Bike Question

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txrandom

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Aug 15, 2004
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I went biking today on a road bike that my neighbor let me borrow. I primarily ride around on the greenbelts (sidewalks). Well today, I got to a bumpier area of the greenbelts (the individual concrete sections' heights are uneven). I noticed that one of the spokes popped up.

After stopping to fix the spoke and getting back on, I noticed my brake was rubbing the tire at slow speeds. I got off the bike again and realized the back wheel was warped. I'm pretty sure it wasn't warped before because I've never felt the brake rubbing. Can a wheel get warped that easily? I wasn't jumping curbs or anything.

How much do new wheels on nice road bikes typically cost? It's a LeMond.
 

silverpig

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
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First you're not supposed to ride a road bike on the sidewalk. It's a road bike for a reason :p

Second, it should have been able to take the bumps without much trouble, assuming you weren't going too fast.

Third, had your friend used it much? If he just had it sitting in his place on the wheels for a long time, then the wheels can become warped that way as the spokes loosen. It's advised that you actually use the bike regularly even through the winter, or if not, then hang it up so the wheels are off the ground and give them a spin every once in a while. If not, then you should get the spokes re-tightened before riding the bike. Loose spokes + riding + bumps = warped wheels.
 

txrandom

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Aug 15, 2004
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Originally posted by: silverpig
First you're not supposed to ride a road bike on the sidewalk. It's a road bike for a reason :p

Second, it should have been able to take the bumps without much trouble, assuming you weren't going too fast.

Third, had your friend used it much? If he just had it sitting in his place on the wheels for a long time, then the wheels can become warped that way as the spokes loosen. It's advised that you actually use the bike regularly even through the winter, or if not, then hang it up so the wheels are off the ground and give them a spin every once in a while. If not, then you should get the spokes re-tightened before riding the bike. Loose spokes + riding + bumps = warped wheels.

I don't trust the drivers around enough... :) Is the road softer on the bike?

I'm pretty sure he hadn't used the bike in quite a while, but he was storing them hanging by the wheels. I've been storing mine on the wheels in my garage, but have been riding it pretty regularly. Is there anyway to unwarp the wheel, or will I need to replace it?

Is storing it on the wheels bad for the bike?
 

Safeway

Lifer
Jun 22, 2004
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When the spoke popped off, the wheel had unequal spoke tension. That creates the warp. When you put the spoke back on, the wheel needs to be trued by selectively tightening and loosening the spokes. This is a $10 to $15 job at most bike shops.

I would not attempt it yourself, as you might over-tighten a spoke, which leads to spoke failure.
 

Safeway

Lifer
Jun 22, 2004
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Storing on the wheel is not bad for the bike. Riding on uneven concrete is.

Where in Texas do you live?
 

Capt Caveman

Lifer
Jan 30, 2005
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Originally posted by: Safeway
When the spoke popped off, the wheel had unequal spoke tension. That creates the warp. When you put the spoke back on, the wheel needs to be trued by selectively tightening and loosening the spokes. This is a $10 to $15 job at most bike shops.

I would not attempt it yourself, as you might over-tighten a spoke, which leads to spoke failure.

I concur. A bikeshop should be able to true the wheel.
 

txrandom

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Aug 15, 2004
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Originally posted by: Safeway
Storing on the wheel is not bad for the bike. Riding on uneven concrete is.

Where in Texas do you live?

Houston, particularly a suburb northeast of Houston. The Greenbelts are pretty nice for the most part, but the sections can be uneven. You hardly notice anything on a mountain bike but a road bike you can.

So a warped wheel can be fixed by the bike shop?
 

DAPUNISHER

Super Moderator CPU Forum Mod and Elite Member
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Aug 22, 2001
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Originally posted by: txrandom


So a warped wheel can be fixed by the bike shop?
Provided you didn't bend the rim much, yes, they will true it for you. If it suffered enough damaged that they would have to put too much time into the repair, making it unduly expensive, they will probably recommend you just replace it.

 
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