Threevok
Growing old disgracefully
- Location
- South Wales
Nonmatching rims
- Thread starter chris667
- Start date
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GuyBoden
Guru
- Location
- Warrington
I have Andra 30 rims on both front and rear, I have Sputnik on another bike, they are very strong rims, that's what really matters. 
biggs682
Touch it up and ride it
- Location
- Northamptonshire
When I am buying second hand bikes it's something that I try to avoid
lazybloke
Considering a new username
- Location
- Leafy Surrey
Bikes are modular. When I need to replace a part, I could get something that matches, or I can instead buy the very best-quality replacement within my budget. Aesthetics are not completely disregarded, but functionality is more important.
Surprisingly my rims actually match, but hubs don't; the spokes are different colours front & back. The drive-train features Ultegra BB, 105 chainset, and three levels of Campagnolo components for the mechs & shifters. Oh, KMC chain and Ribble brakes.
Some may regard this with horror but its worked beautifully as a utility bike, a year-round commuter, and recently on Ride London at an average speed just shy of 19mph. I see no problem.
presta
Guru
My rear rim failed first, and I replaced it with a better one, so I had dissimilar rims until the front one was replaced. They were both the same colour though, so it wasn't conspicuous. I did take a pride in aligning all the logos when I built the wheels though.
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
Incidentally, why do we say wheelset, or a set of wheels? Surely "pair" would be more appropriate.
I know that a set can have two (or one, or even zero) members but "pair" just seems better.
I know that a set can have two (or one, or even zero) members but "pair" just seems better.
Threevok
Growing old disgracefully
- Location
- South Wales
vickster
Legendary Member
Built from a set of parts?
Oh, I'm not an animal!
Labels on tyre, rim and hub lining up show that the builder took care when assembling. That's a way of spotting a good bike locked up at a cycle rack amongst lots of others.
Oh, and 32 spokes front 36 rear is good engineering. With the strength of some modern rim/wheel combinations 32 spokes is plenty, but having the same number front and rear implies that the front wheel is stronger than it needs to be or the rear wheel is weaker.
Back in the nineties (93ish?) I remember there was a year when all bikes went from 36 spokes to 32. Maybe I am not remembering properly but I seem to remember there was a lot of wheel truing that year!
Back in the nineties (93ish?) I remember there was a year when all bikes went from 36 spokes to 32. Maybe I am not remembering properly but I seem to remember there was a lot of wheel truing that year!
mustang1
Guru
- Location
- London, UK
if you put one tan wall tyre and one black one, then no-one will notice the non-matching rims.
Just a thought....
I had to read that a few times
Smokin Joe
Legendary Member
- Location
- Bare headed cyclist, Smoker
I've often had different rims front and rear. The wheels have entirely different stresses through them so a lighter rim on the front makes sense.
I don't buy into groupsets either, apart from matching the shifter to the rear mech and cassette. Front mechs and brakes I buy whatever I think is best value, or more often what I already have lying around.
I don't buy into groupsets either, apart from matching the shifter to the rear mech and cassette. Front mechs and brakes I buy whatever I think is best value, or more often what I already have lying around.
Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
And how were your mismatched rims?