Touring - Cracks on the rim

I have this TRek 520 for a litlte over a year now, I rode 9000 km last year including 9 weeks of loaded touring. As I am leaving in 4 days for my cross-Canada, I noticed those little cracks on 7 or 8 spokes holes on the rear rims. The spokes seem to be quite tight. Would that be a cause of the rim failure? Would this be called normal wear and tear after 9000 km? Thanks. Kati

I'd be surprised if rims broke after 9,000km, given that the set on my old bike have seen around 65,000km without any problems (and yes, some of that was fully loaded touring on dirt roads). Having said that, my old bike is a MTB, so perhaps those rims are a little more robust. Even so, 9,000km for a set of rims isn't a huge amount - has it seen a lot of rough/dirt roads?

It could, conceivably, be overtensioning of the spokes. However, I'd be a little reluctant to set out on a loaded tour with anything that had cracks in the rims -- whatever the reason. You might consider replacing it.

It could, conceivably, be overtensioning of the spokes. However, I'd be a little reluctant to set out on a loaded tour with anything that had cracks in the rims -- whatever the reason. You might consider replacing it.

I am certainly replacing the rim. I don't want to get into any kind of trouble in the middle of nowhere. I am just trying to understand why I have to get another 100$ out of my pocket right now!!!!

some rims crack. I bought a mavic ma3 rim and only got 500 miles before a spoke pulled out. non annodized and doubled rivited are the way to go.

I am certainly replacing the rim. I don't want to get into any kind of trouble in the middle of nowhere. I am just trying to understand why I have to get another 100$ out of my pocket right now!!!!

Could also just be a dud rim. Sometimes people like to throw cheap parts on not-so cheap bikes. When I bought my current bike, it was the brake pads that didn't last very long (about three weeks actually). Still, at least you discovered that before you set off. I actually bought a dud chain in Tasmania on my last tour. I discovered it was a dud when it broke in freezing rain in the middle of nowhere. I also chose this moment to discover my chain tool was a dud (it fell apart). My fingers at that moment were too frozen to move them.

I've heard some reports of the rims on the 520 cracking (Bontrager Fairlane rims). I've put maybe 2000 miles on my bike in the last year and I haven't seen any problems, but that's well short of the 5400 miles you have. And only a few days of carrying extra loads.

If the spokes are unevenly tensioned I guess that could cause problems, but my spokes have been very good out of the box. Again, 5000+ miles might cause more problems.

I don't know the definition of "normal wear and tear", but I doubt 5000+ miles including 9 weeks of loaded touring will fit int it. I'm not saying you did anything wrong, that's what the bike was designed for, but companies have a tendency to be very conservative on warrantees.

Best of luck!

Too much spoke tension is usually what pulls spokes through rims. I would replace the rim which of course is what you have already stated. $100 I don't know what rim, and how much for the swap? Persoanlly unless you bought a $70+ or more rim I cannot see it.

Sorry for the sad news. A few comments raised on the BOB or Touring lists let me believe that there were a few series of Bontrager rims with quality control issues.

On my 520, I had severe problems with the rear wheel getting out of true very quickly. I solved the problem within 2 weeks by building up its tension (maybe too much), but the wheel stayed perfectly true and never needed to be retrued. Never, that is... until a day last Fall when I discovered a few cracks on the brake surface of the rim. Three of the right spokes were "separating" the rim like if it were a ham sandwich.

Anyway, the rim has travelled approximately 16000 km, at least 2/3 of them pulling a Piccolo trailercycle, a child trailer and/or lots of cargo and our streets aren't exactly smooth. I'm also a guy weighting 75 kg (170 lb). So I could say the rim served its due. Still, on my previous bike, I kept the same wheels for 50 - 60 000 km.

Persoanlly unless you bought a $70+ or more rim I cannot see it.

It's been hard enough to find a 36 holes 700 size rim, I didn't mind what price it was (this one is a Mavic for 42$ CDN) It will do. It has to. Right now I am a bit short of time, so as long as I am on 2 wheels , and that the wheel is well built, I'll be fine.

[QUOTE=mgagnonlv]Sorry for the sad news. A few comments raised on the BOB or Touring lists let me believe that there were a few series of Bontrager rims with quality control issues.[QUOTE]

Thanks Michel for your comments. I don't think there is much I can do with the company. I have no regrets for the life of those wheels as they have served their purpose, travel away! It would have been nice if it could have lasted longer, but I will keep a oh well! attitude. I am more upset at the bike shop that didn't discover it after I got them to check the bike over for me, nor did they detect that there was a sidewall wear on one of my tire. Don't they check those things? That would have given them more money, but now, they have lost me as a client. I will return to them to point out what they have missed and how they have failed me, and how it could have meant big trouble for me.

On an other note, do you have a link or a prefered route from Ottawa to Montreal? I am looking for safe and direct. Quiet preferred but optionnal. Thanks, Kati

18 years ago I did Montreal Ottawa Montreal. We went to Ottawa on the Quebec side of the river, and there was quite a lot of truck traffic on the road, but they didnt seem aggressive. We came back on the Ontario side via Alfred and Vankleek Hill - the roads were much quieter.

Kati,

I have posted a couple of routes from Ottawa to Montréal and Montréal to Québec City at http://mgagnon.net/velo.
No photos yet (I often keep the camera home when I ride) and descriptions are not overly detailed, but you would have more than enough to find your way.

A few hints:

- If you ride on highway 17. Pembrooke to Ottawa or Gatineau.
The Ontario side saves about 10 km and a lot of hills. There is a lot of traffic until you reach Renfrew or Arnprior, then there are a few secondary roads closer to the Ottawa river that you can ride on. Lots of farming areas, but little or no vistas of the river, however. The Québec side is definitely quite hilly; scenery is very different, and there is not too much traffic on highway 148. Between both sides, I think it's a draw.

Crossing Ottawa has always seemed to be strange. I usually happen to find my way through the city, but don't ask me how!.

- East of Ottawa. I prefer the Ontario side over the Québec side (see web page). Former highway 17 (regional roads 174/34/17) are direct, though busy in areas (the 417 is too far away to drain all the traffic), and shoulders are generally unpaved in Ontario. The local roads I suggest on the side add about 25 km (out of 200), but are rural all the way and very scenic to boot.

- Montréal to Québec City : via north Shore: mostly #138.

Have a nice trip!