juelze

I've lurked on this site for just a little bit to get some information about getting a bicycle. I've had problems with weight most of my life and was determined to lose weight. I went from 280lbs down to 185lbs and stayed that way for several years. I ended up injuring my foot which prohibited me from doing what I loved to do which is rollerblade. Since then I slowly packed on weight, and now with 2 small kids and a full time job it's hard to stay active.

After hitting 300lbs I had to take control of my life. I'm back down to 285lbs and most of the progress is due to eating better and my new found love...bicycling. I had an old Mongoose that I got at a local hardware store but it just wasn't comfortable for me; I wanted something more upright. I ended up buying this a Schwinn Signature Series R21 Voyageur 21 (https://www.schwinnbikes.com/bikes/bi...s-14647#/specs). I love this bike. It rides great and is extremley comfortable. In the past 3-4 weeks I've put on 180 miles with one trip close to 34 miles!

Today I had my first set back and I'm really sad about it. As I was riding I heard something make a loud noise, like something was becoming "unsprung". I got off my bike and saw no damage but when I moved the wheel it would spin freely then stop. Sure enough my rim is bent. I figured it was only a matter of time as I doubted the rear wheels ability to support my weight. So, I was about due for my first tune-up so I'll be bringing my bike into the bike shop tomorrow. My guess is that I'll need a rim that can handle more weight. Are there any options for a stronger rim for my bike? The wheel specs state that it has the following:

Rims - Alex Z1000 32 Hole
Hubs - KT Alloy 32 Hole
Spokes - 14G stainless
Tires - Duro Sierra, 700 x 35c

Am I doomed to not being able to ride my bike until they create rims out of kryptonite?

-Juelze

jmccain

Let them retension and true that wheel and ride it some more. IMO it should be fine at your weight if you stay out of potholes and off curbs. Make sure your tires at at the proper pressure! Its important.

Seve

No you are not doomed, just unlucky.

There are lots of wheel options for you.

Take it back to the shop where you purchased it and have replaced.

If I was you I would go with a much better rim - a double wall at the least. I think the Z1000 are single wall rims, which aren't ideal for your needs.

You may get by with another OEM with properly tensioned spokes, however, at your weight and riding activity level, I wouldn't bet the farm on it.

Others, I'm sure will have some suggestions.

storckm

If you do end up replacing the wheel, I'd look got more spokes, 36 at least. Sun Rhyno Lite is pretty affordable and very sturdy.

Myosmith

This sounds more like a broken spoke (which will cause a wheel to become out of true). If you can't see a broken spoke, tap each one with a screwdriver or other metal object. The tight ones will twang, the loose one will thunk. You can also try flexing each spoke by hand to find the loose one. If it is a broken spoke, chances are it can be replaced and the wheel retrued. Have both wheels retensioned by the bike shop to get you back on the road. In the mean time, look at 36-spoke wheels with mid-level hubs and double-walled rims, preferably with eyelets in the rims. Straight gauge stainless spokes are fine and very tough. Look at wheels designed for touring or cyclocross, they are heavier than "road" or racing wheels and way tougher than most entry level wheels that come with the bike. Be prepared for some sticker shock as a good set of wheels can set you back $200-$250 and up. If you can only afford one at a time, replace the rear one first. 35mm tires are a good choice for both comfort and to soak up some of the road shock.

FYI, even entry level 32-spoke rims, properly tensioned will hold up for general fitness/recreational riding for a while. Just make sure the shop properly tensions them and check them frequently. If you find any loose spokes you may have to have them retensioned, which can be a persistent problem with entry level wheels no matter what your weight. I currently weigh around 215 but have weighed much more and rode and still ride some 32-spoke wheels. In fact, only my trail bike currently has 36-spoke wheels, though that will be the next upgrade for my touring bike.

chefisaac

You are not anywhere near doomed. Just need to get the bike fixed. I started riding at 365 pounds and the bike took some beating but it has been there with me ever since and now I am down to 288.

jethro56 

This is a Schwinn signature bike. Even though it isn't expensive their trying to compete against Giant, Trek ect. So they should stand behind this bike. I'd say the LBS didn't check this out very well. Give then a chance to fix the problem (probably broken spoke). To understand wheels buy Jobst Brandt's book "the Bicycle Wheel" https://www.amazon.com/The-Bicycle-Wh...sr=1-1-catcorr The first 75 pages are a very quick read and it's well worth $25 and your time reading it. I won't say you'll never have wheel problems after understanding them but it'll eliminate any helpless feeling when dealing with wheels.

So let's say you broke a spoke. This is like a $2 item at most. The biggest problem would be having one the correct length. So even if the LBS fixes this find out what length they are. I'd tell you but the rims and hubs aren't in the database I use. Replacing it would be a 15 minute job. Some touring bikes have spoke holders built into the frame as replacing a spoke would be a roadside job.


The good news is you're going to find out how good of a LBS you have. If they start giving you some sort of BS that it's your fault or you're too big remember that they sold you the bike.

juelze

Thanks for all the great advice guys! Brought my bike to the LBS and found out a couple of things. My bike DOES have 36 spoke rims but two of the spokes on the rear real are broken (drivetrain side). The owner who is also the mechanic said that on a bike this new, it shouldn't have happened. He's going to repair it for free and also give my bike my free tune up (I was just shy of hitting my first 200 miles). I did ask him about getting some stronger rims and he was having problems with one of his websites, so he's going to look into finding something stronger (40 spoke or double wall) and let me know what he finds come Monday/Tuesday when I pick up my bike. This business was just opened in spring, but it's a family owned business and they're terrific people. Very helpful and always there to help; unlike one of the other LBS who misguided me on what they offered, failed to respond to an email, and in the end lost my business.

Anyway, does anyone have any recommendation for rims for my bike? It seems that this comfort/hybrid bike doesn't have a lot of options for higher spoked double walled rims.

Thanks again for all your help!

-Juelze

chefisaac

I would think heavier gauged quality spokes would do the trick.

Also, one thing I learned when I started out and popping spokes like peanuts: If they are on your drive train side, it can mean that when you stop and start, you are starting in a harder gear. Before you stop downshift to an easier gear so you do not need to mash at the start.

Mithrandir

So the good news is that no, you are not doomed.

I'm 400 pounds and have had issues with bent rims, spokes popping, etc. After these issues I went to my local bike shop and had them build me a custom rear wheel. Heavy duty touring rim, 36 spokes, high end hub. The wheel they built me lasted 4000 miles, and is still going strong. I don't use it anymore as I graduated to a brand new bike. This time I had them use a Heavy Duty Tantem rim, 36 spokes, same hub (Shimano Deore XT), only this time it was 700C instead of 26". In theory the larger wheel will be less strong, but after 1300 miles the wheels are still perfectly true.

Here's the bad news (and keep in mind people on this forum will disagree with me, but all of my advice comes from my own personal experiences; others have been more lucky than me apparently). Custom wheels are going to run you a fair amount of dollarage. I believe the pair I'm using now cost $350, and from what I understand that's actually a very good price compared to what most wheelbuilders charge. I would look into a custom wheelset. Many on this forum disagree and say that factory-made 32 spoke wheels are just fine for clydes, but I've had a bunch of those crap out on me, and I won't go with anything but custom anymore. It's no fun riding when you have no peace of mind, imo.

juelze

LBS owner called me today. He is going to have my stock rim all fixed up and have my first tune up completed. He said he did some calling around for a stronger rim. He found one double walled rim (36 spokes) for $72 (wasn't given the brand) and a Sun Rhyno Lite rim (36 spoke) with "double-butted spokes". Apparently the spokes are thicker near the rim and hub so they flex more and hold more weight. Cost of that tire is $99. Should have my bike all ready to go Thursday which means I'll be bikeless for about a weak. :-( Anyway, kind of crazy that this tire is going to cost me $100 but the whole bike was $340, but oh well, now my bike will be worth $440. ;-)