Spokes
 

Broke a spoke riding today. It was cold 31 degrees, the road was realatively smooth, flat and straight at the time. It was a rear spoke and the bike is about 1 year old with about 2k miles. I stopped imediately and called for a ride home. My questions are:

1. Should I replace the broken spoke or should I assume that there has been uneven stress caused by the failure and replace all the spokes in order to avoid a chain reaction of additional failures due to the stress created?

2. Since spokes get stress and progress toward fatigue with each revolution shoud I replace the spokes in both wheels.

3. The wheels are Shimano RS-80 with stock spokes, should I replace the spokes with a lighter better spoke?

Just replace the broken spoke. If you have any more problems, then you can start thinking about other options. 2,000 miles isn't anything for a wheelset so you should be fine after replacing the spoke.

Replace the spoke and then make sure that the wheel is properly tensioned and trued.

Replace the spoke and then make sure that the wheel is properly tensioned and trued.

Replace the spoke and then make sure that the wheel is properly tensioned and trued.

Do NOT replace 1 spoke with something completely different unless it's the only thing you can find that will work.

I know that Psimet didn't mention it, but you should probably replace the spoke and then make sure that the wheel is properly tensioned and trued.

Yo, Psimet. I broke my first spoke on a 28-spoke Mavic Open Sport rear wheel using a generic Specialized hub with straight-pull spokes. The wheel has over 42,000 miles on it, and the spoke broke right at the nipple "just riding along." I assume it was from 42,000 miles of stress cycles, and that the other spokes are nearing the end of their life, too. I think it's more cost and time effective to just replace the whole wheel at this point. Agree?

That's a lot of miles for a wheel. Congratulations.

Wait until you break two or three spokes. Once they start breaking regularly then it's time to rebuild the wheel.
A wheel with 42,000 miles on it probably needs a new rim due to brake track wear. Unless you love the hubs its easier to buy a new wheel.

+1 - akanasakid - replace if it's just 1 broken. When you get to 3 broken - replace them all. That said the rim is almost assuredly toast. Don't spend the time fixing it if the rim will most likely crack and fail at the brake surface.

remember - rims are considered "consumables" through normal use.

Thanks, guys. New wheel set is already on it's way. I've gotten my good and more from these and time lost is too important. Heck, I never even did anything with the cartridge bearings on these and they are still smooth. But I'm more interested in riding than setting wheel longevity records. I assume one failure under no apparent catastrophic event meant fatigue, and the other spokes are tired, too. :)

My LBS called shimano and new spoke (to match) is on the way - interesting the spoke broke in the middle not an end.

should i have the wheel properly tensioned and trued**********???

You might want to consider it.

Only if your mechanic says that he's a professional....

http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/5...sonbueller.jpg

After you get the new spoke you should have the wheel properly tensioned and trued.

Maybe this can now be a bad weather wheelset until the other spokes start breaking?

I ride year 'round and don't relish the thought of having a broken spoke or two 40 miles from home when it's bad weather. In bad weather why venture out with equipment you already know is on its last legs? I'll fix this old set up to have on hand for what I hope is much later when the new wheelset starts needing repairs. It's probably good for a few more miles, but I'm not willing to bet on it when the weather's crappy.

I broke a spoke 20 miles into a century. I put in a temp Kevlar spoke and completed the ride.

http://www.yellowjersey.org/fiberfix.html

Are spokes/hubs? I've read that reusing spokes is a bad idea because they get bent and set-in a certain way.

Replace the spoke and then make sure that the wheel is properly tensioned and trued.

Butted spokes will usually break in the middle where they are thinner while straight gauge spokes tend to break at the hub flange... nothing unusual with that.

:lol:

In general it's a poor idea to reuse spokes. There are times when it is acceptable, but for the purposes of this discussion don't reuse them.