I'm going to need new tires before I do any real riding this season, and from what I've found so far it looks like I should pull the wheels and bring them into a shop to have the tires mounted and balanced. Should I leave the other equipment installed on the wheels (rotors, rear sprocket) or do I need to pull this first? Actually, if anyone has a quick link on what tire balancing involves I'd appreciate it. Thanks in advance, I would have already ruined this bike many times over without this site!
Hi there,
Leave the rotors on each wheel. No need to unbolt them at all.
You can leave the sprocket and its holder on, too, so they are balanced with the wheel and tire, but be sure that you don't leave any of the axle spacers at the shop when you take everything home!
I used to work in a shop and it is easy to leave one on the tire changing machine by accident before returning it to the customer.
You'll save yourself a lot of money by taking the wheels in off the bike and give yourself some good hands-on experience, too.
Good luck,
Todd
Leave the sprocket carrier at home. They will not use it to balance the wheel as it can throw the balance off. Without the axle, there is nothing to keep it concentric with the wheel.