I'm noticing something with my wheels recently, that a rim "seam" is starting to appear on them. It's on both sides of each wheel, in exactly the same part, and I'm wondering if this is normal or not. It also happens to be much worse in the front, and it's grinding down my brakes each time the pads go over the seam. Is this a feature of wheels to show when its about time to replace them, or do my wheels suck more than I thought?

http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/425/10018549il.jpg
http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/5169/10018568rj.jpg

Thanks for any help you can offer.

What kind of wheels are those... they look "interesting".

Sorry I do not know about your question though.

Gipiemme Grecial Parades

im not sure if its normal but i have the seam also

Seems(no pun) to me they all would unless the rim were machined from a solid billet.Welded and then finished ones,won't show up like the apparently butted and pinned example.

Thanks sydney, obviously I'm not too knowledgable when it comes to rims :o

there's your excuse to buy a set of wheels from Mike Garcia :D

Normal. It may seem like it's getting worse only because, as you ride, dirt, grit, and brake pad rub-off is getting into the seam.

Seams are normal.

Its not normal if the seam seems to open when your tire is pumped up to preassure. If the seam is opening even a little bit, and your brake blocks are grabbing it each rotation (usually on one side), rim failure may occur. The failure may be sudden&catastrophic.

You may want to remove the tire and just tug on the rim by hand to see if there is any movement. If the pins holding it together are getting lose, then you will notice this. If they were welded, and welds are broken, then it will do the same. If that is the case, then they may be due for replacement.

How many miles are those?

I'd guesstimate around 2K miles, almost all hilly.

That's how they make the rims! A rim starts out as an extrusion, a long, U shaped piece of aluminum. Then they cut it to length and weld the ends together. After they machine the braking surface, you generally can't see the weld unless you look really closely.

But...on those wheels, it looks like a pretty big gap. I did not know anyone made bicycle wheels by pinning the ends together, but if they do, that's probably the reason. If you can afford it, get better wheels.

Uh - pinned rims are the huge majority.

The ridge seems to have been getting larger, although it may just be because I'm obsessing over it. I just bought some DA pads for the front brakes, and dont want them ground down by that ridge :mad:

As soon as I can afford it, I am getting better wheels. I'd rather not go just one step up, I want some SSL's or Eurus so I don't feel like I have to upgrade again. It may be a while...

That's unfortunate. Do you have a good local bike shop about? Take the wheel to your shops wheelbuilder or mechanic, and ask there opinion if it is safe to continue riding on.

That's a good idea!

That's unfortunate.

In the meantime, what happens if you keep riding this wheel, and it fails?

THAT would be unfortunate!

I had that occur on an Ambrosio pinned rim a while ago. The seam is always visible if you look closely enough. If the two points on either side are disjoint (make a step), the pin has probably broken, the rim is weakened, and is becoming more dangerous by the mile.

Those rims are tanks. They weigh like 2000g a pair. Get them checked out at the shop and get a new set if they are bad. Even still, get a new set anyway.

I rode my friend's R800 with those and they were heavy. He also seemed to have a problem with breaking spokes with those. He's not big either, 5'10 140-150 lbs.

Top pic is rear, bottom is front, right?

Those seams look pretty normal in both the pics. If you're worried, take your bike to your lbs and ask them to check them 4 u.

You might also get them to align the b/blocks on the bottom wheel, they're way off.

I am surprised. My Gipiemme Grecal Parades have the seam on a bridge between nearby spokes. Yours seems to have the seam on a valley between the bridges - I would think the position wouldn't be random along the rim because of its construction. If you have another joint on the bridge being close to opposite of the valve stem, something is really wrong with your wheels (more than what's wrong with all Grecal Parades).
Cheers,
v.

Glad to know my rims might be dying :D, I'll feel especially safe flying down hill!

update: the lbs mechanic heard my braking on our group ride tonight, and thinks the seam is opening up. Looks like I'm in need of some new rims for sure. He's going to take a closer look at them tomorrow.