Brando_T.

heard the "ting" as i hit a small pebble today. Bummed, only 5 k into a 40 k planned ride and it was a beautiful day.

Wheel's in the shop, getting rebuilt with double-butted spokes

mesasone

I think I've broken two. Or maybe just one. In either case, I've broken four since I got my LHT a year ago, and had the rear wheel rebuild three weeks ago.

When I got it back, it was creaking and groaning like crazy when the freewheel wasn't engaged. I tried applying some lube at the nipples, thinking maybe the mech missed the spoke prep somewhere, and it helped a bit, but the groaning continued some. I was ready to take it back to the shop and have them fix it, but this week the groaning has stopped completely, so hopefully the spokes have settled and it will be smooth sailing from here. I will keep my eye on it though.

Brando_T.

I blame the broken spoke on not getting the factory built wheel retensioned last summer after putting a few KM on it - despite all that I read here.

Bike mechanic remarked on how loose some of the spokes were.

qmsdc15

Rebuild? I sometimes ride with a broken spoke for a couple of days before replacing it with a used one from my recycling bin. Adjust the remaining spokes so the wheel isn't banging on the frame and off you go!

Brando_T.

my thought is new double butted spokes, properly tensioned, so it doesn't happen again. Probably overkill.

Mazama

With a 40 spoke Swiss DT wheel I may never hear that twang again...maybe.

epcolt

Broke 3 at the same time 3 days ago. 1.5 miles into a 25 mile ride. Broke 3 and bent the rim last year.

donalson

broken 4 so far this year...

1st was rear drive side on my MTB... my fault miss adjusted the rear D and dropped the chain between the cassette and wheel... $15 later at my LBS and she was rolling again...

other 3 where on the tour de cure... riding a rigid 29er for the 100k ride... about 10 miles in one of my buddies riding behind me told me I realy needed to have my rear wheel trued up when we where done... I honestly didn't even notice it... at the next rest stop I took a peek and found one of my spokes (drive side) had popped... I figgured I'd ride it out and hope i'd make it (i'd trained to long to give up at this point... at mile 52 in cruizing in the low 20mph in a nice long pace line I hear a PING... pulled out along with my 2 other ridding buddies from my club... I decided i'd try to baby it for the last 10 miles... if my buddies made it and I didn't they'd come back and i'd ride their bike to the finish (no way I wasn't finishing)... so off they went ahead of me... and off I rode, slowly and as lightly as a 300# guy can... about another mile in I hear another POP... 3 spokes down... meh... cheap factor built wheelset whats it going to hurt trying to ride further... lots of weight on the bars... also found it rode a lot smoother if I kept it over 15mph (hard with so much weight on my arms... ended up catching up to my buddies at the next rest stop... together we rode to the finish as a team... was the end to an awesome ride... had my mechanic fix it the following week.

I wouldn't have made it with out disc brakes



picked up a road bike and have a century ride planned with these guys in October... I can't wait...

knzn

I did today. So, what are double butted spokes?

jaxgtr

I did about 2 weeks ago, first one in 3 years.

Brando_T.

heh, I just saw your thread, we should commiserate together with a beer.

from here: https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/201452-three-spoke-morning.html#post2623671

I read:

bcc

Yep, just busted the second one this year, late on a friday. Annoyingly just as we're due a bank holiday weekend with good weather, and the (good) bike shop is absolutely rammed with jobs

BigParm

Busted one a few months ago. First one ever, riding trails mostly. Had the spoke replaced, no problems yet.

Cosmoline

I broke them on a regular basis until I found a guy who actually knows how to build wheels and bought a high-quality rim and hub combination. It's still only a 32 count, but it hasn't popped a spoke in over a year. I believe wheels are able to handle an extraordinary amount of force, but the spokes have to be tensioned just right.

DieselDan

Yeah, but from a maladjusted rear derailer and a friction shifter.

Also, no matter how good the wheel build, a stick can get kicked up into the rear wheel and break a spoke or three.

timmythology

Only one. Happened during a 40 mile jaunt on the Oregon coast, dang that ride sucked. Well at least the scenery was nice.

Griffin2020

I broke my first one Saturday during a 50 mile ride. Did not realize that was what it was until I got the bike to the shop for a checkup.

I simply heard a noise, it did not handle any differently. Now that I think about it, I was about 30 miles in when I heard a ting. I thought I had simply thrown a pebble up to the rear rack...the broken spoke was on the front.

Tex_Arcana

I think I'm up to 8 so far. First one broke early in the morning on my way to a ride event when I hit a nasty pot hole. The Sun and Ski that hosted the event was open at 6:00 am when I got there and replaced 2 spokes (they broke one fixing the other) free of charge.

Another spoke broke just before the end of the 62 mile event but Sun and Ski wasn't taking any repair jobs so I rode toward home til I found a Bike Barn. They said I had 4 broken spokes (I only found 1 before I took it inside though).

Since that day another spoke has broken and I fixed it myself and trued up the wheel then the other day I was riding along normally and heard the metallic pop that is becoming too familiar now.

I think I should just go ahead and get a new wheel set. The ones that came with the bike seem pretty cheap anyway. Just single wall.

Wogster

The general rule on these things, break one spoke, replace the spoke, when you get to the third replacing of a spoke, replace all of the spokes. When a spoke breaks it stresses the other spokes, which will mean that they are more likely to break. So you keep chasing the broken spoke until you have replaced them all anyway. So replace all of the spokes, then true and tension the wheel. If you still break spokes, then it's time for a new wheel. This wheel needs to be built by a wheel builder, most bike shops buy wheels from manufacturers that are machine built, and they need to be hand trued and tensioned for Clyde use.

petflunky

I popped a spoke last Thursday. I'm taking the rim into the shop tomorrow after work. I'm going to see how much it costs to get all the spokes replaced with something stronger.

Glenn1234

I got 3 of them that I know of on my rear wheel. I probably have been riding around on it for quite a while, and am pretty thankful the wheel didn't cave in entirely. But as it is, it did end up ruining my planned Memorial Day ride. Probably won't be worth fixing, I'm sure, so I'll be back to the (more) beater bike for a good long while until it breaks.

Griffin2020

Broke another one yesterday on a metric centruy....grrr.

Spoke to the mechanic that changed the first one (and this one) about my options.
I REALLY wonder if it is out of adjustment tensionwise.

He is pushing double-butted spokes, extra wide tires, tires that will run a MUCH higher pressure, or even as extreme as "upgrading" to a cyclocross bike.

urban rider

Coming from the physical therapist I hit a pot hole (too many to doge) heard a loud pop. Not only did I blow a tire I also lost a spoke. Had it repaired yesterday.



Gas, .69 cents the price of a can of beans.

Condorita

I didn't know we were supposed to keep a count.

Souplesse

Happened today half way through my 75 km weekly weekend jaunt....bah...oh well to the bike store on Monday