Just stuck a screw driver through my carbon rim

thomasmorris

I've done 20,000 km on my chinese 38 mm depth carbon wheels. One of the nipple on the rear wheel broke yesterday. The external bit off the alloy nipple had sheared of, spinning freely of the corroded bit in the hole. Trying to undo the spoke from the inside the driver slipped and went through the rim!

To be honest, I've ridden these wheels in all conditions, the rims are pretty worn and I'm probably over due a new set. Plus this was the second nipple to fail in the same way.

So should I:

A) Buy a new set of Chinese carbon wheels (£250-300)
Buy a set of alloy rims and get a local builder to get spokes and build on to existing hubs (recommendations please)
C) Buy a new set of all round wheels (recommendation please)

I'm 62 kg, 2nd cat http://app.strava.com/athletes/458344. Previous wheels were used for everything.

Colinthecop

A)....?

Monty Dog

Stress corrosion failure of alloy nipples - not just an issue with Chinese carbon, any wheel where the desire to save about 40g means makers use an inappropriate material.

desweller

Fair play you've had your money's worth out of those rims! If you've been happy with them why not get another set?

thomasmorris

i think I will do A, but they take three weeks to come, and I don't have a wheel now.

Whilst they've lasted me superbly, the braking in the wet is rubbish (same on any carbon rim). So I was thinking of getting some alloy rimmed wheels for the wet. So I guess I could do B or C now.

So suppose the real question is whether the existing hubs are worth building new wheels around, or whether their value will be lost once I've paid for a build, and whether a factory built wheel would be better.

ben-----

Just out of interest, which Chinese carbon wheels do you have? Where did you get them from? Thanks.

rafletcher

thomasmorris wrote:

i think I will do A, but they take three weeks to come, and I don't have a wheel now.

Whilst they've lasted me superbly, the braking in the wet is rubbish (same on any carbon rim). So I was thinking of getting some alloy rimmed wheels for the wet. So I guess I could do B or C now.

So suppose the real question is whether the existing hubs are worth building new wheels around, or whether their value will be lost once I've paid for a build, and whether a factory built wheel would be better.

You won't get a UK custom build much quicker at the moment I don't think, so just buy a factory made rear wheel of your choice for the time being.

gabriel959

rafletcher wrote:

thomasmorris wrote:

i think I will do A, but they take three weeks to come, and I don't have a wheel now.

Whilst they've lasted me superbly, the braking in the wet is rubbish (same on any carbon rim). So I was thinking of getting some alloy rimmed wheels for the wet. So I guess I could do B or C now.

So suppose the real question is whether the existing hubs are worth building new wheels around, or whether their value will be lost once I've paid for a build, and whether a factory built wheel would be better.

You won't get a UK custom build much quicker at the moment I don't think, so just buy a factory made rear wheel of your choice for the time being.

My local wheel builder will get a custom build done in a day, 2 at a push.

thomasmorris

ben----- wrote:

Just out of interest, which Chinese carbon wheels do you have? Where did you get them from? Thanks.

38 mm deep (edit: clinchers), 20.5 mm wide, 24 h on Novetec A271SB/F372SB I got then from carbonwheels2011 on ebay.

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Carbonwheels2011

Done just over 20,000k on them. They came with a set of pads which i wore through after 15,000 kms, before moving to blues pads from wiggle.

I replaced the front and rear bearing with enduro max compliment after the cheap bearing went (an easy + cheap job to do). However, in hindsight the max compliment bearing are meant for high load not constant wear, and so wore out quickly too. The next time I went for SKF bearing and they have run sweet since. I also replaced the freehub with one with a steel spline when the freehub bearings went.

I used them in all conditions, commuting to work, all through the winter, crit racing, road racing etc. I've ploughed through a few potholes with them too

A few spokes needed tightening and the tension wasn't great.

I have a friend who got some and thought they were flexi, but he's over 90kg and I'm only 62 ish.

However, looking on carbon wheels, it doesn't look like he's selling the exact same rims anymore. There are now more options in rim width and shape. I'm going to replace mine with the 23 mm width U shape (supposedly better in cross winds) and the basalt breaking surface.

thomasmorris

gabriel959 wrote:

rafletcher wrote:

thomasmorris wrote:

i think I will do A, but they take three weeks to come, and I don't have a wheel now.

Whilst they've lasted me superbly, the braking in the wet is rubbish (same on any carbon rim). So I was thinking of getting some alloy rimmed wheels for the wet. So I guess I could do B or C now.

So suppose the real question is whether the existing hubs are worth building new wheels around, or whether their value will be lost once I've paid for a build, and whether a factory built wheel would be better.

You won't get a UK custom build much quicker at the moment I don't think, so just buy a factory made rear wheel of your choice for the time being.

My local wheel builder will get a custom build done in a day, 2 at a push.

Had a look at rim options on the net this morning. I think I'm going to struggle to find a rim. My hub is 24 spoke, and there aren't that many 24 h rims on line. So I'm not sure a local bike shop is going to stock them. Ideally I'd like to build up my rear hub with a sensible alloy rim and brass nipples. But I need it this weekend really... which might be unrealistic. And it could just be cheaper to buy a rear wheel anyway.

graememacd

Just out of interest, were these clinchers or tubs?
Seriously considering some of the cheap Chinese tubs on eBay

thomasmorris

clinchers.

Joeblack

Just out of interest are you a machine!!? 200miles in one day with a average of 18mph

thomasmorris

Joeblack wrote:

Just out of interest are you a machine!!? 200miles in one day with a average of 18mph

Yeah, that was a big day out. I wouldn't say that was 'typical' ride though!

I've pushed the button on a new set of carbon wheels from china. 23mm wide, U shape, 38mm clinchers. Should take three weeks. In the mean time i've found a wheel to borrow as I couldn't find a suitible rim to build up the old novatec hub.