Having a old rim replaced.

[Sore Thumb]

I have a front road wheel that I have had for around 5 years. I have used the bike almost every day for my commute to work.

The hub is in good condition as are the spokes. The rim has really worn down and needs to be replaced.

I have so far contacted a couple of lbs's. One will just replace the rim and charge me for labour. The other has said they will have to also replace the spokes as they will not replace the rim without also doing the spokes. They said it was safer to use new spokes and not re use the old ones. Does anyone know if this is the case? Or are they just trying to get more money?

Ta

 

[Milo]

Hard to tell tbh. The spokes will probably be fatigued to some extent. If it was me I would have the spokes done at the same time.

 

[HLaB]

Given its the front wheel I think I'd go with what the lbs advise.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

sounds good advice to me. unlacing and then lacing again could cause fatigue, especially in aluminium spokes.

 

[Smut Pedaller]

your standard stainless steel spokes will last a lot longer than 5 years if they are good quality ones. Although you may have to replace the spokes anyway because they may not be the correct length, that is unless the replacement rim is the same or has the exact same ERD. Mind you spokes aren't particularly expensive either way unless you are getting super high end ones.

 

[I like Skol]

I have reused spokes a number of times in the past without any issues but having said that I was reusing stainless swiss DT spokes and replacing rims like for like so length wasn't an issue. For a front wheel I wouldn't really worry about reusing spokes as the front wheel gets a much easier ride and also doesn't have to deal with transmitting the driving forces that the rear wheel spokes have to contend with.

 

[PpPete]

sounds good advice to me. unlacing and then lacing again could cause fatigue,

er...about as much fatigue as one wheel revolution with rider aboard?

If they are good quality stainless double-butted spokes then re-use them - if not, take the opportunity to change them to stainless double-butted spokes.

 

[Sore Thumb]

The spokes are black DT double butted with aluminum spokes with mavic open pro rims. I will be replacing the rim with the same.

 

[I like Skol]

The spokes are black DT double butted with aluminum spokes with mavic open pro rims. I will be replacing the rim with the same.

Do you mean Ali nipples? If they are Ali nipples then throw them in the bin and replace with chrome plated brass nipples for guaranteed reliability.

 

[andrew_s]

If you haven't been having any problem with broken spokes, there is no problem re-using the old spokes provided they are the right length for the new rim. You don't even have to un-lace them - just tape the new rim to the old one and move the spokes across one by one.
However, it is unusual for a bike shop to be willing to use old spokes. That's because if any do break within the first few months (and they've only your word for it that the old ones were good), they have to fix the wheel for free, and that's any profit made down the drain.

 

[PpPete]

Do you mean Ali nipples? If they are Ali nipples then throw them in the bin and replace with chrome nickel plated brass nipples for guaranteed reliability.

FTFY

 

[fossyant]

Some LBS's won't guarantee their work using old spokes as they don't know the quality/life etc of the old ones. Most LBS's will say new spokes.

You could always re-lace them yourself - buy a new rim of same make/dimensions and off you go !

 

[iendicott]

If you are having the hub replaced then you can reuse them, but like has already been said if they are Ali nipples than you will have to replace them as Ali ones bed in and the face changes shape slightly on the rim and nipple due to the Ali being soft.

Spokes are cheap and saying that most come with Brass nipples so if you are replacing the hub then whilst it's out replace the spokes, it shouldn't be much extra as they will have to relace the olds ones anyway so the extra money they quote should just be for the cost of the spokes and nipples.

 

[byegad]

Frankly why bother? Surely a new wheel will be around the same price as new rim and rebuild, especially if you replace nipples and/or spokes?

Some years ago a friend wrote off both rims, and his collar bone, hitting a pothole in Darlington. The council accepted responsibility and offered to 'have the wheels repaired with a new rim and spokes. Cosy of repair? £500. Cost for new wheels? £350. They opted to buy him the new wheels.