I usually glove my wheels, both front and rear, after I've gone through a patch of junk on the road, or certainly if I've gone through glass or close to glass. Of course, if you're using fenders, gloving is not done on the real wheel, and the front would be tough but doable depending on how far out your fender is.
I use left hand, but it doesn't really matter. Left hand in front of front brake, fingers pointing to left, thumb to right (like you're going to shake a hand). For the rear tire, behind seat tube and forward of brake bridge. I do it all without looking. You gotta be careful though on the rear tire because if your hand is too low, you could get it pinned between the tire and the seattube. I've never had this happen though.
Gently place palm on top of tire. Maybe press a little harder after a couple revolutions. Then remove hand. You'll usually be able to feel if there's anything stuck in your tire. If I go a few revolutions and you still feel any little anomalies, I stop, get off the bike, and do a careful check. This way, I've found bits of glass and little sharp rocks embedded in tires. I've been gloving for 35 years now. It works for me.
I don't know about gloving tires on a fixie. I'm sure I always coast when I'm gloving. I think pedaling while reaching down might cause an up and down motion and not enough hand control.
Drew Ellison Everett, Washington USA
On Oct 14, 2009, at 12:40 PM, Mark Stevens wrote:
> Gloving a wheel.
>
> I would love it if someone -Ted? -could explain exactly how this is
> done. Which wheel, which hand and where? I imagine that reaching for
> the front wheel behind the forks is a No no. Reaching around for the
> back wheel sounds dangerous. Eye off the road and hand into the
> spokes. So all that is left is to glove the front wheel out front I
> guess. Am I right?
>
> I use brakes of course. Currently riding a 1962 W.P Newton (Ealing)
> with single front brake and fixed cog on the back.
>
> Mark Stevens Evanton Scotland