(road bike) Should I replace my back wheel or just replace all spokes and retune?
05-31-14, 02:52 AM
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(road bike) Should I replace my back wheel or just replace all spokes and retune?
(this is a road bike) I've been riding on the same wheel for about a year. In the past two weeks I broke two spokes (1 on drive side and 1 on the other). This is the first spoke breakage I have experienced with the wheel. It has 32 spokes. I was thinking about buying a new wheel but based on the prices and not wanted to waste a straight looking rim I am wondering why not just buy 32 new spokes and replace them all and re-true? Is this more common? or do people just buy new wheels once the spokes start popping.
Note: I do ride on roads with lots of pot holes which can't always be avoided and even rode once for a couple miles when my back tire was flat but I cannot see any bend in the rim and it only "bobs" very slightly when I flip my bike upside-down and spin the wheel.
Wouldn't replacing the spokes instead of buying a new wheel be just as good of a solution to stop spokes from breaking?
Like I said -I don't see any bend in the rim and it only bobs ever so slightly.
Thanks all!
Note: I do ride on roads with lots of pot holes which can't always be avoided and even rode once for a couple miles when my back tire was flat but I cannot see any bend in the rim and it only "bobs" very slightly when I flip my bike upside-down and spin the wheel.
Wouldn't replacing the spokes instead of buying a new wheel be just as good of a solution to stop spokes from breaking?
Like I said -I don't see any bend in the rim and it only bobs ever so slightly.
Thanks all!
05-31-14, 03:08 AM
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How worn is the rim?, can you re-build the wheel or do you need to pay someone for this, and what's the cost vs getting a replacement wheel?
Whichever is the most cost effective/cheapest would seem to be the option to go for.
Whichever is the most cost effective/cheapest would seem to be the option to go for.
05-31-14, 06:45 AM
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For the price of 32 spokes, you can certainly buy a good used wheel and have money left over. Depends on how resourceful you are.
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Last edited by wrk101; 05-31-14 at 06:50 AM.
05-31-14, 09:14 AM
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The cheapest option is surely to buy new spokes and rebuild the wheel yourself (if necessary, learn how). You could also call around (or ask here for a local recommendation) for a competent wheelbuilder. A properly-built 32-spoke wheel should be robust enough for almost any road condition and rider weights approaching I'd say 300lbs. For more extreme conditions, consider a 36-spoke wheel.
05-31-14, 09:43 AM
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05-31-14, 09:46 AM
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Since you're asking it tells me you are inexperienced so here's my suggestion:
1. Buy a replacement rear wheel. That keeps your bike operational.
2. NOW, try to fix the old one. If you're successful you'll have a spare. Even if you're not successful you'll be getting smarter through the process.
3. Before you start doing anything rash to your wheel post back and I'll give you a few hints about what to look for.
1. Buy a replacement rear wheel. That keeps your bike operational.
2. NOW, try to fix the old one. If you're successful you'll have a spare. Even if you're not successful you'll be getting smarter through the process.
3. Before you start doing anything rash to your wheel post back and I'll give you a few hints about what to look for.
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05-31-14, 09:51 AM
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Since you're asking it tells me you are inexperienced so here's my suggestion:
1. Buy a replacement rear wheel. That keeps your bike operational.
2. NOW, try to fix the old one. If you're successful you'll have a spare. Even if you're not successful you'll be getting smarter through the process.
3. Before you start doing anything rash to your wheel post back and I'll give you a few hints about what to look for.
1. Buy a replacement rear wheel. That keeps your bike operational.
2. NOW, try to fix the old one. If you're successful you'll have a spare. Even if you're not successful you'll be getting smarter through the process.
3. Before you start doing anything rash to your wheel post back and I'll give you a few hints about what to look for.
05-31-14, 12:58 PM
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The spokes are breaking on the hub side not the nipple... not ON the L but right where the head holds the spokes to the hub.
05-31-14, 01:03 PM
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This is typical for a wheel with insufficient spoke tension. Excess flexure causes the low tension spokes to break, most often at the hub flange.
05-31-14, 01:48 PM
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I'd probably replace the broken spokes and get the wheel properly tensioned and ride it. If it still has problems then look for a new wheel.
