spokes

jebidiah

is there a method for tightening spokes? do i need to find the loose one and just tighten it up? or is there way its done propperly?

bike is only a week old so i dont want to waste the 1 month service. id rather do it my self.
theres like a creak from the back wheel once in a turn, gets faster as i speed up and only makes noise when im sitting down

xz

Are you sure it's the back wheel thats got a creak in it?
some noises on bikes are hard to distinguish where they are coming from, I used to get a creaking noise that I was convinced came from bottom bracket and actually turned out to be my saddle.
You say your bike is new, some noises, mainly pinging sounds are to be expected from your wheels as the spokes bed in if this was not already done in the factory. Most bike noises are more of an annoyance than a problem.

Does the noise go away if you stop pedalling, or is it still there?

DirkVoodoo

Yes, there is a very strict way of doing it, don't go fiddling with spokes unless you want to mess up your wheel. Google "wheel truing". I have yet to try it but have read a bit on the subject and it is considered one of the more difficult aspects of bike building/maintenance because it requires a good deal of patience and minute adjustments.

http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=81

The 1 month or 6 week service is really just to tighten cables and make sure no problems have arisen. I don't think that a loose spoke after 1 week would write this off, if anything they should be happy to oblige you. Also, what xz said is true, it probably isn't a spoke as a "creak" is more likely to be coming from somewhere else.

CheGuedara

jebidiah wrote: »

is there a method for tightening spokes? do i need to find the loose one and just tighten it up? or is there way its done propperly?

bike is only a week old so i dont want to waste the 1 month service. id rather do it my self.
theres like a creak from the back wheel once in a turn, gets faster as i speed up and only makes noise when im sitting down

Whoa there just a second before going at those spokes!

XZ is very probably onto the right thing - check firstly the seat clamp is tightened sufficiently (a notorious creak point) and cycle around for a few minutes to see if that rectifies the problem. If not try just loosening, positioning and then correctly tightening the saddle clamp (i've had that creak before and it exhibited the same pattern as you describe - this fixed it) and have another small spin to see if that's settled things.

If not you might have a tight bottom bracket, or it could be something in the wheel and your LBS should be your next stop.

Playing with the spokes shouldn't be necessary unless you have a buckle (thats rubbing off the brake block and causing your problem) or a wheel thats out of dish in any case.

flickerx

If your bike is only a week old and its giving you trouble, bring it back to the shop and tell them what the problem is or where the noise is coming from.

Slapping a small bit of oil or lube on new parts tends to ease out any creaking sounds. I wouldnt be too stressed, new bikes usually take a bit of time to be broken in.

I'd also recommend against interfering with the spokes if you are not familiar with what you're doing. I've only built about six or seven wheels at this stage, and my last one had me in tears trying to get it true. Its a time consuming, head melting, soul destroying process.

Ant

Being able to true wheels is a very useful skill to have but it takes time and practice to get it right. The first time I tried it, I didn't know what I was doing (I just thought I had to tighten any spokes that felt loose) and the wheel was left in a much worse state when I finished. Eventually, after more practice and a bit more (pre-Internet) research into how to do it properly, I got the hang of it.

I've since built a number of wheels and it's a very satisfying experience to cycle on wheels that you built yourself. I've also found my own wheels to be superior to any similarly specced wheels bought from a shop.

I'd recommend that you learn to true a wheel and get a feel for how much turning of the nipple is required by practising on the wheels of some crappy old bike that isn't being cycled any more.

stuf

If you do have loose spokes then I had a similar problem with my bike when I bought it. Because I messed with it myself I've given myself no end of problems with the back wheel - one of the reasons I've got into wheel building is so as not to cause problems again

concussion

If you can't locate the source and you're certain it's coming from the wheel you can quickly check spoke tension by hand - check each spoke by giving it a wiggle - if theres one very loose you'll know. Once you've checked them all individually go around the wheel again (gently) squeezing pairs of spokes together - they need to have some 'give' to them but if some are much looser (sp?) then you need to get them tightened.

Best thing to do is head into the shop - truing wheels is a pain alright, luckily I stopped worrying about it when I got disc brakes. Ahh ignorance - silent, non-rubbing ignorance :D

MB Lacey

I have a bike I bought last Feb which I leave at my parents house. I've cycled it a handful of times, less than 1000km. I haven't been able to cycle it since possibly last July, am home this wknd and noticed 2 spokes hanging loose.
I thought I could just twist them back in, but after reading this thread it seems I'm going to have to ask my parents to take it into a bike shop and have the wheels trued?

I know the wheels are crap, they came with the bike, but I've ridden 5000km on same wheels on a different bike with no issues.
I've noticed another spoke further up is loose also.
Is the cheaper option just buying a new back wheel or would you advise getting spokes trued?
Thanks in advance

Alek

This looks as if the whole nipple has popped out of the rim... if so, they are incorrect size and would be a serious manufacturing fault, potentially very dangerous... If that's the case, I'd go back to the dealer/manufacturer and demand new wheelset even if out of warranty!

MB Lacey

Alek wrote: »

This looks as if the whole nipple has popped out of the rim... if so, they are incorrect size and would be a serious manufacturing fault, potentially very dangerous... If that's the case, I'd go back to the dealer/manufacturer and demand new wheelset even if out of warranty!

Yes the spokes were just as they appear in the first photo, completely out of the rim. I find it difficult to believe I cycled with the spokes like that, but I must have without realising.
I'll perhaps email the photos to the shop I bought the bike from and see what they say.
Thanks.

easygoing39

Alek wrote: »

This looks as if the whole nipple has popped out of the rim... if so, they are incorrect size and would be a serious manufacturing fault, potentially very dangerous... If that's the case, I'd go back to the dealer/manufacturer and demand new wheelset even if out of warranty!

Sorry but youre giving incorrect info here.What has happened is that the head has broken off the nipple.New nipple needed,no big deal.Shop where the bicycle was purchased will fix it no problem.No need for terms like "serious manufacturing fault"!!

MB Lacey

easygoing39 wrote: »

Sorry but youre giving incorrect info here.What has happened is that the head has broken off the nipple.New nipple needed,no big deal.Shop where the bicycle was purchased will fix it no problem.No need for terms like "serious manufacturing fault"!!

In fairness my photos weren't great. I think you may be correct in the broken nipple suggestion though.
Please see new photo attached which I think shows snapped nipples rather than nipples which have popped out of rim.
I have no clue how these could have snapped without me noticing, unless my parents have been sneaking out for quick spins on my bike whilst I'm not here!
Would you say it was my own fault rather than manufacturers?
I can't remember any accident which would have caused the nipples to snap, but that does seem to be what's happened.
If it was my fault I'll take the wheel to a closer bike shop rather than the shop I bought the bike from if I'm going to have to pay anyway.
There are 2 other loose spokes on the back wheel in addition to the snapped ones.
Thanks.

easygoing39

Its not youre fault at all.Those wheels are made by Alex rims,and can be found on many different makes of bicycle.Im going to guess youre bike was under €1200,as this is the price range that Alex rims are fitted.Unfortunely you get what you pay for.But no need for alarm,shop where you purchased from will replace the broken nipples,retune the wheel and away you go.Start saving and invest in some proper wheels,loads of posts on Boards to give recommendatons on wheel upgrades.

onthefringe

Is the house damp?
They look corroded
If so they would literally snap off

MB Lacey

Mightn't be clear in the pic but there's no corrosion on the nipples, the house is warm and dry and not damp.

I agree alexrims are basic stock wheels, but I've only done 600km on these as it happens (just checked on strava) and they really should have a bit more life in them then that. As I said my other alexrims covered 5,000km on a different bike no problem before swapping them out.
I'll ask in the shop which is the cheaper option, new wheelset or the cost of new nipples and truing back wheel.
When you say you don't think it's my fault, would you expect the shop to be fixing spokes for free?

easygoing39

I would expect the shop to replace the nipples and tune the wheel for free,no money should be handed over!! Those Alex rims are churned out by the thosand every month,cheep and sometimes cheerfull! Its like comparing a Pennys t-shirt to a Lacoste t-shirt,the Pennys t-shirt may last a few wears/washes,but will be a rag well before the dearer:better made Lacoste version.

Alek

No need for terms like "serious manufacturing fault"!!

If you read my post slowly, you'll notice that I would consider this a serious manufacturing fault IF the whole nipple has popped out of the rim.

Otherwise you are most likely right - after a second look at these images, I stand corrected.