td.tony

A spoke on my rear wheel broke, and the bike shop I took it to didn't have any of the same bladed spoke, so they replaced it with a round spoke. The wheel is perfectly true, but is this common? Will my rear wheel be any weaker than before? If so, I'm guessing it would probably be a negligible amount of difference, correct?

dabac

A bike shop not having all the possible spokes available? Yes.

Replacing a broken spoke with the closest match available? Well, unless you specifically asked to have the bike back as soon as possible I think they should have asked you before using anything else but a direct replacement. But as long as you were aware that it wasn't a direct replacement - sure, that happens.


Yes, no, maybe. Bladed or round doesn't matter much in that perspective, it's how stretchy the spokes are. If the cross section area of the bladed and the round are basically the same, then the impact on wheel strength will be entirely marginal even in theory.
If the cross section area of the replacement spoke is significantly different from the others, then you'll get some funky load shifting going on as you roll along.
Probably things like build quality and spoke tension balance will be more influential to wheel durability than the single mismatched spoke.

zacster

If you're worried about it, have the shop order you the proper spoke. In the meantime don't sweat it and just ride it.

cjump

i second this. atleast your wheelset didn't come from shimano like this...

Rogue Leader

Fulcrum actually puts 2 round spokes on all their bladed spoke wheels at the valve hole for strength. You're fine

Mike T.

I've used one round spoke in my CX-Ray spoked mountain bike wheels for years (the past two sets of wheels). The round spoke makes it easy to fit the type of computer magnet I was using. Of course there have been no issues due to this one round spoke.

BikeWise1

As long as it is the correct length and tension, there is absolutely no downside to this.

Get used to the concept, though. Wheel manufacturers who use bladed spokes/proprietary spokes don't like to sell "one" spoke. They sell bags of 14+ at high $$ and it is not reasonable for a shop to be expected to order a bag to get you one or two spokes for a wheel that will likely be out of production next year.

FBinNY 

Will it make a difference? Possibly, depending on the relative cross sections of the replacement and original spokes.

Is it negligible? In all likelihood, yes. Ride the wheel as is while you try to source a few original replacement spokes, which isn't so easy. Then keep them handy to switch out if and when the wheel needs service, but not before.

zacster

I ordered a pack of 6 double threaded spokes once from Easton and it was a nominal charge, not high$$$.

Retro Grouch 

On the other hand, if a shop had done the same thing, they probably would have lost money on the repair. I'm not saying it's right, I'm just saying that's what is.

Personally, I think the shop should figure out what it will cost to fix the wheel right and relay that information to the customer. Let the customer decide to pay the piper, live with 1 round spoke, or find another repair shop.

Cynikal 

But think of all the aero benefits you are losing. Probably feels like towing a boat anchor.

fuzz2050

and how funny it will look.

And of course, how lonely that poor round spoke will feel all by its lonesome self,

Roadplay

I had the same problem, the shop only had round spokes in stock when I went in for a replacement. I think I paid $1.35 for a round replacement. I was thinking I'd replace the round one some day when I found an OEM flat replacement spoke. Anyway, it's working fine and I doubt I'll ever get around to swapping it out now.

operator

90% of the time the customer doesn't care if it's round or bladed. We're a high end shop, we see a lot of proprietary spokes. They just want to be back on the road asap. That means using what's in stock, which is mostly straight gauge, or butted dt champion spokes.

It's also a judgement call.