Was washing my bike this afternoon and noticed these micro-cracks all around the nipples of about 1/3 of the spokes. I’m a Clydesdale rider, but this is the first time in ~20 years of biking I’ve ever noticed this. Hive mind, what say you?
by UncleNateDogg
16 Comments
Right
New rim, or new wheel time.
Seems compromised
rim’s not safe to ride anymore, that’s for sure
Yep, time for a new wheel. Good thing you caught it in time, would suck to have a rim fail catastrophically at the wrong time.
Yup
What brand of bike/wheels are these? I have a Giant Contend AR 1 and my stock wheels did this EXACT same thing about 6,000 miles in. I’m a heavier rider as well.
Yep
Toast
1/3 of the spokes? damn is that rim made out of plastic?
If you want, you can get another rim with the same hole count and similar profile, tape it to the current rim with masking tape, and go around in a star pattern moving spokes one at a time. Assuming your spokes and nipples are in good shape it’s a really easy way to rebuild a wheel at home without worrying about cross patterns or proper lacing. True it up in a stand afterwards and you’re good to go. There’s some good YouTube tutorials.
That rim is toast. Don’t know how long you’ve had it but you may consider a rim with more spokes for more strength. How many spokes in that rim?
Can we get a full picture of the wheel please?
Had this happen to me with a pair of WTB rims. They were within the two year warranty threshold and I was able to get them replaced form manufacturer. Worth sending an email
because they’re compromised!
Nipples, sounds sexy.
Ehh bit of duck tape you’ll be fine.