CandSAdventures

I broke a spoke and went to the LBS to get another one. Tech said bigger folks break more, I laughed and said more incentive to loose weight. Then he said yes, then you get to blame it on having more power than the normal guys.

Made me laugh. Good folks. Always helpful.

arex

TREMBLE, PUNY HUMANS

nfmisso

I build my own wheels - and don't break spokes. Machine built wheels have too low a spoke tension, and inadequate stress relieve.

Bill Kapaun

If the spoke broke because of fatigue (undertensioned), expect #2 is on the way.
IF that happens, get the wheel relaced w/ new spokes because #3, 4, 5... is not far behind.

nfmisso

EXACTLY and do it correctly so that it will not have to be done again - ever. A properly built wheel will last until the brake pads wear through the rim.

JerrySTL

I broke a spoke while riding across Missouri on the KATY Trail last week. A thick stick popped up from the trail and jammed into the rear wheel. Although I carried some spare spokes, the broke spoke was one under the cassette and I didn't have a chain whip or cassette tool. I widened up the brakes so they wouldn't rub plus release the tension on the spokes on each side of the broke one.

The next day, and about 80 miles later, a spoke 180 degrees away from the broke spoke also snapped probably due to the strain of the broke spoke.

I rode it that way for about 60 more miles until I found an excellent bike shop open in Defiance, Missouri who fixed the spokes. Of course I was only 20 miles from the finish by then.

Thank goodness that I had 36-spoke wheels on my bike!

CandSAdventures

These are the stock wheels on a Fuji Roubaix. They have about 2k miles on them. It broke right at the bend at the top. I always watch my tire pressure, try to avoid pot holes and such. I check for broken spokes when I check the tire pressure. Anything else I should look for? Any ideas on cause? I was planning on doing one of the local charity rides and did not want to risk messing it up so I had the shop replace it. Gave it a short test ride the next evening then 40 miles on Saturday without an issue. As part of the deal, he made sure the wheel was true.

CACycling

What wheels and what is your weight? I'm around 230 and ride an '08 Roubaix RC. The stock Alex ALX 320 Comp wheelset gave me 5K trouble-free miles before I dumped the chain into the spokes. I ride fairly light but the wheels had definately taken some abuse during their life with no ill effects.

Mr. Beanz

I always post her that wheels will start breaking spokes at after 2000 miles due to lack of tension, especially stock wheels.

If after 200-300 miles one does not check that the wheels are at proper tension and make adjustments, the spokes will break. Lack of tension means the spokes have movement and will snap eventually like a hanger wire that is bent over and over, eventually breaks. This was a game for us as kids back int eh old wire hanger days.

So if you took,m or failed to take your bike back in to the dealer for servicing during the 90 free tuneup thing, then you jacked yourself. If you took the bike back and the mechanic only "trued" the wheels vs checking and making adjustments to ensure proper tension, then he jacked you.

I say you are screwed now, more spokes are sure to follow.

If yo have a wheel built or replacement, make sure after 200-300 mile, you have somebody check the tension.

Wheel true only means they straightened the rim. Tension means the spokes are tightened properly avoiding the play that causes spoke to break.--------------

FTR, big guys only break more wheels this early when the techs fail to verify the wheel is are in good shape.

CandSAdventures

Hmmm. Doom and Gloom Mr. Beanz? Nobody ever said education was cheap. I guess I'm going to learn a new skill or two.

Mr. Beanz

I tell ya, learning to build my own was the best thing I have done as far as cycling maintenance. I've built about 10 wheels, all still on the road and all in fantastic shape except the one that wore out at the brake surface, which is how a wheel is supposed to meet its end after 20,000+ miles.

My first wheel, 20,000+ miles. Not to mention I had to go back and repair wheels that were built by local "pros" at the local shops. Replacing broken spokes after 200 miles, failed wheels after 40 miles, and other JUNK.

Now I get a rim somewhere online for $60, an Ultegra hub "SET" for $125 and build a wheel really cheap. A wheel that will last 20,000 miles!

$20 spokes, $65 rim, and maybe $60 for the hub....$150 for the wheel and better than anything I have bought at the shops.



hubs by gulpxtreme, on Flickr


IMG_4076 by gulpxtreme, on Flickr

Jarrett2

Just broke a spoke today at 99 miles on my new Trek FX 7.2. I didn't see them do any spoke tension checking when they were doing the post purchase check. Hoping this isn't a trend with this new bike.

Can someone give me pointers on building my own? It may be a skill I need at my size.

bigfred 

Follow this article and you can easily build your first wheel. Or, there ar books from Jobst Brandt (The Bicyle Wheel) or Gerd Schraner (The Art of Wheelbuilding). Either will see you through a successful build.

The most important ingredient to initial success is a bit of patience and a small degree of mechanical apptitude. For clydes I would recommend that in addition to the correct size spoke wrench a tension meter is the next most important tool.

Fastflyingasian

lost 100 pounds and popped a spoke the other day on the same wheels i rode before i lost the weight. so that's the story i'm going with