broken 1 back spoke on my mountain bike should i be concerned?
01-23-10 | 05:05 PM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: New Rochelle, NY
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Slightly. A single broken spoke could be an almost random occurrence and signify nothing, or the first of more to come. Usually a spoke breaks, then a while passes and another breaks, then future spokes break in increasingly shorter times until you realize that the wheel needs to be rebuilt.
Have the spoke replaced and the wheel re-aligned ASAP since riding one spoke short puts undue stress on the nearby ones that need to make up for it.
There's no hard and fast rule for when to rebuild, but if the rate of breakage goes up, don't keep throwing more money into a problem, rebuild with new rim and spokes.
Have the spoke replaced and the wheel re-aligned ASAP since riding one spoke short puts undue stress on the nearby ones that need to make up for it.
There's no hard and fast rule for when to rebuild, but if the rate of breakage goes up, don't keep throwing more money into a problem, rebuild with new rim and spokes.
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FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
01-23-10 | 05:05 PM
#3
Senior Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 744
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From: Portland Oregon
Bikes: '82 Giante super challange, 70 Gitane Tour de France, GT Gutterball
Probably not. when you replace it cheack the spoke tension on the rest of the wheel, factory built wheels tend to have low spoke tension which can lead to early spoke breakage.
Definatly look into having the wheel re tensioned before deciding to rebuild the wheel, spokes breaking due to low tension is a common problem
Definatly look into having the wheel re tensioned before deciding to rebuild the wheel, spokes breaking due to low tension is a common problem
01-23-10 | 05:09 PM
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 33,657
Likes: 1,119
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
The old "rule" for broken spokes is:
1. Replace the first one and don't worry.
2. Replace the second one but consider it a warning of a potential developing problem
3. Once a third spoke breaks, rebuild or replace the wheel.
1. Replace the first one and don't worry.
2. Replace the second one but consider it a warning of a potential developing problem
3. Once a third spoke breaks, rebuild or replace the wheel.
01-23-10 | 08:17 PM
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 30,225
Likes: 649
From: St Peters, Missouri
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Probably not. when you replace it cheack the spoke tension on the rest of the wheel, factory built wheels tend to have low spoke tension which can lead to early spoke breakage.
Definatly look into having the wheel re tensioned before deciding to rebuild the wheel, spokes breaking due to low tension is a common problem
Definatly look into having the wheel re tensioned before deciding to rebuild the wheel, spokes breaking due to low tension is a common problem
If all that you do to repair a broken spoke is to replace the spoke and retrue the wheel, what you have done is to return the wheel to the condition it was previously. What it was previously was a wheel that's about to break a spoke.
Last edited by Retro Grouch; 01-23-10 at 08:57 PM.
01-23-10 | 09:24 PM
#8
Type 1 Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,579
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From: Davis, CA
Bikes: A dozen or so.
Slightly. A single broken spoke could be an almost random occurrence and signify nothing, or the first of more to come. Usually a spoke breaks, then a while passes and another breaks, then future spokes break in increasingly shorter times until you realize that the wheel needs to be rebuilt.
Have the spoke replaced and the wheel re-aligned ASAP since riding one spoke short puts undue stress on the nearby ones that need to make up for it.
There's no hard and fast rule for when to rebuild, but if the rate of breakage goes up, don't keep throwing more money into a problem, rebuild with new rim and spokes.
Have the spoke replaced and the wheel re-aligned ASAP since riding one spoke short puts undue stress on the nearby ones that need to make up for it.
There's no hard and fast rule for when to rebuild, but if the rate of breakage goes up, don't keep throwing more money into a problem, rebuild with new rim and spokes.
01-24-10 | 03:18 AM
#11
Great State of Varmint
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,476
Likes: 18
From: Dante's Third Ring
01-24-10 | 11:41 AM
#12
Pleasurable Pain
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 354
Likes: 0
From: Bloomington, IN
Bikes: Voodoo Rada, KHS Alite 4000, Smith & Wesson Tactical, Diamondback Response
Drive side worry more non drive side worry less. How much is more and less is up to you. Visually check other spokes for damage such as chain shifting into spokes.
01-24-10 | 04:53 PM
#13
Used to be fast
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 580
Likes: 0
From: So Cal
Bikes: 85 Specialized Expedition, 07 Motobecane Immortal Spirit built up with Dura ace and Mavic Ksyriums, '85 Bianchi Track Bike, '90 Fisher Procaliber, '96 Landshark TwinDirt Shark Tandem, '88 Curtlo
Your only concern should be the weight gain that led to the tragic loss of a rear spoke. Replace the spoke and cut out beer, chips, and fast food until you are back to fighting weight.
01-24-10 | 09:47 PM
#14
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 30,225
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From: St Peters, Missouri
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
When non-drive side spokes break it's usually due to insufficient tension. Assuming the wheel was reasonably true that means all the other non-drive side spokes are under tensioned and are at risk of breaking. That's part of the reason I recommend checking the tension on the whole wheel whenever a spoke breaks.
01-26-10 | 01:53 PM
#15
Chasing the horizon.
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 500
Likes: 1
From: Michigan
Bikes: 2016 Felt F75, 2008 Mercier Corvus Steel, 2006 Trek 4300, 1985 Trek 620 (modernized)
Spokes just fatigue and break with use. I broke one on my last ride. It's a pain, but not a big worry if you have a sufficient number of spokes. If you're one of these turkeys riding around with 16 spokes in the front and 20 in the rear, one broken spoke can be dangerous, as the wheel can become unrideable and in some cases lock against the brake caliper hard enough to throw you. With a mountain bike, you likely have 36 spokes on that wheel. Breaking one and riding it home gingerly is no concern. You do want to make sure the wheel is properly trued after you replace a broken spoke. This usually means replacing, truing, riding around the block, and truing again. Have a shop do it if you're not comfortable with it.
01-26-10 | 02:33 PM
#16
Fred-ish
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,800
Likes: 1
From: Rhode Island
Oh please, quit the ignorant drama. I lost a spoke on a 16 spoke wheel going down a steep hill at 49 mph. Nothing locked up and I was not thrown off the bike.
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