Just interested in other people's opinion. I've just had to get a new rear wheel for my Dawes Ultra Galaxy after 3000 miles because the rims were completely worn. The guy who sorted it sees dozens of cycle tourists a year doing the cross Canada trip and says it's such a common problem that he's now been convinced that touring bikes should be fitted with disk brakes. Most of the bikes he sees will be dedicated touring bikes so what I'm wondering is why such bikes aren't sold with wheels that can withstand longish tours. Are they impossible to manufacture? Touring bikes can be pretty expensive and once you've taken the plunge and bought a good one is it too much to hope that it would actually get you through a tour? I know most people don't do the length of trip I'm doing but it doesn't take too many two week tours to add up to the sort of miles I'm doing.
Rims on touring bikes
- Thread starter HelenD123
- Start date
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Rigida Grizzly Carbide coated.
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/components/wheel-sets/product/ceramic-touring-wheels-31600
I have two pairs, the older of which has done around 5,000 miles and I can hardly detect any wear. They also have the advantage of offering better wet weather braking and being clean. They are also around £70 per rim, which if you consider the cost of reasonably decent standard rim and then factor in the cost of wheelbuilding is still a good investment. They've been around for a few years but haven't really caught on, most of those you do see are on Thorn bikes as they're offered as an upgrade when ordering. Of course a lot of rims get replaced for reasons other than rim wear, everlasting braking surfaces won't stop you (Me!) doing something to bend it
Disks are becoming more popular (and reliable) I still see too many people having to frequently adjust and fiddle with them to be convinced they're as straightforward as rim brakes.
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/components/wheel-sets/product/ceramic-touring-wheels-31600
I have two pairs, the older of which has done around 5,000 miles and I can hardly detect any wear. They also have the advantage of offering better wet weather braking and being clean. They are also around £70 per rim, which if you consider the cost of reasonably decent standard rim and then factor in the cost of wheelbuilding is still a good investment. They've been around for a few years but haven't really caught on, most of those you do see are on Thorn bikes as they're offered as an upgrade when ordering. Of course a lot of rims get replaced for reasons other than rim wear, everlasting braking surfaces won't stop you (Me!) doing something to bend it
Disks are becoming more popular (and reliable) I still see too many people having to frequently adjust and fiddle with them to be convinced they're as straightforward as rim brakes.
I don't know what rims were fitted to your bike but I would expect to get a lot more than 3000 miles out of a set of wheels. I would suspect that Dawes specced the wheels because they were cheap, or possibly (being charitable) because they were light.
There's no substitute for a quality rims built by a specialist wheelbuilder. Rigida Sputniks are pretty heavy duty - but also pretty heavy.
I don't know why touring bikes with disc brakes aren't more widely available. I can understand the reasons why people might avoid hydraulic brakes, but Avid BB7 cable disc brakes are mechanically simple, easy to set up, and the pads last for thousands of kilometres. The risks of bending a disc are probably less than that of wrecking a rim.
PH's comments don't accord with my experience. Every so often (less than once a week on tour) I turn the little doobries to adjust the pads inwards a smidge - takes a few seconds per wheel. After more than 2000 kms of fairly hard use in mountains I'm thinking I need to get around to getting out the allen keys to take up the cable stretch.
And before we get into a false debate: I'm not saying touring cyclists 'need' disc brakes or that they are 'better' than rim brakes. Rim brakes do the job, and I'm not about to trade in my trusty road-touring bike for a bike with discs. But discs are a perfectly viable option. Although I'm sure that someone will be along to say that if you ride a bike with disc brakes BAD THINGS WILL HAPPEN TO YOU.
There's no substitute for a quality rims built by a specialist wheelbuilder. Rigida Sputniks are pretty heavy duty - but also pretty heavy.
I don't know why touring bikes with disc brakes aren't more widely available. I can understand the reasons why people might avoid hydraulic brakes, but Avid BB7 cable disc brakes are mechanically simple, easy to set up, and the pads last for thousands of kilometres. The risks of bending a disc are probably less than that of wrecking a rim.
PH's comments don't accord with my experience. Every so often (less than once a week on tour) I turn the little doobries to adjust the pads inwards a smidge - takes a few seconds per wheel. After more than 2000 kms of fairly hard use in mountains I'm thinking I need to get around to getting out the allen keys to take up the cable stretch.
And before we get into a false debate: I'm not saying touring cyclists 'need' disc brakes or that they are 'better' than rim brakes. Rim brakes do the job, and I'm not about to trade in my trusty road-touring bike for a bike with discs. But discs are a perfectly viable option. Although I'm sure that someone will be along to say that if you ride a bike with disc brakes BAD THINGS WILL HAPPEN TO YOU.
I have a Thorn and I use Sun Rhynos - heavy but extremly robust - never had a spoke break or them go out of true despite the load I carry - The first set I had lasted 18000km before the rim on the rear seperated - the set I am using now I can just see the rim wear indicators after 18500km
3000miles/4800km does not sound very much regardless of whether the bicycle has been used for touring or not
3000miles/4800km does not sound very much regardless of whether the bicycle has been used for touring or not
Davidc
Guru
- Location
- Somerset UK
Haven't had my present bikes long enough to wear out a rim, but on past bikes, including those I've done tours on, I've never had a rim last less than 20.000 miles (except when I've bent them beyond repair).
Assuming the bike was bought new I'd be on the phone to the supplier demanding replacement wheels, as the originals weren't fit for purpose.
Assuming the bike was bought new I'd be on the phone to the supplier demanding replacement wheels, as the originals weren't fit for purpose.
I can't say I have real problems, but it is true that rims do wear. Heavy duty touring rims such as EXAL SP19/Sputniks last longer, and long enough for me. However, it also depends on the weather (rain makes them wear much faster), quality of the brake pads (Koolstop Salmon pads not only brake better, but are also gentler on your rims) and soil type (long off road rides on volcanic soil will take their toll). Finally, some rims just crack at the nipples rather than wear from the pads. But, to adress the original post: 3000 miles is dreadfully short.
Willem
Willem
What would you expect from the Sputniks?
Certainly cycling in the mountains plus bad weather - heavy rain occasional snow must reduce the life of rims if there is a correlation between how often I have to change my brake blocks
As an aside ensuring the brakes are adjusted properly so that wear is over as much of the surface of the rim as possible helps - V's in particular can cause localised wear - one of the things Ive noticed is that since I started to use Magura Hyraulic brakes the wear is more even (and possibly not as quick)
NickC
New Member
- Location
- The Netherlands/Croatia
That's worrying; if mine (Sputniks) only last that long I'm going to ask for my money back!
I notice that this years Galaxy is specced with "WTB Dual Duty" rims - the same rims as were fitted to my 26" commuter - it was less than a year before I had to replace the rear due to spokes repeatedly breaking and the wheel going out of true - my supermarket shopping weighs much less than my touring load and I would not consider these to be appropriate for a full on touring bike
That's what was fitted to my model as well and the wheel was constantly going out of true. I didn't have a problem with spokes breaking (the only one that did was caused by my loose kickstand flying into the wheel) but they've worn out very quickly. I have done quite a few off road trails and had a few very hilly wet days with lots of braking on dirty roads but they still don't seem to have lasted very long.
Yup - in my case it was actually the wheel going out of true and then the spokes breaking - had it fixed and retrued three times then decided to cut my losses and replace with a Sun Rhyno Lite which has shown no problem doing the same job over the last 2 years
It sounds like you have got to the same stage - no real need to make any further comment on the durability of WTB rims - hopefully the new wheel will be a good one
Been following your CGOB - glad that you are enjoying your trip
elduderino
Guest
I have 8000 miles on my Sputnik rim, wear is barely noticable and it looks good for another 5000 miles at least.
HJ
Cycling in Scotland
- Location
- Auld Reekie
Disc brakes are definitely the way ahead, disc rotors are cheap and easy to replace, why over engineer the rim to make it last when you can simply use technology?
