Just a little advice needed..

[Yantofullpelt]

Hello people,
Just after a little friendly advice.

I am new to the cycling game, and not very good on what I am looking for.
I have a Giant roam 1 bike 2015 model, and unfortunately due to the wonderful roads in Swansea I have got a broken spoke. I have been in contact with Giant UK and have not had a reply on where or if I can buy replacement wheels. And I do think the after sales from Giant is discussing.
The wheels on my bike are the Giant CR70 double wall.
The advice I am looking for is;
° What wheels can I look to upgrade (not too expensive)
° what size replacement spokes would I need if I decided to get them fixed.


Many thanks in advance.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

The broken spoke has nothing to do with the quality of roads. It is a function of supported mass (your arse plus the bike) and number of revolutions. A constant in the equation is whether or not the spokes have been stress relieved at build and, what type of spokes they are. It is a long story but the gist of it is that it has nothing to do with the roads.

To answer your questions:

1) You don't need to upgrade, you need to just fix the wheel. A broken spoke is just part of bicycle life. Replace as and when needed. I don't swap out my Rolls Royce each time the Champaigne caddy is empty, I refill the on-board chiller.
2) Spokes come in lengths ranging from about 245mm through 302mm in 1mm increments in three or four styles and two colours. Even if someone just happens to know the exact length, style and colour, you still have to find a bike shop to do the job for you. I suggest you take the wheel to a bike shop, have the spoke replaced and get on with it.

Go for a ride, drink a beer and take photos. Stop fussing about placing the blame elsewhere and looking for excuses to spend money on other wheels which may or may not suffer the same fate.

 

[bonsaibilly]

Can you just elaborate on what a broken spoke actually is or entails? Only asking coz a) I've never had a spoke "break" in any sense I can think of on any bike I've had, and b) I've currently got a bike with the same wheels the OP mentioned.

Thanks

BB

 

[Ajax Bay]

Your LBS will have the right length spoke (will cost less than a quid) and if you can't fit it and true the wheel yourself then they will do it, though probably not 'while you wait'.
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/roam.1/19223/77324/#overview

 

[CanucksTraveller]

+1 to Yellow. A broken spoke is part of cycling life and a quick fix for a bike shop. Drop it in and they'll fix it cheaply and usually pretty quickly. You certainly don't need new wheels just because a spoke has snapped.

 

[Ajax Bay]

A spoke normally breaks on the bend near the hub, though sometimes it breaks at the point it enters the nipple.

 

[CanucksTraveller]

Can you just elaborate on what a broken spoke actually is or entails? Only asking coz a) I've never had a spoke "break" in any sense I can think of on any bike I've had, and b) I've currently got a bike with the same wheels the OP mentioned.

Thanks

BB

Literally, a spoke has snapped at some point along its length and is now flapping about. Usually it's the end nearest to the axle where the spoke bends 90 degrees toward the hub / spindle of the wheel.

 

[Ajax Bay]

and is now flapping about

Tape it to the next spoke pending removal. Should not have put the wheel so out of true you cannot ride home, though you may have to 'open' the little lever that you use when you remove a wheel, and mostly use the other brake.

 

[TheDoctor]

Getting a spoke replaced is commonplace and not expensive. Certainly no need to replace the wheel for that. One of the Swansea lot should be able to recommend a bike shop - @theclaud ?

 

[CanucksTraveller]

Tape it to the next spoke pending removal. Should not have put the wheel so out of true you cannot ride home, though you may have to 'open' the little lever that you use when you remove a wheel, and mostly use the other brake.

I can't remember it happening since I was about 16 (over 25 years back, ouch), just shows how rare it can be for the individual. I cropped the loose spoke off with tin snips and rode with it missing for many months until it eventually got fixed. Not that it's good to do that of course, 16 year olds can be daft. And those wheels did have an awful lot of spokes! Maybe not so critical then.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

You have never had a spoke break?

Neither have I, across 6 bikes and lots of rough terrain, usually carrying the kitchen sink in my panniers.
I do GT85 my nipples though, when cleaning the bike, as recommended by LBS.

 

[TheDoctor]

I do GT85 my nipples though.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

 

[theclaud]

Getting a spoke replaced is commonplace and not expensive. Certainly no need to replace the wheel for that. One of the Swansea lot should be able to recommend a bike shop - @theclaud ?

Yep. There's no point in a lengthy disquisition on the relative merits of the various LBSs, as they should all be able to sort it. The Hub in St Helens Rd or Action Bikes in city centre are the most central. Hub more repair rather than sales oriented. OP is welcome to PM me for specific local advice. Or if in Mumbles, my pal Dr Evil can fix stuff...

 

[theclaud]

Neither have I, across 6 bikes and lots of rough terrain, usually carrying the kitchen sink in my panniers.
I do GT85 my nipples though, when cleaning the bike, as recommended by LBS.

It doesn't happen a lot, but it will happen. I've only ever broken two spokes, and neither occasion involved carrying loads of clobber. It's just an inevitability if you do enough miles. The fact that it hasn't happened yet is neither here nor there.