Small crack in rim near one spoke—should I stop riding immediately?
04-24-22, 09:36 AM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Small crack in rim near one spoke—should I stop riding immediately?
I noticed a small crack around one of the spokes in the rear wheel of my Ksyrium Equipe wheels. I inspected both rims very closely and it is the only spot with any signs of cracking. Should I stop riding it immediately, or is there still some (safe) life left in it? See picture below. Thanks!
04-24-22, 10:19 AM
#2
Full Member
Well that certainly appears to be a crack to me from the photo. If indeed a crack, then personally, I wouldn't ride it much more than around the neighborhood myself to check adjustments, etc. if I worked on the bike. Others with more experience with Kysrium rims may chime in.
04-24-22, 01:27 PM
#4
Senior Member
I’d say don’t ride it. That said, I had a crack in a wheel I didn’t notice for over a year and nothing bad happened but could have. I had a creaking/popping noise and couldn’t figure it out until the crack got stuck “open” and I snagged my wash cloth on the rough edge while cleaning it.
04-24-22, 01:30 PM
#5
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,627
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3870 Post(s)
Liked 2,563 Times
in
1,577 Posts
If it were a front, I would definitely stop riding it. But as it's a rear, my curiosity would have me pack a spoke wrench and keep riding it to see what happens. 
04-24-22, 01:34 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 3,665
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 836 Post(s)
Liked 1,059 Times
in
743 Posts
I don't think it's a big safety concern but with that few spokes in the rim it will just keep getting worse, will probably go way out of true at some point and could ruin a ride. You could drill a small hole at each end of the crack if you can't get it replaced right away which would slow the growth of the crack.
04-24-22, 02:20 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 18,056
Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4195 Post(s)
Liked 3,837 Times
in
2,295 Posts
The crack will stop growing when the stress is released, when the spoke no longer has tension. Many riders have gone many miles more with cracking spoke nipple holes w/out issues (other than wobbly wheels
) This is no worse than riding with a broken spoke. Of course wheels with stupid few spoke counts will see more wobble, when this happens, than a wheel with a higher spoke density will.
But I always like these "should I still ride the bike" type questions. Or the "how much more can I ride the bike" ones. The bike (or wheel) is telling you that it has given up it's life for your pleasure and ideally should have already been replaced. Andy
) This is no worse than riding with a broken spoke. Of course wheels with stupid few spoke counts will see more wobble, when this happens, than a wheel with a higher spoke density will. But I always like these "should I still ride the bike" type questions. Or the "how much more can I ride the bike" ones. The bike (or wheel) is telling you that it has given up it's life for your pleasure and ideally should have already been replaced. Andy
__________________
AndrewRStewart
AndrewRStewart
04-24-22, 04:08 PM
#8
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,501
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2742 Post(s)
Liked 3,389 Times
in
2,052 Posts
Rear - Ride it until you get a replacement, but start that process now.
04-24-22, 05:47 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 978
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 504 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 637 Times
in
355 Posts
I noticed a small crack around one of the spokes in the rear wheel of my Ksyrium Equipe wheels. I inspected both rims very closely and it is the only spot with any signs of cracking. Should I stop riding it immediately, or is there still some (safe) life left in it? See picture below. Thanks!
04-24-22, 06:36 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Zang's Spur, CO
Posts: 9,081
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3372 Post(s)
Liked 5,494 Times
in
2,846 Posts
Over the years, I've replaced a number of rims with cracks like that.
I always found the crack when cleaning the rim, and never had a catastrophic failure from one.
I always found the crack when cleaning the rim, and never had a catastrophic failure from one.
04-24-22, 07:29 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Chicago area
Posts: 2,547
Bikes: Airborne "Carpe Diem", Motobecane "Mirage", Trek 6000, Strida 2, Dahon "Helios XL", Dahon "Mu XL", Tern "Verge S11i"
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 980 Post(s)
Liked 580 Times
in
398 Posts
I had a rear rim with a couple cracks like that after a few thousand miles. I have no doubt the cracks had been there for some time before I found them. I procured a new rim and spokes, which took a while, then re-built the wheel. I doubt such cracks are likely to fail catastrophically, but I considered it a "courtesy warning".
