Rim wear and replacements

[Wankelschrauben]

How do you check the rim wear on a 700c road wheel?

How do you go about replacing the rim, can get replacement rims without spokes and hubs or is it complete new wheel time?

I'm getting through brakes pads quite quickly, I got through a brand new set of front pads in two months.

 

[brockers]

a) How do you check the rim wear on a 700c road wheel?

b) How do you go about replacing the rim, can get replacement rims without spokes and hubs or is it complete new wheel time?

I'm getting through brakes pads quite quickly, I got through a brand new set of front pads in two months.

a) with a special micrometer or rim-wear gauge.

b) You can get replacement rims, but how easy that is depends on what wheel you have. And whether it's cost-effective to have someone rebuild it for you.

 

[e-rider]

If you can't build the wheel yourself then it will all depend on the value of the hub. If it's nothing special, it will be cheaper to replace the entire wheel.

Rims look a bit concave when they are worn out - this typically takes many years (about 10 for me) but depends on riding conditions and how much you apply the brakes!

Some rims come with a wear indicator - if they don't you will need an experienced eye to determine how worn they are. At some point a chunk of the rim will just drop out and the wheel could collapse. But as I said, rims usually last for many years of normal use.

 

[Tynan]

I do rims in a year if they survive being dinged or smashed in that time, every day London commuting

I have no idea how rims last 10 years unless you ride infrequently or they're chunky wheels

I take them to the LBS, they reuse the half decent hubs and I pay for a new rim, spokes and the time of the chap that knows how to do apukka hand built wheel

oh and when the groove where the blocks touch becomes very noticeable, like the tip of your finger fits into it, you're on borrowed time I suspect

my front is going in tomorrow after a bike shop type expressed mild alarm over amonth ago

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I do rims in a year if they survive being dinged or smashed in that time, every day London commuting

I have no idea how rims last 10 years unless you ride infrequently or they're chunky wheels

I take them to the LBS, they reuse the half decent hubs and I pay for a new rim, spokes and the time of the chap that knows how to do apukka hand built wheel

oh and when the groove where the blocks touch becomes very noticeable, like the tip of your finger fits into it, you're on borrowed time I suspect

my front is going in tomorrow after a bike shop type expressed mild alarm over amonth ago

I'd expect 8 to 10 years from a road wheel, unless I wreck it on a pothole. I'm doing 5-6000 miles a year split between two bikes, one bike mostly commuting and one bike mostly club/ leisure rides. I've never known wheels that only last twelve months, I'd expect 12 months from the brake blocks. When I've worn a rim out the hub is usually worn as well so I've always replaced the wheel rather than the rim.

 

[andrew_s]

I've worn out rims to the point of failure in under a year (about 6000 miles, not as long as the tyre that went on the new wheel). Wear rate varies a lot, depending on brake blocks, road and bike cleanliness, riding style etc.


To check for wear, use a gauge (this sort of thing). The rims seem to fail at about 0.7mm, so replace at 1mm.
Newer rims have a wear indicator, but what it is depends on the brand of rim. Generally it's a hole that appears, or a groove or small pit that disappears.

If you replace the rim yourself, you can use the same spokes provided you get a matching rim and haven't been breaking any spokes. Tape the new rim on to the old one, move the spokes across, tension & true.
If you get a shop to do it, they will hardly ever reuse old spokes as they don't want the blame if any break. With the spokes and building charge you are probably looking at £40-£50.