Bent rim (Velocity Aileron) - ignore, repair or replace?

[Frank Costantini]

Just hit a pothole on my S40 - pinch flat and bent rim (Velocity Aileron sluminun- see photos). The inside diameter at the site is reduced to 18mm, should be 21. I was using a tube, but I plan on going tunless.

Should I
A) fix flat and use the rim as-is (would it hold air going tubeless?)
B) try to have rim repaired, i.e. bent back in shape?
C) replace rim and have wheel rebuilt using the old Velocity hub and spokes (this is a stock wheel the came with the S40, probably has 1000 miles on it)?
D) get a new wheel?

 

[Gary123]

Get a new one. Good chance to go carbon, maybe some slow Flo's. I just put on some giant slr 1's and like them so far.

 

[super slim]

Get a new wheel!

 

[hurri47]

If you repair you would probably need to forget about tubeless. If you have rim brakes you will not be happy with any repair.

You could always do what I did - try to bend it back into shape and then buy a new wheel when the rim brakes wouldn't stop thumping.

-Dan

 

[RojoRacing]

If you bend it back don't bother unless you're going to use heat to soften it first, it'll crack otherwise. Personally I'd given straitening it a try because even if you ruin it trying to fix it you're no worse off then you currently are. If you try and replace the rim and want to use the same spokes and hubs you'll need the same rim or one with the same ERD which is the diameter of the rim where the nipples attach otherwise you'll be buying new spokes as well. Trying to rebuild stock wheels on a cruzbike seems like a break even deal at best when compared to buying a new equal quality wheel.

 

[Frank Costantini]

Thanks for the suggestions.
It’s a disc brake wheel, so it sounds like there’s no harm in trying to straighten it, even if I ruin it further.
Don’t really want to spring for a set of carbon wheels right now, although I may in the future.
I could buy the same Aileron rim (to match the rear) for $75-100 and reuse the hub and spokes, or, I found a pre-built wheel with the same rim for $175 at https://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=89745&status=1, but they don’t identify the brand/model of hub.

 

[Frank Costantini]

If you bend it back don't bother unless you're going to use heat to soften it first, it'll crack otherwise. Personally I'd given straitening it a try because even if you ruin it trying to fix it you're no worse off then you currently are.

Jason, I have a heat gun and an infrared thermometer that I can use to measure the temp - How hot would you heat it, and what could I use to bend it?

 

[tiltmaniac]

I wouldn't attempt to fix it.
Ride it as is, or replace.

The same thing happened to my velocity aileron within the first 200 miles of my 3500 mile tour-- I met a pothole disguised as a puddle which gave the wheel a pinch.

I couldn't use it as tubeless anymore, but otherwise, it made no difference.

Annealing aluminum will make the material more ductile and less stiff. This is not a property you want in a rim, and especially in that part of a rim.

I like the description here:
https://process.arts.ac.uk/content/annealing-softening-aluminium-plate/index.html

 

[RojoRacing]

Jason, I have a heat gun and an infrared thermometer that I can use to measure the temp - How hot would you heat it, and what could I use to bend it?

heat gun :lol no you need a torch like MAP gas or maybe a big ZIP lighter and a steady hand. You'd need to get the rim to glow in that spot for a second because in the time you remove the heat and start working it, it will already be cooling to below it's 400-450 deg annealing state.

 

[chicorider]

On a DF bike, I always got away with lightweight aluminum wheels. But when I switched over to a V20 and S30, I started munching front wheels pretty regularly. I worked on my piloting, becoming more aware of wheel-eating holes and bumps, either avoiding them or slowing down in time, but I also switched over to carbon rims. They are so much stronger, without a weight penalty. The wheels on my Vendetta are coming up on three years, and I have not had to touch them with a spoke wrench. Same for the set on my Silvio, which are now two years old. Both sets are laced with 24 spokes up front and 20 in the back. Even with better piloting, hitting holes and bumps is inevitable, and these wheels have stayed true and round through it all.

I know that you said that you want to stay with more affordable aluminum for now, which I totally get, but for me ponying up for carbon has definitely been worth it.

 

[Gary123]

Your experience with carbon wheels makes me feel better about my recent purchase. Hope I have the same results.

 

[ed72]

Should I
A) fix flat and use the rim as-is (would it hold air going tubeless?) No and No.
B) try to have rim repaired, i.e. bent back in shape? No
C) replace rim and have wheel rebuilt using the old Velocity hub and spokes (this is a stock wheel the came with the S40, probably has 1000 miles on it)? Yes
D) get a new wheel? Yes

Can you ever have too many good wheels? A spare set can make life easier.......my 2 cents.

 

[BikeGary]

If you bend it back don't bother unless you're going to use heat to soften it first, it'll crack otherwise. Personally I'd given straitening it a try because even if you ruin it trying to fix it you're no worse off then you currently are. If you try and replace the rim and want to use the same spokes and hubs you'll need the same rim or one with the same ERD which is the diameter of the rim where the nipples attach otherwise you'll be buying new spokes as well. Trying to rebuild stock wheels on a cruzbike seems like a break even deal at best when compared to buying a new equal quality wheel.

Actually you will be worse off. You will be riding a rim which has a major fatigue stress. And let me remind you from that old tire ad "You have so much riding on your " rim. In the case of a failure it's going to happen under load, and you won't want to be on the bike when that happens. But you will, then as you sail along the pavement you can ask yourself, "what would I pay to not have all these scrapes to me, my bike, my gloves, my clothes." and you might find that you would have paid a lot, but that is no longer an option.

REPLACE IT!

 

[bladderhead]

I agree with BikeGary. It will have an invisible crack or something. It will just snap, at a time of its choosing.

 

[Robert Holler]

Replace Replace Replace Replace