Hmm? Is this from a shop tool...

[Miranda]

My roadie girl was away for her first overnight last night at the lbs to get new tires. OK... I'm *pretty sure* these marks were not on my rims pre-drop off. They are not like "OMG :eek: HUGE", but enough I spotted them once home. This pic kinda shows it. There is an identical mark on the other rim. I had read that in putting on new tires, some folks have done rim damage with certain stronger tools than your average plastic tire lever. Just curious. Thx for any ops.

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg230/rotarydial/IMG_2315.jpg

[lunacycles]

This appears to me to be your rim seam. If it is opposite your valve hole, you can be sure of it. Nothing to worry about. It is where the rim is joined, and often the manufacturer hides it underneath a decal.

Margo

[Miranda]

I sent this pic, and a couple others, to one of my guy bike pals. He said it looks like the start of failure of the rim where the seam is. My bike is a Giant OCR1 wsd. I think I had read on here before from other owners that the wheel set was a negative about the bike. It reads "Xero lite" on the side. I pulled out my owner's manual, and it's one year on parts, but life ownership on the frame. Been well past warranty. Crud. Anyone else, just chime in please. Thx.

[kermit]

My 260 lb. husband has those wheels on his tri bike. Never a problem. It does look like the seam. Just keep an eye on them for separation or bending. Did you baby otherwise like her spaday? How are the new tires?

[Miranda]

My 260 lb. husband has those wheels on his tri bike. Never a problem. It does look like the seam. Just keep an eye on them for separation or bending. Did you baby otherwise like her spaday? How are the new tires?

Thx Kermit for responding. That is really helpful to know about your DH and the wheels. I'm in the 120s on weight, and a recreational rider. I can't imagine that they shouldn't hold up. A thread popped up in google from BikeForums that a few years ago the company had some bad eggs get through the qc line. I went to Xeros web site. I was going to email, but I think I will try calling first instead. Even over the time limit, maybe they can suggest something.

Gheez, my Giro pneumo helmet had a problem today, and they are sending me free stuff. Maybe the rims might pan out.

Yes... I think my girl did like her day at the spa:D. I think I like the tires. Omg, I posted a pic in the tire thread of some wicked glass I ran over today. I don't think she would mind another trip to spa-land, but I would have to go into withdrawl again lol.:p

[Miranda]

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=322645

I hope this link will work, but it's from BikeForums and it talks about recall.

When I looked at my old specs, the specs reads: Xero XSR-3. It says Lite on the side. Mine was part of the 2007 group. Maybe there's hope. Though new would be nice. But, it shouldn't be outta defect.

One comment was about trueing being more difficult for the two paired spokes. I wonder if something could have happened to the rims during tire installation? Hmm...

[kermit]

Is the bike riding okay? Does it feel like theres a bump or spot anywhere? I can tell you that my brothers Giant is the best, and most of theses big companies fix their problems fast. There is always the option of new wheels, if you want to. Ride the crap out of them, they will be fine.

[Triskeliongirl]

I would trust Margo's eye. She is the owner of Luna Cycles. All my rims have this kind of a seam, I too remember worrying about it the first time I noticed it until it was explained to me.

[lunacycles]

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=322645 One comment was about trueing being more difficult for the two paired spokes. I wonder if something could have happened to the rims during tire installation? Hmm...

Every shop I know uses nothing other than a plastic tire lever to install tires, and most shops have mechanics who have developed bionic thumbs from years of installing customers' tires (including yours truly)... who generally use no tools at all.

It is true that when building wheels there is often some funkiness when tensioning and truing the spokes on either side of the rim seam, but it is part and parcel of building and working on wheels that have rims manufactured in this manner.

If you are still concerned, you might want to take it back to the shop and talk with them about it.

[Miranda]

Thx ladies for your responses:).

I called someone at Giant and took my bike to a lbs that's a dealer. It's a 50/50 coin toss if they would give me a new wheel set since it's over 1yr. The lbs guy said we would have to send it in for them to look at, and it would be at least two weeks without my bike:(. Man, I really need a back up to ride in these situations *sigh*.

That bums me out as our weather is quicking changing here in the midwest with the first snow not far off. The mechanic said it's more likely the guy will remember me sooner, than later, on sending it in for inspection.

I'm still thinking about what to do.

Oh, btw... yes, it is the seam. No, it is not omg bad. But, you can feel a raised sharp edge from the seam where there's a small split/seperation. Not just that the seam itself is showing. If that edge gets worse, I worry about it putting a hole in the tube.

I personally just don't think the seam should be coming apart from itself at all. But, I'm not the bike gawds to be either.

I guess as a person spending the money, if early seperation is their normal brand performance, before the rim has lived it's full life expectance (the mechanic showed me how they tell when it's wore out by a hole on the side of the rim, then they normally won't replace--mine is not that way), I would consider a different brand. And/or a different brand of bike if this is the brand that comes stock, and I would have upgrade expense of wheels in the package.

[Miranda]

Well, the lbs mechanic helped me, and the Giant rep was sympathetic... they are going to take care of my issue. I *think* they ordered a new wheel set, but I'm not totally sure... maybe just rims. Whatever addresses the seam issue. Didn't get the full details. The mechanic told me that the rep ordered the parts, and they would be on their way to the lbs in a few days if all goes as planned. I will be responsible for the labor as I expected from the phone call. Hopefully that will take care of my girl. Ugh, these sort of things stress me until "the fat lady sings":rolleyes:.

[Triskeliongirl]

Be advised that a new wheel build could be very expensive. I am a little confused. Either the rim is defective or its not. If its defective the manufacturer should cover parts and labor, and if its just a normal seam you don't need to do anything.

Also, why are you bringing your bike to a shop to have tires swapped? You should know how to fix a flat, and swapping out tires is no different. Working on a bike is really easy, and often takes no more time than bringing it back and forth to a shop. The more you learn to do yourself, the more self-sufficient you'll be if you get a mechanical on the road.

Also, so you aren't without your bike, most good shops will give you a loaner wheel while they are rebuidling yours (at least around here).

EDIT: Note, I just saw your post about a mechanics classes. Good for you! You may want to just start with a simple book first. I like the park tools blue book. Its not rocket science, you just have to look at stuff and its pretty logical how it works, but then the books tells you all those little details that aren't obvious, like about lubricating screws, etc. Bike clubs and shops both often run simple maintenance classes, how to fix a flat, stuff like that.

[Miranda]

Be advised that a new wheel build could be very expensive. I am a little confused. Either the rim is defective or its not. If its defective the manufacturer should cover parts and labor, and if its just a normal seam you don't need to do anything.

Also, why are you bringing your bike to a shop to have tires swapped? You should know how to fix a flat, and swapping out tires is no different. Working on a bike is really easy, and often takes no more time than bringing it back and forth to a shop. The more you learn to do yourself, the more self-sufficient you'll be if you get a mechanical on the road.

Also, so you aren't without your bike, most good shops will give you a loaner wheel while they are rebuidling yours (at least around here).

EDIT: Note, I just saw your post about a mechanics classes. Good for you! You may want to just start with a simple book first. I like the park tools blue book. Its not rocket science, you just have to look at stuff and its pretty logical how it works, but then the books tells you all those little details that aren't obvious, like about lubricating screws, etc. Bike clubs and shops both often run simple maintenance classes, how to fix a flat, stuff like that.


EDIT ADD....

My wheels are in, and I'm going to put them on with the mechanic on my shop trip. He offered up the DIY instruction if I was interested. I responded, "You betcha" ;):).