"Fortune, good night .... turn thy wheel!"
08-28-11, 09:56 PM
#1
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"Fortune, good night .... turn thy wheel!"
"Sors immanis
et inanis,
rota tu volubilis,
status malus,
vana salus
semper dissolubilis....."
- Carmina Burana codex
Paisan and I heard the snap simultaneously.
"Sounds like you broke a spoke, Neil."
"It doesn't feel like I broke a spoke. I don't feel resistance when I pedal."
And so we continued down the Pine Creek Rail Trail towards Jersey Shore, fist-pumping as we went. But soon enough the wheel began to drag. We pulled into a trailhead. I removed my panniers and Paisan spotted the problem immediately.
"You didn't just break a spoke. You broke the hub flange. See here, it's broken at two spokes on the drive side."
"So I guess the ride is over. We drove four hours so I could ride a bit more than nine miles."
"It is what it is. I'll get the truck."
"We didn't even make Jersey Shore. What a situation....."
Later Paisan inspected the wheel and felt that the rim and the intact spokes could be used in the rebuild. He gave me specific advice on how to proceed, but since it's not the topic I want to discuss I'll keep it to myself.
My questions for the group:
The wheel is a 36 spoke 700 cc build my shop did for me Spring of 2009. It has 2500 miles on it. I've used the bike both on and offroad, on paved surfaces and bumpy canal towpaths. I've broken one spoke in 2009 and one in 2010. Is the hub failing a case of abuse on my part? Or am I victim of Fortune's wheel?
et inanis,
rota tu volubilis,
status malus,
vana salus
semper dissolubilis....."
- Carmina Burana codex
Paisan and I heard the snap simultaneously.
"Sounds like you broke a spoke, Neil."
"It doesn't feel like I broke a spoke. I don't feel resistance when I pedal."
And so we continued down the Pine Creek Rail Trail towards Jersey Shore, fist-pumping as we went. But soon enough the wheel began to drag. We pulled into a trailhead. I removed my panniers and Paisan spotted the problem immediately.
"You didn't just break a spoke. You broke the hub flange. See here, it's broken at two spokes on the drive side."
"So I guess the ride is over. We drove four hours so I could ride a bit more than nine miles."
"It is what it is. I'll get the truck."
"We didn't even make Jersey Shore. What a situation....."
Later Paisan inspected the wheel and felt that the rim and the intact spokes could be used in the rebuild. He gave me specific advice on how to proceed, but since it's not the topic I want to discuss I'll keep it to myself.
My questions for the group:
The wheel is a 36 spoke 700 cc build my shop did for me Spring of 2009. It has 2500 miles on it. I've used the bike both on and offroad, on paved surfaces and bumpy canal towpaths. I've broken one spoke in 2009 and one in 2010. Is the hub failing a case of abuse on my part? Or am I victim of Fortune's wheel?
08-28-11, 11:34 PM
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08-29-11, 12:20 AM
#4
Tilting with windmills
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Twp years and 2500 miles doesn't seem like enough for a flange to fail on a wheel, but sometimes it just happens. Many of your miles have been loaded touring, or at least with a trailer.
I'm not sure if tow path surfaces would contribute or not. I don't have any experience in that arena.
I'm not sure if tow path surfaces would contribute or not. I don't have any experience in that arena.
08-29-11, 05:51 AM
#5
Downtown Spanky Brown
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Seems a little early for failure like that if you ask me. Did you ever take the wheel back after a few hundred miles for retentioning?
08-29-11, 06:18 AM
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not as fat as I was
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Certainly doesn't seem like 2500 miles is enough to expect from a hand built wheel that was built to your specs by a shop that knows your size, etc. I'd contact the shop and if they pass I'd contact the hub manufacturer and express your concern about a potential manufacturing defect.
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08-29-11, 08:14 AM
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08-29-11, 09:28 AM
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It's really a hard one to call.
That isn't many miles, although they were hard miles, loaded with weight!
I would say it's Fortune's Wheel!
That isn't many miles, although they were hard miles, loaded with weight!
I would say it's Fortune's Wheel!
08-29-11, 09:32 AM
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Certainly doesn't seem like 2500 miles is enough to expect from a hand built wheel that was built to your specs by a shop that knows your size, etc. I'd contact the shop and if they pass I'd contact the hub manufacturer and express your concern about a potential manufacturing defect.
08-29-11, 09:39 AM
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Play_Men
08-30-11, 11:27 AM
#13
2nd Amendment Cyclist
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What kind of hub?
Maybe it's time to upgrade to something more suited to the type of riding you do. Seems like you do some loaded touring, so a hub that's build to withstand that is probably what you want.
Maybe it's time to upgrade to something more suited to the type of riding you do. Seems like you do some loaded touring, so a hub that's build to withstand that is probably what you want.
08-30-11, 12:04 PM
#14
already soaked
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"Oh, Fortuna, blind, heedless goddess, I am strapped to your wheel!"
08-30-11, 10:03 PM
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08-30-11, 10:17 PM
#17
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Funny but I did a few centuries with another rider about my size. I used the 32 and he used the 36 spoke wheels. He preached over and over the importance of the 36 hole hub.
I wondered if they were really not as strong since there is less material between each spoke hole since there were more holes. Tandems have more holes but have enlarged flanges to accommodate for the amount of holes and less material between each.
As an inspector, I always wondered why they did not use a slightly large flange as well on the 36. Most parts specify minimum material allowances for durability and integrity requirements.
His 36 hole hub lost a chunk of material between the spoke holes as well. Maybe I was correct in my choice to avoid the flanges with less material between the holes.
I wondered if they were really not as strong since there is less material between each spoke hole since there were more holes. Tandems have more holes but have enlarged flanges to accommodate for the amount of holes and less material between each.
As an inspector, I always wondered why they did not use a slightly large flange as well on the 36. Most parts specify minimum material allowances for durability and integrity requirements.
His 36 hole hub lost a chunk of material between the spoke holes as well. Maybe I was correct in my choice to avoid the flanges with less material between the holes.
