Bicycle Mechanics - What size rim do I need?

Hi, I was looking to replace my back wheel because it had gotten really bent up. Question is, what size rim do I need? I looked at the tire itself and it says 26"x1.95". Ive looked over the internet to see how much they were, and I couldnt even find them. Are they just a rarer size of rim or is it known as some other size. Thanks for the help.

Sounds as if you have a standard mountain-bike size rear wheel. These are labeled 26" and have an outside diameter of 559mm (whereas 700c road bike rims - the same as "29-er" mtb rims - have an outside diameter of 622mm).

I'm not sure if your goal is to replace the entire wheel, or to rebuild the current wheel (re-using the hub and spokes) with a new rim.

Either way, there's lots of options out there. If you rebuild using the same hub and spokes, you need to get a rim with the same Effective Rim Diameter. Basically, rims with a deeper sidewall require shorter spokes (pretty obvious if you think about it, but the the sort of thing most people would think of unless they'd run into the concept before). You can probably get away with a rim that has a 1-2mm difference in E.R.D. in either direction, but that's not guaranteed.

Hmm, I guess I wasnt just talking about the rim, but all of the metal stuff on the wheel, minus the gears. Sorry for bein a noob but i dont know what everything is called. But yeah, can i go up to a 26x2.0 or would i NEED to get a 26x1.95 wheel?

those number pertain only to the width of the tires, not to the rim itself. like timcupery said, to replace everything you just need a new 26" rear wheel. searching around on the internet look under wheels and you should be able to use any 26" that accepts the same sort of gears you are using (cassette or freewheel)

Oh, alright. Whats the difference between a cassette and a freewheel?

What kind of bike do you have, model and year, so we can trace out the rim make.

cassette and freewheel info: http://sheldonbrown.com/k7.html its explained pretty well at the top w/ a picture too!

Not sure if i know that stuff. Its a cheaper bike - walmart or something. Heh:).

My guess is you have a 26" rim with a 135mm (mountain bike) width. To buy a new one will run at least $35.00.

Are you near Chicago? Here is a whole list of bikes for $50 or less. Here. (http://chicago.craigslist.org/search/bik?query=&minAsk=min&maxAsk=50)

I can't believe I'm the first one to post this:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tire_sizing.html

and scroll down to the red-green table. And then, the world will regain its harmony again - the force will be in balance once more!