Bicycle Wheel Rim Repair

Take the wheel off the bicycle using the quick-release lever. If there is no such lever, use a crescent wrench. Deflate the tire and remove it.

Assess the damage to the rim by checking the spokes around the bend. If the spokes on one side have no tension, the wheel is probably beyond repair and certainly beyond home repair.

Place the wheel in a truing stand if you have one. If you don't, you can use a workbench vise; avoid clamping the wheel with a lot of force. Alternatively, try clamping the wheel between your legs if you have nothing else to do the job with.

Tighten and loosen the spokes around the bend to adjust the rim back to a straight position. You should do this in small increments, making adjustments with a spokewrench. Set the wrench to the nipple of the spoke at the wheel rim, and make 1/4 turns to the spokes until you have balanced the left and right spokes to equal tension. Turn the spoke left to tighten it and right to loosen it.

Put the wheel back on the bicycle, turn the bicycle over, and give the wheel a few spins to see how well you did. If there is no wobble, you have fixed the rim. If you have a truing stand, the measurement prongs on the stand can do this check for you.