Bad Bike Parts

WTB Rims Without Spoke Eyelets

WTB rims manufactured without spoke eyelets have proven to be a significant reliability issue for riders. The absence of reinforced eyelet material at the spoke holes creates a critical weak point in the rim structure. Under normal riding loads, these rims develop cracks at the spoke holes in short order, often failing well before their expected lifespan.

The spoke eyelet serves an important structural purpose—it distributes spoke tension across a reinforced area and prevents the spoke from cutting into the softer aluminum rim material. Without this reinforcement, the concentrated stress at each spoke hole leads to fatigue cracks that propagate quickly, especially under the dynamic loads of trail riding.

TRP Mechanical Disc Brakes

TRP mechanical disc brakes suffer from a frustrating design flaw: the pad adjusters self-loosen during rides. As you ride and apply the brakes repeatedly, vibration and the mechanical forces cause the pad adjustment mechanisms to back out gradually. This results in increasing lever throw and diminishing brake performance mid-ride.

Riders find themselves constantly re-adjusting pad clearance, sometimes multiple times during a single ride. This isn't just an inconvenience—it's a safety concern when brake performance degrades unexpectedly on technical descents. The issue appears to stem from insufficient thread locking or retention in the adjuster mechanism, making these brakes unreliable for serious trail use.