Northern California - Really Bent Rim -- Any Local Shops That Can Straighten It?

I've got a rim that is pretty bent up, and I since I can't find a similar one I would now prefer trying to have it strightened out if possible. Any Norcal shops around that you think might be able to perform some magic? I'm in the Sacramento area, but I can get it to a Bay Area shop if necessary.

What kind of rim is it? Is the wheel built or just the rim? Best bet would be to place it against a door jamb and try bending it back yourself. I highly doubt a shop will touch that since it commonly leads to uneven spoke tension. I've done this before on cheap wheels with mixed results.

The rim is an uncommon early 1990's Campagnolo low/mid range box style rim. For an older 8-speed Campy drive train. The wheel is built and a couple of spokes are bent, but I can easily take it apart. I've got a volunteer to rebuild it if the rim can get straighted out. I just need to get that task done.

Incidentally, the 8sp Campy cassette will fit on the current crop of wheels.

You are dealing with aluminum here so not much room to play with. In your situation I would unlace the wheel (remove all spokes) and see how the rim is actually bent. A slight bend can be corrected but forget about it if it's serious as unbending it could crack or, at least, weaken it. If it's good replace the bad spokes and relace the wheel.

If the rim is just out of true due to the damaged spokes it may be as simple as replacing the bad spokes and truing the wheel. You really can't tell if a rim is bent unless all the spokes are detensioned.

I have a friend that needed a new rim but did not want to spend the money on new spokes/etc. The damaged rim was not in production anymore so I found another rim with the same ERD. The spokes transferred over perfectly. If your rim is damaged beyond repair I would suggest the same for you.

The guys at Natomas Bike Shop do A LOT of wheel truing. You could ask them - 916-641-8640

I can true a wheel. It is not out of true. This thing is really jacked up. Think of rolling waves in the ocean or a funky clown bike wheel.

When Bikingshearer and bigbossman saw it and they covered their eyes and cried out as if the sun was blinding them.

I was hoping to find a magical wheel repair person. I'm probably better off finding a similar shaped rim from another make and having that relaced to the hub.

Thanks for the comments and ideas.

Is it a Campagnolo Omega Strada Hardox rim?

Is it a Campagnolo Omega Strada Hardox rim?
Nope, it is a black Campy Omicron. They were only made for a year or two I think.

If you want to reuse the same spokes (not usually recommended) the ERD for that rim is 613.
http://www.cyclingforums.com/archive/index.php/t-17008.html

I still don't think anyone will want to do this for you at a shop (liability and low success rate). This post below is the best way to go about it if you're set on bending the rim back, or at least trying. You can probably do it just as well as anyone else.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=9557867&postcount=17

I once backup over a wheel and it warped it quite a bit. Being a poor college student, I took out all the spokes to see how bent it was. It was bent about 30 degrees (smooth bend, no "creases"). I was able to use a mallet and clamps to get it back pretty straight and then re-lace and true the wheel. Of course that wheel had steel rims. I wouldn't even bother if your rims are aluminum. I don't think any shop will touch it if it's an aluminum rim that's bent like that.

Go find an old fashioned window (wood framed w/ sliding wood encased glass panes) and open the window enough to jam the bent part(s) of the wheel in the gap and just start pushing down(or up) until you get it straightened out. This is essentially a variant of rydaddy's suggestion, and if you're looking for a window, the ASUCD Bike Barn used to have one that fit the bill perfectly. ;) Good luck

i have a set of campy strada record from the late 80's that might work,
but they are tubulars