Ty0604

There's been some talk on here about the Fiber Fix Emergency Spoke. Over this past weekend we (a group of local riders) decided to give them a try. We each pulled one spoke from the back rim and replaced it with the Fiber Fix. 4 of us rode from Portland, Oregon to Pasco, Washington (250 miles roughly) without any issues. The rims were still true when we took them into the LBS. We didn't use our normal rims but instead some cheaper rims in case the Fiber Fix didn't hold up. Couldn't tell the FiberFix was on there. I think for the cost ($10-$15) and the weight (not sure but minimal) it's worth having in your kit.

We did stop every 30-40 miles and check it. They all had to be readjusted a few times. Fiber Fix isn't a permanent fix though and it's only suppose to allow you to get to a bike shop. We went 250 miles because we felt like that was far enough to test it and you're likely to run into a bike shop in that range pretty much anywhere you are.

Below is the rough weights of our bike (unloaded), the amount of gear in the rear panniers and our weight

1. Me - 12lbs - 20lbs - 170lbs + 3lbs for rear rack + panniers
2. Joe - 17lbs - 25lbs - 160lbs + weight for rear rack + panniers
3. Aaron - 20lbs - 15lbs - 190lbs + weight for frame bag
4. Jamie - 14lbs - 20lbs - 175lbs + weight for rear rack + panniers

gregjones

Thanks, that's a great post. It's good to know.

I carry one, it doesn't weigh enough to worry about and is about the size of a small spool of thread. I consider it to be one of those thing that will make me feel good to have if I ever need it.

irwin7638

Thanks for the test! I carry one, have read the instructions and that is about all I've had to do with it. It's great to know they work.

Marc

shipwreck

Ive run one for a few weeks till I could get around to redoing my whole wheel. I carry one at all times. Great test and review! Kudos to your group.

mantelclock

Last summer on a fully loaded overnight trip with two of my nephews, one of them had a spoke break on his bike. Fortunately, I always carry a Fiberfix, but up until that time, I had never actually had to use one. It saved our butts. I wrote about it on CGOAB in a review thread of the repair kit. https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/revi...hread_id=43651


Your test with four people is a great one.

djb

Thanks for that. Now if only they were sold here in Canada......

PS, dems are pretty light bikes!!

paul2

I've bought them in Canada.

Ty0604

You can buy it online if you can't find it in stores. They are, yes. None of us use touring frames.

Thanks for the positive feedback everyone

treebound 

Did you have the fiber spokes in the front or rear? And if rear was it drive side or non-drive side?

Also, I'm real curious about the 12 and 14 pound bikes? Doesn't sound like typical touring bikes, at least not the typical Trek 520 or Surly LHT rides. Pics as ridden during the testing would be neat.

I've been thinking of adding two fiber spokes to my seat bag.

10 Wheels

They work good.

Friend put one on my front wheel when we were 35 miles from home.

Ty0604

They were all on the rear. None of us run front panniers so we wanted them on the tire supporting all the weight. Two of us had them on the drive side and the other two on the non drive side.

As mentioned above, none of us use touring frames. I can't speak for the others but mine was custom built in Germany. My last bike was just under 11lbs so this one is a little heavier.

They're a great addition.

treebound 

Thanks for the followup.

Ty0604

You're welcome

robow

Thanks for the review and writing it up.
Question, did you have to tighten the spokes adjacent to the fiberfix spoke in order to true the wheel well enough to ride? I almost always carry one or two and have loaned them out but never had to make use of one myself, (that is until probably this upcoming season since now I made this statement)

Ty0604

You're welcome. No. We didn't adjust any of the other spokes at all.

djb

Pray do tell where.

Re online, I've hesitated online because I'm not keen on possibly paying all the various extra costs on a 15-20 dollar item( could be another 15 for shipping, 10 standard charge for cross border duty fee, plus both Canadian taxes on item)

Easily doubling or more the original cost. I'll get one in the states one day unless anyone can direct me to a Canadian purchase.

djb

That's pretty neat that on low spoke count wheels (not your cf ones I presume, were they all alu rims?) you just tightened the fibre-fix, very neat indeed.

Interesting that you all had 20-25lbs of stuff, and none of you are lightweights. I can't imagine any of the bikes had rear racks, frame bags?

Tony Marley

I always carry one when touring, but have never had to use it. Thank you and your friends for running the test and reporting on it.

Tourist in MSN

Thanks.

I wish we saw more tests and comparisons by people that were not compensated based on the outcome.

pdlamb

Re: the weight, I figure the Fiberfix is lighter than carrying a freewheel removal tool (much less the chain whip and 12" wrench!). The bike shop that can replace it with a real spoke should have all those available.

tarwheel 

Thanks for the review. How difficult are the Fiberfix spokes to install and adjust? Are the instructions good?

mantelclock

They are easy to install, easy to adjust, and yes, the instructions are quite clear. The kit comes with everything you need, including a spoke wrench and spare nipple. We had no trouble using one on the side of the road as dusk approached. Another unmentioned plus is that after using one, you can tuck it back into its little container and use it again if you break another spoke in the future.

robow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eF8R7psdtN4

djb

Ty, I'm going to be a smartass and say that this wasn't an intended group test at all, but that all four of your anorexic bikes suffered spoke breakages and forced you all into an unwitting product review.

;-)

(Just kidding in case it's not clear)

fietsbob

sitting in the shop unsold for several years the fiberfix spoke was not re stocked at my LBS..

rather than buy IT Personality I've just brought a spare spoke and only replaced it once

rather than use the fiber fix then replacing it , later. with the real spoke..

As with all polymer based synthetics, Kevlar breaks down in Sunlight. so consider how long it has been exposed.