Should an amateur attempt truing a wheel I was in a bicycle crash recently, and noticed afterwards that the wheel was out of true (it hits the brakes once every revolution). The damage doesn't seem extreme to me though: it's not visible just by looking at the tire. I have little experience with bike maintanance or repair, and have read that truing is hard. However, I don't think I can afford professional maintanance/repair right now.

So, should I attempt truing the tire myself (with the help of online resources), or am I likely to just destroy the whole thing?
If your question is, "Can an amateur successfully true a wheel on their first try?", the answer is "Yes".

A quick search on the internet reveals plenty of videos explaining the process.

Some things to consider:


Make sure you fully understand the process before you start
Don't use excessive force and take your time
Use a spoke wrench
Make small adjustments (1/8th of a turn)
You probably shouldn't attempt DIY repairs unless you can afford to replace anything you break, it's always possible you mess it up on your first try