Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Black spokes break more?

I had to replace three spokes in my back wheel today. As he was fixing them, the mechanic noted that the black painted spokes seemed to break a lot easier than the unpainted metal ones.

Oh dear! How bad does this sound for my wheel?

I'd have to say that, if there's a connection, it's with the gauge or quality of the black spokes. I can't see where the color itself would have anything to do with it.

spokes are NOT painted black, they are plated. Plating is an electro-chemical process that actually micro pits the surface of the spoke as the layer of black zinc or black nickel is deposited. This does weaken the critical outside surface of the spoke. Spoke breaks start with a crack at the surface, and progresses through until it fails.

So: Clydes should get chromey bright rims then?

True for me.

Hmm. Learn something every day. Good info.

black spokes on all my wheels, no issues. may be true but if the wheel is built right, and you don't ride like a maniac you won't have problems

So: Clydes should get chromey bright rims then?

don't go with chrome or zinc plated spokes (UCP, etc); go with a top quality unplated spoke like Wheelsmith, DT Swiss, etc.

Third paragraph. http://wheelbuilder.blogspot.com/2006/08/spokey-dokey-then.html

Third paragraph. http://wheelbuilder.blogspot.com/2006/08/spokey-dokey-then.html
Your quoting an Analyst on an Engineering issue???? At least get a plating expert or material scientist. Please feel to research me on LinkedIn, the US Patents listing, or anywhere else.

I think that, based on everything I've read, it comes down to quality of spoke as well as other factors. I haven't come across anything definitively proving that a black spoke is any more prone to breakage than any other color, all else being equal. Not all black spokes are "Plated", some are simply painted. In my own experience, the only problem I've ever had with a black spoke breaking was determined to be caused by a defective spoke. YMMV.

I've broken more silver spokes than black ones. In fact, I've never broken a black one, only silver ones.