just biking for exercise and need new rims?

8 responses so far ↓

• 1 mirageguitarworks // Apr 21, 2008

  If you are using the bike only for exercise my bet is that they can be straightened… it is surprising what a good mechanic can do in just a couple of minutes.

  Now, if they are dented or smashed the story might be different but if you explain that the bike is for exercise only there is a ray of hope for the wheels.

  There are no "pretty cheap" wheels to speak of unless you just go out to Walmart and buy a whole bike for $60 or $70. That might be an option as long as you stay on the road. Note the tire size stamped on the tire (something like 26 x 2.1 as an example) and the number of gears on the back wheel. Match them up and there is an good certainty that they'll fit your bike.

• 2 sfr1224 // Apr 21, 2008

  Unfortunately, wheels are one of the more expensive pieces of a bike. I'd really recommend you take your bike to a shop and have them see if they can be retrued. Unless the rims have been damaged, they can probably be fixed. Unfixable problems include a spoke is pulling through the rim, a big divot or warpage from an impact, a crack, worn out brake surfaces, etc.

  The cheapest way to get new wheels is to buy a used bike with a decent set of wheels.

  If you want new wheels, your bike shop will probably have some decent replacement wheels in the $150-$200 (each) range. Otherwise, you may want to buy some wheels from a reputable mail order place like Performance, Excel Sports, Jenson, Price Point, etc.

  Hope this helps.

• 3 al canrell // Apr 21, 2008

  100 dollars will get you plenty good rims for regular use. Get them at performancebike.com. As this is uaually the cheapest place.

• 4 Han // Apr 21, 2008

  Souldn't cost more than about $60-75 for a front and rear single wall run-of the-mill wheel set. There are lots of websites out there that deal in bike parts. I'll bet, however, that you could get a fair deal from your local bike shop. If the bike needs other work in order to make it rideable you might consider a tune up too. In either case it sounds like the bike may have been abused prior to putting it away. You might want to have it looked at by someone who knows.

• 5 Kipper // Apr 21, 2008

  I purchased a pair of Shimano 700c wheels for a 9 speed cassette on EBay for my old Winter bike for about £45. It will cost you more than that if you decide to fit new rims and the only part that you will be able to use is the hubs if they are any good. I would say look for a complete set of wheels.

• 6 Overtaxed // Apr 21, 2008

  take it to a bike shop and tell them exactly what you told us. before you buy new rims and spokes and pay them to build the wheels, ask yourself if that money would be better spent on a new bike. for exercise you can get a pretty decent one for $500. what's that about 5 months's gym membership–do it! (and buy a helmet)

• 7 hummerhead2002 // Apr 21, 2008

  There are bargain rims at Blue Sky Cycling (www.blueskycycling.com). Price Point (www.pricepoint.com) if you have a mountain bike. For any road bike, check out Wheel World (www.wheelworld.com) or Jenson USA (www.jensonusa.com).

• 8 Erik S // Apr 21, 2008

  First of all, it really depends on what type of bike you have. If you bought it at a store such as Wal-Mart, don't even bother with new rims, getting a new bike is the best idea. If you got it at a bike shop and its of higher quality, then you can think about rims. If this is the case, take your bike down to the local shop and basically tell them, I need new rims, but nothing fancy, and they'll take care of you. Don't buy anything online, since you say you don't really know where to start, it isn't the best idea

  Hope this helps!

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