Am I walking home? Broken spoke.

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

One tip of replacing the spoke yourself... Mark it for a while with a piece of tape so you can keep track of it (assuming it is the same as the others). It will make life easier if you then break any more for working out why it if the wheel comes out of true afterwards for any reason.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

When I had the first spoke replaced on the Synapse wheel they used a silver nipple rather than the black one (I presume it's all they had in stock) I've got in to the habit of using silver nipples on any other replacements that have been needed (I think it's on its third) so that I can keep a track of what is going. Fortunately I don't mind that the nipples don't all match, but then it is on the practical bike.

 

[Racing roadkill]

You can get Kevlar emergency spokes. They are dead easy to attach and will get you home, as long as you're not hundreds of miles out.

 

[PpPete]

Giant's rear wheels had a bit of a reputation for breaking spokes

As do Specialized.

If the wheel keeps snapping spokes, you might need to get the spoke tensions balanced properly

you have a wheel that was probably built very rapidly from substandard components by a machine operated by very lowly paid human.
Don't bother trying to fix it would be my advice.
Learn how to build your own from scratch. It's easier than trying to fix some of the crap fitted to keep costs of new bikes down.
Start with http://www.wheelpro.co.uk/wheelbuilding/book.php
Best £9 I ever spent on bike stuff.

 

[fossyant]

You can ride home. Just make sure the spoke isn't going to stick somewhere that will jam the wheel if you can't remove it. Personally, learn how to replace them, unless it's got a silly special spoke that lots of wheels have, then you are stuffed until you can get a spare.

 

[evo456]

Do I need the chain whip/cassette tools if the broken spoke is not on the drive side?
That said, I can pick up those tools for just over £20, was quoted £10-15 by the local shop, so might be worth fixing at home and acquiring those tools.
Would just have to wait for delivery...

Edit: Ordered them anyway, better to have them laying about for routine maintenance anyway. Just need to pick up a replacement spoke.

Really depends on hub flange size, cassette size etc. I use to get the LBS to do this.. circa £ 11-15. Get the tools and make the most of the occasion it by lubricating the wheel bearings and freehub at the sametime

 

[confusedcyclist]

Really depends on hub flange size, cassette size etc. I use to get the LBS to do this.. circa £ 11-15. Get the tools and make the most of the occasion it by lubricating the wheel bearings and freehub at the sametime

Yep, was thinking of doing that

Made it home ok, though every strange sound had me wincing at the thought of major damage! Made it to the LBS before it closed but had to leave it with them as they couldn't get the spoke out without removing the tyre. Seen as though the bike remains out of action until the tools arrive, I have asked them just to sort it on this occasion, but will ask for a spare spoke in case it happens again, next time I'm prepared!

 

[confusedcyclist]

As do Specialized.
Learn how to build your own from scratch. It's easier than trying to fix some of the crap fitted to keep costs of new bikes down.
Start with http://www.wheelpro.co.uk/wheelbuilding/book.php
Best £9 I ever spent on bike stuff.

I'm only 4 months in to riding regularly, but if I do stick to it will seriously consider this, cheers!

 

[Simontm]

While on the subject of spokes, I got a replacement wheel after the 3-month old one snapped 4. Now the first spoke of the one-week old wheel has gone.

Will be taking it back in this weekend but can anyone recommend a 700x28 that's not too expensive, fairly light and up to carrying pannier loads, a six ft 2 bloke, and around 30 miles a day?

cos the current one certainly can't handle it despite what the Evans salesman said

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

While on the subject of spokes, I got a replacement wheel after the 3-month old one snapped 4. Now the first spoke of the one-week old wheel has gone.

Will be taking it back in this weekend but can anyone recommend a 700x28 that's not too expensive, fairly light and up to carrying pannier loads, a six ft 2 bloke, and around 30 miles a day?

cos the current one certainly can't handle it despite what the Evans salesman said

what is your budget and without meaning to be personal or anything like that, what is your weight?
The Shimano R501's hold up well to my OH's hammering of them with panniers... will take 28c tyres and are currently around £63 (standard spokes not bladed) for the pair if you apply a ribble cycles voucher code (which I think is on their front page). there is another thread going somewhere regarding this... my OH is +85kg without his panniers and we take the bike off tarmac quite a bit. His route to work is 11 miles each way minimum but he usually extends it to 15 each way... he likes seeing how fast he can do this and some of the back lanes are interesting and we have nasty speed bumps along our lane that can not be avoided by cyclists... they have stood up well to him and his approach to cycling - which can be more like a battering ram..

Double that budget and you will get something like Fulcrum Racing 7's that can be absolutely hammered and from experience have stayed true (just have a very noise freehub - no need for a bell to alert pedestrians) though I don't weigh anywhere near that, but have hit a really nasty pothole on them (full of water on a dark unlit country lane). It unseated me and cost me a water bottle but the wheels stayed perfectly true. the only down side is that I have the CX model which means I am getting through rather a lot of wheel bearings because of the distances I do... still they are sealed cartridge bearings and only costs £3 each so no big deal.

 

[Simontm]

what is your budget and without meaning to be personal or anything like that, what is your weight?
The Shimano R501's hold up well to my OH's hammering of them with panniers... will take 28c tyres and are currently around £63 (standard spokes not bladed) for the pair if you apply a ribble cycles voucher code (which I think is on their front page). there is another thread going somewhere regarding this... my OH is +85kg without his panniers and we take the bike off tarmac quite a bit. His route to work is 11 miles each way minimum but he usually extends it to 15 each way... he likes seeing how fast he can do this and some of the back lanes are interesting and we have nasty speed bumps along our lane that can not be avoided by cyclists... they have stood up well to him and his approach to cycling - which can be more like a battering ram..

Double that budget and you will get something like Fulcrum Racing 7's that can be absolutely hammered and from experience have stayed true (just have a very noise freehub - no need for a bell to alert pedestrians) though I don't weigh anywhere near that, but have hit a really nasty pothole on them (full of water on a dark unlit country lane). It unseated me and cost me a water bottle but the wheels stayed perfectly true. the only down side is that I have the CX model which means I am getting through rather a lot of wheel bearings because of the distances I do... still they are sealed cartridge bearings and only costs £3 each so no big deal.

Lo

Bout the same as your hubby maybe slightly lighter. No idea tbh, know my trousers don't fit anymore

As the LBS said to me as I popped I while limping home:"it's not your weight , they're shoot wheels!"

Money's tight attm alas but if I can get a new wheel at the weekend - surely they'll a accept culpability for a week old wheel - that will last more than a week it'll give me some time to raise a bit of cash.

The other option I spose is to spend about the same as it would cost on a single repair and buy some tools. The way this bike has screwed me over since buying it, should become quite the expert at wheels very quickly

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Lo

Bout the same as your hubby maybe slightly lighter. No idea tbh, know my trousers don't fit anymore

As the LBS said to me as I popped I while limping home:"it's not your weight , they're shoot wheels!"

Money's tight attm alas but if I can get a new wheel at the weekend - surely they'll a accept culpability for a week old wheel - that will last more than a week it'll give me some time to raise a bit of cash.

The other option I spose is to spend about the same as it would cost on a single repair and buy some tools. The way this bike has screwed me over since buying it, should become quite the expert at wheels very quickly

sometimes it is just better to quit with crap wheels and buy something better... even £63 will be better...
these are they... http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/ro...andard-spoke-clincher-wheels-pair/shimwhfr202 and the code is "STOCK13" valid til 10am Tuesday 28th October and this where we bought his from. you will still need a chain whip and cassette tool to move your cassette over. But I have had significantly less problems with my OH's bike since I took him over to these wheel back in January this year. Haven't had to re-true them or replace a broken spoke and have yet to need to consider the wheel bearing side of life (unlike my own bike which are on their 3rd set of bearings since then, but like I said I do lots of mileage).

 

[Simontm]

So took the wheel back to Evans. Finally got someone talking about the wheel not being "fit for purpose". Apparently there is a lot of this about. So they've got the wheel, let's see what happens next.