"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?