Probably a silly question on potholes etc...

[Mrbez]

Hi Guys,

This is probably a daft question, so sorry in advance if it is!

I went out on a 20 mile ride today, and obviously I try to stay navigate around the big pot holes, but on occasion, you will know that you can't avoid some small bumps in the road (that may not exactly be a pot hole) but they sure as hell make the ride stiff and bumpy.

Is this going to damage my wheels at all, or is it okay? The reason I ask is that this is my first roadie, I am used to riding an MTB where you can't feel these bumps with the front suspension.

Thanks in advance.

 

[sabian92]

I'd definitely avoid them as much as you can on a road bike - I hit one last month and my wheel got knocked well out of true. Not only that, it's really uncomfy as well, so I'd do your best to really avoid them.

Look far down the road, don't make any sudden movement that could get you knocked off and happy cycling!

 

[Mrbez]

How can you tell if the wheel is out of true? Is it possible to fix if this happens?

The problem is, most of the roads around here a like this. Maybe only 2/3 cm deep, but a lot of them.


Thanks.

 

[Little yellow Brompton]

How can you tell if the wheel is out of true? Is it possible to fix if this happens?

The problem is, most of the roads around here a like this. Maybe only 2/3 cm deep, but a lot of them.


Thanks.

As ever, Sheldon has the answer!

http://sheldonbrown.com/tooltips/truing.html

 

[Broadside]

Hold the wheel off the ground and spin it. Look at the gap between the rim and brake blocks, the gap should remain constant. If the rim wobbles in/out then the wheel is out of true. A small amount out of true (1-2mm) is fine but if it is more or gets worse then you need to get it sorted fairly quick.

As sabian says try to avoid all the imperfections of the road as far as poss. With that said however, I have smacked in to some hugs caverns in the road over the last couple of years on my road bike at quite high speed and the factory built wheels are still in true. So avoid the potholes where you can but you will also be surprised what sort of abuse the wheels will hold up to.

 

[Mrbez]

If they go out of true can they be fixed?

My bike is due for it's first service in a couple of weeks, is this something that they could sort?

Thanks.

 

[yello]

It's a very sensible question.

Avoid potholes if you can obviously because they can damage the wheel or be the cause of punctures. But you can't always avoid them, for whatever reason.

You can attempt to make less the impact though, or even jump them. Whereas you might ride them on an MTB, allowing the suss to soak up the damage, you can make your arms and legs like a MTBs suspension and soak some of the impact, allowing the bike to ride up to you. Obviously this means not tensing up.

Jumping, or bunny hopping, a pothole is a bit of a skill that one ought practice first since it can go wrong, but it's a similar principle. That is, pulling the bike up towards you.

I've jumped the front wheel over a pothole (like you might when riding up a curb) but I've never to my knowledge had the entire bike airborne.

I've yet to suffer any damage from hitting a pothole though. With well built wheels and correct tyre pressures, the bike's tough enough to take the occasional thwack!

 

[Mrbez]

Okay thanks, and one final thing, the frame / forks should handle this fine shouldn't they? I have a cannondale synapse tiagra, and my wheels are maddux r3.0

 

[Hip Priest]

If they go out of true can they be fixed?

My bike is due for it's first service in a couple of weeks, is this something that they could sort?

Thanks.

Yes and yes. A good wheelbuilder will sort it out.

 

[Mrbez]

Okay great.

If they are out a little bit, how much would the cost be approximately?

Thanks.

 

[smithy92]

The cost varies but just basic truing is usually around £10. Some places higher, some lower.

 

[betty swollocks]

Wheels are strong structures. Just ensure that your tyres are pumped up to the correct recommended pressure and if you can, try and unweight yourself before impact, by standing on the pedals and allowing the bike to pivot underneath you.

 

[Mrbez]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

Regards.