A Perfect Truing Stand

We've all got favorite devices. For some, it's vintage bicycles or race cars. For others, it's first edition books or pasta makers. For me, it's truing stands. I wish I had a larger collection but every one of my eleven stands is truly special.

I'll introduce them in future blogs but today's news is my new favorite. I saw it first at Eurobike in 2006, from a couple in Germany. Not before or since have I seen a stand so perfectly and thoughtfully created: up there with the finest espresso makers, for example, combining metalwork mastery, love of the process, and ingenious function. A device as captivating to behold as to use.

P&K Lie = Elegant Simplicity

I'm speaking of the P&K Lie stand. I've added this stand to our store, where it takes its place in our World's Best gallery next to the Morizumi spoke machine. Not inexpensive, USD$1,950 for North American customers, each is handbuilt by Peter and Kerstin Lie, brother and sister who hail from Sweden and now live and work in Hamburg. While you may gasp at the price, the visuals are even more breathtaking.

Amazing non-linear, reset-able gauges

I recommend a short video glimpse of the P&K Lie stand. If you're curious about use, then a second video guides you through its enlightened function. What are the defining features?

(1) Stunning execution; luxurious use of materials (lots of immaculate brass, rare these days); gorgeous contours for knobs, slides, fixtures. A work of art.

Bracket detail

(2) Very fast and solid wheel gripping. What a relief to be free of insecure axle mounting or the need for nuts and quick releases for solidity.

Super fast and solid hub clamps

(3) Amazing, custom built dial gauges. But these are not just huge gauges, they are non-linear sweep gauges. Non-linear means you can use them on a very untrue wheel. Those of you using dial indicators in your building know they can't be employed until the wheel is very true because the needle will spin wildly around which is impossible to interpret for truing.

Gauge housing detail

P&K Lie gauges are designed by Peter Lie to be used from the earliest stage of wheelbuilding. With P&K Lie, you switch 100% to dial gauge reading. And, man, does it speed things up. No joke, I'm seeing huge efficiencies and this is the stand's most compelling feature: SPEED!

Our first order immediately sold out. Three more arrive before year-end. Given Peter and Kerstin's perfectionism and small scale workshop, the supply is limited. Hopefully the waiting list will not become awkward. It's certainly worth it.

Bracket backside

In weeks to come, I will further introduce the artists behind the stand, Peter and Kerstin, and describe in greater detail why their wheel truing system is so fast and effective. You can visit their site on the web.