vinnyvincent

Okay, so I got my bikes direct bike and the wheels were pretty true when I got it. The back was a LITTLE off, but barely noticeable looking at it with the bike upside down.
Well now after 150 miles it's gotten pretty bad. Bad enough to have noticeable vibration when I am riding, but it's not like it's scraping the brake pad or anything.
I've mainly been using the bike on paved trails but have done a little gravel and city riding too. No huge bumps or anything, though.
I'm wondering if this is normal or maybe I should have just stuck with paved trails on my 28c tires? This is my first bike with road tires. They seem pretty frail in comparison to my BMX/MTB tires. I've never had an issue with those tires coming out of true like this that I can remember, although it's been awhile.

Also what is the best way to bring it in to have it trued? should I bring the whole bike in or take the wheel off? Leave the tire on, or no?
Would it be worthwhile to just buy a truing stand, or is this something better left to an experienced person?

Phil_gretz

Bring it to a shop. They're not busy, if you're in the northern hemisphere...

EDIT: I mean the whole bike. Ask them to check everything: hub bearings, shift adjustment, rims, braking and tire inflation.

10 Wheels

Have a bike shop Check Everything on the bike.

simot

Ride your bike to the LBS, they should true it for you on the spot since it's not that bad. As long as they're not crowded that is.

As to this whole indecent being "normal", I wouldn't call it that. Shouldn't have truing issues unless you hit potholes at high speed. Maybe the wheels are of low quality? Your LBS should tell you more.

kevindsingleton 

Generally speaking, Bikes Direct products are "kits" that need a little final assembly and adjustment. There may be other components that are loose or need adjustment. Take it to your local bike shop, and start building a relationship with them. They will be invaluable, later, when you have more significant problems.

wphamilton

I've bought two bikes from Bikes Direct. The wheels on the first were fine and still are, with no adjustments. Both wheels on the second were out of true, with some really slack spokes on the rear wheel and it took me quite a bit of effort to get it right. So I'd say it's hit and miss.

JohnDThompson 

It's not unusual; that's why when you buy a new bike at a shop, they tell up to bring it back in a month to get checked over.

veganbikes

Generally when you buy bikes from not a bike shop and the people putting them together aren't trained mechanics, there will be problems like what you have described. Bikes Direct sounds like a good deal but in reality usually isn't.

Take the bike into a shop and have them tune it up and true the wheels and make sure everything is hunky-dory. For next time buy your bike at that shop or whatever your favorite LBS is and you will usually get some free tune ups, discounts or something of that nature when you buy a bike. At the very least if not that you will hopefully build a good relationship which will benefit the both of you.

FBinNY 

Besides the normal need to check and fine tune a bike after a break in period, as advised above, there might be something else going on. Generally you shouldn't be able to feel anything when a wheel isn't bad enough to rub the brakes.

Possibilities that may cause what you're feeling include a cut in the tire causing a local bulge, or a tire that has slipped off the rim seat. Either of these can let go at any time, leaving you stranded, so examine the tires carefully.

RonH

I too have to say its time to the the bike to a real bike shop and let them check and adjust EVERYTHING.
Then get out and ride some more.

Maelochs

Not surprising that a new wheelset might go out of true after a month or so, particularly if you did not check it really closely on arrival and after your first few rides. A spoke or two could loosen or have been a little loose, starting an ongoing problem which eventually catches you out.

I had it happen to me on some wheels I got for my Cannondale---they seemed great out of the box so I just rode them until one day a spoke-end went through the tube. I was changing the tire when I noticed how ridiculously loose many of the spokes were---and it was only a few rides that did it. Good wheels, no complaints, I just needed to check them after every ride for the first few and then tighten them up as needed.

Also ... having a decent relationship with a local LBS is a good thing, unless you are interested in the sometimes painful and sometimes satisfying journey of learning to do your own maintenance.

Juan Foote

Any time you buy a new bike, be is mail order or bike shop, a checkover and tune are part of the equation. The shop bought bike is done for "free" because the price of it is already factored in. Even with the additional cost of the tune, you saved money, and will likely need to start a relationship with the LBS anyway.

vinnyvincent

Thanks Guys I'll take it by the bike shop. I just wanted to get some opinions and see if maybe I need to think about getting a better(or wider) set of wheels or not.

I know enough about bikes from riding them over the years to be able to look at over and make sure it is all functioning correctly....I've just never had to true up a wheel(or at least never cared about my cheapo bikes enough to bother) before so that part of it is all new.

I did have to adjust the brakes a bit, plus put the front one back together and I have already adjusted the derailleur. I'm a bit intimidated by tryiing to take on truing up a wheel because it seems like it would be real easy to make it a lot worse.

I'm just really dreading having to take it in because now I'll be without it and I have been riding daily! I wish I had a struing stand and knew how to do it myself.

NYMXer

I think that it is normal for a new wheel to have loose spokes after the initial set in process is over and that can vary depending on rider weight, road smoothness and rider aggression.
I don't think it matters where you bought the bike, wheels give as you ride and some spokes loosen up more than others. The key is to get it into a bike shop for truing and spoke "torquing", making them all the same torque value. Once that is done, your wheels will stay true for a long time. If they simply just true the wheel without equalizing the torque, you will be back again sooner than later. I have learned this from experience when I needed a wheel trued away from home and happened upon a good bike mechanic. He took his time and did it right and the efforts showed with wheel trueness longevity.
While the bike is at the bike shop, give them the okay to check things over.
Good luck

vinnyvincent

Yeah I'd say all those are pretty high lol. My weight is falling FAST though since I got the bike. I never lost weight like this even working out in the gym every day.

I'm thinking they just settled a little after having to roll my formerly 230lb body around over various bumps at speeds up to 25mph

Looigi

What's unusual, IMO, is that you're feeling vibration. Perhaps I'm insensitive, but I've never felt wheels being out of true, even riding with a broken spoke and then calipers opened to prevent brake rub.

NYMXer

I thought so, and I too had wheel issues with my weight at 215. I don't need to lose weight, that's a good weight for me and I'm fit but rider weight does take it's toll on wheels. Add to that an aggressive rider who torques the pedals rather than spin them and the wheels don't stand much of a chance.
I think anyone who weighs more than 180 pounds is going to have wheel issues with stock wheels on most bikes. Naturally, a higher priced bike with better wheels may not have any issues and unless you are riding one of those, watch e bay or Craigslist for wheel upgrades.
After all, safety is more of a concern but ride quality and pleasure are also important.

ltxi

My unsolicited opinion. I appreciate folk wanting to save money but I think a good LBS is a treasure that should be supported. I buy a lot of stuff online and or where it's less expensive. Bikes ain't one of those things. Aside from simply wishing to support good local businesses, help and service after the sale is worth a lot. Don't get that from BikesDirect, etc.

vinnyvincent

I dropped it off and they said it has a broken spoke. and both tirees need truing. Hopefully this is from riding it with it being out of true and not because it is that fragile. Hopefully the repair holds up for a while, but I will be shopping for new wheels in the meantime


Well I still am suppurting them. I am paying the fifty dollars to fix a spoke and true the wheels. I have also bought several items and acceries there for double the price of what I could have gotten online. The bike was a gift

Phil_gretz

What about the hub bearings? They're often not *right* on BD bikes, in my experience.

vinnyvincent

I asked them to look the whole thing over including the bearings while it was there. He said he made a few minor adjustments but everything looked pretty good other than the wheels needing quite a bit of adjustment. I should have took it there from the getgo, it rides so much smoother now.

I did ask about upgrading the wheels and he said honestly the ones I have are entry level, but not bad at all. He says to upgrade to wheels with a noticeable performance difference, I'd be looking at about a 700 dollar pair. He reccomends keeping these for the type of riding I am doing. They are alexrims R450.

wphamilton

Yeh, durable wheels I think but relatively heavy. A strong benefit (I'm serious) is that you can replace them for $30-50 if you need to instead of hundreds.

But, before too long or after the winter I'd want to take the cones off and get some grease into the hubs.