Bicycle Mechanics - ISO 451 rims in Canada

Duh, I should ask people who know all the good places to get components. :)

My old English folder needs 20 x 451 rims wih 28 holes to replace the stock steel ones that won't hold a high tire pressure. The old ones are 20 x 1 3/8" but I could go with 20 x 1 1/8" as long as it's 451. I know that Sun, Alex, and Alienation all make BMX rims that will fit the bill.

I've seen some in American web stores but I'm leery of shipping cross-border, as the brokerage fees will probably cost as much as the rims. Local stores don't seem to be able to order the right size (or they can only quote sizes in other standards than ISO, and can't explain to me how to convert).

Does anyone know of a shop or web store that stocks these and that ships from Canada? Alternately, are there tricks to avoiding the brokerage fees if I order from the US?

I don't know where to get your rims, but as to brokerage fees, you can usually eliminate them if your seller is willing to ship by US Postal Service... slower, but cheaper.

If you want to order locally, a few tips for you:

1. Visit Sheldon Brown's tire sizing page (http://sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html), so you'll be able to compare their sizing. According to Sheldon, some BMX bikes come with 451-mm wheels

2. Most recent tires have also the ERTRO sizing engraved on them. If they tell you that "this tire fits on that rim", check the metric tire sizing.

3. Bring one of your tires at the shop. You should be able to mount a tire on the rim, even if the rim isn't built in a wheel.

4. If you have a good relationship with a store, they might be willing to order it conditionnally, i.e. you take it only if it fits. I have done that a couple of times.


As for ordering from the U.S., the key point is to find a store that ships via U.S. Mail. I think a 20" rim would fit in the maximum allowable U.S. Mail size. Via U.S. Mail, you'll pay a 5 $ brokerage fee and the two taxes.