Marin's customer service turns out to be golden
 

Wow thanks, I don't know how I missed that rim. Also at $45, it was more expensive than I'd of thought. And you're probably right about the warranty.

As it turns out, Marin offered to replace the front wheel. I was given the customer service number and got a hold of Tom with Marin, and expressed my concerns of riding the rear wheel, and that I wasn't interested in a replacement wheel of the same brand/model/manufacturer. He assured me that the replacement wheel was built there at Marin, in California and if I wanted the rear replaced as well, he understood.

I was instructed to call Sun & Ski Sports here in Austin to initiate the replacement of the rear as well. I talked to James at S&S, on Wednesday about what Tom had told me with regard to the rear wheel.

I called James today to touch base about the rear wheel and to get an idea about when I could expect the wheels. He called me back a few minutes later to tell me that my new, apparently hand built, replacement wheels had already arrived. I'll be picking them up tomorrow.

Not too shabby. I'm very impressed with the way both, James with Sun & Ski Sports in Austin, and Tom with Marin in California handled this situation. Very professional and very well done.

Both companies have a customer that will sing their praises for life. :thumb:

Thanks,
Coyote

Quite impressive. Great to hear!

that's a good resolution. I've always wondered about the wear grooves myself, Alex has them too. Seems perfect to cause the kind of failure shown in the OP. Velocity has a little hole. Still not perfect from a fatigue point of view, but much better.