Spoke/Wheel Question

[John the Monkey]

I've recently had a couple of spokes snap in my rear wheel - the result (I think) of hitting a pothole at speed whilst trying not to be under a tractor.

The spokes are snapping at the head rather than the elbow - I've replaced and retrued up to now, but I'm assuming that the number snapping is indicative of a more serious problem. Does the fact that the spokes are snapping at the head tell knowledgable folk where this problem is likely to lie?

 

[dan_bo]

Is it a fixed cog wheel?

 

[John the Monkey]

Nope, Tiagra freehub.

 

[jimboalee]

Is it a 'Factory' wheel?

IMHO, factory wheelbuilding tension spokes too high.

The tension may well be within limits. The spokes will be some 'cheap issue' which the factory can get at a lower price, and won't have the durability.

If they last a few months, its on the bike's owner and his/her LBS to sort it out.

I tension to slightly lower than mid-range. Even on my Dawes Giro from new, I retensioned the spokes to how I like them. It only took 1/8 turn and a squeeze of the pairings.


OP, take the wheel to your LBS and have them measure the tension.

 

[John the Monkey]

Nope, it's a handbuild by an LBS in Handforth - they built these up to replace a set that were beyond repair following an RTA in October last year.

They/ve been fine up to (fairly sure the snapping only started then, anyway) my pothole encounter.