Cracks in Mavic rims.

[hamster]

Personally I'd swap them out - are there any other components on the bike that you'd tolerate cracks? Of course they will grow, that's how they got started in the first place. 317's are the same size, so tape the 317 to the rim and transfer the spokes. An easy introduction to wheel building!

 

[Maxipedia]

I don't know id and how this is relevant but please follow me for a few lines.

About ten years ago I lived with a friend who happened to also be a trials rider. He had a D521 on the back of his hopping bike. The rim had 7 cracks, a few on the serious side, and he got them all welded. Put the wheel back together, trued it, rode it like hell, no further cracks. Of course, some might argue that it was a stupid thing to do, but back then money was scarce so that was the only option handy. To me this says all about Mavic quality.

The X517 is from the same Maxtal alloy as the D521. I've also had and still have a lot of D521s and EX721s (same thing) and all of them are being used. Actually, my spare (mud) front wheel on my main DH bike is with a D521 with a few cracks and I don't have a problem with it.

My two pennies,
Mx

 

[thecannibal]

It isn't really dangerous. I expect it's just about possible to get a wheel somewhere near true with 31 spokes, which is effectively what you've got if the cracks have caused a bulge. Once the bulge is sufficient for the spoke to have minimal tension, you could just take it out and it would make no difference. 31 spokes isn't really a sensible proposition for the long term though.

How on earth can you tell someone that a rim with several cracks in 'isn't really dangerous'? Actually, cracked rims are incredibly dangerous. The reality is that it might not suffer catastrophic failure for years, or it might explode tomorrow and get the rider killed.

If someone followed your advice that their cracked rim 'isn't really dangerous', and did get killed, I say you'd have a healthy share of responsibility.

 

[thecannibal]

Until my freehub died, i rode a pair ox X517s about one year. Already got them cracked, never took care about them, rode them through all terrain and the cranks did not get larger... so, in my oppinion no problem

About ten years ago I lived with a friend who happened to also be a trials rider. He had a D521 on the back of his hopping bike. The rim had 7 cracks, a few on the serious side, and he got them all welded. Put the wheel back together, trued it, rode it like hell, no further cracks. Of course, some might argue that it was a stupid thing to do, but back then money was scarce so that was the only option handy. To me this says all about Mavic quality.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument_from_ignorance

 

[Maxipedia]

Wow, you must be really smart!

But now really, have you read the part where I say that the man was on a budget and he couldn't afford a fresh rim? Back then you couldn't basically find anything decent over here and a strong rim was a rarity.

I still like to believe that people should make their own choices and take responsibility for them. And alarmists should calm down with their overinflated concerns.

Stay smart!
Mx

 

[thecannibal]

Wow, you must be really smart!

But now really, have you read the part where I say that the man was on a budget and he couldn't afford a fresh rim? Back then you couldn't basically find anything decent over here and a strong rim was a rarity.

I still like to believe that people should make their own choices and take responsibility for them. And alarmists should calm down with their overinflated concerns.

Stay smart!
Mx

I did read what you wrote, it's just that those kind of anecdotes are bandied about a lot here as if they have some value, but they really don't. They're based on a logical fallacy.

Do you want to see my rock that keeps away tigers? It's worked for years!!!

 

[Maxipedia]

I'd say that kind of "anecdotes" are sometimes exactly what certain people are after, because the obvious common-sense version of this is "change it, don't ride it!". I guess there wouldn't be any topic at all if it was down to that and I think what he really wants to know what other people's experiences with cracked rims are. So this is why, in my point of view, those "anecdotes" are valuable: because they bring some down-to-earthness to an issue that otherwise relies only on manufacturer suggestions.

Is it really so bad to find out that Mavics are actually built from a quality alloy that can live with cracks to some point? I thought we should share thoughts that help fellow Retrobike users... Maybe it's helpful to someone who cracked a rim and just wants to get home or to someone who has a cracked rim on a bike that is ridden lightly and has to wait one more week for a new one. So I think in this case it is obvious what the first response should be (don't ride it!) and that the one who chooses to ignore it is on his own responsibility.

As for other anecdotes (and certainly not myths), I could go on and tell you how the same guy rode a longitudinally cracked DeeMax to two National Downhill Championships, but you'll just say that my reminiscing is dangerous to other people who might jump the cracked rim bandwagon. Ooops!

And if isn't clear, I'll just say it openly: those who live in parts of the world where a good bikeshop is around the corner are lucky but sometimes take things for granted. I couldn't be more grateful for being now able to go to one and just buy what I need. 12 years ago, getting a good fork or frame was a mission and obtaining quality parts was a quest. 1994 Alivio was smuggled beneath the counters in 1998 and I know people who were backpacking for 3 days to Hungary only to get some cranks and brakes! Parts that were broken or considered not worthy by others helped us out a lot. I can vividly recall how friends of mine dug in the dumpsters at Maribor to get their M950 XTR or how all broken SID uppers from the 1998 Budapest World Cup were recycled into lightish aluminum "upgrade" steerers and god knows what else... Of course, the World Cup used to be more generous with trash cans back in the day. Today it's mostly stuff that can't be used anymore, but in the meantime we don't need it.

I salute you!
Mx

 

[thecannibal]

I'd say that kind of "anecdotes" are sometimes exactly what certain people are after, because the obvious common-sense version of this is "change it, don't ride it!". I guess there wouldn't be any topic at all if it was down to that and I think what he really wants to know what other people's experiences with cracked rims are. So this is why, in my point of view, those "anecdotes" are valuable: because they bring some down-to-earthness to an issue that otherwise relies only on manufacturer suggestions.

Is it really so bad to find out that Mavics are actually built from a quality alloy that can live with cracks to some point? I thought we should share thoughts that help fellow Retrobike users... Maybe it's helpful to someone who cracked a rim and just wants to get home or to someone who has a cracked rim on a bike that is ridden lightly and has to wait one more week for a new one. So I think in this case it is obvious what the first response should be (don't ride it!) and that the one who chooses to ignore it is on his own responsibility.

As for other anecdotes (and certainly not myths), I could go on and tell you how the same guy rode a longitudinally cracked DeeMax to two National Downhill Championships, but you'll just say that my reminiscing is dangerous to other people who might jump the cracked rim bandwagon. Ooops!

And if isn't clear, I'll just say it openly: those who live in parts of the world where a good bikeshop is around the corner are lucky but sometimes take things for granted. I couldn't be more grateful for being now able to go to one and just buy what I need. 12 years ago, getting a good fork or frame was a mission and obtaining quality parts was a quest. 1994 Alivio was smuggled beneath the counters in 1998 and I know people who were backpacking for 3 days to Hungary only to get some cranks and brakes! Parts that were broken or considered not worthy by others helped us out a lot. I can vividly recall how friends of mine dug in the dumpsters at Maribor to get their M950 XTR or how all broken SID uppers from the 1998 Budapest World Cup were recycled into lightish aluminum "upgrade" steerers and god knows what else... Of course, the World Cup used to be more generous with trash cans back in the day. Today it's mostly stuff that can't be used anymore, but in the meantime we don't need it.

I salute you!
Mx

I see where you're coming from dude, and perhaps it was unfair of me to lump in your anecdote with the others, because you didn't actually say 'yeah, it's basically fine'. Obviously people have to make their own choices, but they might come on here thinking they're getting expert advice, when often they're not. Anthony's advice was especially shocking, as he is considered somewhat of an expert on here.

Here's what it boils down to:
Cracked rims are dangerous - replace them.
If you can't replace them - don't ride them.
If you have to ride them - don't be surprised if they break unexpectedly, which genuinely could result in serious injury or death. Imagine cycling along at a fair clip and then your front wheel suddenly ceases to exist. Yeah, not gonna be pretty, is it?

 

[Maxipedia]

Of course riding something that is prone to fail at any point is stupid, but in my mind it is also very obvious that it is and I expect that same thought from fellow retrobikers whom I consider more knowledgeable than the rest.

Peace out,
Mx

 

[Rampage]

Of course riding something that is prone to fail at any point is stupid, but in my mind it is also very obvious that it is and I expect that same thought from fellow retrobikers whom I consider more knowledgeable than the rest.

Peace out,
Mx

I think that applies to all old bike parts. It will fail, you just don't know when.
Except Activator 2 frames of course, they will last forever.