Hi y'all,

I am Gerry and I live in Houston (Midtown). I am a transplant here (since 1985) and what y'all hear, is the extend of my Texan...

5' 9", 265 lbs 62 years old, semi-retired engineer. Picked up biking this past summer (we rode on the weekends for a few years, short distances 6-10 mi.). Picked it up at my doctor's nagging, and have seen measurable health benefits.

Currently I bike 3-4 times a week, 20-30 km (12-20 mi in Good Christian Units... ) and hope to get to 40 km two days on-one off. Sundays we go with a group of older riders, a minimum of 20 mi (32 km).

Came to the forum in search of solutions for breaking spokes in the rear wheel. I found out that I am a Clydesdale!... so I'll be more active in that forum.

Enjoy the ride!

Hey Gerry,

Welcome to Bike Forums.

Broke spokes on 24, 28, 32 wheels.

36 spokes is the answer to your bike problem....I never broke a spoke on 36 spoke wheels.

https://www.bikeforums.net/hosted-tra...e-ends-la.html

Thank you!

I broke the spokes on a 36 spoke wheel (Bontrager AT 550). Three of them in succession! The LBS replaced the rear wheel under warranty with a better one (I think is a Weinmann) with a ZAC19 rim and butted spokes. It should be ok if I can convince the LBS to tension the spokes properly, as, currently, they are ridiculously under-tensioned (83 kg on the drive side and an estimated 48 in the non-drive side, measured with a Park Tools tension meter).

Welcome to Bikeforums. I live a little north of where you are in Kingwood. Fortunately I can't remember the last time I broke a spoke. My theory is the spokes were not tensioned properly. Your new wheels have the same problem but in the other direction. I hope you have this behind you and can ride without this nagging you.

Check out my website (see my signature) for the latest Texas Bicycling news, events and experiences.

welcome to the forums