| Re: wheels are shot
On Mon, 31 Jan 2005 18:40:15 -0800, wrote:
> my 2003 novara now has about 6500 miles and the wheels are true but getting
> a bit oval from rough asphalt and unplanned curb hopping. my commute is
> rough, the unstable soil here makes the streets very rough. i would love to
> have some 700's that are tough for these conditions. any thoughts? i have
> never bought wheels separate from bike...
Rims can easily become damaged from rough use, but usually that is
manifested in dents. If they are true, they are not "oval", and if they
are oval they are not true. These wheels were originally machine built,
and so were not properly tensioned or stress-relieved. De-tension them,
and build up the tension to proper levels, and stress-relieve. Use either
Jobst Brandt's book or Sheldon Brown's Website to figure out how to do
this. The wheels will last far longer than 6500 miles.
If the rims are indeed shot (dented, not nearly round when de-tensioned),
then replace the rims with the same brand/model. Don't replace the spokes
if you can avoid it.
--
David L. Johnson
__o | What is objectionable, and what is dangerous about extremists is
_`\(,_ | not that they are extreme, but that they are intolerant.
(_)/ (_) | --Robert F. Kennedy
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