yia_link

Hi all,

this is my first post here and don't know much about bikes.

I took my bike to the repair shop today. They said the rims need to be replaced, as well as new brakes and brake pads, possibly a new chain. They're asking me for 350 euros (I bought the bike for 500 euros). I was wondering if someone could tell me what exactly are the rims I need so I can check for a price myself. I'm also wondering how hard it would be to replace myself.

Thanks

Pinigis 

The rims are just the aluminum hoops that hold the tire in place. They are attached to the hubs with spokes. It is probably cheaper for you to just replace the entire wheels and relocate the tires and gear set to the new ones. 350 Euros is an insane amount to pay for these (even including the brakes and chain). This is all easy stuff that you can do yourself if you have any mechanical inclination at all. Plus, there are innumerable youtube videos to follow.

Reddleman

As you’re paying in Euros, I’m guessing there’s a Decathlon near you. You can get a set of wheels from them - look for 406 diameter wheels with a 135mm wide rear hub and a 74mm wide front hub. You’ll need to move the inner tubes and tyres across from the old to the new as well as the gear cassette. If you want to get your hands dirty, replacing your chain and your brake blocks is also quite easy and again Decathlon will sell the parts. You shouldn’t need many tools for these changes (I think you can guess where you can get them from) but if you look on YouTube you can find how-to videos that’ll walk you through all these details. Tools and parts should cost you less than the mechanics will charge, it’s a question of how much you value your own time.

TPL

if the repair shop referred to your WHEELS as RIMS ....find a more knowledgeable repair facility

Sardines

Unlike the others, I find supporting the local bike shop is a good thing, since you will invariably need them to fix your bike at some point if you don't have all the tools you need to do home maintenance repairs. Investing in a set of tools for bike maintenance will only pay back in a few years after several maintenance cycles. And I'm sure Youtube videos will be a great help in how to do it.
So you need to put the numbers, practicality of space in your living area, especially if you live in an apartment. First of all, the shop says you need to replace the entire brake system? Did you have an accident or did the brakes fail and/or feel like they aren't biting? How old is this bike? Wearable items like the brake pads and wheels I understand, but new brakes are quite unusual repairs. The V brakes are usually bullet proof and last years, only need to replace the spring and cables once they are too frayed to be safely used. Brake pads are relatively easy to replace on your own, with the only equipment needed being a hex key and basic understanding of cable pulling. If you really need to replace the V brakes, that too is relatively easy to replace once you source the part.
Now the wheel rim wear is going to be difficult to help without pics. You will have to do research on the web about rim wear and how to judge about when to replace the rim. And yes, the dynamo in the Link does cost quite a bit and factored into the cost. If you do need to replace the rims, you can always check the 2nd hand market for those who upgraded to fancier rims. Those usually don't have dynamos built in though.
Chains are also "relatively" easy to replace, requiring minimally a needle nose pliers, to special tools to open the chain, and a chain breaker, and some lube.
My biggest concern would be why the brakes need to be replaced. Are you sure they meant brakes or the cables? If it's the cable, that is also easy to replace with just a hex key.

yia_link

I was wondering whether buying entire wheels would be an option. What about the dynamo etc.?

Do you think it would make sense to sell the bike to someone who could fix it and get a new bike myself?

Pinigis 

Yes, buy new wheels.

Sardines

Buying a new wheel with dynamo will cost quite a bit. If your dynamo is working, you may be able to just transfer it to a new rim.

sweeks

This would involve re-building the wheel. It's not tremendously difficult if you're reasonably handy. I've had to replace worn rear rims on 2 Dahons and a Tern, and a front rim on a wheel with a dynohub that started on a Dahon and wound up on my Tern.
If you do it yourself, the replacement rim must be *exactly* the same as the original (particularly with respect to the "Effective Rim Diameter"), or you may also need new spokes.
My experience is that these small-wheel bikes (with rim brakes) wear through rims faster than those with larger wheels, especially if ridden in wet or (worse!) slushy conditions. Learning to re-build your own wheels is an enjoyable, satisfying, and probably cost-saving enterprise.

Rear wheel of my Tern Verge S11i, re-built with a more durable rim. New spokes were required.


Front wheel with a Shutter Precision hub and replacement Kinetix rim.