spokes with an "n" (or is it a "u") on them...
 

Does anyone out there know who manufactures spokes with either an "n" or a "u" on the head?...My Sputnik came with wheels built up with these spokes in black and they're starting to pop now that the weather is getting cold...A quick look at the spec list on the Jamis site doesn't even mention if the spokes are made of stainless let alone who made them...

i dont have an answer to your question, but i heart sputniks.

Call or email them directly

Your spokes aren't breaking because the weather changed, btw.

Pop, not break, maybe they're just making a popping sound. Not unusual for a stock factory wheelset..

If the wheels were built without grease in the threads they might be freezing up (contracting) and then returning to a normal temperature expanding while ridden and making a noise.

Well, that's my guess.

I've replaced about 200 spokes on relatively new bikes in the last few years. Word from several reps and industry types is that there was a gigantic batch of cheap stainless steel spokes that have been used in wheels all across the industry. So far we have been able to cover the work under warranty and have even recieved numerous wheel from the manufactures when several spokes have broken. No one really knows why exactly they suck so bad. The other day an industry guy came in and told us it may have been due to the spokes being double heat treated. Who knows.
Anyhow, the spokes with the N on them are usually the ones that I replace. They are not anything special. If you continue to break spokes I would get the shop you bought the bike from to replace the wheel or give you a deal on a hand build wheel.

Probably Marwi Union spokes.

DEF. not Marwi...
Unfortunately, the shop I bought the bike from isn't a Jamis dealer anymore due to them owing Jamis a lot of money so I can't do a warranty claim through them...The shop said they would rebuild the wheels for me if I paid for the spokes but I'm kind of scared about leaving any of my stuff with them in case the landlord locks the doors on them and I can't get my bike back...