Bicycle Mechanics - pay to have wheel rebuilt or buy a new wheel?

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gqsmoothie
10-31-05, 08:56 AM
I have 4,700 miles on my rear wheel. It's on a Trek 4300, only ridden on roads. I've had probably 10 spokes replaced on it since I bought it. I just broke another spoke and I'm wondering what to do. Buy a whole new wheel, have the wheel entirely rebuilt, or just keep on replacing spokes as they break???
Also, what's a decent price for a new wheel if that is the route I take on this?

thanks for any replies,

Gabe

San Rensho
10-31-05, 09:01 AM
Something is wrong with your wheel if it keeps breaking spokes, could have been laced wrong or tensioned incorrectly. I have wheels that are 15 years old that I jump off curbs with, never broken a spoke and never had it go seriously out of true.

If the rim is still usable, you could probably get it re-spoked, but find out what the problem is before you do.
cs1
10-31-05, 10:30 AM
Something is wrong with your wheel if it keeps breaking spokes, could have been laced wrong or tensioned incorrectly. I have wheels that are 15 years old that I jump off curbs with, never broken a spoke and never had it go seriously out of true.

If the rim is still usable, you could probably get it re-spoked, but find out what the problem is before you do.

I agree, my old 1990 Rock Hopper Comp's wheels were beaten to death and never broke a spoke ever. They were out of true once in 15 years. Something is definitley wrong. Have a qualified wrench retension and true the wheel.

Tim

HillRider
10-31-05, 10:45 AM
Either the wheel was very badly built or the spokes were badly damaged early during your use. Did the chain ever "spill" to the inside and score some of the spokes?

Good wheels should last a long time and high quality spokes will outlast the rims. I've gotten over 28,000 miles on each of two wheel sets and the cause of failure in each set was a rim cracking from brake wear. Neither set ever broke a spoke.
supcom
10-31-05, 11:14 AM
The spokes are failing from fatigue. Probably just cheap quality spokes (though most have lasted 4700 miles). Unless you are hot to get a fancier wheel, either have your LBS rebuild it or buy spokes and nipples and do it yourself.