Conference noted::bicycle

    My bias:  I own the cheapo Minoura stand and dishing tool, but have
    	      occasional access to a Park Pro and Campy dishing tool.  
    
    The Minoura	is quite nasty but gets the job done.  The dishing tool
    flexes and the stand isn't quite square in every (any?) dimension.  The
    stand flexes too.   It doesn't prevent you from building nice wheels,
    but it could be better.
    
    With the Park stand and a Campy dishing tool, I can work twice as fast
    (at least) because of a lot of little things.  Don't trust the "self-
    centering" feature though.  It's not dead reliable like a dishing tool.
    Overall, though it is a joy to work with.
    
    Which to buy?  It's kind of like a choice between Snap-On tools vs a set 
    of K-Mart sockets.   If you use it A LOT, it is probably worth it to
    get the good stuff.  If you like to have nice tools, get the good
    stuff.  For infrequent, utilitarian use, the junk functions and costs
    about 1/3 as much.

I prefer any stand without the little centering jaws typical of the 
Minoura and Park models - I like just having an easily adjustable arm 
that adjusts for in/out and side-to-side. As .1 indicates, the centering 
jaws can be (or get) misaligned. I prefer the flip-it-over-to-check 
dishing method, so I've never needed a dishing tool. The nicest stand 
I've used was a homemade job, one wheel support moved side-to-side to 
adj. for hub width, and it had a bent rod that stayed wherever you moved 
it via spring tension. I built probably 200 wheels on it. I grieve for 
its loss whenever I have to build a wheel ;-(. Currently I think I've 
got a Minoura, anyway it's a copy of a Park style with the jaws 'cuz it 
was all I could find at the time. It's serviceable, and I don't build 
wheels that often anymore.
                             ken

    "For infrequent, utilitarian use, the junk functions and costs
    about 1/3 as much."
    
    Cheap tools are the most expensive thing you'll ever own.
    
    ed

    	re: .3    I see you have the full Campy tool set.  Can I borrow
    		  the bottom bracket facing tool?  :^)
    
    But seriously, I don't think that you will damage anything by using a
    minoura stand unless you wield it like a mace.   Wrenches, etc are a
    different matter, I agree.

I saw a truing stand that had come from Europe (Italy I believe but am not sure)
that had been modified to use dial guages with rollers for truing wheels.  They
helped show how much a wheel was out of true quickly.  The mechanic measured
the wheel gap---outside to outside of locknuts or axle---and the rim width
to locate rim center and set the gauges accordingly.  He built nice wheels.

    
    Speaking of gauges, etc. - there are also rumors of a laser-based
    truing device, with readouts down to the micron.  You can apparently
    get an add-on option - a spin-off from our SDI taxpayer dollars - to
    upgrade the laser to a power laser, which "corrects" out-of-true
    rims by itself, in a process which as a byproduct also reduces that
    all-important rotating rim-mass.
    
    -john

    Yes, John, and NASA has built a robot to ride the bike for you, too.
    
    ed

> .7  At last a "real engine" for a tandem stoker. . . . .

    I have a Park Pro.  I had a Minoura prior.  The Minoura was a pain at
    time but worked.  I treated myself to the Park just for the heck of it.
    It is great.  The auto center is reliable but you do have to set the
    unit up correctly and check to make sure something hasn't moved (after
    dropping or hitting the unit accidently my garage is crowded).  Its a
    joy to work with long after you forget the $140 I paid Nashbar for it.
    
    mike