maximushq2

I have a 2005 Rockhopper Comp mountain bike and noticed a noise coming from the rear wheel area. It sounded like the wheel was just rubbing on the brake pads in a certain spot. I stopped and looked at it, but it just seemed like maybe the brakes needed adjusting. So after a 2 hour ride I got home and got the bike upside down and looks closer. I tried to spin the wheel, but after 2 turns it would stop completely and abruptly by hitting the break pad on one side and wobbled something fierce. I started checking the spokes and I notice a couple very loose ones then I got to one that was totally broke off where it connects to the center of the wheel. Anyway I took it in to be fixed, but what causes spokes to break as I can't remember having any break before on me? Also how likely is it that the entire wheel will collapse in this type of situation. I had been riding down a couple long hills where you get going at least 40mph or so. Was there a chance I could have wiped out if the wheel went? Just curious thanks.

Retro Grouch 

In all likelihood you need a new rear wheel.

There's a possibility that you might be able to get by with having the broken spoke replaced and the entire wheel retensioned and retrued. My bet, however, is that riding as hard as you did with a wheel that was coming undone has bent the rim.

maximushq2

Thanks for the reply. I hope to hear from my LBS Friday hopefully. I didn't drop off the wheel there until Thursday afternoon and they said it would be ready by Saturday at the latest. If I need a new rear wheel I will ask if they have something that will hold up better. I am not huge, but at 6'1" and 200lbs I guess the wheel just finally gave in. I didn't wreck or anything so I'm still not sure what caused it. I will now add checking my wheels to my list of things to check before I go out on my bike each ride.

capwater

Huh???? He busted one spoke, kept on riding and the others loosened up. Replace the one spoke and true the wheel. 30 - 40 bucks max.

dbg

Spokes usually break in bunches. The stresses (looseness, wobble) that caused that spoke to break were likely present on many others. Personally, I wouldn't be doing any 40MPH downhills before considering rebuilding the whole wheel.

Retro Grouch 

He said that he has one broken spoke and at least a couple of others that are very loose. To me that spells "bent rim". You can pull a bent rim into line with spoke tension but it won't be a good wheel. Fix it right or fix it twice, your choice.

supcom

When a spoke breaks, others in the area will end up loose since there is a loss of tension. The broken spoke was most likely on the drive side. The adjacent spokes, already at lower tension than the drive side, will become really loose. This is all pretty normal for a broken spoke and there's no need to replace the wheel.

To the OP, Once you have a broken spoke, the wheel is weak laterally and will not stand up to high side loads. So long as it doesn't bind against the frame or bakes, you should be able to ride it, but avoid any undue stress on it.

maximushq2

HMM, now I don't know what to do? Even if they say it is fixed by replacing the spoke and truing the wheel how do I know it is reliable to ride on? I wish I knew more about wheels myself, but I am pretty clueless in that area.

Well for the sake of argument let's say they fix the wheel, but I decide to buy a new wheel just to feel safe and keep the repaired one for a spare. What would you recommend I get for my 2005 Rockhopper comp hardtail bike. I would be looking for something stronger than what it came with, black in color to match my bike as almost everything is black on it and it makes it looks purty that way. The wheels that came on the Rockhopper are RIMS =SUN Mach 4, CNC d side wall with eyelets, 32h. Whatever that means. The brakes are v-brakes, but they said the bike is capable to take disc brakes if I ever wanted to upgrade to them, but don't have any plans to. Here is a link to the bike. Thanks https://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkM...005&spid=21461

Retro Grouch 

Squeeze parallel pairs of spokes together all the way around the wheel on both sides. If they all feel the same you're good-to-go. If some feel noticeably looser than others, your rim has a bend in it and no amount of fiddling with the spokes is going to fix it.

Sun Rhyno Lite rims are reasonably priced and very tough.

maximushq2

Ok well I got the wheel back today. Actually a friend picked it up and the guy at the bike shop seemed to think it is in good shape and safe to use. He replaced the spoke and trued the wheel and only charged $11.77. I squeezed the spokes in parallel pairs as you said to and they all seem equally tight. I put the wheel back on the bike and it spins without any wobble. They used a silver colored spoke when all the others are black. At least I know the one they replaced anyway. Will give it a test run tomorrow and see how it goes. I still want to look into getting a new stronger wheel anyway, but now at least I can ride in the mean time. Thanks for all the info I learned a bit more from this. I will check the Rhyno lite rims you suggested retro.

jamie jamie jam

well this is all news to me. i have a spoke missing from my back wheel and have been dirt jumping on it for weeks now. luckily its a hope big un hub and mavic rim so all seems fine. but should i take it to a lbs?