tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231841547435511043.post401958281191031896..comments2023-06-13T01:05:30.996-07:00Comments on The Electricle™ : Bicycle Electric-Motor-Assist Project: Phoenix Sinkhole Roads, Bent Rim, 26" Test ResultsM.E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15375034485988839284noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231841547435511043.post-9715679099365054522009-09-08T23:17:23.934-07:002009-09-08T23:17:23.934-07:00I guess they must be a different plastic than the ...I guess they must be a different plastic than the ones I've seen on various bikes at the thrift store, mostly kids' bikes. Those tend to already be cracked, or have that rough-looking surface that indicates surface degradation of unknown depth (usually from long exposure to sun). <br /><br />I'd love to see some like yours, around here, but so far the used ones aren't much, if any, good. <br /><br />One thing I really do like about spoked rims is that if something bends it I have a half a chance of bending it back to a rideable condtion on the road with little more than a hand-sized rock and a pair of small pliers (which I always have with me) or a spoke wrench (which I don't have). <br /><br />With any solid-spoke wheel, metal or plastic, it'd probably be impossible for me to fix if I did somehow break it. Then again, if I had some as tough as yours, I probably wouldn't have to worry about that. ;)<br /><br />Spoked wheels also allow me ability to dish them as desired for different applications, reusing the same wheels in different projects--I couldn't do that the same with solid wheels like that.M.E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15375034485988839284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231841547435511043.post-73474032900985080972009-09-08T22:06:04.053-07:002009-09-08T22:06:04.053-07:00Don't underestimate those plastic rims. I have...Don't underestimate those plastic rims. I have two on the front of my tadpole trike that I wouldn't trade ANY brand of spoke type rims for. They were actually 20" cart wheels I got from Great Northern tool company but have held up better than 3 sets of regular rims on the trike. They have been in use now for over two years. These things ignore road drain grate slot pinches and bumps and just keep on rolling.Lee's Workshop (Packratworkshop)https://www.blogger.com/profile/14054544267600194823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231841547435511043.post-38444106619191184952009-09-08T03:56:38.629-07:002009-09-08T03:56:38.629-07:00So far, I am happier with the steel rim. I would ...So far, I am happier with the steel rim. I would have used a steel one to start with if I had not already had this one setup and working on my other bike, with the cassette on it I wished to test. :( <br /><br />I do wish I had lighter steel rims, though--the ones I have are cheap stuff off cheap bikes, as are the aluminum ones, I think (though the one I bent actually was "Made in the USA", at least). <br /><br />The mag wheels could still have bent under the circumstances I bent mine in, if it struck the edge of the hole between spokes. I'm just glad I didn't have plastic rims on there. ;-)M.E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15375034485988839284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6231841547435511043.post-26718458708416000692009-09-07T23:59:06.810-07:002009-09-07T23:59:06.810-07:00I think you will be happier with the steel rim. Mo...I think you will be happier with the steel rim. Most of my contraptions are pretty heavy and aluminum spoke type rims just don't seem to take to that too well from my experience. I dished a few of them. I'm currently using the aluminum 20" 5 spoke mag type wheels on my delta trike though because that type is strong enough to handle all the extra weight.Lee's Workshop (Packratworkshop)https://www.blogger.com/profile/14054544267600194823noreply@blogger.com