Hi everyone
I just bought a second hand triban GRVL 520 with Shimano 105 for my girlfriend.
listing stated it was in perfect condition, but only after having paid and left the seller, I realized the rear wheel had concerning cracks on the rim. I tried to call the seller to discuss it with him but he blocked my phone calls.
Now I am trying to figure out what I should do with this. My girlfriend is not an heavy rider (55kg) but I don’t want to put her at risk. Furthermore, we are soon leaving for a 2 weeks bike trip and I don’t want to have to handle a broken wheel while in the middle of nowhere. However, this bike was already a bit above our budget, so it would be best for us if we could at least wait before having to change wheels.
As a side note, the bike is set up tubeless right now but I think I will switch to tubes.
What is you opinion on this please ?
by deltaval4p
17 Comments
Nope this is not safe.
Tubeless or not doesn’t matter, since the air shouldn’t escape through spoke holes anyway is the tape is set up correctly, but this is the least of your concerns
Rule # 4 of this sub:
>If you have to ask, don’t ride it. We probably can’t tell from a picture just what condition your bike is in. Take it to your Local Bike Shop and ask them. If it’s carbon, a specialist repair shop may be required. They should have the equipment and expertise to inspect it properly.
No but I would throw it in the recycling which is all it’s good for now unless you get off on the thrill of knowing that at some point it will fail and introduce your face to the floor but no idea when.
5 minutes down the street? Sure. You probably won’t have any issues.Â
Two week bike trip? Nah no way.Â
Absolutely no good for a bike trip. Guaranteed bad time.
If you can get the exact same rim, or one with the same ERD, it’s easy to swap, but if you’re uncertain about your ability to do so, just get a replacement wheel from your LBS or have them rebuild it for you.
Since you’re going on a long ride, maybe have the LBS check everything else over as well before you go.
Not for long.
Yes, directly to a bike shop. Or to the pub and back, or in emergency. But not any long or intensive rides. Mind this is going to get worse in time.
It depends directly upon whether or not your face is made from Titanium or Tungsten. If not your face is going to have a very bad time stopping you from careening into oncoming traffic.
I will be the one that disagrees with everyone’s advice and I’d ride that no problem. Worst case scenario this spoke pulls through, big deal. Then you buy a new wheel or have that hub rebuilt. The wheel will not collapse with one spoke missing. It’ll just be out of true I’ve ridden way worse on my mountain bike. Will also add it to double wall construction rim so there’s still a lot of metal holding that together.
How long until it fails completely? Who knows. But it’s going to fail and be way out of true… you’ll know it from riding before it fails catastrophically, most likely.
I’d be shopping for a new wheel now.
Harsh lesson to inspect a used bike more closely. The fact that the guy blocked you immediately tells me they most likely knew.
Are you asking us, if we think, you could risk your GFs health instead of getting a non-damaged rim?
Think your GF needs not only a new rim…
I’ve put to pasture a number of wheels like that over the years. You don’t want to be riding that.
No I wouldnt ride on that. This is exactly what to look out for. Replace.
No. New rim time
You already know the answer.
I would not risk it. The seller is jerk to do this. I would try to find some second hand gravel wheel (and check it properly) – people sell their original or spare wheels often, for affordable prices, or get new Shimano RS171 (pretty affordable wheel, but not tubeless compatible).
If I was on a tour, I’d keep riding it. If it was my commuter I’d ride it until the replacement arrived.
Absolutely no way I’d set off on a two week tour with it. Buy a wheel from your local shop or overnight something reputable