Many riders are wondering when the road bicycle wheel needs to be changed, or just repair it?

The load brings deformation, and the deformation increases fatigue.

According to the perimeter of a standard 700C road wheelset, each one-kilometer wheel set rotates about 500 turns. During the rotation, the wheel is continuously compressed and deformed under the action of the rider's weight. This radial direction (vertical direction) load will cause long-term damage to the wheel and cause material fatigue. The lateral load (left and right direction) also causes the wheel to wear, and the force of the pedaling of each foot will transfer from each other to the sides of the bicycle. When the bicycle is slammed violently (such as when sprinting or climbing), the lateral load is at a maximum. The transmission system components on the rear wheels also add extra load, so the entire load bearing of the lateral load - the spokes, is subjected to frequent loading-unloading-loading-unloading processes, which exacerbates material fatigue.

The brakes are not only reduce the speed but also the brake track.

However, while the spokes are fatigued and damaged, there is another part that is worthy of attention. It is the brake track. Nowadays, the road disc brake are in the ascendant. The traditional clamps still occupy most of the market. Under long-term use, the brake pads are constantly worn. The rim brake pads slowly erodes brake track.

If you see a dent in the brake track, this already represents a considerable amount of wear. These phenomena will appear for the first time after a certain amount of time the wheel has been used, and ride for one year or more depending on the ride strength of each person.

For riders who use conventional clamps, it is very important to check the brake track on the rim. When you feel your fingers on the brake track, you can feel the so-called concave surface. The thickness of the brakes on the wheels is usually about 2 mm. If it exceeds a certain level, it will lead to the failure of the part of the wheel set and the tire casing. Therefore, in many cases, the aluminum alloy rim will have a black dot on the brake side to indicate the degree of wear. When the brake edge wears to the black point, it means that the wheel set should be replaced, but the carbon fiber rim does not have such design, so you should pay attention to this accordingly.

Don't forget the bearings on the wheels.

The hub and the bearing are also subject to wear and tear, the biggest threat being the accumulation of dirt and debris, as well as the intrusion of water. The dirt and debris will wear balls or bearing, while the water will rust them. Regular maintenance of the hub can extend the life of the bearing, but if there is a problem, it is safer to replace the new bearing.

If there is a small lateral deformation of the wheel, the wheel can be re-tensioned by tightening the spokes, but this will break the original equilibrium tension, apply additional pressure to the individual spokes, and may sacrifice the overall balance. In contrast, radial deformation cannot be repaired by strained spokes.

Repairing or replacing the wheel depends on whether the relevant repair parts are available. The maintenance of the wheel set is not only costly but also cumbersome. If the wheel set is not “scarred”, it can be repaired by replacing the bearing and changing the spokes. But once the main body is involved, such as the crack of the hub, excessive wear of the rim brake track, you should better to replace a new wheelset.