Originally Posted by iamlucky13
Constant state of stress is not really a problem unless it's higher than it should be (ie, the spokes are too tight). Then the cyclic stress (which is what causes fatigue failure) added onto the normal high stress reaches a level that hurts the lifespan of the part. Aluminum can undergo a process called "over-aging" over a long time at elevated temperatures, but that's typically over a couple hundred degrees Fahrenheit, more than a bike should see.
It's also possible that having one break could have shifted the loading enough to overload the others. Or they could just be defective.
I've heard that aluminum nipples serve as sort of a safe-failure design, since the nipple breaks rather than tearing out of the rim, but I doubt that's a problem unless you're running really light weight rims. Your call which to try.
i know how to build wheels now so i know i can make it better. thanks for your help. i have just been so busy with school i haven't had time. it's every day i ride to class...pop...another spoke. well, not that bad. but i have 1 on each end now. i know its not good to ride on the wheel...but oh well, it is what it is.
i guess i just wanted to know if you people have had bad luck with them. my lbs could have over tightened them i guess
i'll have to go through the whole wheel and investigate and report back sometime to let you all know what i did