When a bike mechanic says

you need to replace the wheel because your rims are worn out or concave, how valid is that?

I've attached a photo of the rim if that helps.

thanks much!

dan

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Permalink Reply by pherm on September 12, 2014 at 8:31am

As someone who's collapsed two consecutive rear rims due to this problem, I'd say it's pretty valid. Hard to tell from the photo, but it'd keep me up nights.

Permalink Reply by Gecko on September 12, 2014 at 8:45am

If you keep using it, eventually it'll get worn out enough that the rim will crack and fail, usually without warning.  You'll probably blow a tire, your brakes may lock up, and you may severely injure yourself.  Get it replaced ASAP.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on September 12, 2014 at 10:00am

I guess it all depends on how averse you are to random parts of your body sliding on the ground at your typical riding speeds and perhaps other, much-larger, vehicles rolling over you as you slide upon said ground. 

Permalink Reply by Lee Roy on September 12, 2014 at 10:14am

Agreed, it's a bit tough to tell from the photograph.

Foreign material embedded in old brake pads would sand an aluminum rim down over time.

I would think it would require very heavy braking, a lot of embedded stuff, and time.

What I see most here is the "line". Is that the seam of the rim joining together? Or is it a crack?

On a slant like that, without it in my hand, it is highly suspect.

Did your mechanic notice this, or was there an existing issue already?

In any event, if it's old, so far out of true it can not be fixed, I would replace it.

Your mechanic is looking out for your safety. 

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on September 12, 2014 at 10:22am

If you can't trust your mechanic enough to tell you the truth about this issue then you need to stop going to him and find another one.  If you don't know mechanics yourself you are literally placing your life in the hands of the person who works on your vehicles.  An untrustworthy one can do a lot more than damage your wallet. You can always earn more money. 

Find another bike mechanic and get a second opinion if you think this one is lying to you to make a buck off you, or doesn't know his trade enough to recognize an unsafe rim or one that is soon going to be.  I think you need to ask yourself if you think that he's not qualified to tell you the truth or work on your bike properly then why are you using him in the first place?  

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on September 12, 2014 at 3:08pm

Yes it is a valid statement.

Your picture is useless because it is looking at the breaking surface head on which makes it impossible to see how worn it is.  Even with a better angle it would be hard to tell in a picture without seeing it.  

Blowing out a sidewall of a rim from wearing down the sidewall with brakes is not uncommon; all of that friction has to remove material somewhere and your wheel is part of it.  It is less common here than in areas with big hills.

Of course you have a bigger issue here:

You do not trust the person you pay to fix your bike.

Why are you giving money to somebody whose judgement you do not trust or think is going to try and rip you off?

True story, most mechanics are more concerned with getting your bike repaired and on the road at minimal cost to you than they are selling you stuff you don't need.  It tends to build more trust and bring customers back when you don't rip them off.

Crazy, right?

Permalink Reply by mike w. on September 13, 2014 at 3:54am

When in doubt, change it out.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on September 13, 2014 at 4:09am
Exactly, Mike.

I never understood why people are so averse to replacing rims. Y so cheap? They are a wear item just like tires or brake pads. When they wear out why not just replace them? I'm a fan of Sun CR18 rims, they cost about the same as the Panasonic Pasela tires I run on them. Since a set of tires lasts only a season or so and rims last many times that, it really makes the rims the cheaper wear item in the long run.

Maintaining a bike is much less costly than a car, but it isn't free. Even walking wears out your shoes unless you go barefoot everywhere.



mike w. said:

When in doubt, change it out.

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on September 13, 2014 at 6:50am

I spent more than the cost of a wheel replacing my other brakes a couple weeks ago.  The pads weren't cheap, either.

Doug are you still at Johnny Sprockets?  The north location's not as convenient as when it was on Bryn Mawr but my rear wheel is starting to get a little loose and I may be taking another trip before winter hits.

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on September 13, 2014 at 1:27pm

Right now, yes.  My schedule varies so send me a message if you want to come in to either shop and we can sync up.

Tricolor said:

I spent more than the cost of a wheel replacing my other brakes a couple weeks ago.  The pads weren't cheap, either.

Doug are you still at Johnny Sprockets?  The north location's not as convenient as when it was on Bryn Mawr but my rear wheel is starting to get a little loose and I may be taking another trip before winter hits.

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