Why does turning one nipple move the whole rim?

Because the rim is a ring: every spoke pulls against its neighbours through it. Tightening one spoke pulls the rim toward that flange and slightly unloads the nearby spokes on the same side, which is why truing is many small corrections rather than one big one.

Can I practise a real repair here?

Use it to build intuition — what a lateral wobble looks like in the tensions, how the dish shifts when one side comes up. For an actual wheel, take real readings in the tension calculator; the simulator doesn't know your rim, your spokes or their starting tensions.

What should I try first?

Knock one spoke loose and true the wheel back: it's the most common real-world repair. Then raise one whole side and watch the dish move.

Truing simulator

A practice sandbox. Select spokes and turn the nipples, then watch the tension move, the neighbours react, and the rim's centering (dish), lateral true and radial true respond. It is a qualitative teaching model, not build advice.

New to the terms? Glossary → · Build a wheel from start to finish → · Build wizard →

perfect wheel at target

Spoke count

Reference side (higher tension)

Target kgfOther side %

Select nipples 0 selected

or click spokes on the wheel →

turn:·

centering

off to NDS 0.29 mm

lateral true

0.00 mm

radial true

0.00 mm

L avg 110 · spread 0 kgf

R avg 110 · spread 0 kgf

Dish strategies (¼ turn, whole side)

One side only also shifts total tension; tighten one + loosen the other moves the dish at ~constant tension.

Qualitative teaching model: a quarter turn ≈ 18 kgf on the driven spoke; neighbours and rim deflection are approximated and decay over a few spokes. Real wheels vary with rim and spoke stiffness, and this is no substitute for a truing stand.

Truing stand, live

lateral -0.29 mm · max 0.29

radial -0.29 mm · max 0.29

scope: radial · lateral (scrolling)

bars = spoke tension vs side target · band ±20%

Lateral true (wobble)peak -0.29 mm · scale ±0.29

Radial true (hop)peak -0.29 mm · scale ±0.29

Dish (centering)0.29 mm toward NDS

Which way to turn the nipple?

TIGHTEN: turn clockwise ↻ (as you see it)

spoke:pulls into nipple → tension ↑

Spoke wrench, nipple at the top: clockwise (as you see it) tightens.

What the model does

The simulator models the wheel as a network of coupled spokes: turning a nipple changes that spoke's tension and pulls on the rim, and its neighbours react. Lateral true, radial true and dish are recomputed live. It is qualitative — tuned to teach cause and effect, not to predict a specific wheel — which is why it's a sandbox and not build advice.

FAQ

Why does turning one nipple move the whole rim?: Because the rim is a ring: every spoke pulls against its neighbours through it. Tightening one spoke pulls the rim toward that flange and slightly unloads the nearby spokes on the same side, which is why truing is many small corrections rather than one big one.
Can I practise a real repair here?: Use it to build intuition — what a lateral wobble looks like in the tensions, how the dish shifts when one side comes up. For an actual wheel, take real readings in the tension calculator; the simulator doesn't know your rim, your spokes or their starting tensions. Spoke tension calculator →
What should I try first?: Knock one spoke loose and true the wheel back: it's the most common real-world repair. Then raise one whole side and watch the dish move.