One day last week I decided to vary my route from work and ended up cycling into a hole in a cycle lane created by resurfacing the road around a grid. The road was busy and the dip was just after a bend so I was unsighted. The result was a busted rear wheel rim and punctured inner tube. As CyclePoint in Brighton are on holiday (I thought Wakes Weeks only happened in the north?) I took the wheel to London Fields Cycles in Hackney near my work; an established local bike shop that has recently relocated to posh shop in the centre of Hackney. I have read on the forum of the reluctance of some bike shops to touch an electric bike but, whilst they do not sell electric bikes, their enthusiasm to deal with my problem was apparent.
My first observation is a point that I have never seen on the forum. Mark at the shop explained to me that, as my wheel had a disc brake, there was no need for the braking surface to be on the rim. I suppose that the reason my rim has a braking surface is that disc brake addition was an upgrade from an earlier model. Apparently rims can be made stronger if a braking surface does not have to be included. As the brake disc is on one side the wheel spokes should be arranged in an asymmetrical pattern because of the uneven pressures placed on the wheel when braking.
I had already explained to Mark that I was 16 stone (at last I have lost some weight!) and I often have 30lbs of batteries and a rucksack on top of a frame which is longer and heavier than a normal bike, so he is using stronger spokes.
My second observation is that Mark checked the wheel and reported back that two years worth of regular use has led to the need for a new hub and a new smallest gear (sprocket?) on the cassette. He promised to see if he could find a replacement in his odds and sods box as non electric bike users wear out the middle sprockets (gears?) whereas I had, with battery assistance, spent more time using the smallest sprocket (highest gear).
My last comment is about the cost of a wheel. My replacement will be over £100 but a “normal” wheel would have been cheaper. I have asked for, and am happy to pay for a “stronger wheel” but would other members have made the same decision?
I have no complaints about the wear, as I have had two years of use and
only needed a replacement chain last October when Rhys at Cycle Point serviced my bike.
PS. I will contact the London Borough of Waltham Forest tomorrow to tell their claims section that they are paying for my new wheel!
Conal
My first observation is a point that I have never seen on the forum. Mark at the shop explained to me that, as my wheel had a disc brake, there was no need for the braking surface to be on the rim. I suppose that the reason my rim has a braking surface is that disc brake addition was an upgrade from an earlier model. Apparently rims can be made stronger if a braking surface does not have to be included. As the brake disc is on one side the wheel spokes should be arranged in an asymmetrical pattern because of the uneven pressures placed on the wheel when braking.
I had already explained to Mark that I was 16 stone (at last I have lost some weight!) and I often have 30lbs of batteries and a rucksack on top of a frame which is longer and heavier than a normal bike, so he is using stronger spokes.
My second observation is that Mark checked the wheel and reported back that two years worth of regular use has led to the need for a new hub and a new smallest gear (sprocket?) on the cassette. He promised to see if he could find a replacement in his odds and sods box as non electric bike users wear out the middle sprockets (gears?) whereas I had, with battery assistance, spent more time using the smallest sprocket (highest gear).
My last comment is about the cost of a wheel. My replacement will be over £100 but a “normal” wheel would have been cheaper. I have asked for, and am happy to pay for a “stronger wheel” but would other members have made the same decision?
I have no complaints about the wear, as I have had two years of use and
only needed a replacement chain last October when Rhys at Cycle Point serviced my bike.
PS. I will contact the London Borough of Waltham Forest tomorrow to tell their claims section that they are paying for my new wheel!
Conal
Last edited:
hn
