Pavement Damage

Anyone who has been riding a bicycle in the Chicagoland area can't help but be aware of the poor condition of our roads. The last few winters have left the asphalt and concrete in nearly unrideable shape. Cracks and potholes have caused a tremendous rise in the number of flat tires, crooked wheels and broken rims. This last item is of major concern because if the damage to your wheels is the actual cracking of the metal of carbon fiber, the cyclist runs the risk of serious injury if the wheel fails completely. In an effort to help you avoid having a wheel fail, we suggest you inspect your wheels or have your shop inspect them carefully for you. Here is what to look for...

From a bump to a crack

On the left, the spoke  nipple has begun to deform the surface of the rim and the rim has started to crack. In this case, attempting to true the wheel began to cause the rim to crack even though the spoke tension was not very high.

On the right, the spoke nipple has deformed the rim more noticeably and the cracks are moving in two directions along the rim. In this case the spoke tension was already quite high and the nipple was seized on the spoke.
 

In the next picture on the left, the spoke nipple has pulled part way through the rim and the rim itself has shattered.

In the picture on the right, the rim is also shattered, but because of the composition of the aluminum there is no bulging. The rim has simply fractured.

In most cases, repairing a damaged wheel is simply a matter of replacing the rim. However, some high performance wheels cannot easily be repaired. In some cases, once the rim has been ruined, the wheel becomes cheaper to replace than to repair. The cost of the replacement parts and labor can make repair impractical.

In the final picture, the hub itself has been broken and must be replaced. In this case it will be cheaper to just replace the wheel.

LOOK Keo Pedal Recall

We have had a few calls about the LOOK Keo pedal recall. LOOK Cycles USA has recalled 40,000 pairs of steel axle Keo Pedals sold between January 2004 and December 2005. There have only been 14 mishaps reported for all of those pedals. If you think you have a pair of these recalled pedals, check the bottom of yours for the date stamp. The date stamp is located on the bottom of the pedal in the depression next to the axle assembly. In the picture below, the date of manufacture is August 2006. Go to LOOK's website www.lookcycle-usa.com/keoupgrade

To make distribution and replacement of these axles simpler, LOOK USA is handling this through REI stores throughout the country.

If you are not sure how to check or change out the axles in your pedals, visit your bike shop.