Hi,

I have posted before about my wheel issues, but I am again at a loss. Also, this could probably go in any number of forums. This one sounded like my best bet

I am perpetually breaking spokes on the rear wheel, always on the non-drive side by the j-bend. I am getting extremely frustrated because I do not know what else to do about it that I haven't yet.

I am a big guy. When I started riding, I was about 370 lbs. Two bikes and 5 (or is it 6, I don't remember), wheels later, I am at 265 but that is still enough to put a lot of load on the wheel. But here is the thing: after my last wheel issue (which was related to the derailleur hitting it, not really a spoke issue per se), I had a wheel hand built. Based on the shop's recommendations, I had it built with a Salsa Delgado rim, 36 Double butted spokes in cross 3, and a 105 hub.

While the wheel did well for a while, it started to come out of true often. The shop was good in that they would true it for free and even before my last ride, I left it with them and they put a tension meter on the spokes to confirm they were good. Yet, my last ride (140+ miles, Baltimore to Philly), I broke two spokes (got one fixed at a close shop and used a FiberFix on the other).

I can buy that being large is hard on the wheels, but that is why I had a really strong wheel built!

So, I am left with two questions. The first is what else can I do? It seems as though I am doing what I need to be doing. Is there no hope for me to ever have a reliable wheel? The second is, if I decide to have another wheel built, I do not think I will go back to this guy. What do I look for in deciding who to trust to build a wheel.

As a friend of mine has said, it is amazing I haven't given up cycling yet given all the problems I had. I certainly don't want to, but I really need to be able to rely on a my bike. Or at least have it be more reliable!

Thanks!