Broken spokes

[Mr_Grieve]

Just had a spoke break on my rear wheel less than 40 miles after having another/same (not sure which) broken spoke repaired on the same wheel by the LBS. Wheel was trued by the same LBS about 3-4 weeks ago. Wheels are Fulcrum 5 and less then a year old. I'm on the larger side being 95kg. Wheels must have done 4-5000Km on shitty Fife roads before going out of true.

Concerns are -
1. Did the LBS muck up truing/spoke repair?
or
2. Is it a sign the wheels have taken a battering carrying my fat arse over shitty roads and have given up the ghost?

I realise it's impossible for anyone to say which (or maybe both) scenarios is most likely. The question is whether I just get the spoke replaced or if the wheel now needs rebuilt (as someone has suggested to me). I'm going to drop the wheel into LBS tomorrow but would welcome thoughts.

PS Aware custom built wheels might be best for me and am considering this but need to do something with my current wheelset.

 

[andytheflyer]

How many spokes in the wheel - and what lacing pattern?

 

[Pale Rider]

Repairing a broken spoke once or twice is a reasonable attempt to sort the problem at modest cost.

But has you have discovered, there tends to be a domino effect of one break after another, so now is the time to consider a more in depth solution.

The next stage is to slacken all the spokes and re-tension them, not quite a rebuild although close to it.

 

[Arrowfoot]

Not just the weight but the terrain as well. Fulcrum are good wheels. You might want to consider handmade wheels with more spokes especially for the rear wheel. A worthy investment for those on the heavy side and ride on rather bumpy roads.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Spokes break because of metal fatigue and like all fatigue breaks, not all spokes will break at the same time. It's a bit random. However, you've now confirmed that the one break wasn't a fluke and now is time for a rebuild with new spokes. Only use a wheelbuilder that understands stress relieving, otherwise you are back to square one.
Also, get double butted spokes, not straight gauge.

Rebuilding with the existing spokes achieve nothing.

 

[Mr_Grieve]

How many spokes in the wheel - and what lacing pattern?

20 in asymmetric pattern

The next stage is to slacken all the spokes and re-tension them, not quite a rebuild although close to it.

That's what I was thinking of when I said rebuild ie doing a bit more than simply shoving the new spoke in and checking the wheel was true. Just want to be able to have an informed discussion with LBS

 

[andytheflyer]

I'm slightly heavier, and ride on crappy rural roads. I have Mavic Open Pro wheels on my Defy road bike - 32H at the front and 36 at the back, 3 cross pattern. They don't break their spokes - or haven't so far.

I suggest that a 20 spoke rim is too flimsy for your (our!) weight.

 

[ayceejay]

I don't think a 20 spoke wheel is man enough.

 

[Spoked Wheels]

Just had a spoke break on my rear wheel less than 40 miles after having another/same (not sure which) broken spoke repaired on the same wheel by the LBS. Wheel was trued by the same LBS about 3-4 weeks ago. Wheels are Fulcrum 5 and less then a year old. I'm on the larger side being 95kg. Wheels must have done 4-5000Km on shitty Fife roads before going out of true.

Concerns are -
1. Did the LBS muck up truing/spoke repair?
or
2. Is it a sign the wheels have taken a battering carrying my fat arse over shitty roads and have given up the ghost?

I realise it's impossible for anyone to say which (or maybe both) scenarios is most likely. The question is whether I just get the spoke replaced or if the wheel now needs rebuilt (as someone has suggested to me). I'm going to drop the wheel into LBS tomorrow but would welcome thoughts.

PS Aware custom built wheels might be best for me and am considering this but need to do something with my current wheelset.

1. No, probably your spokes are fatigued already and it's a question of time before you loose more spokes.

2. Wheels that are over loaded have their spokes life shortened - it's common sense if you think about it.

Not just the weight but the terrain as well. Fulcrum are good wheels. You might want to consider handmade wheels with more spokes especially for the rear wheel. A worthy investment for those on the heavy side and ride on rather bumpy roads.

I wouldn't blame the terrain. Wheels should cope with potholes. Large potholes will damage rims and that could damage spokes but that is not always the case.

I'm slightly heavier, and ride on crappy rural roads. I have Mavic Open Pro wheels on my Defy road bike - 32H at the front and 36 at the back, 3 cross pattern. They don't break their spokes - or haven't so far.

I suggest that a 20 spoke rim is too flimsy for your (our!) weight.

Yep, you have seen the light

 

[PpPete]

32 front and 36 rear properly built with double butted spokes should have enough fatigue life to easily outlast a rim. Especially an Open Pro.
My lard arse, and innumerable potholes have tried, and failed, to destroy that combination.

 

[Mr_Grieve]

Thanks all. I'll look into sturdier wheels but I'm still not sure what to do with my current wheel. Is it worth salvaging - I don't mind paying a wee bit of money if I'll get another 4-5k out of them - or should I just cut my losses and start saving for new wheels?

 

[Spoked Wheels]

Thanks all. I'll look into sturdier wheels but I'm still not sure what to do with my current wheel. Is it worth salvaging - I don't mind paying a wee bit of money if I'll get another 4-5k out of them - or should I just cut my losses and start saving for new wheels?

Fulcrum wheels aren't bad wheels but I'd start thinking on a new set built with enough spokes for your weight.

 

[User6179]

Thanks all. I'll look into sturdier wheels but I'm still not sure what to do with my current wheel. Is it worth salvaging - I don't mind paying a wee bit of money if I'll get another 4-5k out of them - or should I just cut my losses and start saving for new wheels?

Are the fulcrums still straight pull spokes?, I am 15 stone and except for salt corrosion on my front Aksium I have did 8000 miles on a set of Fulcrum5s ( 1 broken spoke on rear ) , 4000 miles on Mavic cosmic Elites( no breakages) and 5000 miles on the aksium ( no rear breakages) . so 17000 miles on Straight pull spoked rear wheels and only one snapped spoke .
They don't seem to fatigue like J bend but I have cracked all 3 rear rims

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Thanks all. I'll look into sturdier wheels but I'm still not sure what to do with my current wheel. Is it worth salvaging - I don't mind paying a wee bit of money if I'll get another 4-5k out of them - or should I just cut my losses and start saving for new wheels?

Cut your losses and start fresh with 36-spoke wheels.

 

[PpPete]

Thanks all. I'll look into sturdier wheels but I'm still not sure what to do with my current wheel. Is it worth salvaging - I don't mind paying a wee bit of money if I'll get another 4-5k out of them - or should I just cut my losses and start saving for new wheels?

Depends on the condition of the rims. If any cracks around spoke holes, or significant concavity on the brake track then definitely cut your losses.
If neither of the above, and you can afford to get these respoked by someone who knows what they are doing, as well buying as set of new 32/36spokers then maybe worth keeping for when you've lost a few lbs?