Is this rim toast? (Velocity Aeroheat)
03-28-19, 09:55 AM
#1
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Is this rim toast? (Velocity Aeroheat)
I was cleaning my bike and I noticed there was a spoke completely loose on the rear wheel. Upon closer inspection, I noticed a bulge on the rim where the nipple exits (see photo). There is a similar stress mark around the valve stem and a few other locations, as well as a "flat" spot on the rim at the location of that spoke. The wheel is made by Quality Wheels (QBP) and uses a Deore LX hub laced to a Velocity 26" Aeroheat using straight gauge spokes. I bought it 10 months ago and only have at most about 2000km on it.
Is the rim toast? Failure inevitable?
Is the rim toast? Failure inevitable?
Last edited by lax; 03-28-19 at 10:20 AM.
03-28-19, 09:59 AM
#2
Steel is real
Quality Wheels? 
if i were you i'd take it back
{being me i build my own**
if i were you i'd take it back{being me i build my own**
03-28-19, 10:36 AM
#3
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The "irregularity" around the valve hole doesn't make sense.
The inner wall supports the tube and the valve stem basically "floats".
The other can be explained-
Don't run into curbs/potholes.
The inner wall supports the tube and the valve stem basically "floats".
The other can be explained-
Don't run into curbs/potholes.
03-28-19, 10:57 AM
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Has this wheel seen a hard hit with a pothole or the like? That would explain the flat spot, loose spokes and the distortion at the valve. All of that would have happened after it left the wheelbuilder. (I do find that the rims of wheels built with lighter, butted spokes do better on hard hits. My experience is that had you paid the extra for nicer spokes, there is a good chance this wouldn't have happened.)
If this is a front wheel, it will probably roll on as long as you are willing to put up with it. If the rear, you may see spokes breaking and/or the rim cracking at the spoke holes in the not too distant future.
Ben
If this is a front wheel, it will probably roll on as long as you are willing to put up with it. If the rear, you may see spokes breaking and/or the rim cracking at the spoke holes in the not too distant future.
Ben
03-28-19, 11:01 AM
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03-28-19, 11:13 AM
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Yeah i doubt that distortion around the valve hole happened at the wheel builders, so i take back what i said
03-28-19, 11:32 AM
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I wonder what it looked like when the rim was new. Could the process of punching the valve hole possibly have done that?
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03-28-19, 11:37 AM
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03-28-19, 11:41 AM
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That give me the willies. What ever you did that wheel didn't like it. How heavily is it loaded? These are reputed to be tough rims. Indeed, I've never managed to damage one.
I'd buy another rim & swap everything over 1 spoke at a time then pay for a tune & true from a reputable wheel builder.
FWIW: The Dyad is the same rim. But if you are the kind of rider that "rides heavy" or the wheel is heavily loaded with gear & what-not, the Atlas is tougher.
I'd buy another rim & swap everything over 1 spoke at a time then pay for a tune & true from a reputable wheel builder.
FWIW: The Dyad is the same rim. But if you are the kind of rider that "rides heavy" or the wheel is heavily loaded with gear & what-not, the Atlas is tougher.
Last edited by base2; 03-28-19 at 11:45 AM.
03-28-19, 11:43 AM
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03-28-19, 11:55 AM
#14
Steel is real
anybody else ride the thing?
on closer inspection of the photos there's quite a bit of damage!
on closer inspection of the photos there's quite a bit of damage!
03-28-19, 11:58 AM
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Knowing that you are 140lb, changes things a bit. Even if you ride heavy like a gorilla, this points to something else not related to you. I'd contact the builder for a replacement. Too much tension pulled the nipples out. Rim failure. Too loose would've just caused the nipples to loosen & flop around before excessive loading of the remaining individual remaining spokes could harm the rim. You would certainly have noticed a floppy wheel & spokes before damage was done.
03-28-19, 11:58 AM
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03-28-19, 12:51 PM
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03-28-19, 01:03 PM
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If it were my wheel, I'd true it up and keep running it until it actually fails. As Ben mentioned earlier, lightweight butted spokes might have cut down on the bulging and helped the spokes to share the load better, but it would be a waste to relace this rim.
Some of the vintage aero rims (such as Mavic CXP-10) were also known to bulge a little under spoke tension and it was no issue.
Some of the vintage aero rims (such as Mavic CXP-10) were also known to bulge a little under spoke tension and it was no issue.
03-28-19, 02:40 PM
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aeroheat_dia_at by Richard Mozzarella, on Flickr
Dyad_338_450 by Richard Mozzarella, on Flickr
03-28-19, 03:28 PM
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I have a few sets of the old Aeroheat rims plus two pairs of Dyads. The Aeroheat rims are definitely narrower, with an Internal width of closer to 14. Given your and base2’s replies, though, it appears that the specs were changed somewhere along the way.
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03-28-19, 03:28 PM
#23
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03-28-19, 04:37 PM
#24
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I will go out on a limb here and guess they are going to tell you a slight bulge at a nipple hole is not cause for alarm if there are no cracks radiating from it.
03-28-19, 05:44 PM
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Bingo! They told me to keep an eye on it and replace it if I see any cracks forming. He also insisted that the wheel had a hard impact...
