Breaking rear spokes on roadbike

[Rob Dyke]

I have some zip 404 speed weaponary wheels and the spokes have now broken three times! does anyone know what the problem could be? thanks

 

[TissoT]

What do you weigh ?
Are the wheels new or second hand ...

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Hi and Rob.

Same questions that @tissot asked plus; did you ride far with the first broken spoke?

 

[Drago]

How well centred is the rim, and how well tensioner are the spokes.

 

[Ian H]

One assumes you're not riding over kerbs, through large potholes, etc.

 

[Fab Foodie]

You are 'The Jensie' AICMFP.

Maybe you are too heavy or a combo of weight and poor roads.
You could have the rear rebuilt by a competent wheelbuilder with slightly stronger spokes?

 

[Ian H]

Googling suggests it's a 20 spoke wheel and not made since 2012. it might just be coming to the end of its life - meaning a rebuild with new spokes and anything else worn out is required.

 

[Brommyboy]

Spokes usually break when the wheel is badly tensioned: in the days when Muddy Fox was the top MTB, I had spokes break frequently until the wheel was re-spoked by hand - the original and replacement wheels were all over-tensioned. All my Brompton wheels, since the first had breakages, I check by tinging the spokes: invariably I find some slack and some over-tight spokes. Evening these up removes the breakages, without altering the shape of the wheel. All I do is to get the equivalent spokes to produce the same note when tinged, either tightening for a dull sound or loosening for a high-pitched one. The amount of adjustment on the nipple is often just a fraction of a turn, maybe a half-turn.