When I bought my Specialized Hardrock off Craigslist it needed a tuneup so took it to the local bike shop and had the brakes fixed and the wheels trued. Rode it a couple hundred miles with no issues and then had LBS put semi slicks on it since the majority of my riding is on hard surfaces (MUP, highway and packed double track).

A couple weekends ago I took it back to LBS for a check over since I was going to attempt my first organized ride doing a 40 mile route. LBS said rear wheel had 4 broken spokes which he replaced and that he had to "dish" wheel". The wheel was a little wobbly before that's why I took it in for the check.

I was able to keep up pretty well with a pack of "B" pace riders for about 20 miles, losing ground on the hills but catching back up on the flatter stretches. Then I gradually began to fall farther and farther behind and eventually couldn't make it up the hills without getting off and pushing. I really didn't feel all that fatigued so checked the bike over and the rear wheel was really wobbly, scrubbing on the brake pads enough that it would stop the wheel when spun. Made it about 25 miles and finally was picked up by the SAG vehicle and my day was done. One of the spokes is really loose so I guess more broken spokes.

My questions are: What is meant when a wheel has to be dished? If I need to replace the wheel where would be the best place to get a replacement. Wheels are 26 inch.

Sorry for rambling, I tend to do that. Any opinions, comments appreciated.

dished wheel
strait cut and paste from Sheldon
Dish

A bicycle wheel should have the rim centered directly in line with the frame. The forkends are symmetrical with respect to the frame, and the hub axle locknuts (or equivalent surfaces) press against the insides of the dropouts.
Wheels should be built so that the rim is centered exactly between the axle ends on the hub. In rear wheels, the spokes attach to flanges which are not symmetrical about the denterline...the right flange is usually closer to the centerline than the left flange, to make room for the sprocket(s).
When rear wheels are built properly, the spokes on the right side are made tighter than those on the left side, pulling the rim to the right, so that it is centered with respect to the axle (and to the frame.) Viewed edgewise, a rear wheel built this way resembles a dish, or bowl, since the left spokes form a broad cone, while the right spokes are more nearly flat.
By extension, the term "dish" is used as a general synonym for accurate centering, even in the case of symmetrical wheels. See also my Wheelbuilding article

Very common for the rear wheel to get trashed after heavy use. Truing and dishing can help, but not if the wheel is in real bad shape. You can find new wheels at any bike shop. High end wheels may be cheaper on-line, but basic quality wheels are usually cheaper at local shops where you don't have to pay for shipping.

Thanks, Johnny, wasn't really excited about putting much more money into bike, but after researching on Bikeapedia it appears this is a 2010 model and I only gave $50 bucks for it. I've spent about $200 so far on it for maintenance and accessories so maybe another $100 won't kill me.

Just talked to the LBS on the phone, he said probably around $65 to replace the wheel so guess I'll go for it.

How did you not know you had four broken spokes?

LBS diagnosed and replaced them when I took bike in for a checkup before the organized ride.

Again, you have 4 broken spokes? How did you not know? I get one broken spoke, I know immediately.

Your wheel is really messed up and probably not repairable. You can replace the spokes but most likely it's going to break again. You've lost the integrity of the rim. It's a 26" wheel with a lot of spokes so it's pretty strong. For you to break spokes especially 4, something is wrong. I don't break spokes on my MTB riding in the woods and you've done it in the street.

If you remove the spokes so you are only left with the rim. You put the rim on concrete and see if it lays flat or is wobbly. Assuming the concrete floor is flat. If the rim is wobbly, the rim is shot.

When I initially bought the bike I took it to the LBS to have the brakes repaired and to generally have it checked out. The owner fixed the brakes and trued both the wheels. I rode it for 2-3 months with no issues. I had the organized ride coming up so I spun the rear wheel and it wobbled ever so slightly, so I figured I would take it back in and have him check it over. When I went to pick it up he told me he had to replace four spokes and he had to dish the wheel. To his credit, he did state that I would probably have more spoke issues but that I should be able to make it fine for the 40 mile ride. But I agree that this wheel is needing replaced since it made it 25 miles before it had issues again.

He took a good guess that you would get 40 miles before another broken spoke.

If he rebuilds wheels, you can have him, or you, get another rim, keep the same hub, and then have him relace the wheel with new spokes of course.