Broken bike spoke.....

[Barnet Goat]

Hi, I'm still fairly new to cycling (two days short of my first anniversary) and have little mechanical ability!

Today, my bike (£400 Jamis road bike, rear wheel is an Shimano RS11 about four months old) appeared to be groaning a bit more than I'm used to and about twelve miles from home made a loud metallic noise, about four miles later I heard the sound of a spoke on the road. Spoke was from the rear wheel on the cassette side. Not too worried I picked it up and headed home. The bike had felt less responsive than normal but I put that down to fatigue, however, once at home I noticed that the one of the rear brake pads had moved and was rubbing significantly on the rear wheel.

So, a couple of questions having done a little internet research. I assume the spoke breaking was just general fatigue and needs to go to a bike shop for repair? I live in Barnet and have been distinctly underwhelmed with Evans so will try Shorter Rochford unless anyone suggests a better alternative. Looking at the advice online doing it myself appears beyond me. I assume I cannot ride the bike with a missing spoke?

Is the issue with the brake pads connected to the broken spoke? I have never had an issue previously with the alignment of the pads. I'm sure I could fix this myself but just curious to know whether its a coincidence that my first ever issue with a spoke has occured at the first time I've had an issue with brake pad alignment.

Any thoughts appreciated.

 

[fossyant]

The brake pads catching will be down to the wheel being out of true and caching near the place where the spoke was.

Assuming the RS11 doesn't use some fancy spoke, then most bike shops can replace for about £15. Broken spokes do happen with chaper factory machine built wheels.

Whether a spoke should go so soon is another issue, but proving it to a shop wil be tricky.

 

[rusty bearing]

Standard round steel spokes in RS11's. Be @292mm I would suspect.

 

[Spoked Wheels]

As @fossyant said above.

Almost certainly the spoke broke due to metal fatigue and more will follow.

 

[Barnet Goat]

Thank you for your replies. If the broken spoke occurred due to a fault of the wheel then its a little disappointing that a supposed upgrade on the original wheel should actually prove to be inferior. However, I will get it repaired and see what happens.....

 

[Spoked Wheels]

Thank you for your replies. If the broken spoke occurred due to a fault of the wheel then its a little disappointing that a supposed upgrade on the original wheel should actually prove to be inferior. However, I will get it repaired and see what happens.....

The stock wheels on a £400 bike would not be great wheels.

If these wheels are an upgrade, which I believe they are, did you consider your weight when you upgraded? Maybe you are light enough for the wheels but my guess is that you are not or the wheels would have lasted longer than 4 months.

If you are on the heavy side the get the wheel repaired and sell them on and start again with something more suitable.

 

[adamhearn]

The Shimano RS11 is a low spoke count [but heavy] wheel. They really need to be checked/maintained to offer long service and that advice is particular important if you're a bit weighty or have a tendency to crash over potholes and kerbs.

Did you check the spoke tension on purchase and/or after 100-200 miles? It's possible that it wasn't well built when you put it on or settled badly after some miles. Given the low spoke count it's a little surprising you didn't end up with a Pringle shaped wheel when one let go.

Repairing it should be possible but the custom spoke and nipples mean the price will be a higher than average. Most shops will also have to custom order the parts in so you might be in for a wait.

 

[Barnet Goat]

Thank you Adam and Spoked. I suspect at 13 stone I am a little on the heavy side! And, no, I did not check the spoke tension at any point (I wasn't even aware that I should do and this reinforces my opinion about Evans who recommended and fitted the wheel). Assuming I am too heavy for the wheel do you have any suggestions for a more appropriate alternative. Price would be an issue but as the current £63 pound wheel has proved to be a false economy I am open-minded.

 

[Spoked Wheels]

Thank you Adam and Spoked. I suspect at 13 stone I am a little on the heavy side! And, no, I did not check the spoke tension at any point (I wasn't even aware that I should do and this reinforces my opinion about Evans who recommended and fitted the wheel). Assuming I am too heavy for the wheel do you have any suggestions for a more appropriate alternative. Price would be an issue but as the current £63 pound wheel has proved to be a false economy I am open-minded.

13 stone should not be a problem.

There is plenty of information on wheels around the forums.

 

[PatrickPending]

You could get a good bike shop to re-build the wheel with good quality stainless steel spokes - would be about £50 ish but your wheels should last a long time...

 

[Soltydog]

Thank you Adam and Spoked. I suspect at 13 stone I am a little on the heavy side!

I dont think 13 stone is on the heavy side for any wheel I can vaguely remember being there, but doubt I'll ever see it again I've been as heavy as 19 stone & have been know to break the odd spoke now & again Currently at 15.5 stone & riding on handbuilt wheels that don't give a minutes bother. I'm currently on 36 spokes & would rather have the extra weight of a few more spokes & reliability over a lighter wheelset (I still have about a dozen strava KOMs so aint doing too bad)

 

[adamhearn]

Thank you Adam and Spoked. I suspect at 13 stone I am a little on the heavy side! And, no, I did not check the spoke tension at any point (I wasn't even aware that I should do and this reinforces my opinion about Evans who recommended and fitted the wheel). Assuming I am too heavy for the wheel do you have any suggestions for a more appropriate alternative. Price would be an issue but as the current £63 pound wheel has proved to be a false economy I am open-minded.

I'm with Spoked Wheels... 13 stone is not heavy; I'm certainly well over that and have not had any significant issues with a set of RS10's. Assuming the wheel looks in good nick bar and hasn't covered huge mileage I might be inclined to have a word with Evans.

 

[cyberknight]

As it happens a rear spoke on my RS 11 went today , i was sitting in a traffic jam and heard an almightly clunk and the rear wheel would not turn properly untill i disconnected the rear brake cable .
I put it down to the tension in the low spoke count , if i had been on my other 32 spoke wheels i could have just released the brake adjuster and got home without the wheel looking like it had been run over .
And im around 147 llbs so its not like i am overstressing the wheel.

 

[2clepto]

take the tyre and tube and rim tape off and remove one spoke. nip to the local bike shop buy two or three replacements for 80pence each and dive in using a youtube video. youll be surprised how easy it is to do.

 

[cyberknight]

take the tyre and tube and rim tape off and remove one spoke. nip to the local bike shop buy two or three replacements for 80pence each and dive in using a youtube video. youll be surprised how easy it is to do.

Took my wheel into the LBS
Had to order them in as they are a bladed straight pull spoke , i might even end up with spares as they come in a box of 5 .