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Need advice. I keep breaking spokes

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Need advice. I keep breaking spokes

Old 03-22-16, 09:05 PM
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Originally Posted by CafeVelo
Where are you? Chances are we could recommend someone that we have experience with ( most areas have at least one member here). If you came to my shop with this story then I would suggest to you a few options: a cheapish wheel from our distributor that we check to make sure it's built properly before you thrash on it, or a nice wheel that we do the same thing to. As for the r-501 you asked about, they're fine, but they're H E A V Y OEM wheels. At that price though you could get the set and have a competent builder go over it for another $50 and come out on top from my above suggestions.
I'm in Houston TX. 150 is a budget I can work with. I just don't want to spend too much on it since its only a 320 dollar bike, but it does have a Brooks saddle, so I suppose the damage is done lol
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Old 03-22-16, 09:06 PM
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Originally Posted by vinnyvincent
I may have misrepresented "potholes". what I am hitting are cracks in the pavement that span the whole bike path, a lot are from tree roots under it. The only way to avoid them is to run off road excessively.
Always stand going over bike path roots and stuff like that. Bridge ends often have quite a ledge. RR tracks. Take the shock in your legs. Yes, that's a PITA on bike paths, one of the reasons I prefer to ride on the road.
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Old 03-22-16, 09:09 PM
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Originally Posted by vinnyvincent
I'm in Houston TX. 150 is a budget I can work with. I just don't want to spend too much on it since its only a 320 dollar bike, but it does have a Brooks saddle, so I suppose the damage is done lol
keep in mind that a good wheelset, like your saddle, transfers well to other bikes you own in the future, and a quality wheelset can change the way a bike feels in a positive way. I'm sure someone in Houston can refer you to a good builder local to you.
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Old 03-22-16, 09:10 PM
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Originally Posted by nycphotography
Incorrect.

Instead of plowing through them with your full weight on the seat and bars, you can also unweight the bike reducing the impact, or even bunny hop over them completely.
What if I switch to an all black kit? Will I be able to plow through as many pot holes as I want without taking on any damage?
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Old 03-22-16, 09:12 PM
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Originally Posted by TimothyH
Leaning the bike up so it is supported by the side of the wheel or laying the bike flat in a car with the weight of the bike on the side of the wheel can cause broken spokes. They won't break immediately but randomly for what seems like no reason.
No offense, but I don't believe that to be true. Side load forces induced solely by the weight of the bicycle would seem to pale in comparison to the loads involved with a rider mounted.
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Old 03-22-16, 09:21 PM
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Originally Posted by TimothyH
Leaning the bike up so it is supported by the side of the wheel or laying the bike flat in a car with the weight of the bike on the side of the wheel can cause broken spokes. They won't break immediately but randomly for what seems like no reason.

I kept getting mysterious broken spokes, couldn't figure out why. I thought the wheels were just garbage but a mechanic mentioned the way I lay the bike in the car with the weight on the wheel. I stopped doing that and haven't had a broken spoke since.



-Tim-
You could be right, but I would be amazed. The stress on a bike wheel in both vertical and angular planes when it is being ridden is so many fold greater than what you are describing that wheels ought to be asploding left and right. I don't believe a word of it.
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Old 03-22-16, 09:37 PM
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vinny, see my PM. I can help you out.
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Old 03-23-16, 08:30 AM
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@vinnyvincent - first I would see if BD would just send you a new wheel. Maybe you ended up with a dud. It happens, and from what I have heard their customer service is really good. I've never had problems with OEM wheels before, or the R450 rims. I'm fairly certain those are on my CX bike and take way more abuse than hopping a curb or potholes. Also, in the future if you hear noises, get that checked out immediately, don't try to just ignore it because the problem won't magically go away.
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Old 03-23-16, 08:36 AM
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Originally Posted by vinnyvincent
I got my cheap bikes direct bike back in December. Since then I've put under 900 miles on it. After the first 100 miles I took it to get the wheels trued. Ended up paying fifty bucks because a spoke needed replaced too. About 150 miles later a spoke noise developed. I rode it for a while and it just got worse, so I had it trued again. It went away and now just this evening I notice another spoke is broken.

The wheels are alexrims R450. I weigh 200lbs now. Riding mainly on bike paths and neighborhood roads. I hop the occasional curb or run into a small pothole once on a while, but nothing too bad. I rarely stand up to pedal.

Should I keep throwing money at these wheels, or get something more durable? Am I expecting too much from the 700x28 wheels?
Those AlexRims are notorious for lower tension spokes, although potholes and curbs don't help much. I had the same wheels and when the wheels had exhausted their lifetime, they broke spokes on almost every ride. It's time to get new wheels!
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Old 03-23-16, 08:41 AM
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Originally Posted by vinnyvincent
So what's a lower end, yet more durable wheel if I do go that route? I think an equivalent Alexrim cost fifty dollars. Can I get a decent rear wheel for 100 or should I spend more? My only requirement is durability, not worried about weight.
I have a sora 8 speed rear derailleur/cassette.

Look on ebay. You can find a nice used mavic or campy set for $200-300

here you go https://www.ebay.com/itm/Campagnolo-Z...gAAOSwwpdW8F2b

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Easton-Wheel...QAAOSwAuNW2kT8

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Old 03-23-16, 08:45 AM
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Originally Posted by mjf1288
Those AlexRims are notorious for lower tension spokes, although potholes and curbs don't help much. I had the same wheels and when the wheels had exhausted their lifetime, they broke spokes on almost every ride. It's time to get new wheels!
These ARE new wheels! lol...they only have 800 miles on them.

@rpenmanparker lives close to me and has offered to rebuild the wheels using new spokes, so I am going to go that route.
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Old 03-23-16, 08:54 AM
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Originally Posted by vinnyvincent
These ARE new wheels! lol...they only have 800 miles on them.

@rpenmanparker lives close to me and has offered to rebuild the wheels using new spokes, so I am going to go that route.

oh those wheels are terrible, I had them, just get new wheels. Just being honest here
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Old 03-23-16, 09:02 AM
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Hrm...I suppose for a little more I could just get a new wheelset and still have @rpenparker work on them.
I mean the spokes are going to cost me 50+/- anyways. For an additional 50 I could just buy that shimano set I had linked...or used.
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Old 03-23-16, 09:43 AM
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Originally Posted by vinnyvincent
Hrm...I suppose for a little more I could just get a new wheelset and still have @rpenparker work on them.
I mean the spokes are going to cost me 50+/- anyways. For an additional 50 I could just buy that shimano set I had linked...or used.
I would be inclined to go that route.
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Old 03-23-16, 10:09 AM
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Originally Posted by CafeVelo
I would be inclined to go that route.

Another plus to that decision is I won't have to go bikeless while I wait on him to build the wheels. I can just ride the one with a broken spoke until he is finished...not only that but my local REI has those wheels in stock, so I can just walk in and buy them. Should I get the trued right off the bat or wait until I have ridden them a little?
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Old 03-23-16, 10:22 AM
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Originally Posted by vinnyvincent
Okay so obviously I'm not very good at finding a good bike mechanic. How would one go about locating an "ace wheelbuilder" locally?
I've had a hard time finding one too. My ace mechanic is not competent at wheel building. And the wheel builder I like, often delegates to someone else.
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Old 03-23-16, 10:43 AM
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Originally Posted by Nachoman
I've had a hard time finding one too. My ace mechanic is not competent at wheel building. And the wheel builder I like, often delegates to someone else.
Yeah it looks like I got lucky and found one right here in this thread. I'm going to bring my wheels to him on friday so he can inspect them.
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Old 03-23-16, 10:53 AM
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Originally Posted by vinnyvincent
Another plus to that decision is I won't have to go bikeless while I wait on him to build the wheels. I can just ride the one with a broken spoke until he is finished...not only that but my local REI has those wheels in stock, so I can just walk in and buy them. Should I get the trued right off the bat or wait until I have ridden them a little?
It only hurts the wheel to be ridden when built wrong. 500 series wheels are also machine built, and not always right out of the box. I'd have them checked first. If he's willing and you have the $$, either buy two sets or re-lace and rebuild the wheels you have, that way you're not without if things go sideways again.
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Old 03-23-16, 11:00 AM
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You should still see if BD will send you a replacement wheel for free. An extra wheel never hurts
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Old 03-23-16, 11:57 AM
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Originally Posted by bmthom.gis
You should still see if BD will send you a replacement wheel for free. An extra wheel never hurts
Yeah the bike was a gift from my GF, so I am seeing if she has the order number. I'm hoping I can get a spare wheel from BD and still get the old ones re-laced, that way I'll have a spare.
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Old 03-23-16, 12:11 PM
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Originally Posted by vinnyvincent
I may have misrepresented "potholes". what I am hitting are cracks in the pavement that span the whole bike path, a lot are from tree roots under it. The only way to avoid them is to run off road excessively.
In that case, you may want to run wider tires at lower pressure.
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Old 03-23-16, 12:39 PM
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Originally Posted by JohnDThompson
In that case, you may want to run wider tires at lower pressure.
I weigh 185 and run over root bumps and other stuff all the time Only 20000 miles on my present set of wheels with 23mm tires so far

Op has crappy wheels. Let more than they are worth to rebuild. Getting a good set of wheels is a rite of passage
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Old 03-23-16, 12:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Vicegrip
Op has crappy wheels. Let more than they are worth to rebuild. Getting a good set of wheels is a rite of passage

I agree with this. I was having problems with wheels staying true bu never broke a spoke. Then I bought better quality wheels and now, while I might still have issues like my rear derailleur ghost shifting (I think I got that fixed too), my wheels are no longer an issue.
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Old 03-23-16, 01:01 PM
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Originally Posted by vinnyvincent
Is a Shimano WH-R-501A a decent wheel set? REI I'd having a member sale right now, I can get them for 100 plus tax. Their shop always seems busy so I could but from there and have them do any work they need...
They're about as good as entry level wheels get.
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Old 03-23-16, 02:16 PM
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I bought these and have been very happy: New 2016 Shimano WH RS31 Road Bike Wheelset 700c RS31 Clincher Wheels Black | eBay

A little more than your budget but bladed spokes!
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