Spoke problems

[totallyfixed]

If money is tight I would invest in a wheel building course. Wheels [and headsets] are often the parts that are least maintained and yet I can check the the tension in my spokes in a couple of minutes, well worth it. In a lifetime of cycling I have never had a broken spoke [touch wood, thanks dad].

 

[Spoked Wheels]

Could be a multitude of factors. Weight versus number of spokes. Some wheels simply aren't suitable for certain weights. Spoke tensions could also be all over the place, causing them to break. If you have them re-built then ask around and find a decent wheel builder. A proper wheel builder will put a small brass washer on each spoke when he re-builds it (at the shoulder), will test the spoke tensions with a tension meter and ensure the right length spoke is used. I'm 13 stones and use 32 or 36 spokes on the back wheel and, touch wood, have never had a problem.

I don't profess to be an expert. I've done a wheel building course but that doesn't qualify me to have the answer, I'm afraid, but if it's built properly and is appropriate for your weight then you really shouldn't have to worry about spokes breaking. It doesn't have to cost a fortune (I'm a tight wad so I should know) but at least you won't have to buy new wheels. One thing you could suggest to the wheel builder is try a heavier guage spoke. And they're getting a pack of 36 for under a tenner, by the way.

A brass washer is a good idea with hubs that have thin flange, radial lacing, etc but not always necessary.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Making sure there is even tension throughout the spokes of a wheel is paramount in your considerations. Otherwise, spokes will probably keep breaking. Replacing, and properly tensioning each spoke as replaced does not take into account the possibility that some other spoke, perhaps on the other side of the wheel, is not properly tensioned. Learned this the hard way. Many wheels today are machine built. If it looks good, it ships.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Hoping someone can help my hubby out. In the last two months he has had four broken spokes on the back wheel. Each time the local lbs has replaced the broken spokes and re trued bit then within a couple of weeks another one has gone. What we are wondering is, is there likely to be a reason that is causing them to keep snapping at the hub end? Or has his love affair with the p*ncture fairy ended and he has started a new one with some spoke destroying goblin??? He has a cannondale caad8 which still has the wheels it came with. Please help my sanity...oh and his lol!!

Can I ask how old the bike is? (assuming he is on stock wheels here). It is just it could still be inside its warranty period.

 

[hobbitonabike]

te="SatNavSaysStraightOn, post: 2757048, member: 10876"]Can I ask how old the bike is? (assuming he is on stock wheels here). It is just it could still be inside its warranty period.[/quote]
It is 18months old. Hubby took it to lbs today and they said the rims were worn. They offered a rebuild but also had an offer on new rims soooo yep...new wheels lol. It will have worked out cost effective in the long run and a happy hubby too lol.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Well done. Glad to hear it all worked out for the best.