Wheels Life?

[sparkyman]

MY wheels on my main Bike accedo 700c came originally with my Raleigh Pioneer urban and then moved onto a surly LHT.
They have covered over 6000 miles in the last 2 years and i am wondering if i should replace them soon.

there are no signs that they are on the way out and other then a baggage handling incident have never needed any work on (broke a spoke).

By my next tour (summer 11) the wheels would have covered 10,000 miles.

Should I replace now before they go or wait?

And if i should replace, anyone know where i can get hold of a nice set at a reasonable price ? also should i get 36 hole wheels rather then 32?


I am using fat tyres for comfort 50mm.

Sparkyman

 

[numbnuts]

I covered 10,000 miles on the rear before the rim cracked, on a Sun CR18 with Shimano LX hub. The front has covered over 20,000 miles, but I do look after the hubs changing the bearings and cones when needed

 

[RedBike]

I normally change my wheels when the rims start to look worryingly thin / concave.

It all depends on how / where you ride. Wet winter rides wear out the rims far quicker than a summer pootle

 

[l4dva]

I was woundering the same thing actually....

I replaced the brake pads on my boardmans over the weekend, but I noticed that my rims aren't smooth anymore (the part where the brake pads touch the rims). The rear has a bumpy/uneven feel to it, the front isn't so bad but I can feel it starting to go the same way.

I'm sure they were super smooth/flat when they where new...

I've only done 650 miles on it 90% of which in the dry (ive only owned the bike for apx 2 months), should I be worried about this?

 

[sparkyman]

Most of my Milage is done in the Lancashire Blackpool area, so wet and sandy/grity but usually on the road.

Sparkyman

 

[HLaB]

We're all different and wheels are different but the only rim to fail on me was the rear on my much abused (sorry bike ) hybrid iirc it failed at roughly 6000 miles but the the front according to the wear indicator is still going strong.

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

I changed my wheel today after I think at least 12,000 miles. Well 8,000 in the last 14 months anyway, they have been on the bike since 2003.
I did not need to change the front, but I do like them to match.

Boy are the new wheels nice, I just didn't realise how bad my existing rear wheel was, although I thought it was in good nick, apart from the free hub wearing out.

So I will have them serviced every 3,000 miles to make sure they are okay

 

[HJ]

If it just a cracked rim, then just replace the rim it is cheaper than getting a new wheel...