Wheel Woes

[Certifried]

oh man that sounds like an artificially intelligent, multi-dimensional guide with vast power and a hidden purpose doesn’t want you to ride tomorrow

[krazygl00]

All-around suckage. If REI couldn’t get the freewheel off in the way you describe, I wonder if they weren’t doing it wrong. Go somewhere else for a second effort/second opinion before buying a new wheel+cassette…that’s just wrong. If you have some penetrating oil (I LOVE B’laster) maybe see if you can spray some into the lockring and let it sit overnight.

You don’t have any other skewers lying around, or on another bike?

[ShawnoftheDread]

@krazygl00 32193 wrote:

All-around suckage. If REI couldn’t get the freewheel off in the way you describe, I wonder if they weren’t doing it wrong. Go somewhere else for a second effort/second opinion before buying a new wheel+cassette…that’s just wrong. If you have some penetrating oil (I LOVE B’laster) maybe see if you can spray some into the lockring and let it sit overnight.

You don’t have any other skewers lying around, or on another bike?

Yeah, I’ll get a second opinion.

No, I just have one bike and haven’t built up my spare parts yet.

[Certifried]

@ShawnoftheDread 32199 wrote:

No, I just have one bike and haven’t built up my spare parts yet.

No marshmallow skewers with some duct tape or super glue?

[krazygl00]

@ShawnoftheDread 32199 wrote:

Yeah, I’ll get a second opinion.

I’m curious to see how it turns out. How old is this wheel, by the way?

No, I just have one bike and haven’t built up my spare parts yet.

I’ve heard of people with only one bike! I am perplexed by them like a cat watching a human take a shower. More bikes is good, like elevenses and second-breakfast.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@krazygl00 32226 wrote:

I’m curious to see how it turns out. How old is this wheel, by the way?

It’s the original wheel, so 12-13 years old with about 2,000 miles this year just a couple hundred miles the preceding six years, and no idea of the miles for its first six years (bought it used). That’s why I’m not too worried if I have to buy another.

I’ve heard of people with only one bike! I am perplexed by them like a cat watching a human take a shower. More bikes is good, like elevenses and second-breakfast.

I have a vintage road frame that I’m hoping to build up over the winter, so hopefully I’ll have a bigger fleet next year.

[ShawnoftheDread]

The Bike Shop on 24th Street got the freewheel off — it took two men and a stronger vice than REI’s to get it loose. Now to get the wheel true again.

[DismalScientist]

@ShawnoftheDread 32259 wrote:

The Bike Shop on 24th Street got the freewheel off — it took two men and a stronger vice than REI’s to get it loose. Now to get the wheel true again.

Think of it as a testament to your massive quads.:cool:

[ShawnoftheDread]

@Certifried 32206 wrote:

No marshmallow skewers with some duct tape or super glue?

I confess that I had to Google “marshmallow skewers” to get your joke. We aren’t very chi-chi in my family. I’ve always used a coat hanger, stick, or fork to roast marshmallows.

[Certifried]

@ShawnoftheDread 32262 wrote:

I confess that I had to Google “marshmallow skewers” to get your joke. We aren’t very chi-chi in my family. I’ve always used a coat hanger, stick, or fork to roast marshmallows.

with the advent of the plastic coat hangar (cheap bastards) I find it hard to actually use coat hangars for roasting marshmallows these days. Hence the need for actually purchasing specific metal stick shaped objects to roast them on. I imagine you’d have to duct tape several together to actually make a wheel skewer.

[ShawnoftheDread]

Back on the trail this morning.

[ShawnoftheDread]

Second broken spoke on new rear wheel. My legs are clearly too powerful for cheap hybrid wheels.

[KelOnWheels]

@ShawnoftheDread 44521 wrote:

Second broken spoke on new rear wheel. My legs are clearly too powerful for cheap hybrid wheels.

QUADZILLA! Destroyer of spokes!

[hozn]

@ShawnoftheDread 44521 wrote:

Second broken spoke on new rear wheel. My legs are clearly too powerful for cheap hybrid wheels.

That sucks. I’m not sure from your earlier post, but if you need a freewheel removal tool (is this a single-speed?) I have an extra one that you can have.

After breaking a couple spokes in a short period of time on my cheap factory single-speed wheels a few years back, I decided that I would build all my wheels from then on. At least then I’d only have myself to blame. Well, probably a half dozen wheelsets later (on various bikes), I was feeling pretty smug about this decision and feeling that I had “figured out” this wheel building thing; I hadn’t broken any spokes, my wheels had all remained properly tensioned & true after the building, etc. And then a month ago I discovered that I had a broken spoke on my rear cx-turned-commuter disc wheel. I didn’t know how that had happened, but that sucked. And then a week later I broke a front spoke while braking. This was very humbling. After replacing the spoke, I couldn’t find anything wrong with the wheel tension-wise, etc; it all seemed within parameters. I’ve ridden them pretty hard off-road, but only for a couple thousand miles — and I’ve never had issues with my mountain bike wheelsets that get ridden much harder. So far no more broken spokes — so fingers crossed (if another one breaks I will probably rebuild the wheels). I don’t think this story really has a moral, other than perhaps a note-to-self about appropriate humility and the idea that even handbuilt wheelsets break sometimes — either due to errors in the build (likely, in my case) or freak chance of weakness in the materials, damage from abusive riding, etc.

[ShawnoftheDread]

Thanks for the offer. I bought one after the lost break (I have a 7-speed with a freewheel) so I wouldn’t have to rush to a shop again. Bought extra spokes too.

I really don’t know what the issue is, other than cheap wheels. The LBS said the tensions were right after the last one, and the derailleur’s adjusted properly.

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