wheels are shot - Page 2

01-31-2005, 08:59 PM

On Mon, 31 Jan 2005 20:14:33 -0800, wrote:

> that's
> why i want better wheels

The wheels are most likely fine, but poorly built by machine. As the
previous poster mentioned, destressing the spokes (basically giving them a
little "pre-bend" where they overlap with a screwdriver or such) and
proper tensioning should give you a set of wheels that'll last a very long
time. You certainly could have a bent rim, but I agree with the other
poster, most likely it's just a truing issue.

If you have a good LBS, let them do it for 15-20 per wheel, and you'll be
set for a long long time. Or as the other poster said, learn to do it
yourself.

I'm a cheapskate and often buy wheels on sale at Nashbar for a hundred
bucks or so. The components are fine, but the wheel's build is a joke.
When I've got the time, in the first couple weeks of the wheels use
lifespan, I'll destress and retrue the wheels, often while still mounted
in the bike flipped upside down since I'm a lazy sob. I've been doing this
since high school (class of 89) and end up having to true such a tweaked
wheel on average, perhaps every other year. I ride in the city over lots
of construction on 700c's, so my bikes aren't babied.

Yeah, there are crap rims and hubs--but pretty much anybody on this group
is going to tell you the same thing: the most important factor in a
wheel's integrity is how and who built it.

01-31-2005, 09:33 PM

"maxo" <maxo@NOSPAMhome.se> wrote in message
news

an.2005.02.01.05.55.05.969396@NOSPAMhome.se. ..
> On Mon, 31 Jan 2005 20:14:33 -0800, wrote:
>
> > that's
> > why i want better wheels
>
>
> If you have a good LBS, let them do it for 15-20 per wheel, and you'll be
> set for a long long time. Or as the other poster said, learn to do it
> yourself.
>

it was saturday on my way to work i twanged a spoke on a fast downhill.
since it was on the drive side i had to take it to free range cycles (in
seattle/fremont). (i thanked them in a post here.) they replaced the spoke
and trued it for $10 us. the guy who trued the wheel was the one who showed
me the dent in the rim. this wasn't the first time they are trying to get me
to buy something new that i may not need, and i have had "tune ups" before
where they did very little and dont even adjust the dr's. i totally intend
to learn myself and this ng is a lot of help in that dept. thanks! hope i
can help others soon.
-alanS

01-31-2005, 09:33 PM

"maxo" <maxo@NOSPAMhome.se> wrote in message
news

an.2005.02.01.05.55.05.969396@NOSPAMhome.se. ..
> On Mon, 31 Jan 2005 20:14:33 -0800, wrote:
>
> > that's
> > why i want better wheels
>
>
> If you have a good LBS, let them do it for 15-20 per wheel, and you'll be
> set for a long long time. Or as the other poster said, learn to do it
> yourself.
>

it was saturday on my way to work i twanged a spoke on a fast downhill.
since it was on the drive side i had to take it to free range cycles (in
seattle/fremont). (i thanked them in a post here.) they replaced the spoke
and trued it for $10 us. the guy who trued the wheel was the one who showed
me the dent in the rim. this wasn't the first time they are trying to get me
to buy something new that i may not need, and i have had "tune ups" before
where they did very little and dont even adjust the dr's. i totally intend
to learn myself and this ng is a lot of help in that dept. thanks! hope i
can help others soon.
-alanS