Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - My first broken spoke

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beingtxstate
06-02-08, 02:03 PM
Alas, it finally happened. I weigh in at #215 and carry quite a bit of stuff in on my commute. The bike is a 7.2FX with 7.3FX OEM wheels. 500 miles on these wheels without issue, and POP:eek:, there it went.

Luckly I stopped right away when it went, so no other damage except the wheel. The rim instantly went out of true about 2 inches, so I hope it will true up when I fix it...

The best part is that it happened right next to the bus stop. I got off, inspected the back rim, took the spoke off just in time to see the bus go screaming by the stop. I had to wait 30 minutes for the next one, but it was nice out and I had a lovely lunch packed, so all in all not bad.

Now...I guess I have some leverage to convince the wifey I need those Open Pros!:D:D:D
And while I'm at it, a LHT, new fenders, and a part pro tool kit :p

CACycling
06-02-08, 03:25 PM
I popped a rear spoke on my commuter a couple of weeks ago. Fortunately, with 36 spoke rims it only took backing off the brake adjuster a couple of turns to stop the pad from rubbing. Was able to do it on the fly.
Ranger63
06-02-08, 07:08 PM
Have the LBS look at ALL the drive side spokes.
There've been some issues with the new longer neck DTs breaking.
How the wheel is built can also contribute to spoke breakage. (Go to Sheldon Browns site and look up wheellbuilding..very informative)
Most shops don't do a once over on the wheels before shipping the bike out the door with ya.

Mr. Beanz
06-02-08, 07:17 PM
500 miles? I always mention on this board that the wheels need to be retensioned at about 300 miles. They break in, lose tension and set themselves up for broken spokes at the j-hooks/hubflange.

I've met so many people with new bikes and broken spokes. I tell them the same. The shop? Yeah they do the once over but it includes truing the wheel to make it look good, but tensioning, you've got to fight with them to do it.

I've posted this about 100 times here but I bet maybe only 2 have followed up.:(
beingtxstate
06-02-08, 08:34 PM
500 miles? I always mention on this board that the wheels need to be retensioned at about 300 miles. They break in, lose tension and set themselves up for broken spokes at the j-hooks/hubflange.

I've met so many people with new bikes and broken spokes. I tell them the same. The shop? Yeah they do the once over but it includes truing the wheel to make it look good, but tensioning, you've got to fight with them to do it.

I've posted this about 100 times here but I bet maybe only 2 have followed up.:(

Actually, I did heed your warnings :o, well sort of. I do my own basic maintenance, including truing. I've been truing wheels for at least 10 years, so I'm not bad at it. I always check tension every time I oil/clean the ride. I have been lax on that and hadn't done my normal check in about 100 miles. That might be some of the problem.

I may take it in to the LBS for the spoke replacement and true, just to have someone else 'check' my work so to speak, still deciding on that one.