Sourcing rims

Joined
Dec 6, 2019
Messages
37
Now I know the AZ plans call for most of not all parts be reused from " junkers". BUT, my concern is the rims. What exactly am I looking for in a rim? Double wall? 1.75? Fat tire?
I want to tour and see the USA. From a slower pace. So I don't want to be tacoing a rim in the middle Bum**** Egypt.
 
Joined
May 31, 2013
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South Benfleet, Essex, England, UK
Speaking from bitter experience....
  • Accidents can and will happen.
  • Even the best and most expensive "double-walled" rims can get Taco'd (I've done it twice to Sunringle CR18's and they are pretty strong rims).
  • Even a moderately bad taco can be straightened out to be serviceable if you carry your wheelbuilding tools with you and a spare spoke or two.
  • Always have a puncture kit, one spare tube & tyre for each size of wheel.
Always made it home again, with the help of fantastic friends and tour-buddies.
 
Joined
Feb 5, 2008
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Fernley, NV
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It's all about budget. If you can spend money on double walled rims made to be bomb-proof, then you can. And they cost about $100 each:


If you're on a budget like I am, then you use junkyard parts, but go "fat tire" to take some of the shock load off the wheels themselves. But, if I were going do touring, I'd spend the $$. You're far less likely to have issues. But as DannyC said, there can still be failures. But I had those rims listed above on a fixed gear upright commuter bike. At 330lbs, I was doing about 25mph and hit a deep pot hole and the full force of the edge of that pothole went into the rear rim, with only a 1.75" tire. It was still perfectly true afterward. THAT's the wheel I want for the long term.
 
Joined
Oct 19, 2012
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Wakefield, UK
Much will depend on the bike or trike you build. If you build a two wheeler the wheels will not be stressed any more than any other bike. If you build a three wheeler then they start to take side stresses which they don't get on bikes. Again much will depend on the surface - good roads or potholes or off-road.
 
Joined
Dec 6, 2019
Messages
37
Interesting, Popshot. But I would think that 20 to 25 mph in a straight line isn't going to stress the rims TOO much. Unless I was running on gravel or a crummy shoulder. Then it's 10 or less. ( Still a little crazy but not crazy stupid 😁 ). A Harley rider who I am friends with once told me " When you're driving you're watching a movie. When you ride you are part of the movie. And, yes he thinks the Schwonda I built is " Freaking cool ". Gots 2 wheels and an engine. 😁
 
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The stress comes not from going straight, but from turning. When a bike leans into a turn, the wheel still experiences all forces in its centerline. When the same wheel is used in a trike, it experiences lateral forces in a turn that it would never experience on a bicycle. I am wary of this on my own build, and am already thinking about ways to rebuild using AZ style hubs and shafts. And disk brakes.
 
Joined
Dec 6, 2019
Messages
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The stress comes not from going straight, but from turning. When a bike leans into a turn, the wheel still experiences all forces in its centerline. When the same wheel is used in a trike, it experiences lateral forces in a turn that it would never experience on a bicycle. I am wary of this on my own build, and am already thinking about ways to rebuild using AZ style hubs and shafts. And disk brakes.
That I understand. This is still in planning and I'm trying to figure out all the problems before hand. And I know I won't think of or be able to address them all.
 
Joined
May 31, 2013
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South Benfleet, Essex, England, UK
To put things in a proper context (as I see it/have experienced it).
Yes, the vertical non-tilting front wheels on a tadpole undergo additional stress when cornering.
No, I have never ever had one "taco" or fold over while cornering, even though I have been up on 2 wheels.
I have had a front wheel "taco" when the tie-bar between the 2 front wheels came undone and the RH wheel went sideways on me at speed. My fault, the Nyloc had not been done up. I managed (with help) to straighten the wheel sufficiently to get me back home from abroad.
I have struck a bollard at speed and that has bent the rim.
Both occasion's were exceptional and not part of normal riding behaviours, so I think that under normal treatment/conditions, the risk is minimal.
 
Joined
Dec 6, 2019
Messages
37
To put things in a proper context (as I see it/have experienced it).
Yes, the vertical non-tilting front wheels on a tadpole undergo additional stress when cornering.
No, I have never ever had one "taco" or fold over while cornering, even though I have been up on 2 wheels.
I have had a front wheel "taco" when the tie-bar between the 2 front wheels came undone and the RH wheel went sideways on me at speed. My fault, the Nyloc had not been done up. I managed (with help) to straighten the wheel sufficiently to get me back home from abroad.
I have struck a bollard at speed and that has bent the rim.
Both occasion's were exceptional and not part of normal riding behaviours, so I think that under normal treatment/conditions, the risk is minimal.
I'm building a Delta so keeping an extra wheel set on for the front tire is NP. I also came across a post for building 6 discs welding 2 to the axles and bolting the wheels on those. Makes changing the whole unit out a lot easier I would think.

And between you and me. I don't have the skillset for a tadpole.😁

Thank you for presenting your unfortunate scenarios and glad you didn't wipe out or get seriously hurt.
 
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