DaveQ24

I keep getting broken spokes on the rear, the mechanic fixed it again and trued the wheel, but said I should get a new rear wheel or wheel set if it happens again.

These are the stock wheels, AXIS 4.0 Disc:

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/co...-scs-ta/114529

I'm thinking I should look for something a little sturdier, even if it adds weight - our notoriously terrible roads are full of tire and wheel killing potholes.

No interest in trying tubeless at this time, so that is not a factor.

Any suggestions? I know the shop will suggest something, but I would like other opinions.

TIA

Mack3601

The rear rim on my Sirrus just broke up in about four places.

I replaced mine with
Rim, DT Swiss TK 540 Disk
Hub DT Swiss Classic 350 100 mm DBIS (rear) 350 135/142 mm DBIS
Spokes DT champion 2.0

Steve B.

A hand built, 36 spoke 25mm wide Velocity, double butted DT spokes, or something similar from a good builder.

You obviously need something beefier and a 24 spoke wheel isn't cutting it.

Also check as to the widest tire you can fit. If you can go to a 32, or 28 you could run lower PSI and that'll help. On road bikes, sometimes 25mm tires is about all you get, sometimes a 28. Only way to determine is buy tires and see if it fits as tires vary in size from manufacturers spec's.

John_V 

Pretty much what I was going to post.

DaveQ24

Thanks guys, good advice. I'm picking up the again-repaired wheel, but I doubt it will hold. So next week this will probably happen. I'll talk to the LBS guys as well and see what transpires. I agree, a heavier wheel with more spokes is what it's going to take with these conditions.

Flip Flop Rider

probably not the most popular advice but i'll go ahead

maybe look for entire vintage bikes for sale on craigslist or ebay and buy them just for the wheel set

my reasoning? wheel sets are expensive and in my experience not made to last. I'm sure companies like mavic could make a perfectly good bomb proof wheel set, but why would they?

I spent $350 on a new wheel set (mavic) because the original set broke. Was thinking, man, this will be a sweet upgrade, uh not really. Broke a spoke within the first 100 miles and the set has never really performed like I want

meanwhile I found a trek mountain bike from the 1990's that I don't think was ever ridden. From the look and feel of these rims, this is what I picture as bomb proof.

So, just another opinion and option. Good luck

Steve B.

I did my Mavic Ksyium experiment this year. Performance had a sale on an SE model, 20 spoke front, 24 rear, about $470 or so.

I'm 225 and am hard on stuff, especially wheels, thus have never used anything less then 32 spokes. Buddies near my weight (200) run older Ksyriums, no issues.

I put just over 300 miles on these, rear develops a wobble, I watch it get worse, sit it in the truing stand and find a non-drive side spoke completely loose.

That was the grand experiment and back to Performance they went, traded for an Open Pro, 32 DT DB spokes on Ultegra hubs.

DaveQ24

Picked up this wheel after work, talked to the mechanics, they have a Spec, mt bike wheel set that is sturdy. Tbe one guy thinks the rim is bent. I know when it happened, hit a really deep but narrow hole in an expansion joimt in the road at night and it flatted. They said ride it 100 miles and bring back to true if it makes it that far.

Steve B.

They should be able to tell if the wheel is bent or otherwise damaged from a hit as you describe.

What you are now describing is a hit the wheel took and that is causing spokes to break. Different situation as it may not be a problem of you killing wheels beceause of weight or other factors. You just killed a wheel is all. Happens.

As well, the wheel you posted is a thru-axle 700c/29'er wheel. Is it a disc as well ?.

That changes the recommendation to a different wheel and hub system. You've got a thru-axle hub and release system, so you will have to do some research for a different wheel then a typical road wheel.

Is the LBS willing to do a factory replacement ?, or are they just recommending a different 29'er wheelset under the concept that as a mt. bike wheel, it'll automatically be stronger, which is very much wheel dependent.

DaveQ24

Well, they were speculating about a bent rim, but neither one of them must have been tbe mechanic who worked on it, Regsrding the pothole the incident, the first broken spoke was about 3 weeks later. Not sure of significance of the timing. I asked about mt bike wheels because someone above suggested that. I really am not mechanical, wish I were. No clue about replacement, had the bike almost 2 years. Yes, disc brakes.

Steve B.

I'd bet that the hit caused stress on certain spokes, maybe not causing visual and noticeable damage to the rim. I've hit high curbs at speed on a mt. bike that dimpled the rim, killing the wheel.

Wheel might still be toast though and might have been on it's way out due to A) factory wheels which often are not as well built as custom and B) Wear and tear from 5 years plus the hit of a few weeks ago.

If it were me I'd get a price from the shop, if you feel they've been honest and reasonably priced, for an appropriate replacement.

If you were mechanically inclined it would be cheaper (sometimes) to get a replacement on-line, but you would need to know what you were buying, I.E., rear dropout spacing - 130 or 135 mm ? (I've no idea what rear thru-axle spacing is as example), hub design - I assume it's 8 or 9 speed, disc size ?, etc... then do you have a chain whip and cassette lockring tool to get the cassette off the bad wheel and onto the new.

If no to some of the above, going the LBS route and letting them take care of all this is a good choice, especially as they can deal with an issues afterwards.

As thought and due to 5 years on the bike, maybe have the shop replace the cassette and chain, plus cables, brake pads ?, and general tune-up. Wheel alone will probably be near $200, other stuff is likely due and another $100 - $150. The bike might be due all this anyway and while they're working on it......

Siu Blue Wind

Moved to Hybrids from 50+

DaveQ24

Mechanically inclined? Me? Um ... they can do it, I'm an idiot. Safer that way - I want a wheel, not a twisted metal sculpture.

Scooty Puff Jr

Since you said you're not concerned about weight, go with a 36 spoke wheel no matter what rim/hub/spoke set up you use.

DaveQ24

That's my inclination. I'd rather have a sturdier wheel because of our road conditions.

Scooty Puff Jr

I have a 36 on the rear and a 32 in the front on my Fuji Crosstown, for some reason I kept breaking spokes on my new wheels on the 32 spoke rear wheel. I'm not over weight or ride off the paved trail so I don't know why they kept breaking. My LBS changed two spokes, then rebuilt the wheel and another one broke, then they just upgraded it to a 36, no issues since with over 1500 miles on it now. Sun Rim CR18 rims, XT hubs, and DT Swiss spokes.