How much does a spoke key cost?

[Sam Kennedy]

I want to get a spoke key just to practice wheel truing, how much should I expect to pay from a bike shop(Not Online)?

 

[Norm]

Couple of quid, should be under a fiver, make sure it's the right size / type for your spokes.

 

[dan_bo]

The park tools ones are top notch-I've had one for about ten years- and are about £8.

 

[simon_adams_uk]

Ditto the advice about getting a Park tools spoke key - don't be fooled by something cheap (and rubbish). I always use to misplace mine so now use it as a key ring...

S

 

[accountantpete]

You want a well designed one - something like this which attacks all 4 sides of the nipple

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?PartnerID=79&ModelID=41056

Cheaper 2 sided spoke keys tend to round the nipples edges.

 

[Sam Kennedy]

I got one which does 4 different sizes for £5.
It was scary turning the spoke nipples(lol) at first because they sounded like they were going to snap. But I got used to it.

Truing isn't really that hard, it's just repetitive. (Or more likely, I was doing it wrong!)

 

[Davidc]

Needed a new one in a hurry just before christmas and got one very similar to accountantpete's link at £5.50 from one of the LBSs

 

[briank]

+1 for the Park. The Spokey's alright, but the Park is soooo much nicer to use.

 

[Hacienda71]

I got one in my tool kit. If you going to do a lot of work on your bike then a good quality tool kit is really good value, to buy all the bits and pieces separately would cost you twice as much.

 

[zacklaws]

As the others say their not expensive and as Sam says its not difficult to true a wheel. The only hard bit I have found when I have had to do a quick repair job on the road after a crash etc is to actually keep the wheel circular instead of making it slightly oval as you will notice it when it turns that it goes up and down.

 

[Dayvo]

To ensure a correct truing has been made, you'll need a wheel truing stand.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel_truing_stand

 

[PpPete]

Make sure you get one that grips all four faces of the nipple. The Spokey is good, or the Park SW-40
Don't get one that does multiple sizes - they are a complete PITA, and the cheaper ones will round off the corners of any recalcitrant nipples.