KenshiBiker

Hi All,

So I've got a rear wheel that apparently wasn't built properly. It is a 32-hole, 650c Aerohead rim, laced 3x to a Phil Wood High Flange Track Hub. Apparently with this lacing pattern, the angle of the spokes entering the rim is too acute for the spoke length, resulting in a relatively abrupt bend at the nipple. Consequently the spokes have begun breaking right at the nipple. Last night's spoke break was at least the fifth since the end of July. There also might be an issue with the length of the spokes, since last week the mechanic at the LBS that has been replacing the spokes said he thinks the builder used spokes that are too long (or did he say too short?), and are likely to continue breaking one after another.

I posted about this problem earlier, and the consensus of this forum is that I should get a new rear wheel or at the least get this one rebuilt. Right now, Psimet (Rob) is working to get a hold of a new hub for me, then will build up my new wheel and send it out. All well and good, but I likely won't receive the new wheel until the end of next week at the earliest, more likely the following week. In the meantime I have a couple of rides planned.

Previously when I've had a spoke break, I pretty much packed it in and made the "call of shame" to my wife to come pick me up. However, last night, the spoke broke at the beginning of a weekly ride that I lead to get some co-workers ready for an upcoming 75k ride this Sunday. Consequently, I ended up riding almost 35 miles with a broken spoke.

Now, since this is a fixed gear bike, I run it with only a front brake. Obviously when the spoke broke, the wheel immediately was pulled out of true, but without a rear brake, there was nothing really for it to rub against (it wasn't so bad that it came close to rubbing against the chain stays). So my question is, how dangerous is it to continue riding with a broken spoke? Last night I made sure to not overly stress the wheel, i.e., no standing and mashing up the hills, no violent side-to-side maneuvering around obstacles, etc, and at the speed my co-workers ride, I wasn't even that worried about serious damage due to crashing (though I'd prefer to avoid it if possible).

For those of you who feel it's too dangerous to ride with a broken spoke, would you recommend carrying a FiberFix replacement spoke? Carrying a regular replacement spoke? Riding a different bike (might take some scrambling to get my road bike back into order by this Sunday)? Or can I do a leisurely (I'm anticipating an average moving speed somewhere about 10 mph) 75k ride with a broken spoke? For what it's worth, this Sunday's ride is so flat as to be almost comical; I think the biggest elevation gain is less than 100 feet, and there are about 12 rest stops (at wineries, with tastings) including a mid-ride lunch stop and a post-ride catered meal.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

KB

reptilezs

i would find another lbs and mechanic. why would they let you continue to fix that and throw money at it. spoke replacement here is 35 for a rear wheel. at 3 of them you have the labor and new spokes covered for a rebuild. i would respoke the wheel if the rim is in good shape if not new rim and spokes