We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!
Rim dented... gutted
katozdad
Posts: 296 Member
I was commuting home tonight. It was dark and raining. I travel this route every day so know the road well, but haven't done the journey in a while in these conditions. There is a small stretch just outside Brightside steel works that is a bit treacherous under normal conditions, I can usually pick a line close to the kerb and let my momentum take me through.
Tonight was different with the weather, there was lots of spray from the cars passing by, and my usual path was submerged in a puddle. So I took the split-second decision to go wider, I couldn't get wide enough and had to go straight over an exposed man-hole cover. Part of the road has peeled away from it so I hit the edge of the man-hole cover in pretty much the same way you would hit a kerb edge.
I got an instant flat, (perfect snake bite in fact) and when inspecting the wheel noticed that I have a dent in my rim. It is about 1/2 inch in length and points in towards the opposite edge, effectively squeezing the tyre and tube at the point of the dent.
So 2 questions.
1. Would you attempt to pull the dent back out with a pair of pliers or some other tool. I know the repair wont be perfect, but it would be less obvious.
2. Does anyone have any experience of claiming for the repairs off the council. This is a busy road and safety, especially under dark and wet circumstances should, in my mind, be paramount.
Although my heart was in my throat I managed to stop the bike without falling off. I'm going to go and fix the damaged tube and will post some pictures shortly, but if anyone has any advice on these 2 questions would be gratefully received.
Tonight was different with the weather, there was lots of spray from the cars passing by, and my usual path was submerged in a puddle. So I took the split-second decision to go wider, I couldn't get wide enough and had to go straight over an exposed man-hole cover. Part of the road has peeled away from it so I hit the edge of the man-hole cover in pretty much the same way you would hit a kerb edge.
I got an instant flat, (perfect snake bite in fact) and when inspecting the wheel noticed that I have a dent in my rim. It is about 1/2 inch in length and points in towards the opposite edge, effectively squeezing the tyre and tube at the point of the dent.
So 2 questions.
1. Would you attempt to pull the dent back out with a pair of pliers or some other tool. I know the repair wont be perfect, but it would be less obvious.
2. Does anyone have any experience of claiming for the repairs off the council. This is a busy road and safety, especially under dark and wet circumstances should, in my mind, be paramount.
Although my heart was in my throat I managed to stop the bike without falling off. I'm going to go and fix the damaged tube and will post some pictures shortly, but if anyone has any advice on these 2 questions would be gratefully received.
0
Replies
-
first of all, don't faff with the rim - get it to a GOOD bike shop and get a quote for repairing. Get pictures of the pothole ASAP, with a tape-measure across it, and into it - to show the size (width, length AND depth) - don't say anything to the council UNTIL after you've got documentation, or the buggers will send a man with a shovelful of cut back tarmac and fill it before you can prove the size of it.
have a look at this link -
http://www.lovemoney.com/news/cars-computers-and-sport/cars/19828/claim-compensation-pothole-damage-car-bike-motorcycle
as far as trying to effect a repair on the rim - i'd not be happy with it personally - aluminium has a tendency to "work harden" - bend it once, and it gets harder/more brittle, bend it back - it MAY not snap, but it'll be way more brittle still, and the moment that bit of the rim hits another brick it'll crack a gert big lump away... I've had it happen. depending on the wheel, it's either a re-rim (if it's a fairly conventional wheel) or a write off (if it's a cheap "factory" wheel with the typical propriatory rim/spokes| etc) - typical wheel rims are around £25-50, and figure maybe the same again for wheelbuilding...0 -
first of all, don't faff with the rim - get it to a GOOD bike shop and get a quote for repairing. Get pictures of the pothole ASAP, with a tape-measure across it, and into it - to show the size (width, length AND depth) - don't say anything to the council UNTIL after you've got documentation, or the buggers will send a man with a shovelful of cut back tarmac and fill it before you can prove the size of it.
have a look at this link -
http://www.lovemoney.com/news/cars-computers-and-sport/cars/19828/claim-compensation-pothole-damage-car-bike-motorcycle
as far as trying to effect a repair on the rim - i'd not be happy with it personally - aluminium has a tendency to "work harden" - bend it once, and it gets harder/more brittle, bend it back - it MAY not snap, but it'll be way more brittle still, and the moment that bit of the rim hits another brick it'll crack a gert big lump away... I've had it happen. depending on the wheel, it's either a re-rim (if it's a fairly conventional wheel) or a write off (if it's a cheap "factory" wheel with the typical propriatory rim/spokes| etc) - typical wheel rims are around £25-50, and figure maybe the same again for wheelbuilding...
What he said
0 -
aw, dammit, just looked on Strava... you were on the 'crosser... maybe the rim prices may be a bit more in that case. It's one thing I'm slightly worried about with road discs - the wheels have far more in common with MTB wheels than road ones - indeed many of them are actually 29'er wheels... building disc wheels is something I'd definitely be looking at a REALLY good wheelbuilder to fix them. Also, I've been looking for a source for the Alex cdx26 rims and couldn't find 'em - now MAYBE Evans have bought the worlds stock and are squatting on 'em, I dunno - but if you can't source a replaement rim, chances are you'd be looking at a full set of new spokes to suit whichever different rim that went on there...0
-
I made a successful claim against my county council when my wife caught the edge of a manhole where the road had crumbled all round it causing an instant puncture and damaging the sidewall of the car tyre.
It was very easy to claim online and email photos (this was Surrey by the way) and although it took a little while they settled in full including a breakdown callout as my wife couldn't change the wheel herself. Document everything as stated above!
The other benefit is that they will be more likely to repair the roads faults if people claim - as soon as there is an official record of the danger they are in a very vulnerable legal position as regards liability for any other accidents caused.
Would start off claiming for a new rim and wheel build and only settle for a repair if absolutely necessary.0 -
Cheers TBY, the wheels are 700X35, so the size shouldn't be a problem, just the width that may cause issue.
When I looked at the wheel tonight, the pressure of the tyre up against the wall does appear to flatten it out somewhat, but it is still there and definitely needs attention soon.
Thank you for the link and thank you too for your experience sijomial, at least there is a precedent out there, and usually if there is a website possibly with a template letter to the council (don't know haven't looked yet) I think my chances are looking more favourable than they looked at 6.30pm tonight.0 -
if you swap rims to a different type though Carl, there's no guarantee that the rim is the same "depth" at the point where the spoke attaches - some sink the spoke nipples further into the rim, others nearer the outer bed near the rim-tape. So, that's why I was saying it could well be a new set of spokes as well as the rim. In any case, lots of wheelbuilders would just price for new spokes as a matter of routine - I know BITD when I worked as a Saturday Lad in the LBS, there was no way that the wheelbuilder would rebuild a customer wheel with old spokes (their own wheels, or the ones of the shop lads, sure, but not the customer ones...)0
-
Update: Went to take pictures as it is the first day to finish work early enough to take them in the light.
The effin hole has been filled by the council already.
What are the odds???!!!0 -
This is so totally spooky :huh: :huh:0
-
Update: Went to take pictures as it is the first day to finish work early enough to take them in the light.
The effin hole has been filled by the council already.
What are the odds???!!!
What are the odds ?... Pretty good, tbh, which is why I said to get a picture ASAP...0 -
Ah well.
When I went to Evans to get a quote for the replacement rim, they said it wasn't too bad. So I'm going to live with it for a while, just not push it too much.
Whilst I was there, I showed them my road shoes that I bought with the bike. The sole had split and they replaced them straight away under the Louis Garneau warranty... so I now have a brand new pair of shoes.
Might keep them new until spring.0 -
A silver linning of a sort in a bad situation. Hope future rides are better for you.0
This discussion has been closed.