commenter

My buddy swore by the 'feel method' until he showed up to a group ride with a wheel that kept going out of true on every descent. He bought a meter the next day.

mila_craig48d ago

And that's exactly how it goes with most things people swear they can "just feel." I've seen guys insist they can tune a car by ear until the engine knocks, or cooks who refuse to use a thermometer until they serve pink chicken. There's this weird pride in avoiding the tool that actually does the job, like using it means you're less of a real mechanic or rider or whatever. But the reality is, your feel is just your best guess, and a meter or a gauge is your guarantee.