20 Years With No Broken Spokes - Already 4 In The Last 3 Weeks- Why?
I've ridden for many years and have never broken a spoke. In the last three weeks I've broken four. What gives? I can't figure out why.
The wheel:
Formula fixed gear hub (32H high-flange) laced with DB Sapim Race spokes to a Mavic Open Pro rim. 700x28 Conti Gator Skin tires. Built by a pro mechanic who has been building track wheels since the 1960s. The wheel has been re-tensioned twice.
The Rider:
Eighty kilos and a lock and pannier. About 90kg (198lbs) total.
The streets:
Some cobblestones, but the spokes have tended to break while riding at around 35kph on nice, new roads.
Last summer I rode on 28H fixed wheels on the same streets with smaller tires and had absolutely no problems. Those wheels are still true as the day they were built.
Does anyone have any ideas what could be causing all this spoke breakage? Thanks.
Last edited by Cyclist0383; 06-21-07 at 03:48 PM.