Hi all,

This year while riding my 2002 Specialized Hardrock I've had many instances of spokes breaking, probably six times now, and I just broke my last one about an hour ago. Anyway, I've been going to one bike shop to get my spokes replaced. The last time was this past Sunday, and three rides later (today) another spoke pops. I was told that the bike shop owner spent only ten minutes truing my wheel; they only charged me $6 Cdn. I keep going back to them because they charge alot less than another shop across the street, but I'm beginning to wonder whether they lack the art of rebuilding wheels. Can you really tension every spoke on a wheel properly in only 10 minutes? I realize that breaking spokes is part of biking but this was the second time that a spoke broke within two or three moderate rides after they had just replace one, so I'm losing confidence in their ability. The shop across the street charges $20 Cdn per wheel. So I'm wondering, how much skill is required to properly tru a wheel, and whether I'd be better off spending more money?

By the way I live in Toronto in the Davisville area. If anyone knows a good bike shop in this area please let me know.

Thanks.

This is a great forum.