Pretzelled Wheel

[Uba Tracker]

Hi folks,
Just bought myself a new Specialized Rockhopper MTB and while fitting the trip meter notice that front wheel is buckled. I haven't even ridden it yet so at some point before I bought it it's copped a hit. I've taken it back to the place of purchase and they're going to true it up. Now the thing that bothers me here is that it's a brand new bike, never been ridden (by me) and has a mildly buckled wheel. My concern is that the hoop is now compromised, trueing it up will help but it essentially a bent wheel with internal stresses constantly fighting the spokes. What's everyones view on this?

[jacks1071]

Depends what you called "buckled" - given that you're aware of it, its brand new and the shop didn't pick it up if you are talking more than a few mm out of true I would be asking for a replacement.

If its only a few mm out of true then let them true it up, its not that uncommon to take a brand new bike out of a box and for the wheels not to be running perfectly true. The shop should have picked it up prior to delivery.

[Uba Tracker]

I measured the run out at 4mm laterally and 1.5mm on the radius. Like yourself I'm surprised and a little disappointed that the pre-delivery check didn't spot it.

[human909]

My concern is that the hoop is now compromised, trueing it up will help but it essentially a bent wheel with internal stresses constantly fighting the spokes. What's everyones view on this?

There is no way in which the rim (hoop) could be compromised by that slight out of true. The straightness and trueness of a wheel is 95% spokes.

It is poor that the shop let it out without truing the wheels, but I wouldn't worry about any effect of it.

[jacks1071]

I measured the run out at 4mm laterally and 1.5mm on the radius. Like yourself I'm surprised and a little disappointed that the pre-delivery check didn't spot it.

For most wheels that wouldn't be too much of an issue.

4mm is hardly pretzelled

[Uba Tracker]

Thanks for the input guys, good to have some reassurance that this is not really a problem just a nuisance.

[Uba Tracker]

Just as a foot note the wheel is now running true, unfortunately the black spokes are scratched and the previously nice white stickers are grease stained with finger prints. sigh..................
Ah well it is a Mountain Bike, and a bit of cosmetic damage is to be expected I guess.

[foo on patrol]

Sounds like a ruff as guts bike shop, if they can't true a wheel without scratching the spokes and not bothering with wiping things down before giving it back to go!

Foo

[warthog1]

Have a go at those grease stains with some Mr Sheen. It might do the trick, it cleaned bitumen off my bike.

[Uba Tracker]

Sounds like a ruff as guts bike shop, if they can't true a wheel without scratching the spokes and not bothering with wiping things down before giving it back to go!

Yes I'll lodge my objection by shopping else where in furure, there's no shortage of bike shops in Toowoomba so one would think that good after sales service would be high on the agenda - as it turns out I guess not.

[foo on patrol]

Hey Uba, a bloke I used to race against has one up there. His name is Brian Page ( hope it's not his) and he was a top bloke on and off the bike and old school. I don't know what shop it is that he has but I believe he helps the young up and coming blokes a bit with their race craft.

I worked at one of the shops in Ipswich part time when he was managing it and he was always good with his customer service than.

Foo

[Uba Tracker]

Hey Uba, a bloke I used to race against has one up there. His name is Brian Page ( hope it's not his) and he was a top bloke on and off the bike and old school. I don't know what shop it is that he has but I believe he helps the young up and coming blokes a bit with their race craft.

I worked at one of the shops in Ipswich part time when he was managing it and he was always good with his customer service than.

Foo

G'day Foo,
I know Pagey quite well, and no it's not his shop. Brian's a great bloke and he runs a very tight ship service wise, had HE been the Specialized dealer in Toowoomba I would have bought from him and we wouldn't be having this conversation about sub-standard after sales service.

Hey Warthog, thanks for the tip about Mr Sheen, I tried it this arvo but the stains are well and truly there to stay. Good to know that it gets tar off though.

[foo on patrol]

That's good to know Uba. We used to push him hard at training while he was in our club and through that, he was the only rider to give Kenrick Tucker any stick and he was around 15yrs older. Would loved to have seen him in his younger days but I digress.

Foo