Checking your Rims and Spokes
What are They?
Rims are the circular, metal frames on which your tires are mounted.
Spokes are the thin metal supports that form each wheel's structural skeleton.
What do they Do?
Rims provide strong, lightweight support for your tires, anchor-points for the outer spoke ends, and a smooth braking surface for your brake pads.
Spokes provide strength and structure to your wheels and keep them "true" (lined up and balanced).
What Needs to be Checked?
- The rim sidewalls - for damage, wear and grime build-up
- The spokes - for damage
- The trueness of the wheels
How Often should I Check?
- You should make a quick, visual inspection of your rim sidewalls and spokes before every ride.
- Check your wheels to make sure they are "true" every month or so, and after all major crashes or accidents.
Check Procedures
- Visually inspect your rims to make sure that the rim sidewalls are clean and free of dents, gouges, or cracks.
- Make sure your brake pads are not resting against your rims or your tire sidewalls.
- Visually inspect your spokes to verify that none are broken or damaged.
- To check the "trueness" of a wheel, lift your bike so the wheel is off of the ground, then spin it. Watch closely where the rim passes by one of your brake pads (or some other nearby, stationary part of the bike). If either side of the rim wobbles or appears to "jump" with respect to the reference point, the spokes may not be tensioned correctly and the wheel may be "out of true".
Common Rim/Spoke Problems and Solutions
- Damaged rim
Bent, dented, gouged, or cracked rims can lead to braking problems, tire damage, and unsafe riding.
Solution - They should be repaired (by an experienced mechanic) or replaced immediately, before riding. If in doubt about the soundness of a rim, take it to an experienced mechanic for evaluation.
HINT: The best way to avoid rim problems is to avoid potential damage altogether. Watch out for pot-holes, rocks and trees, and keep your tires inflated to the proper pressure at all times.
- Broken spokes
Solution - Spokes should be repaired and/or re-installed by an experienced mechanic before you ride your bicycle again. Riding on a damaged wheel can cause more serious bike problems and it can be a safety hazard.
- Wheel out of "true"
Bent or damaged wheels can be serious cycling hazards.
Solution - They should be repaired or re-built by an experienced mechanic before you ride your bike again.
Rim Cleaning
Dirty wheel rims can cause your brakes to slip and/or bind up, so clean them whenever grime and/or brake pad residue builds up on them. Cyclists typically clean their rims every month or so, though you may have to do it more often depending on the conditions that you ride in.
To clean dirty rims, wipe them with a dry, clean rag, or use a clean rag and alcohol. Don't use oily soaps or cleaners, since they can leave residues that effect your braking power. If brake pad residue or other grime is difficult to remove, use a fine steel wool to clean the surface.
If you choose to use a solvent to loosen stubborn grime, be careful not to get any on your brake pads or tires. Also be sure to choose a solvent that is safe to use and easy on the environment.
Brake Pad Checks
Remember to check the condition (and wear level) of your brake pads whenever you check your rims. Clean your pads whenever they've picked up grime and/or foreign objects from the rims.
If your brake pads appear shiny or hard, you can rough them up slightly with a light sandpaper or Scotchbrite to remove the "glaze" and restore their gripping power. Objects like rocks or pieces of glass should be pried loose (carefully!) using either a razor knife or a small screwdriver. Replace your pads if they appear cracked or unevenly worn.
Spoke Cleaning
Wipe your spokes down every couple of months to keep them free of grime and to protect the spoke nipples (located at the rim end of the spoke) from corrosion. Corroded nipples should be carefully wiped clean. Ask your bike mechanic to check any corroded nipples the next time you have your wheels trued.
Check your spokes for looseness as you clean them. Loose spokes can be tough to spot visually, so squeeze spokes together in sets of two, or pluck them individually and listen for ones that sound different from their neighbors. Loose spokes should be tightened by an experienced bike mechanic.
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