2 spokes broken in a week (on a 3 month old bike!)

[whitebait]

Hey,

So I need some advice on this...

A little under 3 months ago I bought a 2010 Ridgeback Horizon from Cyclesurgery Kings Cross through Cyclescheme. I got them to fit a rack when I bought it.

These are the issues I've had since:

The bolt used to attach the rack at the bottom of the seat stay was too short. Mudguard was rubbing on tyre when it was first fitted. Girl who fitted it said 'yeah, mudguards rub on tyres sometimes'. The bolt fell out whilst I rode home, partially stripped thread and meant mudguard was rubbing on tyre a lot more.

Chain broke the next morning on my first ride to work, LBS in Balham fitted a new one and replaced the missing screw and charged me £35. This was refunded by Cyclesurgery when I went to see them that night.

The chain rubs on my front mech when I'm in the middle ring at the front and smallest cog at the back. Was told this is normal. Not sure?

The bit housing the upper jockey wheel on my rear mech gently plinks the spokes (around once per wheel revolution) when I'm in middle ring at the front and biggest cog at the back. Only happens when I'm on the bike, I'm a little under 15st.

Told them about the above issues when I took it in for the 6-8 week checkup, afterwards the gears felt worse (brakes were sharper though).

A spoke broke last week on my ride to work, was just riding along, didn't hit a pothole and wasn't cornering. Was charged £21 for a new one as 'these things happen', so it wouldn't be something that could be sorted under warranty.

This morning, less than a week later, another spoke broke, also drive side rear wheel. Again, no pothole, not cornering, just sitting down pedalling along.

Took it to Cyclesurgery Moorgate and they've said they'll speak to Ridgeback about getting it sorted as a warranty thing but again said 'these things happen'.

So... What do you guys reckon? Is this normal? Should I take it elsewhere? I'm not much of a fettler but I want to learn!

 

[mickle]

Warranty - warranty - warranty.

Your contract is with the shop - so the 'speaking to Ridgeback' is a diversion.

Yes 'these things happen' and there are consequences when they do.

Take your complaint higher up the chain of command - don't be timid - and don't settle for anything less than full repair. A replacement bike or a full refund!

That is - a replacement of the component with the stripped thread ie the frame I assume.
Replacement of the wheel - replacement! Not repair. If two spokes were damaged enough to fail so are the rest.

The front mech adjusted so it doesn't rub on the chain.

And you'll be wanting your £21 back.

 

[accountantpete]

Clearly the spokes (or nipples) are not up to coping with your weight - which any decent spoke would. So it is down to the shop to sort it out.

The only solution is a re-build of the existing rims/hubs with good quality spokes/nipples or new wheels. I'd go with the former as you then know that you are getting quality components.

 

[whitebait]

Thanks for the advice, guys. Currently waiting for a call back from CS, waiting 45 minutes so far...

Also, both the spokes snapped at the hub end. Will get complaining and try to get my money back and a new wheel.

Wish I'd bought the bike elsewhere now...

 

[2Loose]

With the rear mech plinking the spokes, I am not surprised that they keep giving up the ghost.
With Mickle on this.

 

[Riding in Circles]

If the spokes are snapping at the hub then odds are the hub is rubbish with badly finished holes that are sawing through the spokes, your weight is not an issue, the company you have bought from sound like a bunch of wide boys, sale of goods act is your friend.

 

[gaz]

Best of luck getting this sorted.
I recently got a bicycle returned under the sales of goods act, it's not an easy thing to do but it is possible.
What was said about the mudguards is stupid, it shouldn't rub the wheel!

It is common that sometimes there is chain rub on the front derailure if you are in the middle ring and small sprocket. It's not genreally made to work that way.

 

[Red Light]

Clearly the spokes (or nipples) are not up to coping with your weight - which any decent spoke would.

The spokes and nipples will be fine. Its the build quality that is the problem but that is common with machine build wheels.

 

[Red Light]

If the spokes are snapping at the hub then odds are the hub is rubbish with badly finished holes that are sawing through the spokes

The hub is aluminium and the spokes are steel. With aluminium being 2.5-3 on the Mohs scale and Steel 7-8, you will never saw through steel spokes with an aluminium hub.

 

[rusty bearing]

I'm assuming its a traditional crossed three times lacing pattern here.
Its highly likely that the spokes are not at the correct tension, they will often break when not tight enough which may tie up with the rear mech brushing the rear spokes when it's ridden.
Aluminium nipples are often used as well which compared to brass are not as good.
Finally, no! Mudguards should not rub.....

 

[Riding in Circles]

The hub is aluminium and the spokes are steel. With aluminium being 2.5-3 on the Mohs scale and Steel 7-8, you will never saw through steel spokes with an aluminium hub.

Odd that I have seen it happen then, badly finished hub creates a weak spot on the bend of the spoke and voila! Snapped spoke, a bit of work with a fine needle file and it never happens again.

 

[whitebait]

Hey,

So thanks for everyone's suggestions and advice, here's a quick update:

CS Moorgate have said that the mech itself is bent, they're sourcing another one and will replace it free of charge. The manager wasn't in yesterday evening so although I was able to take the bike (with spoke repaired and limit screw set to stop me getting into 1st gear) I wasn't able to get my £21 refunded for the first spoke replacement. Will get that sorted when I get the mech replaced (today or tomorrow).

So... Generally happy with the service I've received, although they could have been quicker to have realised the issue (I've mentioned the mech plinking the spokes to them a few times)

 

[Red Light]

Odd that I have seen it happen then, badly finished hub creates a weak spot on the bend of the spoke and voila! Snapped spoke, a bit of work with a fine needle file and it never happens again.

I think you are probably confusing several things happening. Spokes break on the elbow because that is where the stress concentration is. Your first spoke probably broke for that reason and nothing to do with the hub sawing through the spoke. When you replaced it probably a number of things changed. Your filing may have led to a better spoke line at the hub, especially if it had previously been resting on a bit of swarf and not the flange body. You may have tensioned it and stress relieved better when you replaced it thus preventing a repeat failure and it may have been a better quality spoke and therefore less prone to breakage. Any of those could easily explain your experience but you will not saw or file through a steel spoke with an aluminium saw period.

 

[biggs682]

it all sounds like a lot of un needed hastle and frustration

 

[cyberknight]

Sounds like you were ripped off TBH

£21 to replace a spke? they are 50 pence to buy from my LBS and it is a 10 minute job to do, maybe chuck in a wheel true , no more than £10 for the whole job i would have said .
The original sales girl was conning you , if the bike had been set up right in the 1st place so as catrike says sale of goods act as this bike does not sound like it was put together right in the 1st place.