Riding with missing spokes

[berty bassett]

Not really. I was unsure whether it was safe to ride with several spokes missing, so I asked the question. Turns out it isn't safe, so I didn't do it.

no offence meant just trying to give my opinion in light hearted manner

 

[Matthew_T]

I still have the same front wheel that I got when I first got my road bike (4 1/2 years ago). Some of the spokes are rusting but the wheel has remained true and nothing has happened to it, even over the worst potholes.
I have needed to replace the rear wheel recently but that was because the hub had gone and the cassette was slipping (new chain as well). I am now strapped for cash and dont want anything else to go wrong with my bike until September.

 

[Sittingduck]

I don't know why you're getting no narky, OP. If you don't want feedback - why post in the first place?? Seems pretty obvious to me anyway, sheesh.

 

[Archie_tect]

Had 2 spokes snap while out yesterday on the original steel wheel on my 31 year old Dawes bike... the noise was like a rifle shot. The wheel immediately buckled so badly it rubbed to a stop in 3 places.... had a spoke spanner with me so got it a bit straighter to get home. Took it to LBS tonight.... they could've trued it but if original spokes start going then likely the rest will follow soon.... ordered new front and rear 27" quick release alloys.... should make my old bike fly along and actually stop in the wet!

 

[Hip Priest]

I don't know why you're getting no narky, OP. If you don't want feedback - why post in the first place?? Seems pretty obvious to me anyway, sheesh.

1. I'm not narky in the slightest
2. I do want feedback. I've received it, taken it onboard and thanked everyone for their advice.
3. It may be obvious to you, but I'm relatively new to cycling and there are things I'm unsure of.

 

[Hip Priest]

no offence meant just trying to give my opinion in light hearted manner

No offence taken.

 

[psmiffy]

Its possible to carry on for quite a while on a 32 rim with spokes going - On one of my very early tours I rode from Montepelier across the Auvgerne with a loaded bike with spokes popping - by the time i got to Orleans and found a bike shop who could fix it I had 16 intact spokes and a wheel that was a bit wobbly

 

[Red Light]

I think everyone is being far too cautious here. Provided they are not next to one another it will be fine to ride it till the weekend with 3 of the 32 spokes gone.

 

[Bman]

I think it's my fat arse that might be causing the problem.

And there was me thinking it was your awesome torque powering up the hills....

 

[Hip Priest]

And there was me thinking it was your awesome torque powering up the hills....

It definitely isn't that! I'm tempted to blame the work colleague who keeps leaving his bicycle with the pedals stuck in my wheels (or his brake levers under my cables).

 

[Profpointy]

I think everyone is being far too cautious here. Provided they are not next to one another it will be fine to ride it till the weekend with 3 of the 32 spokes gone.

Mmmm - whilst i might agree if one had gone might put up with it for a while, but a couple more going in quick suggestion sounds like a trend to me - with more and more force being held by fewer and fewer spokes - I think I can see a certain inevitability here..
I've never bust a spoke, but if they're going one after another, well.....

 

[rualexander]

On holiday in Corsica a few years ago, a section of hub flange broke on my rear wheel with the result that I had to take out three spokes and re-true and tension the wheel. It lasted the rest of the holiday, about two weeks, no problem. The rim was a Sun Ryhno though so maybe that helped!

 

[Red Light]

Mmmm - whilst i might agree if one had gone might put up with it for a while, but a couple more going in quick suggestion sounds like a trend to me - with more and more force being held by fewer and fewer spokes - I think I can see a certain inevitability here..
I've never bust a spoke, but if they're going one after another, well.....

Your thesis then requires that all the spokes are replaced at the weekend, not just the three that have gone, as the rest are going to go.. Reality is you can have three spokes go, replace them and the wheel is fine thereafter. People happily ride 36 or 32 spoke wheels without worrying that one has four fewer spokes than the other so three spokes less on a 32 spoke wheel just brings it close to being a 28 spoke wheel. If lots more spokes go over the next few days I would agree with you but until that happens keep riding it.

 

[Hip Priest]

Bit of feedback. Edinburgh bicycle in Newcastle fixed it free of charge in a couple of hours, even though they were mad busy (it was the first day of their sale). I'm very impressed. Then I got home, started to clean my road bike and found...a broken spoke. Sob.

 

[oldfatfool]

Your thesis then requires that all the spokes are replaced at the weekend, not just the three that have gone, as the rest are going to go.. Reality is you can have three spokes go, replace them and the wheel is fine thereafter. People happily ride 36 or 32 spoke wheels without worrying that one has four fewer spokes than the other so three spokes less on a 32 spoke wheel just brings it close to being a 28 spoke wheel. If lots more spokes go over the next few days I would agree with you but until that happens keep riding it.

Ah but by the same arguement there should be less likelihood of a spoke popping on a 32 than a 28, so the fact that three have gone could point to an underlying problem