[analog31]

I have to admit that my stress relieving method is pretty much ad hoc. I take the wheel off the stand a couple times and press the axle against the floor. I grab the spokes and squeeze. I pluck the spokes and listen.

Usually I put the wheel back on the stand after a week or two of riding. A really good builder shouldn't need to do this, but part of this whole exercise is to evaluate and improve my skills as I build more wheels. And I'm not building racing wheels, but trying to do the best possible job is part of the learning process.

[jacquesm]

Pretty similar here. And I trust my own wheel building skills more than the kid at the bikestore (and once upon a time I was that kid... respoking wheels and patching tires for pocket money).