Is my front rim toast?

[dsquare]

My Cannondale SuperSix came with Mavic Ksyrium Equipe wheels. I was on a descent when my front tire blew out. I was successful in braking slowly on gravel to stop without crashing. My front rim ended up with some nasty gouges, practically all around the rim; but no gouges on the braking surface. Is there a way of removing the gouges or is the rim toast?

Thanks in advance

 

[ustabe]

The rim's probably OK if you can smooth the edges with an emery cloth. You just need to remove the bits that can puncture the tube or the sidewall of the tire. Stay away from the face of the machined braking surface, though.

 

[dsquare]

Thanks for the suggestion. Do you think a file will work as good as an emery cloth?

 

[JayKosta]

I would first trying just pushing (burnishing) the gouges smooth with a suitable round steel rod of some sort.

Most metal files are too coarse for this - I'd try disposable finger nail files from cosmetic section of store if you need to remove any aluminum.

Cover the hub wlth something to prevent any grit from getting into the bearings.

Also inspect the rim carefully to see if there are any actual cracks in the aluminum - any cracks will just get larger ...

Jay Kosta
Endwell NY USA

 

[Master50]

A fine file is ok for getting the burrs. then sandpaper. basically you want to get any sharp edges smooth and without removing the bead hook or brake track. A little sanding of the brake track only reduces the life of the rim but is not a super evil thing as I have used emery paper to smooth a gouge or to remove residue off the brake track.
If you find any cracks in the aluminum you may have a problem that will grow to a failure of some kind. While I am not suggesting that you ride on a bare rim I have ridden 10 to 15 KM on a split rim with no tire. IE I wore out the rim and the brake track split from my MTB rim. I took the tire, tube and rim strip off and rode the wheel bare on the road and trail. Had not most of my spokes gotten too loose I might have ridden this rim farther. An aluminum rim has pretty good traction on pavement and it is amazing to experience. IE you are terrified the rim will slip and you't eat pavement so respect that fear.