Touring - spare spokes in seat post?

I've read hear the some people shove extra spokes down the seat post. I was just wondering how do you keep them from clanging around down there? I tried it and immediately I started noticing the constant ting sounds of the spokes bouncing around. It would drive me nuts to have that going on constantly.

Um... duct tape? I've never tried this. Anyone?

?? It doesn't seem like a very feasible place to store anything. Maybe you'd be better off shoving them into a corner of a pannier or zip tied to a chainstay? The idea of having to pull out the seatpost to get a spoke seems kind of big pain to me.

fiberfix spoke. put it anywhere you can spare about 2 cubic inches.

I've read hear the some people shove extra spokes down the seat post. I was just wondering how do you keep them from clanging around down there? I tried it and immediately I started noticing the constant ting sounds of the spokes bouncing around. It would drive me nuts to have that going on constantly.

I usually pack 8 spokes in my 27.2 mm s/post. Just tie them up tightly with a thick rubber band on each end. At the bottom end of the seat post, I use a rubbber plug that you can get at most hardware stores. Drill/make a small hole snug enough for 8 - 10 spoke heads and pull through for about an inch. The rest goes into the post. No more clanging.:)

Besides spokes, there's enough space for a $100 bill in a small ziplock for emergencies. It will suck big time if your seat post or bike gets stolen though!

Wine bottle cork to both ends of spokes; make the cork that goes inside seat post smaller so it does not get stuck.

I always store spokes in my seat post. I wrap some foam, or an old rag around each end and cover it with some electrical tape. Make sure it is not too tight fitting though, or you might not get them out.

Good quality wheels that won't break spokes.

Good quality wheels that won't break spokes.

Well that is the game plan...

FWIW I have carried spare spokes in the seat post or handle bars on all of my tours. IIRC I used a but of upholstery foam stuffed around the end of the spokes in the seat post to stop the rattling.

Aaron:)

Foam Pipe lagging and masking tape

On my touring bike I have a spoke holder that can hold 3 spokes on the chainstay...... On previous mtb tourer I simply fastened some spare spokes onto the chainstay using electrical tape. That way I could easily get to the spokes if needed as well as have a supply of electrical tape.

I use electrical tape and attach them to a chain stay. Down the seat tube seems impractical. You would have to take things apart just to change a spoke :trainwreck:

I used to zip-tie them to a chainstay. My new bike has spoke holders brazed on the chainstay.

On my touring bike I have a spoke holder that can hold 3 spokes on the chainstay...... On previous mtb tourer I simply fastened some spare spokes onto the chainstay using electrical tape. That way I could easily get to the spokes if needed as well as have a supply of electrical tape.
+1
Taping them to the left side chain stay is just so easy. Having spare spokes almost guarantees you'll never break one, not having them almost guarantees you will break several.

Remember that you need to be able to remove the cassette to replace most broken spokes. 90%+ of broken spokes are rear drive side.

On my touring bike I have a spoke holder that can hold 3 spokes on the chainstay...... On previous mtb tourer I simply fastened some spare spokes onto the chainstay using electrical tape. That way I could easily get to the spokes if needed as well as have a supply of electrical tape.

Honestly now, how often are you guys replacing spokes? I haven't done any "serious" touring, but I've got a decent amount of miles under my belt and well...maybe I've just had good luck.

Does everyone here really break spokes so often that you need a convenient place to put them?

-Barry-

Honestly now, how often are you guys replacing spokes? I haven't done any "serious" touring, but I've got a decent amount of miles under my belt and well...maybe I've just had good luck.

Does everyone here really break spokes so often that you need a convenient place to put them?

-Barry-

My bike has a built-in spoke clip on the chainstay, so I'm fine. If it didn't come with that, I'd probably have gotten one of these:

http://www.cambriabike.com/Images/product/fiber_fix_spoke.jpg (http://www.cambriabike.com/shopexd.asp?id=19239)

Keep in mind that replacing a spoke on the rear wheel requires a special tool to remove the casette and/or freewheel (I'm not sure which one of those).

I kept them in my seatpost too, which is actualy pretty handy.
BUT, I would put them in a sealed plastic bag. I found that I had some pretty banged up and rusted spokes when I pulled mine out. (It just wiped off, but you might as well be careful.)

Honestly now, how often are you guys replacing spokes? I haven't done any "serious" touring, but I've got a decent amount of miles under my belt and well...maybe I've just had good luck.
If you read a lot of journals it seems like the second most common problem after flat tires. On short tours in an area where bike shops are fairly common it isn't much of a big deal.

On the TransAmerica I think that east bound after Pueblo Colorado, it was about 1000 miles between bike shops unless you went off route. So it doesn't need to be too frequent a problem to be worth thinking about. A few spokes and a Unior Cassette Cracker combined only weigh an ounce or two so I consider it worth it.

http://harriscyclery.net/merchant/370/images/large/tl137.jpg
http://harriscyclery.net/itemdetails.cfm?ID=2456

I used to zip-tie them to a chainstay. My new bike has spoke holders brazed on the chainstay.

I zip tie them under the rack. They are out of the way and make no noise.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r181/cyccommute/IMG_0257.jpg

As needing them? Stuff happens.

2 FiberFix spokes in the tool bag, and a tiny cassette cracker tool. I also use fat tires, good quality butted spokes, good rims (Velocity Cliffhangers), and I build my wheels carefully with a tension gauge so I don't have to worry about breaking spokes.

Aah well, the original question was about spare spokes in a seatpost......But to answer the question:

Yes, I did break a spoke on a tour. It was on the drive side, so I couldn't fix it and ended up cycling about 500 miles with a steadily deteriorating wheel (it was only a 32 spoke wheel to begin with anyway).

But that's the only spoke breakage I've had, and I will say I agree with you that for how often it happens, it's a poor justification for carrying spare spokes. However, since spokes are so small and lightweight, I really don't have any problems taking some with me. If they were heavier, I'd certainly consider not taking them.

Concerning convenience, yes, you are right -not much difference practically for the number of times you need them to get them from a seatpost versus a chainstay... but then again why bother messing around with foam inserts in a seat post when you can just tape them on in seconds and get them just as easily plus have access to electrical tape?

Having said that, I do see your point -you really don't need them in a convenient place!


Honestly now, how often are you guys replacing spokes? I haven't done any "serious" touring, but I've got a decent amount of miles under my belt and well...maybe I've just had good luck.

Does everyone here really break spokes so often that you need a convenient place to put them?

-Barry-

I broke a total of 5 spokes on a trans American tour...in 1977 (2 front, 3 rear):rolleyes: I think the quality of the wheels and spokes today is much better. However it doesn't hurt to plan for the worse...I hate walking when I could be riding.

Aaron:)

If you get a couple of long spokes,you can cut the heads off,bend the end into a z shape,then you won't have to take anything off to put on a replacement spoke.

It's hard enough getting the seat just right the first time,I zip tie mine to the inside of the rear rack.

If you get a couple of long spokes,you can cut the heads off,bend the end into a z shape,then you won't have to take anything off to put on a replacement spoke.

It's hard enough getting the seat just right the first time,I zip tie mine to the inside of the rear rack.

Somehow I would feel less than comfortable relying on this method on a loaded long-distance tour.
Maybe it's just me...

Innside the flatbar, if you`we got one.

Good quality wheels that won't break spokes.

...Of course there's allways Murphy's law. Sticks, rocks, small animals (and people) can get caught up in your wheels. Before you know it "snap-snap-snap" there go a bunch of spokes...

I used tandemwheels built up by Peter White on my year tour, and took along extra spokes "just in case". I taped mine to the stays, and thankfully never needed them. It also depends on where and how long one is touring for.

We keep our spare spokes in the stuffbag with the tentpoles.
I've only ever needed one of them, and that was at the beginning of a holiday, so i think
the spoke was damaged in transport.
We've never broken one yet while on tour (knocking on wood).

store spare spokes stuck in sponge inside seatpost. try saying that three times. :)

In the days before there were remote locking systems for cars, I had to sacrifice a DT spoke from my road bike. Made a half inch loop around one end, forced it through a gap between the rubber gasket liner and glass on the window and managed to hook over and pull up the lock inside.

I wished I had rescued some pretty blond driver in dsitress, but apparently I had locked my car, with the keys in the ignition. :) A spare spoke or two anywhere on a bike IS a good idea.

I had a tour ruined by broken spokes. I made it about 2 weeks before the first one went "Sproing!" By the end of the tour I was breaking them every other day. A couple of times I broke two in one day. I was riding a mail-order touring bike from Nashbar. I'm guessing whoever laced the wheels did a cursory job, and I didn't know enough to get them checked by a pro. I weighed 215 lbs. and was carrying a ton of stuff.

Before my next tour I went to my local mechanic, told him my troubles, and told him I would pay whatever it took for him to build a wheel that wouldn't give me similar troubles. He did and I haven't broken a spoke on the last two tours.

That said, I still carry spare spokes, a spoke wrench, a Hypercracker, and the emergency kevlar spokes mentioned above. If I do break more spokes, I want to be prepared to fix them myself.

I always carry extra spokes taped to the chainstay. I agree good wheels can go a long time before breaking spokes. Ride long enough, carry enough stuff, and hit enough bumps and you will likely break a spoke. Having spare spokes and the skills to change them makes a potential disaster a nice little rest along the side of the road.

I have packed a fiber spoke for years, but have always just used the ones I bring.

Over the years I have found that once you start to break spokes on good wheels it seems like its time to respoke the wheel.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=422249

+1
Taping them to the left side chain stay is just so easy. Having spare spokes almost guarantees you'll never break one, not having them almost guarantees you will break several.

Last year I rode the Seattle To Portland double century on a new LeMond that came with a pair of those twin spoked Bontrager wheels. I'd broken a couple spokes before and had the good sense to bring along a couple spares. About 40 miles from Portland I broke a rear drive side spoke as predicted. I had to wait in line at the mechanic station to use the cassette tool, but otherwise got back on the road quickly.

In hindsight I realize how badly designed and tensioned those wheels were, so that should never happen.

If you get a couple of long spokes,you can cut the heads off,bend the end into a z shape,then you won't have to take anything off to put on a replacement spoke.

I've carried a couple of "emergency spokes" like this, mainly as a temporary solution in case a spoke broke on the drive side on a day/area where you didn't want to stop to pull every thing apart to change the spoke. Never had to use them.

I have done some major mechanical stuff on the side of the road though, once pulled the crank off on a little pull-out from the highway.

I zip tie 2 spokes (front & rear) to the inside of my rack stays. I also keep 1 fibre fix in my tool bag.
The extra spokes take up no space and the weight is nothing.

I've read hear the some people shove extra spokes down the seat post. I was just wondering how do you keep them from clanging around down there? I tried it and immediately I started noticing the constant ting sounds of the spokes bouncing around. It would drive me nuts to have that going on constantly.I've never done it but I read about it. They got a cork that fit into the seattube, jammed the spokes into the center of the cork and plugged the cork into the tube.