Quality 700C bike rims in Thailand (or Malaysia)? Something like Mavic Open Pro/A719.

[blorg]

I'm looking for a replacement 32h 700C rim and finding it a bit difficult, to say the least. Last time I looked in Bangkok and found only an Alex G6000 in Velo Thailand which has now worn out after only 5,000km or so (braking surface destroyed). This is chronically bad for a rim, I'd expect more like 40-50,000km out of a good one. That's the sort of mileage I got out of my previous Open Pro and the A719 I have on the back is still going strong after 25,000km.

The problem is almost nobody has rims, only complete wheelsets. I'm currently in Chiang Mai where the only thing I can find is a cheap Weinmann rim that I'm a bit sceptical about. Might buy it anyway as a stopgap but is there anywhere else I might be able to try? I plan to ride down to Bali from Bangkok so anywhere on the way would be possible. Probably won't go to Singapore but who knows. Will go through KL and probably boat from Melaka to Sumatra.

I've already tried Probike, Bike Zone and Velo Thailand in Bangkok (of which VT was the best, in that they had anything at all) and Chattiwat, (who have the Weinmann rim) Jackie Bike, (haha good luck) Bike Mall (only one aero Araya rim) and Velocity (good service but no rim) in Chiang Mai.Strangely probably one of the best stocked bike shops I've come across was in Kampaeng Phet, but I can't remember if they actually had rims.

Any tips appreciated. I guess I could just get one shipped from Europe but that might be expensive as you can't exactly fold the things. Surely there must be somewhere in SE Asia I can get a Mavic (or similar quality) rim?

Edited December 13, 2013 by blorg

[wantan]

Have you asked about ordering a rim? All better shops should be able to order such parts but maybe they are too lazy to do so. Most shops don't have rims in stock and want to sell wheelsets, thats right. Try a smaller shop to order if the bigger shops are not cooperative. Good luck.

[bobfish]

Don't know if this will really help, but a google search of 'Mavic Thailand' throws up Worldbike: www.worldbike.co.th in Ladprao, BKK.

As Wantan posted above, If they haven't got it they should be able to order. Good luck.

[wantan]

Crazy, i asked at Worldbike-Udomsuk not long ago and they told me they can not order rims. But i had the impression they just don't wanted to. Maybe because i also asked if they can build the wheel for me.

The website has a section for Mavic rims. So for sure worth a try to call or mail them.

[el jefe]

Have you asked about ordering a rim? All better shops should be able to order such parts but maybe they are too lazy to do so. Most shops don't have rims in stock and want to sell wheelsets, thats right. Try a smaller shop to order if the bigger shops are not cooperative. Good luck.

There are two other equally likely reasons why they may not special order a rim, other than "laziness":

1. There may be a minimum order from the supplier/distributor so one rim may be impossible to order.

2. Most farang have learned never to pay in advance and will only hand over cash once they have their order in hand. Many Thai retailers have learned not to place a special order because the customer may change his mind or not come back. Then they are stuck with inventory they might never resell.

[blorg]

@Bobfish- I'll send Worldbike an email, maybe I'll get a response.

@Wantan- my general experience is that while shops (particularly the smaller ones) will order stuff, but they are *extremely* limited in what they can order, they are basically limited to what the particular guys they deal with stock. I had this issue before looking for tyres, no one could get Schwalbe Marathons, or specifically they could get them but only in a very limited range of sizes and not what I needed (they could only get either 26" which wouldn't fit at all or 700Cx40 that would have been too wide for my mudguards.)

I'm tempted to just get this cheap rim here in CM, it is after all 700C and non-aero which is honestly probably about the first time I have seen such a thing in this country. It will surely do me 5,000km at least and I can always look for another on the way.

It's really bizarre to me, I mean just about any bike shop in the West will have 700C rims, while almost none do here. And this is in shops that are otherwise pretty generously stocked with all sorts of speciality stuff... Like a rim is pretty basic. No problems getting a hub, either, they have plenty of them (although they are generally MTB.)

[Thailandf2rally]

If you do head over to Lamphun i'm pretty sure Nong Alai has still got cxp22 and cxp33 rims left in his shop. I was there 2 months ago and was contemplating on getting them but I'm having trouble finding some nice hubs.

It's quite a long way out in the sticks but you'd be surprised when you get there, I couldn't believe my eyes when I went in. I must add that prices seem to be quite negotiable, so don't go with the first price they give you. Usually they'll give you 10-20% off the sticker price.

I bought a carbon handlebar for 4,600B when the sticker price was 7,500B so try asking for a discount.

nongbicyclepart dot com

or search facebook for ร้านนงอะไหล่ยนต์ ป่าซางเพจ

cheers

[villagefarang]

I just had a custom wheel set built for my mountain bike in Chiang Rai at Northern Bike. Mavic rims with Chris King hubs and it didn’t take them long to get things sent up from Bangkok. A small specialty shop like Northern Bike might be one option. As a regular customer they didn’t require any deposit, which I thought was generous of them.

[blorg]

@f2- Thanks for that. I'll see if I can get in touch with Nong, I would go down there if I thought they could actually do it. The CXPs aren't *ideal* being aero but I could certainly live with them. I had a CXP33 before and it was a good strong long lasting rim, I think I had it for almost ten years.

@villagefarang- is that the bike shop in Chiang Rai where the owner has a titanium Colagno? Two blocks west and one north of the clocktower? The issue is, I don't think there would be any real issue getting MTB rims, it's the 700C that seem rarer. I mean if the rim is available in Bangkok I'd be happy just to get it there.

[villagefarang]

@f2- Thanks for that. I'll see if I can get in touch with Nong, I would go down there if I thought they could actually do it. The CXPs aren't *ideal* being aero but I could certainly live with them. I had a CXP33 before and it was a good strong long lasting rim, I think I had it for almost ten years. @villagefarang- is that the bike shop in Chiang Rai where the owner has a titanium Colagno? Two blocks west and one north of the clocktower? The issue is, I don't think there would be any real issue getting MTB rims, it's the 700C that seem rarer. I mean if the rim is available in Bangkok I'd be happy just to get it there.

Different shop. NB in on the main highway heading out of town toward the airport. Just before the new road from the new bridge in town connects to the main highway at the ESSO station.

[Thailandf2rally]

I just found some open pros here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=636770086390994&set=a.483484265052911.117831.468741509860520&type=1&relevant_count=1

[blorg]

Thanks so much for that F2, I'll go there, that is perfect, it is right beside where I normally stay in Bangkok as well.

1,900B seems pricey compared to what I last paid but a quick Google actually suggests it's actually lower than the current price in Europe, I guess when I last bought one was quite some time ago. Worth it though to have a wheel I won't expect to need to replace for many years.

[blorg]

I ended up going through Kamphaeng Phet and the bike shop there had Open Pros so job done. Built up a new wheel for me in 90 minutes, very good shop.