How to buy new rims?

Hi there,

This is one of those equipment inquiries that could be filed under the "Dumb Bike Questions" category; so I am turning to a gentle women's forum. Thanks in advance.

I have an old steel road bike that fits my needs just fine. The only problem with this bike is that the wheels/rim are such that it is *impossible* to get the damn tires on and off. So every flat tire becomes an experience from h***. Now, I know it is not just me; I have been able to switch out tires/tubes on *other* bikes just fine. And on the occasions when I just give up and bring my old bike into a shop to have them change the tube, usually the mechanics complain or seem surprised at how hard, indeed, it is to change my tubes.

I can't afford a new bike right now.

So I would like to just switch to new wheels. A few questions...

1. Does that mean I just need to buy new "rims"?

2. How do I know the new rims will work with my bike? Will just any 700-size rims work?

3. Any recommendations for a model of rims that is easy to takes tires on and off, and that is neither too entry-level nor too expensive. I don't need super-aero or super-light; that seems like a waste of money on such a heavy bike frame. I would like rims that are durable and don't get out of true too easily. What other criteria should I be looking for?

4. Places to find rims on sale (Performance Bike, Sierra Trading Post, Ebay, etc.)

5. Okay, this is where I feel especially dumb...If I get the rims...Can I install them myself? Do rims comes with spokes or do the spokes get attached? (That is a job I'd take to a shop...) And the rear cassette needs to be attached? Are there any issues getting rims that would work with the rear cassette I already have?

I could just take this entire set of questions to a shop; and generally I like to support my local LBS...However, I am *very* low on funds right now. Honestly, if I could learn how to shop for rims, I'd rather find them on sale for half-off somewhere, buy them myself, and then bring them into the LBS and pay them for the labor part.

Thanks for your patience :)

Mariposa

You've asked alot of questions that don't have simple answers. But first a question for you: Have you tried different tires on these rims? Are the rims tight with many different tires? Could there be a tire that's easier to change on these rims? What brand and model rims do you have? Some Campy rims are known to be a very tight fit with tires. How old of an "old steel bike" do you have? Changing rims because of tire fit is not something that's often done.

Switching wheels is easy. Anything with 700c rims and the correct hub over-lock-nut dimension should work, but if this bike has less than an 8-speed cassette, it may need a freewheel hub rather than a freehub. There are a number of potential variables you should have an LBS check for you. The shop I work at sells some low end replacement wheels for $45-$60 that are fine on hybrids and 80s-era steel bikes.

Rim are without spokes and hubs, and switching rims on a wheelset is non-trivial (to put it very very mildly). If you want to spend some hours studying wheelbuilding procedures and invest in a truing stand and dishing tool, and you're mechanically inclined and bold and brave, it's conceivable that you could do this yourself. But note that a poorly build wheel could be dangerous. A shop could rebuild the wheels for you with new rims on your old hubs, but most shops would rather sell you new wheels, and the new wheels would likely cost less.

Thanks for the reply.

I should have gone to my LBS in the first place to ask the question! - which is what I did today. They told me my rims were *very high quality* ones ("they don't make them like that anymore") and told me not to replace them lightly. And they did point out that I have a 7-speed, so adjustments would have to be made because most rims available now are for 9-speeds. Finally, they found a big hole in my Continental tire and recommended replacing it with a non-Continental tire, that is a bit stretchier and easier to put onto my rim.

Lots of good info. thanks.