I never knew this could happen

[flat-pack]

Riding in to work yesterday I felt the rear wheel start to 'drag' so stopped checked it over and found nothing obvioulsy wrong, couple of miles further on stopped at post box and wheel jammed solid at one point on the rim. Now I need reading glasses for up close work but I thought I could see the tyre had popped from the rim. Upturned the bike and then saw what you see below.

Seems the rim had just worn through, LBS said they had seen it a couple of times, there is a groove on the rim which apparently is a wear indicator, although my groove was still visible. Just glad it happened gradually and at low speed, when the new wheel went in i needed to slack off the brakes quite a bit from their existing position suggesting considerable wear had taken place.

Just a heads up really, I will be looking carefully at my front wheel rim now ! Bike is about 3 years old covered about 7000 miles.

 

[numbnuts]

I had a rear wheel go like that after 10,000 miles

 

[GraemeS]

I knew the rims on my winter commuter were getting a bit on the thin side, and I split one of them while changing a tyre before Christmas. I was using a Crank Brothers Speed Lever, I gave it a push and the rim split!




Definitely preferable to it happening while riding.

 

[HLaB]

The same thing happened to my Ace rims on the Hybrid after about 6000 miles (2years). Ironically the week before I had noticed the wear marker was looking thin in places The front wheel over 2000 miles on is still going strong an its wear marker shows no sign of wear. Its like rear tyres most of the rider weight is over the back wheel so they wear out first.

 

[GraemeS]

The same thing happened to my Ace rims on the Hybrid after about 6000 miles (2years). Ironically the week before I had noticed the wear marker was looking thin in places The front wheel over 2000 miles on is still going strong an its wear marker shows no sign of wear. Its like rear tyres most of the rider weight is over the back wheel so they wear out first.

Not sure that makes much sense. Its braking that wears the rims out, and most braking force would be on the front wheel rather than the rear...

Having said that it was my rear rim that split too!

 

[mickle]

It's crap thrown up at the rear wheel by the front wheel which causes rear wheels to wear out first.

I once saw the whole side of a Brompton rear rim blow off as it was pumped up. It flew across the shop.

 

[gbb]

Commuting mullers my rims.
First two summers on my Bianchi, hardly any wear. Not surprising, constant running, hardly any braking, 90% fair weather riding.
Now i use it for commuting (barring when there's been salt down or it quite wet and mucky)...i can see the gouging on the rims, and i clean pads thoroughly, frequently.
Never had a rim go though, or seen one

 

[Noodley]

Next time your out in the rain/wet have a look at the front and rear wheels when you get home...the amount of crap on the braking surface on the rear wheel far outweighs the front!!

 

[Tynan]

I dream of a wheel lasting 2 years, commuting through London means lots of braking and dirt

I'm happy with a year, potholes normally trash them before the rims get toooo terrible

 

[steve52]

roll on disc brakes for roadies says I

 

[buddha]

The rear rim on my s/s was looking worryingly concave last week. So I took it off to measure the thickness. 0.42mm! eek.
AFAIK the general rule of thumb is to replace below 1mm thickness, when there is no wear indicator.

Although the rim still seams quite strong (I gave it a little test with a pair of pliers), I don't think I'll risk it.

 

[flat-pack]

I will certainly keep a watchful eye on my rims from here on, suprised that I had not heard of this happening before or had any knowledge of rims wearing, thanks for all the replies.

 

[mickle]

Ceramic rims, disc or hub brakes are the only permanent solutions - though keeping your bike clean and refacing or replacing blocks regularly will reduce the rate of wear.

 

[iAmiAdam]

roll on disc brakes for roadies says I

No, no no and no thankyou.

Rear wheels conking out before the fronts are a fact of life, as noodles has said, the dirt trick shows this.

 

[mickle]

No, no no and no thankyou.

Why?