Crack in wheel -

[corrine]

I decided to ride my new bike to work today (she only has 145 miles on her)and was doing great until about 1/4 mile before I get there. I had to ride over a gravelly, filled in ditch that crosses the road (construction work). It was filled up, just bumpy - but I did slow down to about 10 MPH. As soon as I crossed it (about 3 feet wide) I heard a singing sound. I pulled over, tried to see if there was anything stuck on the brake pads, spun the front tire - nothing, so I got back on and rode a few feet - only to keep hearing the singing sound. I got off and looked closer and found a hairline crack - very clean and straight on the wheel (all the way around from one side of the tire to the other). I called the bike shop that sold me the bike and they said they would get me on another wheel right away and would have to call Burley (Purple People Eater is a Burley McKenzie) to get me another Eaton Vista wheel. The crack is so straight, my DH thinks it is a weak weld. Needless to say - I had to walk the rest of the way to work and have a co-worker take me back to my vehicle (I park about 7.5 miles away, since I live over 30 miles from work and I am supposed to be here at 07:00). Anyone else ever have this happen?

[Geonz]

Not I! Oy! It does sound like a defect... so it's good you made it fail and really good that you found it!

[DebW]

The weld is always opposite the valve hole. Is that where the crack is? That's got to be a manufacturing defect if it would break with so little use and only moderate stress. Good for you for catching the problem right away before the wheel collapsed on you.

[fatbottomedgurl]

Glad you caught it! I remember riding my old junkyard bike when I was 17 and the stem cracked off. I literally watched the crack grow and off came the handlebars in my hands! Needless to say I crashed.