I just noticed 3 hairline cracks in my aluminum rear wheel where the spokes enter the rim. I have no idea how long they have been there. I just ordered a new wheel but it won't arrive for a week is it ok to ride?
by d-wh
I just noticed 3 hairline cracks in my aluminum rear wheel where the spokes enter the rim. I have no idea how long they have been there. I just ordered a new wheel but it won't arrive for a week is it ok to ride?
by d-wh
26 Comments
[deleted]
I would ride that.
Keep an eye on it but it will last a week.
How important is your ride? Coz it’s a potential disaster. You could be in a hospital by the time your new wheel arrives. If it isn’t an important ride, do yourself a favor and just wait for the new wheel.
I would. Spokes break every now and then and while rims get untrue in the spot of the broken rim, they hold up. If this one should pop, *then* I would stop riding. Maybe avoid potholes and such for the next week, too.
FWIW- I rode 400 miles fully loaded on a worse rim crack… had no idea.
I learned that I had rim cracks from the wheel losing trueness on a 15 mile ride.
Catastrophic failure is possible. But more likely you’ll have a crappy ride becasuse the rim runs the brake pads after the first time you stand up and accelerate.
Nope
Fine to ride temporarily. If the wheel is out of true and you need to adjust that spoke, it could make the crack worse. Otherwise just keep riding it until you can get another wheel/rim
Yes
Imma at yes.
Chances are it happened many many miles ago and you just now noticing it.
If it just one spoke, ok two spokes, sure.
Three spokes, umm seems ok. 4 spokes.. uh,, something’s up. 5 spokes, dude , I’m concerned. 6 is too many, 7 is outright. 8!!! 8!!! .. 9? We’d need an Ouija board to message you
I wouldn’t ride far, as one spoke failing increases the likelihood of another failing and the rim may just be old and fatigued making additional failures more likely.
But if it stays true enough that your brakes aren’t constantly rubbing, then it’s safe to ride granted it could get worse and leave you stranded somewhere which is why I’d do shorter rides until you get the replacement.
But, I’ve done 200 miles on a wheel like that and made it home ok; probably could have gone another 200. Having disc brakes probably saved me though, as I would have had a lot of rubbing with rim brakes.
Ok to ride since you have been riding it for so long already. As long as the wheel is true, you’re good to go.
Go for it if you are comfortable with taking unnecessary risks.
I’ve ridden a double wall DT Swiss that had cracks involving about 20 spoke holes, the wall inside was broken about 2/3s of the way round. Never heard any cracking. Wobbled some, so I went to true it…dang!
I rode my ebike with something much worse than that – but only 50 miles or so after I found out that there was an 3 inch crack when I couldn’t true the wheel up any more. I also had a rear wheel almost shred it itself after a shop over tightened my spokes to solve my loosening spoke issues – still limped it home a few miles. I am destroyer of many rear wheels. You’re good for a while.
tick…tick…tick…
Yes, its safe
Yeah I’d ride it for a week.
Had one blow riding on flat luckily. If it happened in the morning when going down our steep avenues could have been real bad.
Ultimately up to you but I’d take it easy.
I’d ride it. Keep an eye on it and don’t send anything big. It obviously could fail at any moment, though.
I rode whistler bike park with 9 spokes like that and lived to tell the tale 😬
I wouldn’t ride that shit, but apparently everyone else here would.
That happened to me on a tour down the coast, in a little town in OR on the beach. But I lived in Vancouver BC! So I bought a new wheel. But I found out later you can get curved washers to spread the force from the nipple, slowing further cracking. So I carry some of them now.
I think it’s okay for a while, single broke won’t cause catastrophic failure immediately. I’ve had seen some of my customers ride on wheels with 6,7,8 even more broken spokes. But yet, you SHOULD replace it ASAP.
What is it , gravel or XC ? Either way I would ride it while waiting on parts. I wouldn’t stress much about it. I wouldn’t charge sloppy rockngardens or hit a downhill parks
IF FRONT THEN NO but rear I’d ride temporarily very cautiously- its happened to me a few times and the worst is that the spoke pops and flails about at speed downhill which I had that happen then it somehow got into chain and broke one side plate with a bang, or rips the rear mech off, or the wheel immediately goes out of true rubbing chain stays and or brakes sometimes severely enough to lock wheel up (in situations with older road bikes with very little clearance and rim brakes). Take care !!