MikeRides

I've only had my bike since April 26, rode 350 miles on pavement and loose gravel bike paths, running over a stray stick once in awhile but no pot holes/bumps/curbs. Recently I realized my rear wheel is out of true already. I'm "overweight" according to standards, weighing at 176-lbs. with no additional weight on the bike.

Just curious how long aluminum alloy rims are meant to last?

Wanderer

After the initial check, never........................ And, I'm a 200#er, and bike weighs 42# with the stuff I normally carry.

I should clarify - during the first 30 days, I broke 3 spokes, one at a time. My LBS, Pedal & Spoke, built me a new 36 spoke rear wheel under warranty, including rim and hub. He also retensioned the front wheel, 32 spokes, since he discovered uneven tension in that one. I have had not a single problem since then, and both wheels turn as straight as a string.

Wow, it's been 5 1/2 years................ and lots of miles, and lots of tires.

giantcfr1

The only time I had my front rim "trued" was when I ran down a bike thief. Other than that, I've never had to have a rim trued due to normal riding.

MRT2

That same thing happened to me 15 years ago with my first hybrid, a Bianchi Advantage. After breaking 3 spokes, bike shop rebuilt the wheel under warranty. Haven't had a problem since then, though for the last 2 seasons, haven't ridden it much.

To OP. Take the bike back to the LBS and ask them to true the wheel. This should be covered under warranty. I wouldn't get too upset about it. New bikes will need adjustments, brakes, derailleurs, and wheels. It is good you are putting on some miles when the bike is relatively new. My guess is, if the bike shop can re true the wheel, it will likely be fine for years.

MikeRides

Thanks for all the responses, I'm surprised out of true wheels aren't more common as that seems to be the first thing I noticed my LBS had to do when they do tune ups in the beginning of the season. I'm planning on taking my bike to the shop on my next day off, to have it fully adjusted ( I know I get at least one free tune up ) so I'll make sure they true the wheels while I'm there.

Bill Kapaun

Having even tension is the key to wheels staying true.
I built a set of 32 spoke SUN Rims M13 II's over the Winter.
I used 14-15 DB spokes on the DS and 15-16 DB spokes on the NDS. That's probably considered a bit light for my 230 lbs., but the bike is "intended" for smooth pavement.
Upon the initial build, I got the true within +/- .5mm and the tension within +/- 5%, with the intent of putting a couple hundred miles on them and doing a final true & tension.
With about 30-50 miles on them, I had the opportunity to go back to the old hometown with a friend, so we tossed the bike in his van and went.
I got checked in to the Motel room & decided to go for a ride.
I took off, NOT paying attention to the old style storm water drain in the parking lot and dropped the rear wheel in the "slot". I was going slow and the impact still bounced me 6-8" out of the seat, but I stayed on the bike and continued moving. Probably a good thing since I had a Ti rod inserted in my leg 5 months before!
When I got back home and put the wheel on the truing stand, it was still within the +/- .5mm.
I'll probably wait until the rainy season to do my "final" true & tension.

Wanderer

Make sure you politely ask them to check the tension, and not just do a quick true.................. BIG DIFFERENCE!

dynaryder

They are. I'd say at least 20-25% of the bikes that come into my clinic could use at least one wheel tweaked. Most folks don't even notice until it's bad. Had one guy bring in an older road bike who's rear was so bad the tire rubbed the frame no matter how I tried to position the wheel. Dude thought his brake was just dragging.

lopek77

I'm close to 300 lbs with all my clothing and things I take with me for each tide. I was breaking spokes like crazy on single walled stock rims, went with cheap double walled rims and my rim started to crack near the nipples. Then I invested in Handspun built wheelset, which I bought at TreeFortBikes.com It's 36 DT heavy duty spokes, good Shimano hub and all connected to deep V double wall Velocity Dyad rim. I did around 2000 miles oon this wheelset AND with 28mm skinny tires. They are still very true after several good potholes and many, many cracks in the roads. Good wheelset is a very good investment.