Newbie with a problem

[Hogie]

Hi guys

Have had my bike now for 18 months and loving it!

Have recently broken 3spokes on the back wheel and its now buckled.The wheels are original that came on the bike (2012 specialised allez) and I'm wondering if its worth upgrading to a better wheel?

I'm not a racer but I love being on the bike when it's running well and I have my own pb's I want to beat.One of my friends who is a serious rider told me that you can't polish a turd and I should upgrade the whole bike!!...would love too but I'm poor!

So please any suggestions and advice will be awesome

Cheers

 

[Puddles]

I didn't understand most of that (because I am fick when it comes to cycle stuff & new) but I did understand the "poor" bit..

This may be of some help to you http://www.bikehub.co.uk/featured-articles/recycling/

A friend kitted out her & 4 of her small people from our local bicycle recycling place so there might be one near you that does what you want cheap but still good?

 

[Cycleops]

Why not rebuild the wheel but wirh a better rim or even rims? Wouldnt cost too much at your LBS and while you are at it upgrade the tyres too.

 

[PpPete]

A Specialized Allez is not a bad bike at all.
Sadly some of the lower end Specialized models come equipped with wheels which seem to come from a factory with crap quality control.
Most of the wheels are OK (although an upgrade wouldn't go amiss) but there seems to be a small percentage which come as absolute dogs that no amount of fettling will ever sort.
To some extent it's a shame it's eighteen months, because the shop you got it from is going to say wear & tear.
A friend of mine with a Secteur had to take a wheel back three times in as many weeks after getting the new bike.... but they couldn't fix it permanently either.
Having dismantled the bastard thing and spent hours rebuilding it in the middle of a tour only for it to pringle again the next day I can understand why.

In the end there was no alternative but to spend £90 on the cheapest wheel in the next LBS we came to (as they didnt have any suitable rims for a another rebuild).

Shop online and you'll probably get a decent enough wheelset (front and back) for £90 -£100

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Oh crikey - the materialistic must have more expensive and ergo better bike faction comes romping over the horizon in the form of your no doubt well intentioned mate.

Jeez, the Spesh Allez is a fine framed bike and what on Earth would the benefits of buying a whole new bike be exactly? How is your bike a "Turd"? It's beyond me the crap that some people trot out. There are people on here who do thousands of (quick) miles a year on relatively low priced bikes - a fair bit cheaper than your Allez too. Your mate needs a perspective check. Rider/Bike not Rider/Bike.

Just change the wheels, sounds like their time is up - you can get some terrific deals on eg RS10/20/30 for £100-140 from Merlin/Rose etc.

Just change bits like for like or 'upgrade' if you feel the need as things wear out.

Re the "poor" bit. I was once. Tip: spending money on what you don't really need won't help you stop being 'poor'. Sermon over.

Get new wheels and carry on loving your bike and riding. Get fitter, faster and give Mr Serious a run for his money. Keep plugging away at your savings too!

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[redcard]

Your mate has a tiny penis.

 

[Tim Hall]

Are you saying you broke one spoke, had it fixed, broke another, had that fixed, then broke the third? Or broke three more or less together? The latter case would cause the wheel to go out of true big style, (buckle) especially if they're near each other. I can't see why a decent bike shop can't replace the spokes and true the wheel, unless the rim is actually bent.

 

[Hogie]

Wow !!

Cheers for all of the advice!one spoke broke and I got that fixed then two broke bout three weeks later and bent the rim enough for it to lock up the bike...scary stuff!!

Thanks for the links and advice I can't wait to show up with my polished turd next time!!

 

[uclown2002]

http://app.strava.com/activities/60071928
I've got the 2011 turd; serves me ok.
Also have a 'faster' bike which I keep for good weather.