Is 28 spokes enough for a heavy bugger?

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

28 spokes on my rear kinesis disc wheel, 2 spokes snapped so far. To be fair tho it's been creaking for weeks and now I know why..the spokes were pretty low on tension.

So I'll keep replacing the spokes as they go due to time constraints, I just don't have time to do a full rebuild. But am I deluding myself it'll be strong enough anyway? I'm 17 1/2 and use a pannier full of commuting crap.

 

[PpPete]

28 spokes on my rear kinesis disc wheel, 2 spokes snapped so far. To be fair tho it's been creaking for weeks and now I know why..the spokes were pretty low on tension.
So I'll keep replacing the spokes as they go due to time constraints, I just don't have time to do a full rebuild. But am I deluding myself it'll be strong enough anyway? I'm 17 1/2 and use a pannier full of commuting crap.

Full rebuild with proper spoke tensions = 2 hours? then probably years of trouble free riding
Individual spoke replacement and re-true wheel = 1/2 hour each ( x 28) = 14 hours
I wouldn't have time for the latter option.

I've seen a poor wheel build fail in a couple of hundred miles under an 8 stone beanpole so....
17 1/2 (stone?) or 12 stone... not a whole lot of difference to spoke longevity in my book, so long as the tensions are a) high enough b) reasonably even.

 

[ColinJ]

I was riding 28 spokes at 16-9 and the only spoke I ever broke (you were with me on that Blackpool ride) was one that had been previously damaged by the rear mech getting jammed in the wheel.

If your wheel is badly built and you keep patching it up, then the spokes will keep on breaking. Every time one spoke breaks it is going to put extra stress on the remaining spokes.

I suggest that you miss one ride, and spend the time rebuilding the wheel properly!

 

[sreten]

Hi,

Depends on how fat the spokes are, and fatter spokes on the DS than the NDS
on the rear are typically a good idea, the NDS same spokes are the front wheel.

rgds. sreten.

 

[jowwy]

i now weigh in at a tad under 17st - i have 18 spokes front and 20 rear - weight limit for the wheels is 250lbs - so the answer is yes

 

[Spoked Wheels]

It's pointless changing one spoke at a time.

The number of spokes will depend on what type of spokes they are, having said that, you wont get a long life and trouble free with a 28 spokes rear wheel, you will have components failing at different times. I rode a well built wheel for about 2 years when I was about your weight and I damaged the freehub twice and although it had strong and heavy spokes that never let me down. When the rim showed the first signs of cracks I retired the wheel.

If you don't want to rebuild the wheel then at least re tension the spokes.

 

[jowwy]

It's pointless changing one spoke at a time.

The number of spokes will depend on what type of spokes they are, having said that, you wont get a long life and trouble free with a 28 spokes rear wheel, you will have components failing at different times. I rode a well built wheel for about 2 years when I was about your weight and I damaged the freehub twice and although it had strong and heavy spokes that never let me down. When the rim showed the first signs of cracks I retired the wheel.

If you don't want to rebuild the wheel then at least re tension the spokes.

so your saying a wheel built with 20 spokes and a rider limit of 250lbs won't last long - please show me the data that proves this statement

 

[Crankarm]

I would suggest that being not so heavy would be good not only for the longevity of your wheels, but also for a whole host of other reasons as well.

If I was that heavy which I am not I would want at least a 32 hole or even a 36 hole hand built wheel.

 

[Spoked Wheels]

so your saying a wheel built with 20 spokes and a rider limit of 250lbs won't last long - please show me the data that proves this statement

It's common sense, don't you think? I haven't looked into any statistics but I read from very experience wheels builders and they all agree that the life of a wheel is seriously shortened by overloading. I'm sure their experience is worth taking seriously, more than any marketing that says otherwise. I suggest you give Harry Roland a ring and ask him to build you a 20 spoke rear wheel for a 250lbs rider. I would be shocked if he agrees to do it.

I'm aware of companies offering wheels with heavy load tolerance and low spoke count. They are expensive wheels and the manufacturers do take a gamble with heavy riders, the chances are that a heavy rider wont do enough mileage per year to claim under warranty. I'm sure they have done their sums right and the numbers of wheels they sell with such marketing strategy far outweighs the profits they make, taking into account the wheels they do agree to replace under warranty.

It all comes down to common sense I think. Using a pickup track or a van to continually do a job that requires a lorry would also seriously shortened the life of such vehicle.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

2 spoke replaced, all spokes loosened oiled and the wheel re tensioned and trued. Hopefully it'll be ok for a while, if not I'll get it rebuilt and keep as a spare and buy a set of Hope hoops.

 

[jowwy]

It's common sense, don't you think? I haven't looked into any statistics but I read from very experience wheels builders and they all agree that the life of a wheel is seriously shortened by overloading. I'm sure their experience is worth taking seriously, more than any marketing that says otherwise. I suggest you give Harry Roland a ring and ask him to build you a 20 spoke rear wheel for a 250lbs rider. I would be shocked if he agrees to do it.

I'm aware of companies offering wheels with heavy load tolerance and low spoke count. They are expensive wheels and the manufacturers do take a gamble with heavy riders, the chances are that a heavy rider wont do enough mileage per year to claim under warranty. I'm sure they have done their sums right and the numbers of wheels they sell with such marketing strategy far outweighs the profits they make, taking into account the wheels they do agree to replace under warranty.

It all comes down to common sense I think. Using a pickup track or a van to continually do a job that requires a lorry would also seriously shortened the life of such vehicle.

but the wheel would only be overloaded if you go above the rider weight of 250lbs, therefore deducing that a wheel built with 20spokes is ok to be ridden by a rider within this weight limit.

 

[Dusty Bin]

but the wheel would only be overloaded if you go above the rider weight of 250lbs, therefore deducing that a wheel built with 20spokes is ok to be ridden by a rider within this weight limit.

Are you talking about your Zipps again? RRSODL makes his point very clearly - why are you disputing it?

 

[Spoked Wheels]

but the wheel would only be overloaded if you go above the rider weight of 250lbs, therefore deducing that a wheel built with 20spokes is ok to be ridden by a rider within this weight limit.

Maybe I didn't make it clear enough what I said about marketing strategy.

If really interest you the subject I'd have a word with Harry Rowland.

 

[jowwy]

Are you talking about your Zipps again? RRSODL makes his point very clearly - why are you disputing it?

cause i can - so please go away .

 

[jowwy]

marketing strategy or legal document stating max rider weight for safe wheel usage