broken spokes...

[waggoner]

I've been breaking the spokes on my rear wheel,,had 4 break so far!! but the bike has only done 500 miles so far which seems nothing really.
Had the bike since last september, a 2012 Cannondale Synapse Tiarga, but i've been off riding for a few months because of a operation on my leg,,so getting back into it again now, but the spokes keep breaking. I've been replacing them and re-truing the wheel, but they keep going,,so i'm thinkingg there is something wrong??
So i contacted the shop where i bought the bike from,(mail order),, and got put through to the workshop where i explained about the wheel. I got told that it is only cheap wheels/spokes the makers use and then asked what colour the spokes are,,black,,where i was told they are the cheapest ones!! I was also told that sometimes they need to bed in so that might take a few more miles to do so?? As if 500 miles is not long enough?? Then i was told i could either replace the spokes with better ones, ie dt swiss ones or i could run the wheel a bit longer longer and see what happen. If i break any more spokes i could send it back to them where they would respoke it. I asked if this would be covered under the warrenty,,but was told no it was not and i would have to pay for it to be done!!

Does this sound right???? I'm under the weight limit for the bike, so thats no problem, but with spokes breaking,,it seems like something is wrong,,but the bike shop does not want to know it, saying it's not covered under the warrenty???

Would be greatful for comments on this,,as i don't really want to have to pay out for it to be respoked as it's only done 500 miles,,and i guess even if the wheels are cheap surly they should not keep snapping spokes??

Thanks..

 

[qwiksilver]

if you have had it less than 12 months its under manufactures garuntee the company is tryna pull a fast 1 if you send it back they will charge you and get replacements direct from cannondale tell them you have been in touch with trading standards and they are the distributor who deals direct with the dealer and therefore are responible for rectifying the issue at no cost to you the customer as its still under 12 months since purchase and under manufactures garuntee/warentee which entitles you to return it to the distributor and they must rectify the issue and if they have any problem with this they will be hearing from the trading standards ombudsmen and a solicitor

 

[Tomba]

Looks like you have Maddux R3.0 rims. I had a Synapse Tiagra 2011 for less than 3 weeks and the small dust shield over the hub came loose, was told by two shops that the hub needed replaced. Sent the wheel back to the shop (PedalOn) and Cannondale replaced BOTH wheels under warranty with Shimano R501s.

I'd be demanding replacement wheels.

 

[billy1561]

I have a synapse also but with rs 10 wheels which so far have been fine. As others have said I would be asking to get them swopped under warranty.

 

[waggoner]

Thanks for the replies..

Well,,i contacted Cannondale and they have now been involved because the shop did not want to do anything,as i said above. The shop has now changed their mind and have taken the wheel back to look at it,,so i guess its now wait and see what they come up with. Hopefully with Cannondale now involved it might be sorted out!!
Yes,, it's a Maddux R3.0 wheel.

 

[Tomba]

Thanks for the replies..

Well,,i contacted Cannondale and they have now been involved because the shop did not want to do anything,as i said above. The shop has now changed their mind and have taken the wheel back to look at it,,so i guess its now wait and see what they come up with. Hopefully with Cannondale now involved it might be sorted out!!
Yes,, it's a Maddux R3.0 wheel.

Good to hear Cannondale involved, hopefully you'll get it sorted now

 

[waggoner]

Good news...finally got there, after a bit of a wait,,i've been given a set of Shimamo RS10's to replace the Maddux's.
Just a shame that the bike shop tried to wiggle out of it in the first place,,,oh well sorted out now..

 

[amaferanga]

Good news that you've got a replacement, but if you were replacing the spokes yourself then that may be part of the problem. The first breakage could just have been bad luck, but if you're not an experienced wheelbuilder then you may not have been achieving good even spoke tension when you replaced the spokes. Had it been me, I'd have detensioned and then rebuilt the wheel after the 2nd breakage.

If you are a master wheelbuilder then ignore this comment

 

[Sittingduck]

When one has gone it will likely be followed by its companions. You probably need to re-tension the entire wheel from scratch. Spokes / wheels are funny things and I treat them almost as consumables You will get spokes break, particularly if you are slightly heavy and or the wheels are not of great quality. It just happens...

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

Good news...finally got there, after a bit of a wait,,i've been given a set of Shimamo RS10's to replace the Maddux's.
Just a shame that the bike shop tried to wiggle out of it in the first place,,,oh well sorted out now..

So which shop was it? This sort of behaviour isn't on and potential purchasers need to know about it.

 

[amaferanga]

So which shop was it? This sort of behaviour isn't on and potential purchasers need to know about it.

I dunno. If he'd taken it back to them after the first spoke breakage and then had subsequent breakages then it'd be clear cut, but since he attempted to sort it himself then I can understand the reluctance of the LBS to give him a new wheel after he has potentially caused the subsequent breakages through incompetent wheelbuilding.

 

[waggoner]

amaferanga.....what makes you think i'm incompetent at re-truing wheels???

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

...since he attempted to sort it himself then I can understand the reluctance of the LBS to give him a new wheel...

Fair point.

amaferanga.....what makes you think i'm incompetent at re-truing wheels???

That's not what was meant: the point was that by making your own repair it was no longer absolutely clear that it was a manufacturing fault rather than your workmanship. If you look at practically any warranty, it will state that it will be void if you attempt any repair yourself.

 

[amaferanga]

amaferanga.....what makes you think i'm incompetent at re-truing wheels???

I didn't say you were and Jimmy explains what I meant anyway. But the fact that you continued using the wheel after 2 or 3 broken spokes instead of a detension and rebuild would suggest you're not a master wheelbuilder. No offence intended

 

[V7PYE]

Bought a Cannondale Synapse 9 weeks ago. Back spoke snapped last night - the wheel is now buckled.
I have found this thread very useful and will be contacting The Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op in Manchester later today.
I will let you all know how I got on.