Axiom

I've had quite a few problems with my Trek FX; mostly rim/spoke issues. Yesterday was the fourth time I have brought the bike in for repair because the spokes kept breaking and/or the rim goes untrue. I've told them countless times that I know how to ride a bicycle and how to maintain it, yet they keep telling me that I am causing the problem, not the bike. After yesterdays repair, the owner of my LBS told me that from here on out I will have to pay for the repairs that were done to my bike, even though I am not the one causing the problem.

I ride on a paved trail with no pot-holes or large bumps, and when I see a bump, I stand up to take my weight off the rear wheel like the bicycle mechanic told me (even though I've been doing it before that, yet he doesn't believe it). He did suggest that I buy double wall rims, and I have to agree. However, I was told that the bike would hold up just fine.

I was also offered 3 free major tune-ups, but apparently I have used them up, which doesn't seem fair. Even though the LBS seems helpful and willing to solve the problem, it seems like a facade. Why can't they just tell me I am too fat for the bike? The weight threshold for the FX is 300lbs, yet I am only 280.

Askel

Totally fair, but I'd try a different trek shop. I had one go to bat for me to get me a better wheel through warranty.

Even at 210, I'm merciless on bike parts and break quite a few. It's not the bike shop's problem. A good set of wheels from a competent wheel builder is a worthwhile investment.

Axiom

If I need a more durable set of wheels, how much should I expect to spend? $200 or so?

bigfred 

If they sold you the bike, knowing your weight and without reservation, I would expect them to stand behind it. While wheel issue may not be directly related to "manufacturing defect", it is certainly part of their responsibility to propery assemble and prep the bike. Including but not limited to tensioning or retensioning the wheels. If they instructed you to bring the bike in after a certain period or number of miles for a "tune up", you did so and haven't been riding in an abusive manner, they should be able to deliver a reliable wheel. This would be the sort of "service and support" we pay for by choosing a bricks and mortar store. I wouldn't hesitate to speak with the owner in the most polite possible terms and suggest not only the preceeding but also that if the wheels on the bike they sold you aren't up to the task, that the financial responsibilty for appropriate replacements should be "shared". (Trek, the shop and yourself).

The flip side of the story, may be that the shop isn't recieving much if any support from Trek. In this day and market, no matter how much shops would like to retain clients, they also can't afford to loose money on each bike sold.

Wish you the best of luck at arriving at a successful outcome.

LAE

Sometimes it's easy to say a company or business is bad or evil but occasionally it serves us well to stand back an look at it from their pov. What's your spoke count? Get strong spokes or a higher count and it'll give u no more problems.

Axiom

Wheels
Alloy front hub, Shimano RM30 rear hub; Bontrager 750 32-hole alloy rims

LAE

Where and how are the spokes breaking? At the elbow? Is it allways the same set of spokes that break? Is it from drops or under tension? What about the lacing pattern for better/stronger flex?

Seems unusual that a ok 32 spoke wheel is giving u problems at 280.

TrojanHorse

Here's an option:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI...ht_4814wt_1163

I've never shopped from that buy but I've seen more than one positive reference to him on BF.

You have cheap, low-end, machine built wheels. Your experience is probably about what you should expect, unless you want to pay somebody to re-hand-build them.

Mr. Beanz

I post this over and over again on the Clyde forum. Still others say I am wrong and continue to recommend stock wheels for big guys. Now you know I am right. SPEND THE MONEY AND BE DONE WITH IT! Again, doesnt matter how many times they replace that wheel with the same free replacement model, aint gonna work.

dwellman

I have, or rather, "had" these wheels. Admittedly, I'm maybe 40 lbs lighter than you, but didn't have any issues (put on a lot of miles the month I went without a car). Always seemed solid to me. My former mother-in-law has them now.

Alos, I second the a set like the Velocity / Ultegra combo mentioned above. I have 32h versions and I like them alot. Had front re-laced by the guy at RSO in Knoxville. Good solid wheels, that guy. Velocity has a GREAT, virtually no questions asked, warranty.

jethro56 

These are for 130 mm rear dropouts so don't order exactly these. I believe the Fx series uses 135 mm hubs in the rear.

professorbob

I had a similar problem about 15 years ago. I finally surrendered and had some custom wheels built. it makes all the difference in the world!

Black wallnut 

I almost hate to say it but I am having issues with CXP22 that came on my Specialized Secteur. The spokes keep loosening up. LBS will be asking Spec. to chip in for an upgrade wheelset.

bigfred 

Are these the same wheels that were involved in your collission?(see thread titled Ouch!) If so, maybe the shop really doesn't have that much obligation to be fixing them for you for free.

dcrowell

Spend a few hundred on some hand-built 36-spoke wheels with Velocity Dyad rims. It may be overkill, but you may never even have to true the wheel again.

indyfabz

+1. And unless your hubs are "designer" hubs, don't see why you cannot have a good set of wheel builts around them. Get a strong set built by the hand of someone who knows what they are doing.

Biggziff

Have you thought about calling Trek and explaining this to them? If they certify the bike for up to 300 pounds, they should stand behind it even if the LBS won't.

We should not be expected to have to upgrade wheels when we're using the item within the criteria it was designed for.

Juan Foote

Alternately, you could invest some money in a better quality spoke and the cash to have them rebuild the wheel with them. A good set of steel spokes or bladed spokes are considerably stronger than the light gauge aluminum spokes that wheel will have been built with. Although I agree with the solid advice given you by a couple of people on the better quality wheels, going a little cheaper and putting in stronger spokes may be all you need.
Another consideration is what size tire are you running? IIRC, those come outfitted with 28's, but will hold a larger tire, which would also help.

gyozadude

I'm your weight and ride both 32H and 36H rims/spokes. I ride single and double wall rims. The Trek FX probably comes with Bontrager 700x35c tires. That's pretty fat. You could easily sit on the saddle over bumps with that rubber.

So from what you're describing, I don't think the shop has been fair. You have a warranty issue on your hands. The rims and spoke with tire combination should easily support your weight. If you're breaking rear wheel spokes, then in my professional opinion, the spokes are a bad batch. Either the machine laced them wrong and stressed them incorrectly or the whole batch of spokes are prone to failure.

It's important to observe and note the mode of failure. Fatigue failures tend to happen at the elbow. But this should take several thousands of miles to get to that point, and really is a combination of improper spoke tension to start with. But there is a slightly different failure mode which is at the mushroom head at the very end of the spoke. With some poorly made spokes, the head simply breaks off. It's not fatigue. It's a manufacturing defect where the heads were never cold forged properly and are prone to breaking off. I almost never get a spoke failing in the middle or at the nipple except if pulling through the rim. If the wheel is a few thousand miles, then it's at the elbow, and if it's less than a thousand miles, then usually, I'd argue that it's spoke head defects.

I stock lots of spokes and have my own spare rims and hubsets and tools. It's not something everyone has access too. But I think it saves me the hassle dealing with shops that sell me a bike and when it's defective, I have to feel like the bad guy demanding proper support. I understand the shop's issue of cost, but rather than foist that on their customer, they should go back to Trek and get Trek to ante up for the defect. Trek needs to know about such defects so they fix the problem. But the sad fact is that lots of shops don't want to deal with the warranty claims because of the hassle they have to go through, and so they blame the customer. And the "Trek" brand is important to the shop because lots of folks see the name and buy based on the brand.

Yeah, in the end, I might join the others and just tell you to "spend the $$$$" and get some good wheels. But frankly, I ride single wall Alex X202 and commute on them sometimes, my family rides on them, I have a very old set of Araya, el cheapo VP20 single wall rims. 2nd set of spokes for those rims and still going strong. So it isn't likely the rim either. If the spokes are systematically breaking on the rear drive side, I'd say, replace all 16 of them with quality spokes, retension, and that would likely fix your issues forever, unless they go cheap and replace them with bad spokes.

Mr. Beanz

Good idea and to save a little bit-o-cash, I'd have only the rear done for now as the front doesn't take a much abuse (unless you have problems with them)

goldfinch

The issue is whether you have a warranty claim. Here is the current Trek warranty: https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/support/warranty


LIMITED WARRANTY
All Trek bicycles are sold exclusively through our network of authorized dealers who we entrust with professional assembly and service of your bicycle. Trek Bicycle Corporation provides each original retail purchaser of a Trek bicycle a warranty against defects in materials and workmanship, as stated below:

LIFETIME
Frames for the lifetime of the original owner (except forks, the Session, Scratch, Slash, and Ticket model frames, and the swing arms on all full suspension bicycles)
5 years
Swing arms on all full suspension bicycles
3 years
Session (aluminum), Scratch, Slash and Ticket model frames
2 years
Session (carbon) model frames
RIDE+ motor, controller, & battery pack (or 600 charges, whichever comes first)
All original Bontrager forks, parts and components (except consumables such as tires and tubes)
1 year
Paint and decals
This warranty applies to 2011 and newer model bicycles and covers only Trek and Bontrager branded products. Any other original part or component shall be covered by the stated warranty of the original manufacturer. Any products not specifically included above are hereby omitted.
THIS WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER:
Normal wear and tear
Improper assembly
Improper follow-up maintenance
Installation of components, parts, or accessories not originally intended for or compatible with the bicycle as sold
Damage or failure due to accident, misuse, abuse, or neglect
Labor charges for part replacement or changeover
This warranty is void in its entirety by any modification of the frame, fork, or components. This warranty is expressly limited to the repair or replacement of a defective item, and said repair or replacement is the sole remedy of the warranty. This warranty extends from the date of purchase, is offered only to the original owner, and is not transferable. This warranty applies only to Trek bicycles purchased through an authorized dealer or distributor. Trek Bicycle Corporation is not responsible for incidental or consequential damages. Some states do not allow the exclusion of incidental or consequential damages, so the above exclusion may not apply to you. Any claim against this warranty must be made through an authorized dealer or distributor. Proof of purchase is required. A bicycle must be registered with Trek Bicycle Corporation before a warranty claim may be processed. Claims made outside the country of purchase may be subject to fees and additional restrictions. Warranty duration and detail may differ by frame type and/or by country. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and those rights may vary from place to place. This warranty does not affect your statutory rights. The English version of the warranty shall prevail.

For 2010 and older model bicycles, please consult your owner’s manual or contact us or an authorized dealer for the applicable warranty.

LOYALTY PROGRAM
Carbon fiber is a great material for producing premium bike frames and parts. However if a carbon part or frame experiences an impact, more expertise is required to determine its integrity than is needed for a comparable metal part.If you impact your bike and the force of the impact is absorbed by a carbon part, we strongly encourage you to replace the part, even if there is no indication of damage.We know how much you love your Trek bike and understand the burden of having to replace a non-warranty damaged bike frame or part.To help with that Trek offers our customers a Loyalty Program.This program can be used to obtain a discount on a replacement frame or component in the case of non-warranty damage.Contact your local authorized dealer for details.

magohn

I ride a Trek Fx also. For a year now Ive used the Trek when the weather is rough to save my Roubaix. I ve ridden the bike in snow, ice, rain and wind on all kinds of rough roads. Not an issue on stock wheels and Im in the 280's. Something isnt right. The Trek is famously "clyde friendly" with stock wheels.

gforeman 

It certainly wouldn't hurt to contact TREK and explain your situation, and see if they can offer assistance.

squirtdad

for what is worth I am at 280 and here is my experience

I run deore hubs with double butted stainless spokes and 32 h sun cr18 rims and 28mm t-serve messenger tiress on my commuter utilyt. I got the wheels from a guy on ebay a few years ago. I had some problems with broken spokes on the rear wheel early on and rebuilt it using all new stainless spokes. No problems going on 4 years now. I don't ride hard and check the truing ever so often.

I also run 32h ultegra hubs with velocity deep v rims and stainless double butted spokes, 25 mm tire on my road bike. I built these wheels, but did have the guru at the local shop due a fine tune at the end. again no problems but not huge miles.

32 h should be fine with good spokes and a good build.

sstorkel

I'll also suggest that the shop mechanic may be part of the problem. Has he checked the tension on each and every spoke with a tension meter? Or is he just replacing the broken spoke, truing the wheel only enough to get by, and failing to check the condition of all the other spokes? I've seen mechanics cut plenty of corners on free/warranty work; it's one of the reasons I do all of my own maintenance...

If the bike is still within the warranty period, I'd consider taking it to a different Trek dealer the next time it has a problem.