Rim Splitters Club

[JanMarten]

Today I joined the RSC. Whilst standing at the Greece - Turkey border, I noticed a defined 'smudge' on my rear wheel rim (6 year old, over 70,000kms on tour and in marathon and downhill race conditions, DT Swiss XM455 for the record). Alas, smudge not, but split be!
Wonder how long that's been developing?
Not wishing to tempt fate I've ridden back to Alexandroupoli, Greece and will find a replacement from here. Probably CRC or SpaCycles. Will go for a slightly wider rim this time. Recommendations? DT again or perhaps Rigida? Would like to re-use my SunRingle hubs.
Anyone know of a good wheelbuilder in north east Greece?

Edit

Forgot to mention; I'm riding a full suss mtb and my penchant for unloading and riding mtb trails. That's why it's taken me nine months from UK to here via France, Spain, Portugal, Italy (Sardinia, Sicily and mainland), Albania, one month 2000km loop to Montenegro, Croatia and Bosnia, back to Albania, Corfu and mainland Greece. Next country Turkey and then ??? Every place immediately east is in turmoil, so perhaps north.

 

[lulubel]

I can't offer any advice about rims, other than to suggest sticking with what's proved reliable so far, but wanted to say your tour so far sounds absolutely amazing. I have dreams of touring on my MTB one day, for exactly the same reasons - so I can ride trails whenever I find them. Have you kept a blog of your travels?

 

[andrew_s]

70,000km is good, so I'd go for the same again, or as near as possible - DT XM450 or M480? Any luck and the spoke length should be correct too.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Are you able to get a ferry to Athens? the reason I ask is that there is an excellent bike shop in Athens http://www.frederikbikes.gr/?page_id=5 Frederik Bikes on Leoforos Alexandras
and it will probably work out quicker than waiting for a delivery to Greece via courier/postal service - we tried that concept earlier this year as well and some of the staff speak excellent English which was useful for us.

 

[JanMarten]

Have found a DT Swiss dealer in Alexandroupoli who will rebuild my wheel. Should be ready late tomorrow www.bike-center.gr
Have decided to use the E540 rim, which is slightly wider than my old X455 and should be stronger.
Cause of split? Overinflation of tyre; was using a 2.1" knobbly for the last 500kms* and in order to roll a little easier I'd pumped it hard - can't have been more than 3 bar though, my hand pump is not a powerhouse.
* Now back on Schwalbe Mondials
Turkey and beyond will have to be patient.
I don't blog or even keep a diary and take relatively few pics. My trip has no uplifting purpose or goal, I'm just a man on a bike, going nowhere slowly.

 

[andrew_s]

Cause of split? Overinflation of tyre; was using a 2.1" knobbly for the last 500kms* and in order to roll a little easier I'd pumped it hard - can't have been more than 3 bar though, my hand pump is not a powerhouse.

Cause of split = rim wear.
Overinflation may have made the difference between this week and a months time, but that's all.

 

[JanMarten]

I'm using disc brakes, so not strictly rim wear but rim fatigue .
The external evidence (on flange) is minor compared to the internal view. The rim web has split across 5 spoke holes.
EDIT
Can't seem to upload pic, so have put photo as avatar.

New wheel finished; required new spokes because of different ERD. Leaving Alexandroupoli later today - across open, flat, waterlogged country into a strong c o l d northerly wind.
Happiness, she lives here.