replace touring rim

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I have a 2004 Trek 520 whose front rim will need replacement- It's gone
around 8k-10k miles, and the sidewalls are concave. The wheel has been
perfect and has never had any problems going out of true or breaking spokes,
but it's finally wearing thin. I've built wheels before. I read that it's
easy to obtain the same rim, tape it to the old one, and then transfer the
spokes. That way I can save money by not having to buy spokes. Here are the
problems: 1) Trek doesn't make Bontrager Fairlane rims any more. What's a
good touring rim with the same ERD as the Bontrager Fairlane (I think it's
607)? Also, at this point, are the spokes fatigued enough that I should
replace them? (If I have to get new spokes, then I can build any rim I
want).

On May 16, 7:37 pm, "Gary" <gasmi...@castcom.net> wrote:
> I have a 2004 Trek 520 whose front rim will need replacement- It's gone
> around 8k-10k miles, and the sidewalls are concave. The wheel has been
> perfect and has never had any problems going out of true or breaking spokes,
> but it's finally wearing thin. I've built wheels before. I read that it's
> easy to obtain the same rim, tape it to the old one, and then transfer the
> spokes. That way I can save money by not having to buy spokes. Here are the
> problems: 1) Trek doesn't make Bontrager Fairlane rims any more. What's a
> good touring rim with the same ERD as the Bontrager Fairlane (I think it's
> 607)?

Salsa Delgado looks to be a similar profile at 604mm, so could work if
the spokes are flush with the ends of the insides of the nipples.

>Also, at this point, are the spokes fatigued enough that I should
> replace them?

Secret sources tell me your spokes are fine.

On May 16, 5:37 pm, "Gary" <gasmi...@castcom.net> wrote:
> I have a 2004 Trek 520 whose front rim will need replacement- It's gone
> around 8k-10k miles, and the sidewalls are concave. The wheel has been
> perfect and has never had any problems going out of true or breaking spokes,
> but it's finally wearing thin. I've built wheels before. I read that it's
> easy to obtain the same rim, tape it to the old one, and then transfer the
> spokes. That way I can save money by not having to buy spokes. Here are the
> problems: 1) Trek doesn't make Bontrager Fairlane rims any more. What's a
> good touring rim with the same ERD as the Bontrager Fairlane (I think it's
> 607)? Also, at this point, are the spokes fatigued enough that I should
> replace them? (If I have to get new spokes, then I can build any rim I
> want).

Maybe look into the Weinmann ZAC-19. Velo-Orange is pushing it as
their 650B rim of choice, and the 700c version has a 607mm ERD.

The Salsa Delgado Cross that Landotter mentioned is an excellent
touring rim - it's what I built the wheels for my Surly with, and they
held up under 300+ lbs of bike+rider+cargo without complaint. But if
you go with something with a smaller ERD, beware the spoke nipples
bottoming out, If you need spokes, I always get them from RBT regular
Dave Ornee. Search ebay for "Sapim" and there they are. Best spoke
deal going.

Gary wrote:
>
> I have a 2004 Trek 520 whose front rim will need replacement-
....
> problems: 1) Trek doesn't make Bontrager Fairlane rims any more. What's a
> good touring rim with the same ERD as the Bontrager Fairlane (I think it's
> 607)?

According to my cursory research, it looks like the Bontrager Fairlane
has a 604mm ERD.

The Alex DM18 has a published ERD of 606mm. It's a better, stronger
rim than the Fairlane, and it costs so little that it will make you
wonder what's wrong with it.

But there's nothing wrong with it.

http://www.alexrims.com/product_detail.asp?btn=4&cat=4&id=96
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/RI308A06.aspx
(Note that every specimen I have ever seen is plain matte silver with
single eyelets.)

The Alex Adventurer (another excellent yet inexpensive rim) has an ERD
of 603mm. Its only drawback in my opinion is that it's black with
machined sidewalls.

http://www.alexrims.com/product_detail.asp?btn=4&cat=4&id=93
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/RI308A07.aspx

> Also, at this point, are the spokes fatigued enough that I should
> replace them?

Probably not. If no spokes have broken yet, keep them.

Chalo

On May 16, 11:40 pm, Hank <h...@wirtznet.net> wrote:
But if
> you go with something with a smaller ERD, beware the spoke nipples
> bottoming out,

D'oh. Yeah. I got it backwards when thinking about it and mentioning
"flush". But if they're recessed a mm or two into the nipple, it'll be
good.

They got the Weinmann at Niagra for $22. http://tinyurl.com/6j8kyz
Can't beat that. Just the name makes me wanna put on some crochet
gloves!

On May 17, 1:09 am, Chalo <chalo.col...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Gary wrote:
>
> > I have a 2004 Trek 520 whose front rim will need replacement-
> ...
> > problems: 1) Trek doesn't make Bontrager Fairlane rims any more. What's a
> > good touring rim with the same ERD as the Bontrager Fairlane (I think it's
> > 607)?
>
> According to my cursory research, it looks like the Bontrager Fairlane
> has a 604mm ERD.
>
> The Alex DM18 has a published ERD of 606mm. It's a better, stronger
> rim than the Fairlane, and it costs so little that it will make you
> wonder what's wrong with it.

Not a thing! I just shined up the wheel set I built for the doer of
all things that has the DM18s, and the shortcomings for the OP would
be that they're gonna be 100g heavier than the other rims mentioned.
100g stronger as well, so a bonus! A little wider than the rest. I run
30mm IRCs on mine which is a fine combination. If you wanted to run
narrower tires, they're not a good choice. (isn't 30mm narrow?)

On Spocalc, the Fairlane is listed as 607. Where did you see it listed as
604? If it's 604, then that greatly changes the choice of rims I can use.
Also, at Jenson, the DM18 was listed as 610. Where did you see it listed as
606?
Thanks - Gary

"Chalo" <chalo.colina@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:78438482-2837-448b-9f61-ae2c69f9edd8@27g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> Gary wrote:
>>
>> I have a 2004 Trek 520 whose front rim will need replacement-
> ...
>> problems: 1) Trek doesn't make Bontrager Fairlane rims any more. What's a
>> good touring rim with the same ERD as the Bontrager Fairlane (I think
>> it's
>> 607)?
>
> According to my cursory research, it looks like the Bontrager Fairlane
> has a 604mm ERD.
>
> The Alex DM18 has a published ERD of 606mm. It's a better, stronger
> rim than the Fairlane, and it costs so little that it will make you
> wonder what's wrong with it.
>
> But there's nothing wrong with it.
>
> http://www.alexrims.com/product_detail.asp?btn=4&cat=4&id=96
> http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/RI308A06.aspx
> (Note that every specimen I have ever seen is plain matte silver with
> single eyelets.)
>
> The Alex Adventurer (another excellent yet inexpensive rim) has an ERD
> of 603mm. Its only drawback in my opinion is that it's black with
> machined sidewalls.
>
> http://www.alexrims.com/product_detail.asp?btn=4&cat=4&id=93
> http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/RI308A07.aspx
>
>> Also, at this point, are the spokes fatigued enough that I should
>> replace them?
>
> Probably not. If no spokes have broken yet, keep them.
>
> Chalo

On May 17, 8:50 am, "Gary" <gasmi...@castcom.net> wrote:
> On Spocalc, the Fairlane is listed as 607. Where did you see it listed as
> 604? If it's 604, then that greatly changes the choice of rims I can use.
> Also, at Jenson, the DM18 was listed as 610. Where did you see it listed as
> 606?

The Alexrims.com website lists the DM18 as 606.4mm ERD.

On May 17, 1:03 pm, Hank <h...@wirtznet.net> wrote:
> On May 17, 8:50 am, "Gary" <gasmi...@castcom.net> wrote:
>
> > On Spocalc, the Fairlane is listed as 607. Where did you see it listed as
> > 604? If it's 604, then that greatly changes the choice of rims I can use.
> > Also, at Jenson, the DM18 was listed as 610. Where did you see it listed as
> > 606?
>
> The Alexrims.com website lists the DM18 as 606.4mm ERD.

The ones you get in the US have eyelets and I used them as a direct
replacement for a Rigida non-eyeletted rim with an ERD of 610mm.
Spokes ended up bang on. I'd say it's a 610, so do a couple other
sites. Alex does a couple different variations of this rims, AFAIK for
different markets, but if you're getting it in North America from QBP,
it'll be 610mm.

On May 17, 8:50 am, "Gary" <gasmi...@castcom.net> wrote:
> On Spocalc, the Fairlane is listed as 607. Where did you see it listed as
> 604? If it's 604, then that greatly changes the choice of rims I can use.
> Also, at Jenson, the DM18 was listed as 610. Where did you see it listed as
> 606?

The Alexrims.com website lists the DM18 as 606.4mm ERD.
I built a set based on this quoted ERD of 606.4 mm with good results.
"Good results" to me is when the end of the spoke is within the bounds of the slot in the nipples. The DM-18 rims I used have eyelets and there was some variation around the rim, but when completed all spokes ended up in the "good results" range without changing any spokes.

Thanks for all your help. I ordered the Alex DM18 from Jensen.

"Gary" <gasmiley@castcom.net> wrote in message
news:o8SdnUkJ99M2tbPVnZ2dnUVZ_gCdnZ2d@comcast.com...
>I have a 2004 Trek 520 whose front rim will need replacement- It's gone
>around 8k-10k miles, and the sidewalls are concave. The wheel has been
>perfect and has never had any problems going out of true or breaking
>spokes, but it's finally wearing thin. I've built wheels before. I read
>that it's easy to obtain the same rim, tape it to the old one, and then
>transfer the spokes. That way I can save money by not having to buy spokes.
>Here are the problems: 1) Trek doesn't make Bontrager Fairlane rims any
>more. What's a good touring rim with the same ERD as the Bontrager Fairlane
>(I think it's 607)? Also, at this point, are the spokes fatigued enough
>that I should replace them? (If I have to get new spokes, then I can build
>any rim I want).

On Fri, 16 May 2008 20:37:13 -0400, "Gary" <gasmiley@castcom.net>
wrote:

>I have a 2004 Trek 520 whose front rim will need replacement- It's gone
>around 8k-10k miles, and the sidewalls are concave. The wheel has been
>perfect and has never had any problems going out of true or breaking spokes,
>but it's finally wearing thin. I've built wheels before. I read that it's
>easy to obtain the same rim, tape it to the old one, and then transfer the
>spokes. That way I can save money by not having to buy spokes. Here are the
>problems: 1) Trek doesn't make Bontrager Fairlane rims any more. What's a
>good touring rim with the same ERD as the Bontrager Fairlane (I think it's
>607)? Also, at this point, are the spokes fatigued enough that I should
>replace them? (If I have to get new spokes, then I can build any rim I
>want).

I just built a new wheel for my touring bike using an Alex DM18 rim.
The Alex web site lists the ERD at 606.4mm, close enough for your
purposes. I paid $50(US) for a pair of these at my LBS. I'm pretty
impressed with these rims, especially for the price.

For details see: http://www.alexrims.com/

Click on CROSS / TREKKING, then find trhe DM18 on the second page.

The picture on the page doesn't show nipple eyelets (grommets), but my
rims have them.

Also, Jobst has posted here that he's rerimmed some of his wheels
multiple times using the same spokes. I've rerimmed several wheels
(but not multiple times) successfully.


--
jeverett3<AT>sbcglobal<DOT>net (John V. Everett)