Ever seen a spoke break in the middle?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Ever seen a spoke break in the middle?
And not even at a spoke crossing point. And on a front wheel too. Snapped when I stood up for a sprint.
I'm guessing the spoke had a kink on it from the last time it was inside an S&S case.
I'm guessing the spoke had a kink on it from the last time it was inside an S&S case.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 11,211
Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.
Mentioned: 48 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3461 Post(s)
Liked 1,467 Times
in
1,144 Posts
Sapim spokes had a bad batch of steel a number of years ago, spoke breakage in the middle of the spokes was common. But if they are not Sapim, I have not heard of that before.
That looks like a Fiber Fix, is that correct?
I have one wheel with Sapim spokes, just took a look at it and there are no identifying marks on the spoke head that you can use to identify that brand.
That looks like a Fiber Fix, is that correct?
I have one wheel with Sapim spokes, just took a look at it and there are no identifying marks on the spoke head that you can use to identify that brand.
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Sapim spokes had a bad batch of steel a number of years ago, spoke breakage in the middle of the spokes was common. But if they are not Sapim, I have not heard of that before.
That looks like a Fiber Fix, is that correct?
I have one wheel with Sapim spokes, just took a look at it and there are no identifying marks on the spoke head that you can use to identify that brand.
That looks like a Fiber Fix, is that correct?
I have one wheel with Sapim spokes, just took a look at it and there are no identifying marks on the spoke head that you can use to identify that brand.
Fiberfix spoke, yes. First time using it, worked very well.
#5
aka Timi
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 11,211
Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.
Mentioned: 48 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3461 Post(s)
Liked 1,467 Times
in
1,144 Posts
The only spokes I heard of that broke in the middle were Sapim, so your DT failure is new to me. And because of their good reputation, if it happened to me I would be inclined to think it was a one off, not a warning of things to come. From the photo I am guessing it is a 32 spoke front wheel with SP hub, rim brake. In other words the kind of wheel that would be the last one I would expect to hear of a spoke breakage.
Nice to know that the Fiberfix works well. I bought my road bike as a complete bike, do not know spoke lengths, so I bought a Fiberfix to carry on that bike if I ever ride a brevet with it. And my light touring bike front wheel, I bought that as a used wheel, never measured the spokes when I replaced the rim so I should carry the Fiberfix on my next tour with that bike.
Nice to know that the Fiberfix works well. I bought my road bike as a complete bike, do not know spoke lengths, so I bought a Fiberfix to carry on that bike if I ever ride a brevet with it. And my light touring bike front wheel, I bought that as a used wheel, never measured the spokes when I replaced the rim so I should carry the Fiberfix on my next tour with that bike.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,249
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18422 Post(s)
Liked 15,570 Times
in
7,335 Posts
Any chance you got a stick caught in it?
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I rode on the Fiberfix today and it was fine. I'm 1500km from the next high end bike shop so it's going to be on the wheel for a while. I'm inclined to just leave it on, but I'm not carrying any other spares so I do need to replace it just so I can get it back.
Possible, but I think it's fatigue on a kinked weak spot from airline damage. That's the problem with S&S cases. You have so many bits interweaved though the spokes inside the case, inevitably stuff ends up shifting and pressing on the spokes. Every time I put the bike back together, I have to go through with a spoke wrench and check the wheels. Especially the front wheel that has the handlebar stored through it. Most of the time it's fine, but a couple of times I've found kinks in spokes, which I had to touch up the tension for.
Possible, but I think it's fatigue on a kinked weak spot from airline damage. That's the problem with S&S cases. You have so many bits interweaved though the spokes inside the case, inevitably stuff ends up shifting and pressing on the spokes. Every time I put the bike back together, I have to go through with a spoke wrench and check the wheels. Especially the front wheel that has the handlebar stored through it. Most of the time it's fine, but a couple of times I've found kinks in spokes, which I had to touch up the tension for.
Last edited by Yan; 02-25-24 at 11:33 AM.
#9
aka Timi
Yan: Do let us know if the Fiberfix holds up for 1500km, and how often you needed to retighten it (if you do)?
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 11,211
Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.
Mentioned: 48 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3461 Post(s)
Liked 1,467 Times
in
1,144 Posts
I have seen comments on this forum before of people using a Fiberfix for a long time, but I think 1500 km would exceed that.
If worst case, you need more spokes and can't buy your size, buy some extra long ones and cut the heads off. Then try to do the Z bend thing. I have never tried that but if you have a narrow enough pliers, like a heavy duty needle nose, you might be able to do a Z bend. Spokes do not like to bend very easily so it would take a lot of strength to hold a pliers for this to work, a vice would work better than a pliers.
I did a google search with this forum name and "Z bend spokes", here is one link but they are mentioned in many other links, you could find more if you do a search:
https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-m...ire-wheel.html
Good luck.
If worst case, you need more spokes and can't buy your size, buy some extra long ones and cut the heads off. Then try to do the Z bend thing. I have never tried that but if you have a narrow enough pliers, like a heavy duty needle nose, you might be able to do a Z bend. Spokes do not like to bend very easily so it would take a lot of strength to hold a pliers for this to work, a vice would work better than a pliers.
I did a google search with this forum name and "Z bend spokes", here is one link but they are mentioned in many other links, you could find more if you do a search:
https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-m...ire-wheel.html
Good luck.
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Likes For Yan:
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 11,211
Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.
Mentioned: 48 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3461 Post(s)
Liked 1,467 Times
in
1,144 Posts
Thank you for the update on the Fiber Fix capability. Long term reports of something that works well are always helpful.
#13
aka Timi
Good to know,Yan. Thanks for the update.
Is the fiberfix still in good usable condition?
Is the fiberfix still in good usable condition?
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter