rms13

Been riding bikes to some extent for 30 years and I just had my first broken spoke today. I had a pretty good run but now I need to fix this. My first question is what kind of spoke do I need to get? The wheels came with my bike (Motobecane Super Strada from BD). The specs list them as:

Vuelta XRP PRO Black Anodized Aluminum, Double wall, Aero Rim/Spokes
Vuelta XRP PRO Precision sealed bearings, Black Anodized Aluminum w/QR

They are bladed or semi-bladed spokes. They turn round at the end before going into the nipple. I know there are different length spokes but that's about all I know about spokes so far because I've never had to replace one and I haven't got into wheel building yet. I measured the spokes and they are approx 10.5" long/266mm and they are round for about 3/4" before the nipple and bladed the rest of the spoke.

If anyone can point me in the right direction as far as what type of spoke to buy that would be helpful. I assume I just need a spoke wrench to replace the spoke. Do I need to take the tire and tube off?

Weatherby

Glendale Cycles1250 W Glenoaks Blvd, Unit A, Glendale, CA 91201 (818) 937-9440

dougmc

This is the first spoke you've broken in that time? That's amazing! I find myself replacing spokes every month or two.

In any event, yes, the tire will have to come off. You can replace bladed spokes with standard spokes if you want -- it'll work fine, but it'll look a bit funny.

Take the entire wheel to the bike shop, they'll measure it and give you the right spoke. It's pretty easy to install and then you'll need to tighten it just the right amount so the tire is straight -- you're basically "truing" the tire but will hopefully have to only adjust one spoke.

There is a special wrench for it, but in a pinch you can do a single one with a crescent wrench -- but if you do this more often than that, get the right tool.

You might want to just let the bike shop replace the spoke. If you take the tire off the wheel when you bring it in, it'll only take them a few minutes to do everything unless there's more wrong with the wheel.

zacster

I've been riding since the late 60s, and I've only broken one spoke, and that was last summer. I used to be a lightweight but not anymore. I've never quite understood all the threads about broken spokes, carrying spares, cassette tools, etc... It just seemed like overkill for the rare event. Same thing with chains. I've never broken a chain. 99% of my on road troubles have been flats, the other 1% being the occasional loose bolt. I guess it does happen, but if it happens a lot then something else is wrong.

Bezalel

You can ask Vuelta Vuelta XRP Wheels, Bring both parts of the broken spoke to your LBS (or the rest of the wheel if you don't have the entire spoke), or measure your spoke.

If you want to measure your spoke you need the following 5 dimensions:
Length from inside of J-bend to end
Diameter at bend
Diameter just before the threads
Size of bladed section

Knowing who manufactured the spoke may help Spoke Head Identification Chart.

zacster

I should qualify my statement about broken spokes. I did break 3 spokes once, but I crashed head-on into a car that made a u-turn right into my path. I also broke the carbon fork steerer tube, the frame, and oh yea, both wrists. Ouch. But here's the thing, that wheel is still on one of my bikes. I replaced the 3 spokes, pressed down the slight dent in the rim, and trued it back up. This was 10 years ago. I attribute the strength of the wheel to the deep-v cross section of the rim. (I think they are actually Velocity Deep-V.)

hueyhoolihan

i recently purchased a new rear hub. i removed all the spokes on the rear wheel and left the nipples in the rim with the tire, tube (inflated), and nipples. then laced the hub with the spokes and trued it. i don't know if all spoke designs lend themselves to this simplicity of installation, but the spokes were just plain, run-of-the-mill 14ga DB spokes. nothing fancy.

BTW, i did remove the wheel from the frame and the freewheel from the hub though and used a good spoke wrench.

cranky old road 

It was hard to locate spokes on their web site but I've bought replacements for Vuelta XRP wheels from Bike Island, which is somehow affiliated with Bikesdirect. You'll need to measure the broken spoke. They are 4 for $8, shipping included. BikeIsland.com - Bicycle Parts, Accessories and Clothing at Affordable Prices with Free Shipping

rms13

Thanks, this is good info! I guess I should have gone to the source since I bought the bike from BD.

rms13

Last year one of my coworkers took a wheel to this LBS to get it trued. The guy told him it was not repairable and that actually most shops don't fix wheels anymore. The guy at the LBS tried to sell him new wheels and my coworker took the wheel to another LBS down the street that was able to true the wheel and a year later it's still rolling straight. So if I were to go to a LBS it wouldn't be that one.

But I would just like to do it myself which is why I am posting on the mechanics sub forum

rms13

finally got around to replacing the spoke. I bought spokes and spoke tool but failed to realize I needed to remove the cassette and thus needed a cassette removal tool. Got that and did it last night and took me all of 20 minutes. Most of my time was spent trying to drop the nipple into the rim and them getting it back out after it was rattling around inside. I didn't bother to look at any tutorials first but eventually did it with some tweezers.

I just tightened the spoke to where no threads are showing since the rest of the spokes looked that way. The wheel seems pretty true. I don't have a truing stand so I'm just spinning the wheel with the bike on a work stand. When I spin it, it seems pretty straight and not rubbing brakes.

Should I spend time trying to fine tune it?

dabac

If you've gotten the spoke to full tension right when the threads disappear, then the spoke is probably too short
And tension is the key word here. If you don't need to true, then fine. But do try to get the new spoke into the approximate same tension as the others on the same side.Tapping or plucking them and comparing the pitch/tone can get you pretty far.

fietsbob

I'm thinking a display case for that 1st broken spoke