Buckled my rim! :(

DaKid

I have not the faintest idea how I did it (considering the last time I rode my bike, it was fine), but I've managed to buckle my rear wheel. The only thing I can think of that may have caused it is that it fell over earlier this evening (on carpet) and it somehow landed awkwardly?!? It certainly seemed fine, but I guess I didn't check the wheel at the time.

Anyway, I took the chain off to clean it, have gone to put it back on, and the wheel is massively out of true. To look at it it seems ok, but spin the wheel and it won't even get past the brakes at one point unless I unhook them, and even then it waggles like a ... well, waggly thing. Half the rim is seemingly ok, and the other half goes about 10mm out in one direction and then 5mm or so in the other.

So, the question is ... do I try tweaking the spokes to pull it back into line, or is it likely I'll need to get it replaced? Was hoping to get out this weekend riding, but without a rear wheel, that might be tricky!

I have an '07 Specialized Tricross with standard Alex rims and I'm definitely a heavier rider (just under 300lbs / 135kg), although I've never had a problem before, and I ride it as gently as I can (i.e. I never treat it like a 'cross bike).

All help greatly appreciated!!

Bhima

If it's gone waaaay out, it sounds to me like one of the spokes has probably come completely loose. If you've got 30+ spokes, you can probably ride on the wheel in an emergency but it would cause the weakest spokes to come lose and you'd double your trouble...

Look at where the buckle is and pluck the spokes like guitar strings. More than likely, there will be one you pluck which is very slack. If not, the pitch of one or two of the loose spokes will be considerably lower, so would need tightening.

Sometimes, one spoke can be coming loose over time and then one slight impact can cause it to go over the edge and come right out of the spoke nipple. The weird thing is, it can feel really tight one day and come loose the next. I think once it's the initial 5% lossening which is the hardest to achieve through abuse via potholes and stuff. But once you've got a spoke that's slightly loose, it can fall apart pretty quickly.

Try tightening the loose nipples first, before loosening anything. Damage from impacts/potholes/etc would only cause spokes to come lose in my experience, so you shouldn't really need to loosen any spokes to get the tension right.

DaKid

You're completely right .... looking at it this morning (when I'm awake) and I notice that one is very loose, probably caused by the fact that another has completely snapped!

I'll be off to Beeline Bikes in Oxford any moment, to see if they can repair it for me before the weekend .... *crosses fingers*

Thank you so much for the advice though ... greatly appreciated!

DaKid

I've got to praise Beeline Bicycles in Oxford. My bike's about 2.5 years old and they took it in this morning with a broken spoke and returned it this evening with a repaired, trued rear wheel with all work done under warranty.

Nice work, fellas!

Oh, and they also helpfully pointed out that I had managed to incorrectly thread the chain through the rear derailleur. My excuse is that firstly I was half-awake, and secondly that the bike was upside down because my stand was in the boot of my car and it was too late to go out in the cold and get it