Marathon + cause of broken spokes?

[bonker]

I rebuilt a fixed wheel bike with bits from Single speed components and put on M+. I have broken three spokes in less than a couple of 100 miles. A chap in a bike shop suggested M+ are so stiff they stop the wheel from flexing and can cause spokes to break.
Does this sound likely ? Or am I expecting too much from a £70 wheel set?

 

[maltloaf]

without being rude, are you a big lad ? I am and I break spokes now and then on any rear wheel which has less than 36 spokes.

I can't see it being the tyres tbh, my duranos are stiffer purely because they're pumped up to such a high pressure and I don't get it with those particularly

 

[raleighnut]

I rebuilt a fixed wheel bike with bits from Single speed components and put on M+. I have broken three spokes in less than a couple of 100 miles. A chap in a bike shop suggested M+ are so stiff they stop the wheel from flexing and can cause spokes to break.
Does this sound likely ? Or am I expecting too much from a £70 wheel set?

Duff spokes , never heard of a tyre being too stiff (unless its made from wood with an iron hoop but hang on wer'nt they fixed gear and had spokes too)

 

[Herzog]

Sounds like guff form the mechanic...how did you equalize spoke tensions when building the wheel?

 

[Newman8]

Maybe number of spokes(?) - I used to ride a 21h(!) rear - Campag Scirocco (factory made) & broke spokes fairly regularly. It would be when I hit a pothole say - but way too often nonetheless.
Have 32h now - Ambrosio Excellight / Novatec / Sapim (handbuilt) - been brilliant - never one single issue in many miles.
- I'm approx 12st but sometimes carry a small backpack too.

 

[PatrickPending]

Any wheel I've had made up with good quality stainless steel spokes has been completely free of spoke breakages...

 

[gwhite]

It's best to be aware that most bike mechanics are lacking the skill to build or even repair wheels and certainly the one mentioned in the OP was in that category. The problem is that building and repairing wheels takes time and this has to be recouped in terms of labour costs which may be difficult. In that the most common cause of broken spokes (usually at the bend) is low tension, then the idea that popping in a new replacement spoke is but a very temporary solution. A permanent cure would involve ensuring that all the spokes were tensioned properly and the tensions were made even before stressing and de-stressing was repeatedly carried out, and this means spending time.

 

[Ian H]

It depends on the quality of the spokes, of the wheel-build, and the age of the wheel.

 

[PatrickPending]

I usually will replace a single spoke myself, though it is more normal to have a second spoke shortly after, in which case I go for a rebuild with quality spokes.......