Spoke problem

godtabh

Have to replace another spoke on the rear tyre. That'll be spoke 5.

Is there any way to get to the route of the problem? Today's blow out occurred while cycling at low speed on a decent road. Just heard a pop.

Surveyor11

godtabh wrote: »

Have to replace another spoke on the rear tyre. That'll be spoke 5.

Is there any way to get to the route of the problem? Today's blow out occurred while cycling at low speed on a decent road. Just heard a pop.

Might be worth dropping the wheel into a lbs to have it retentsioned, spokes will pop when the wheel's tension is out of kilter.

ford2600

What make is bike and wheel? How long have you it? Mileage?

godtabh

ford2600 wrote: »

What make is bike and wheel? How long have you it? Mileage?

Bh Zaphire 6.7 with stock wheels which I think are RODY RIM+RB32. I've done about 3600km I think

godtabh

ford2600 wrote: »

What make is bike and wheel? How long have you it? Mileage?

Bh Zaphire 6.7 with stock wheels which I think are RODY RIM+RB32. I've done about 3600km I think

smacl

Maybe an excuse to upgrade the stock wheels. Doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg, I went for Fulcrum 7s and love them. Also picked up some spare spokes which I now have stashed in my seat post on the off chance a roadside repair is required.

godtabh

Rather find an excuse to upgrade the bike!

ford2600

Wheel trouble is very common with entry level bike. Changed bike in April 2012, 4 broken spokes by July on rear wheel. Bike shop replaced under warranty.
Got Aksiums again, no trouble since. Fulcrum 7 seem just as good also.
Brother alsi got bike at same time. Differ bike, different wheel, same trouble. Got them replaced under warranty also.
Same for me with Bontager wheels on trek 1000 7 years ago.
That much wheel trouble isn't good enough and between unnecessary trips to shop and time without bike can be enough to put people of cycling when new to it.
Sale of services and goods act might need to be referred to!

seamus

Are they all going on the same side?

I mentioned in another thread that the spokes tend to wear in a uniform way unless there's a reason why individual spokes have been weakened (impact, etc).

So replacing a broken spoke is often like replacing a link in a rusty chain - that link is now good and strong but the rest of them are still at risk of breaking as they're all equally worn. So you haven't really fixed the problem. Theoretically replacing a single spoke actually compounds the problem because that may put more stress on the spokes which aren't broken and causes them to break sooner.

If the broken spokes are all on the same side, then I would have the rest of that side replaced. If they're scattered about the wheel, then a full rebuild is more appropriate, but as mentioned above it may be cheaper in that instance to just upgrade the wheel.

In terms of whether this should happen, there's an aspect of "how long is a piece of string" about it. There are so many factors that have to be taken into account that it's impossible to say whether this is a faulty wheel or pure wear and tear. I got more than 10,000km out of the stock wheels on my bike before I replaced them and never had one broken spoke. But if the bike is very entry level (<€800) then a lifespan of 3,000km may be normal.

godtabh

Just dropped it down to the LBS. They've had a look at it. Rim doesnt appear to need re tensioning but it is on the way out so would be looking at a new rear wheel and hub.

I am seriously considering a new bike.

godtabh

Bike is entry level. Didnt think I would be taken in by it as much as I have been

happytramp

You've learnt an important lesson. When in doubt...... Upgrade

Briando

godtabh wrote: »

Bike is entry level. Didnt think I would be taken in by it as much as I have been

Any excuse for a new bike

smacl

godtabh wrote: »

Rather find an excuse to upgrade the bike!

Depends whether you need to make the excuse to yourself, the wife, or the bank manager. If the bike upgrade isn't imminent, you could buy modest new wheels (say Aksiums or Fulcrum 7s) which sorts your immediate problem, then when you get that Canyon, sell the new Aksiums that come with it and keep the almost new ones you've just bought. The new unused Aksiums on here will fetch a fair portion of what you'd pay for them online, so you're effectively just paying the difference to get your existing bike up and running.

You also get to do two upgrades rather than one. Bonus!

godtabh

The wife has been sounded out about a new bike. She knows it is imminent. She just thinks its funny about how obsessed I am about getting the best of the best (or at least what I can afford!) in different hobbies.