When to change a wheel

[Keith Oates]

I've had my bike out here in China for about 9 months and have done 7000 Km on roads only. The roads are fairlly good but there are a few potholes that I try to miss most of the time. But recently I've suffered from two broken spokes in the rear wheel and both times it has happened when I'm working hard by honking up some small hills when pulling away from the traffic lights. Are these breakages just bad luck or is it a sign that the wheel needs to be replaced!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Herzog]

I would get it re-built; it could be a case of the spoke that was replaced not being correctly tensioned (was it the same one?).

 

[Spoked Wheels]

Assuming the wheel has enough spokes and the spokes are strong enough for your weight I would have the wheel re-tensioned by somebody that knows what he/she is doing.

What gear are you using when you do this (working hard)? There is the misconception that sprinters brake spokes but a strong rider is far more likely to brake spokes riding hard on a low gear uphill. If the spokes you broke are broken anywhere but near the head of the spoke then this could be the reason. In which case you need to consider stronger spokes and higher cross pattern. (some factory wheels don't use quality spokes which could be the reason why you broke the spokes)