Bike needs new wheels according to shop

[Binka]

My mountain bike is really old, 20+ years. But I love it to bits, have never seen a modern bike I'd want to swap it for. It was top of the range 20 years ago.

Anyway I've been struggling with the gears lately so took it to the local bike shop. It needs a new cog set or something as some teeth are damaged. Then he looked at the rims and said they're both badly worn. He said he doesn't know if new rims can be fitted and it may need two new wheels. I've got lovely Hope hubs on the wheels and I'm gutted I may be losing them. It's a standard size wheel with 32 spokes.

Came home and told husband, husband is asking me why new rims can't be fitted.....he says changing rims should be doable. I never asked. Does this sound right?

 

[Binka]

He said he'll outsource the wheels to a wheel builder btw and if rims can be fitted they'll do it but that it may well be new wheels. So why sometimes can't rims be fitted?

 

[cyberknight]

TBH
If the wheels are 20 years old its likely the hubs are in need of a good overhaul as well as the rims , it would probably cheaper to just buy a new set of wheels .

 

[Binka]

That's true, I like them because they're nice and purple.

Shop comes recommended so I do trust what the guys saying. Husband thinks I should ask more questions though rather than just accepting what I'm told!

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

You can check for rim wear following advice from here, and hope not to have lost too much thickness in the metal.

If your hub is in good condition, I would be extremely surprised if you can't get new rims (I assume it is 26") and spokes for it, but the decision will probably be a trade off between economics and how attached you are to the old hubs. Regarding new wheel sourcing, it does depend on how many sprockets are there currently. If less than 8 it would be necessary to measure the distance between the rear dropouts when the wheel is out - if it is not close to 135mm it will get a little tricky to source compatible rear wheel/hub, especially if the frame is alloy. No such worry exists for front wheel replacement.

Even if the rear dropouts are 135mm apart, if you are changing wheels and you have less than 7 sprockets at the back currently you might want to think about changing the switchgear and drivetrain too - 5/6 speed quality components are for all intent and purpose obsolete.

Hope it helps.

 

[snorri]

I had to have an old wheel straightened after an "incident". It was found impossible to adjust some of the spoke tensions due to corroded nipples, resulting in the need to replace some spokes.Had the rim been replaced, no doubt many of the spokes would have had to be replaced.
All I'm trying to say is, ditch the old wheel along with the sentimental attachment, buy a new one and roll on for the next 20 years.