A bicycle rim is the round metal section that the outer tire and inner tube fit inside on your bike's wheels. When a rim becomes worn by rubbing brake pads or dented from everyday use, the damage affects the alignment of your wheels and may cause an accident. Attempting to repair your bicycle rim may cause damage to your spokes, so if you notice a damaged rim, replace it rather than trying to bend or reshape it.
Step 1
Purchase a new bicycle rim. Ensure that the new rim has the same number of spoke holes and is the same diameter as the old rim.
Step 2
Turn your bike upside down. If your bike wheels are not equipped with a quick-release feature, use an adjustable wrench to remove the nuts that hold the wheel in place. Remove the wheel from the bike. You may have to move the brake pads up by squeezing the brakes together, then detaching the brake cable from the pads.
Step 3
Release the air in the inner tube by pushing the tire stem. Insert a plastic tire lever under the edge of the rim to pry the tire up. Move the lever all the way around the rim to get the tire off. Plastic levers can be purchased at your local bike shop.
Step 4
Loosen the spokes on your old rim, but don't remove the spoke nipples yet. A spoke nipple is the small nut that secures the spoke to the rim. You can use a socket wrench or pliers to loosen the nipples if you are unable to by hand.
Step 5
Lay the old rim on a table and rest the new rim on top of it. The valve holes on each rim must line up.
Step 6
Tape the rims together with a few pieces of electrical tape. Begin removing spokes from the old rim and transferring them to the new rim, one by one.
Step 7
Cut the pieces of tape off when you're finished moving the spokes. Set the old rim aside and tighten all of the spoke nipples on the new rim.
Step 8
Place the inner tube into the rim, then work the tire around until it is also in. Inflate the tire, then install the rim on the bicycle. Tighten the nuts and put the brake pads back into position.
Step 9
Rotate the wheel to determine whether the brake pads rub against the rim. If the brake pads are rubbing in any places, tighten the spoke opposite of where they touch until they aren't touching the rim anymore. Once the rim turns freely, replace the tube and tire and inflate the tire.
Things You'll Need
- Electrical tape
- Socket wrench
- Pliers
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