Hello all,

So I just took my bike into the LBS, who also happens to specialize in custom wheelbuilding.

I went in to get my wheels trued, but they noted that some of my spokes were bent (like dented) and others were twisted (these are flat bladed spokes, not round). They said the twisted and bent spokes could not be salvaged, and it would not really be advisable to ride these wheels.

I just laced these wheels up myself with new rims, reusing the spokes and hubs from my old wheels, and I did notice that some spokes seemed in pretty bad shape while I was lacing them.

Now, I am wondering, what causes this? How could these spokes have gotten so messed up? These wheels came on my second hand bike, I have no idea of their history, but they seemed like good wheels, they were once built by a custom wheelbuilder (judging by the stickers on the rims), and never gave me much problems.

The bike shop recommended I get all new spokes, and they rebuild the wheels from the ground up, which I agreed to. The LBS also said the spokes were also in fact slightly too long for the rims (which I was afraid of when I bought the rims, although I thought I had remedied it with nipple washers).

I'm pretty annoyed at myself for even messing with the wheels in the first place, as this will cost quite a bit for both the spokes and labor (around $200) but I am assuming this was the right thing to do?

Thoughts? Opinions?

Thanks!

They wouldn't bend without outside force applied, and to adjust spoke tension you hold the blade straight, while turning your spoke nip.

Id have to see the wheel in person, really.

I don't know about the bent, dented spokes, but the twists could be the result of the newly laced spokes naturally seating themselves. One of my bike has blade spokes and I find it the most difficult to true. Most of the time the spoke will twist when I adjust the nip. Consequently...I have to use a crescent wrench to hold the spoke in place while I adjust the nip.

Dan

[MENTION=416545]_ForceD_[/MENTION] [MENTION=409272]maartendc[/MENTION] Spoke holders (for bladed spokes) are a common tool. If you build/maintain bladed spoke wheels, you should own at least a the multi-sided one.

Twisted spokes are not usually in need of replacement unless the twist is "set" into the spoke. But without completely loosening the spoke it's a judgment game to know if the spoke has become deformed. Blades spokes are more likely to be kinked (bent sort of) across the minor axis. Signs of excessive force.


I have to admit that rebuilding a wheel with spokes that have kinks or twisted spots is pretty poor a plan. We don't know what the spokes' condition really was. That the OP noticed the spokes were in less then ideal shape yet still went ahead says something. It is the spokes that hold you hubs off your rims...


Spokes get messed up from age/fatigue, poor truing technique, snagging on things, impacts, corrosion, and other things. All are outside influences.


I have to agree with the shop in their willingness to suggest what they did. It takes guts to tell a customer they did wrong. Customer service isn't only about being yes men. Andy

Thanks for the advice everyone, I guess it was just time to replace them then.

rebuilding a wheel is cheaper than a funeral