Water in rim?!
Discussion
I have a strange situation that has now occurred twice.
Evans Cycles built me a new wheel up a few weeks back. It's a 32 spoke Mavic A719 rim, seems relatively bulletproof from what I have read online. The bike is used daily for commuting, ~90 miles per week.
A couple of weeks back I heard what sounded like water sloshing around inside the rim between the rim and the tyre. A few hours later after the bike had been parked up at home, I noticed a small pool of water where the tyre was on the ground. I pumped the tyre up and it was flat when I checked a few hours later. Changed the inner tube and noticed a small hole in the inner tube near when the valve was. It's been fine since, until today.
When I got home today, I noticed the same sloshing noise. I decided to let the air out of the tyre and when it was nearly empty, I pinched the tyre and some water came out. I pumped the tyre up and all seemed fine. Checked again about an hour later and the tyre was flat. I tried to pump it up but no air would go in. I took the tyre off and there was a large rip in the inner tube near the valve. So I've put a fresh tube in and fingers crossed for tomorrow.
Has anybody ever had this issue before? I can't see how water would be getting in to the rim. The rim tape does seem slightly discoloured near the valve hole. I have a lock ring on the valve so there is no large hole. I haven't managed to find much info online.
TL;DR - How could water get into the bike rim between the rim and tyre? Not ridden through any standing water etc...
Evans Cycles built me a new wheel up a few weeks back. It's a 32 spoke Mavic A719 rim, seems relatively bulletproof from what I have read online. The bike is used daily for commuting, ~90 miles per week.
A couple of weeks back I heard what sounded like water sloshing around inside the rim between the rim and the tyre. A few hours later after the bike had been parked up at home, I noticed a small pool of water where the tyre was on the ground. I pumped the tyre up and it was flat when I checked a few hours later. Changed the inner tube and noticed a small hole in the inner tube near when the valve was. It's been fine since, until today.
When I got home today, I noticed the same sloshing noise. I decided to let the air out of the tyre and when it was nearly empty, I pinched the tyre and some water came out. I pumped the tyre up and all seemed fine. Checked again about an hour later and the tyre was flat. I tried to pump it up but no air would go in. I took the tyre off and there was a large rip in the inner tube near the valve. So I've put a fresh tube in and fingers crossed for tomorrow.
Has anybody ever had this issue before? I can't see how water would be getting in to the rim. The rim tape does seem slightly discoloured near the valve hole. I have a lock ring on the valve so there is no large hole. I haven't managed to find much info online.
TL;DR - How could water get into the bike rim between the rim and tyre? Not ridden through any standing water etc...
gazza285 said:
The water will be running down the spokes and in past the nipples. Not a great deal you can do to stop it. The punctures are unrelated.
I've not had a puncture in the past 9 months of riding, over 2500 miles. These punctures / rips in the inner tube have only happened after the water issue. The rip / hole on both occasions has been on the rim side of the inner tube, not the side that faces the road. There is no sign of entry in the tyre.lufbramatt said:
Sounds like rim tape is moving or just installed badly and the tube is being cut by the edges of the holes in the rim.
The rim tape did slide quite easily. I am not an expert when it comes to wheels so wasn't sure if this was right or not! There were no exposed sharp edges so not sure if the movement would cause a puncture.Evans have said they will have a look for me so will point this out to them.
mjcneat said:
The rim tape did slide quite easily. I am not an expert when it comes to wheels so wasn't sure if this was right or not! There were no exposed sharp edges so not sure if the movement would cause a puncture.
Evans have said they will have a look for me so will point this out to them.
Yep, it's 100% the rim tape. Evans have said they will have a look for me so will point this out to them.
The punctures are definitely related to the water ingress. If water is getting in, so is the detritus in the water, as soon as the water evaporates, or drains, you have small sharp bits all over your inner tube, then the inevitable puncture. Hopefully the ‘bolstering of the rim tape’ trick works, I think the amount of spokes / holes you have is the main issue, and you may be on a hiding to nothing, unless you don’t ride when there are puddles / standing water around.
GOATever said:
The punctures are definitely related to the water ingress. If water is getting in, so is the detritus in the water, as soon as the water evaporates, or drains, you have small sharp bits all over your inner tube, then the inevitable puncture. Hopefully the ‘bolstering of the rim tape’ trick works, I think the amount of spokes / holes you have is the main issue, and you may be on a hiding to nothing, unless you don’t ride when there are puddles / standing water around.
I will update in due course, given this is my only mode of transport for commuting and the amount of water we are due to have this week! I just find it strange, it's a brand new 32 spoke rim, nothing out of the ordinary and not an issue I have had in over 10 years of commuting by bike.Well some time has passed and no luck. Started a new job 3 weeks ago and had 2 similar punctures in that time. Had a full on blowout yesterday (thankfully made it to work), where the inner tube exploded and forced the tyre off the rim as I was riding down the ramp at work. Thankfully a new tube has done the trick for now and no damage to the rim.
It has got me thinking though... The tyre in question has done a few thousand (hard, heavy rider) miles! I have caught the sidewall of the tyre, and whilst there appears to be no damage, I am wondering if the bead/sidewall has been scuffed and deformed, allowing water in. I am going to replace my tyres this weekend to see if it helps, as water has still been getting in the rim somehow, despite very careful cleaning with no hose/water anyway near the rim.
It has got me thinking though... The tyre in question has done a few thousand (hard, heavy rider) miles! I have caught the sidewall of the tyre, and whilst there appears to be no damage, I am wondering if the bead/sidewall has been scuffed and deformed, allowing water in. I am going to replace my tyres this weekend to see if it helps, as water has still been getting in the rim somehow, despite very careful cleaning with no hose/water anyway near the rim.
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