Carbon fiber wheels are chosen by more and more cycling enthusiasts as the ideal partner for long-distance cycling and adventure travel due to their lightweight, high rigidity, and excellent aerodynamic performance. But even the top wheels are difficult to avoid damage caused by gravel impact, violent handling, or high-intensity riding during the journey.
If you suddenly find that your wheels have problems in the wilderness, during a race, or on a foreign road, how should you deal with it in an emergency? This article will provide you with some practical tips to help you deal with emergencies and complete the rest of your journey safely.
How to determine whether the wheels are damaged?
During the ride, if you find that the wheels make strange noises, brake abnormally, rotate unsmoothly, or the shape of the rim looks abnormal, it may be that there is a problem with the carbon wheels. Common damage manifestations include:
1. Fine cracks appear on the edge or near the spoke holes.
2. The rim swings left and right or jumps up and down when it rotates.
3. Vibration or "scratching" is felt when braking.
4. Parts of the rim feel soft or bulging.
5. Tire pressure suddenly drops or cannot be fully inflated.
At this time, you should stop and check immediately to avoid further damage or even cause safety accidents.
II. Common types of carbon wheel damage
The types of damage to carbon fiber wheels can be roughly divided into five categories:
1. Surface scratches: usually minor scratches, which do not affect the structural strength, and you can continue riding with confidence.
2. Small cracks: more common in spoke holes or rim edges, you need to carefully observe whether they expand and try to reduce the load.
3. Wheel rim deflection: The wheel set is slightly deformed after being hit, which may affect braking or control and requires simple adjustments.
4. Carbon layer degumming or bulging: It may be caused by heat or uneven force causing the carbon fiber layer to loosen, which is risky and is not recommended to continue riding.
5. Obvious cracks or broken edges: This type of serious damage almost means that the wheel set is scrapped and should be stopped immediately.
III. Practical emergency repair tips during travel
If you cannot replace the wheel set or go to a repair station immediately, you can use the following emergency methods:
1. Use fiber tape or strong cloth glue to wrap the cracked area, which can fix the damaged area in a short time to prevent further expansion, especially for minor cracks or carbon layer bulges.
2. Use cable ties or titanium wire to fix loose spokes, especially when the spoke holes are cracked or the spokes are broken, which can temporarily stabilize the rim tension and prevent the wheel set from being completely unbalanced.
3. Make a rough manual correction to the rim runout. By simply adjusting the tension of a few spokes or manually "straightening" the rim, you can improve riding stability and maintain a controllable state.
4. Adjust the position of the brake caliper. If the rim brake system brakes and jumps due to rim deviation, you can try to move the caliper or reduce the braking force to avoid the deformed area.
5. Tire pressure control is critical. Damaged carbon rims cannot withstand high pressure. It is recommended to adjust the tire pressure moderately to reduce stress and try to choose a smoother route.
Please note: The above repair methods are only emergency measures and do not have structural recovery functions. They are only used to help you reach the maintenance point or complete the day's itinerary.
IV. What tools should you prepare before departure?
If your cycling route includes remote mountainous areas, long-distance crossings, or unsupported stages, it is recommended to carry some emergency equipment with you:
1. High-quality fiber tape or strong cloth glue for emergency bandaging of cracks.
2. Several cable ties to fix spokes or frame accessories.
3. Multi-functional wheel tools, such as spoke wrenches, hexagonal tools, etc.
4. Bring 1-2 spare spokes (especially the rear wheel), which can save lives at critical moments.
5. Optional epoxy glue repair materials can be carried for preliminary closure of structural cracks.
6. Small air pump and tire pressure gauge to ensure that tire pressure is maintained within a safe range.
V. After the repair, don't forget these things
Any emergency repair is only a temporary solution. Once you arrive at a city, campsite, or service station with conditions, be sure to do the following checks:
Find a professional technician to check the carbon rim structure, including crack expansion, tension balance, etc.
Check all spoke tension, whether the rim is eccentric, and whether the wheel set still maintains a straight axis.
For severely damaged rims, they should be replaced directly to avoid uncontrollable failures on the road again.
VI. Conclusion: Be well prepared so that you will not be defeated by the journey
These are rare cases. The advantages of carbon fiber wheels are unquestionable. Aluminum alloy wheels may be stronger, but the above problems may also occur. Once a problem occurs, whether you can continue the journey depends largely on your ability to respond and your preparation in advance.
Before your next long-distance trip, don't forget to do a comprehensive inspection of the wheels and bring an emergency tool kit. You may never need it, but once you need it, it may be the key to whether you can continue to move forward.