Bloody Spokes

[Nearly there]

I had a spoke snap last week when I hit a pot hole going down hill so took my wheel into lbs to have a new spoke fitted and wheel trued now since getting the wheel back friday ive only done 50 miles but tonight whizzing down a hill snap another spoke gone no potholes involved this time,Ive taken out the snapped spoke and trued the wheel myself(first attempt)and its spinning very true at least to my eyes but can I get away with riding it for a while?or should i again take it straight down to lbs and have yet another spoke put in?Anyone else having spoke problems cos its doin my head in

 

[Red Light]

If you can true it with one spoke missing you are easily capable of fitting a new spoke and truing it without going back to the LBS. You may find one or two other spokes go too in time so get a few spares from your LBS while you are at it. You can happily ride for a while with one spoke missing unless its one of those wheels with a stupidly low number of spokes. For advice on how to build a reliable wheel either Sheldon Browns or Roger Mussons wheelbuilding guides, both available on-line, are good.

 

[Nearly there]

If you can true it with one spoke missing you are easily capable of fitting a new spoke and truing it without going back to the LBS. You may find one or two other spokes go too in time so get a few spares from your LBS while you are at it. You can happily ride for a while with one spoke missing unless its one of those wheels with a stupidly low number of spokes. For advice on how to build a reliable wheel either Sheldon Browns or Roger Mussons wheelbuilding guides, both available on-line, are good.

Its a 32 spoke wheel so hoping it will be ok im gonna take it for a ride in the morning and see how it holds up after my first attempt at truing I suppose I should have a go at fitting my own spokes too.

 

[Johnym]

I'm in the same boat mate, I've started a thread myself with similar problems. Can't go more than a few weeks with spokes coming loose. What psi do you have your tyres, can this cause problems?, I'm usually at around 100 psi

 

[Nearly there]

I'm in the same boat mate, I've started a thread myself with similar problems. Can't go more than a few weeks with spokes coming loose. What psi do you have your tyres, can this cause problems?, I'm usually at around 100 psi

Im just using the stock wheels that came with my cannondale synapse maddux drx 4000's with 25mm tyres 100 at the front 115 rear but im heavier than you 6'1 17st Ive had no problems for nearly 500+miles then two breaks in less than a week its very frustrating ill feel a right tit taking it back but needs must.Never even had so much as a p#ncture.I read threads with guys 10st breaking spokes regular and bigger guys than me who dont so is it just bad luck or poor wheel construction

 

[fossyant]

As said in the other post - it can be an issue with machine built wheels as the tension isn't great

 

[Kiwiavenger]

i got fed up after the 3rd spoke breaking! got the LBS to build my wheel back up with a differnt rim (mavic a319 i believe) was on my hybrid though (i weighed 18 st and am 6'3) havent had a problem since, have now sold it to my brother (16 st and 6'2) and he flies on it!! lol.

handbuild is the way to go!

 

[Moodyman]

i got fed up after the 3rd spoke breaking! got the LBS to build my wheel back up with a differnt rim (mavic a319 i believe) was on my hybrid though (i weighed 18 st and am 6'3) havent had a problem since, have now sold it to my brother (16 st and 6'2) and he flies on it!! lol.

handbuild is the way to go![/quote]

Yes, it is. A good wheelbuilder will evenly tension a wheel and also de-stress all the spokes. The last element is crucial.

A machine can't de-stress like a wheel builder can.

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

The big advantage that 32/36h wheels have over those with lower spoke counts, is that you can lose one or two, even three spokes and still ride it; lose a spoke on something with 24h and it'll look like a pretzel and you have no chance of truing it into a shape you can ride on.

Unless you have one of those rare rims that quote a weight limit, what you weigh is pretty much immaterial, as is the tyre pressure. A wheel's integrity comes from the spoke tension.

When building a wheel the spokes are sequentially tensioned by small amounts to ensure a consistent and even tension across the whole wheel. Replacing a spoke can cause uneven tension because it is difficult to bring one spoke into line with the rest of a wheel, especially with often poorly built factory wheels. The uneven tensions will then put extra stress on other spokes, hence the future breakages.

I suggest you follow up the links Red Light quoted: if I can do it...

 

[edwardd67]

Im just using the stock wheels that came with my cannondale synapse maddux drx 4000's with 25mm tyres 100 at the front 115 rear but im heavier than you 6'1 17st Ive had no problems for nearly 500+miles then two breaks in less than a week its very frustrating ill feel a right tit taking it back but needs must.Never even had so much as a p#ncture.I read threads with guys 10st breaking spokes regular and bigger guys than me who dont so is it just bad luck or poor wheel construction

I have the same problem with a Cannondale CAAD8 with Maddux wheels rear spokes keep busting. I'm a big guy also . going down the handmade wheel route.

 

[accountantpete]

It's not factory wheels that are the problem - it's cheap factory wheels.

Add on the factor of the rider's weight being over 13st and you have a breakdown waiting to happen.

Bikes are sold with utter crap less that first class equipment attached in order to keep the cost down.

 

[Nearly there]

Just been on a 25 mile ride and my 31 spoke wheel hasnt moved looks as true as it did last night think im gonna buy a set of spokes and fix it myself and see how I get on.

 

[Nearly there]

It's not factory wheels that are the problem - it's cheap factory wheels.

Add on the factor of the rider's weight being over 13st and you have a breakdown waiting to happen.

Bikes are sold with utter crap less that first class equipment attached in order to keep the cost down.

A wheel upgrade is definitely on the cards in the future but its all about the cash

 

[Nearly there]

I have the same problem with a Cannondale CAAD8 with Maddux wheels rear spokes keep busting. I'm a big guy also . going down the handmade wheel route.

Funnily enough there were 3 other maddux wheels having the same repair as mine

 

[Red Light]

I build all my own wheels and once built they have lasted till the rims wear out without anything breaking or needing adjusting. I just follow the recipe in Jobst Brant's book The Bicycle Wheel but the Sheldon Brown and Roger Musson approaches are very similar. Make sure you have enough tension on the spokes (the heavier you are the more tension you need), minimise any spoke wind-up and make sure you stress relieve the spokes to finish off.