KevinV

Elaborate a bit? Just how naughty was he?

SCOTT!

Cool, our ride was good, ended up doing 150km in 5 hours, so a good morning's work! Pity I could hardly stay awake at the wedding I went to that evening!KevinV2008-09-17 06:48:28

Hey fandacious, where did you sneak off to mid-ride on saturday? Glad you also saw the whales, they were nice and close to the shore.

Also an option I guess, but it seems from what has been said that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the rims I have so I may as well hang on to them and just do the spokes. I am, however, hoping that even this will not be necessary.

PM our fellow Hubber who goes by the name of Straatvark. He was easily the best student I've ever had on a wheelbuilding course. I have no doubt that he'll build a better wheel than most people in Cape Town. Good stuff, thanks. Straatvark, when you get a pm from me you know what it's about!

Thanks Johan, I think you have already forgotten more than I will ever know about the technical stuff. Just spoke (no pun intended) to the shop where I bought the bike. They say that once a spoke breaks and is replaced, it's inevitable that more will break. Not going to get much out of them then. I will wait until more break and then get the back wheel rebuilt by somebody who knows what they are doing. No spokes have broken on the front yet so I will leave well enough alone.

Thanks, will look around at prices. I think they may cost more than I'm willing to spend at this stage though. I am in no rush, unless my LBS runs out of spokes.

Thanks Johan. I will speak to the shop where I bought the bike. Others have also advised that all they will do is replace the spokes with more of the same quality (or lack of) and I will be back so square one. However, I will give them the opportunity to answer my questions. If spokes continue to give in then I will get the wheels rebuilt with better, brand name spokes, and invest in some XT or similar hubs while I am at it. Can you recommend any wheelbuilders in the western cape? If you don't want to mention names on the thread please pm me. Thanks for the input!

Fair enough Marius, but basically what I want is a solution to all the broken spokes. Any weight saving would be a bonus, provided that it doesn't cost a ridiculous amount. Sounds like my best bet is a rebuild with existing hubs and rims, just with a better quality set of spokes. Thanks.

Oh yes, and I'm not a weight weenie. I weigh 90kg and ride a 12.5kg bike.Any weight saving would have to be substantial to be of any use to me!

Johan, I'm genuinely looking for some advice here. Not exactly sure what hubs I have, they are Shimano, my bike is specced with Deore and LX, so ithey are in that range I guess. The spokes that broke have all been on the drive side, at the hub. I'm not madly keen on spending loads of money here, but would rather spend some than keep finifhing rides with a wobbly wheel and having to go to a shop to get it fixed. By cheap and nasty spokes, I mean that it has been suggested to me by bike shop staff that this may be the case. With regard to the mileage on these wheels, I'm not estimating. I zeroed the computer when I got the bike. I've done 987km on the wheels. Basically, it looks like a wheel rebuild is going to be what it needed, I am simply trying to ascertain what my best course of action is here. You always seem to give good technical advice, so am hoping for some insight. Thanks for the explanation of butting of spokes. Makes perfect sense now!KevinV2008-09-12 04:49:18

So can spokes be a big weight saver then? What does double-butted and triple-butted mean?

I'm sure there already threads about this but not in the mood for searching. Any input would be appreciated. I have WTB SpeedDisc wheels with very average Shimano hubs. After about 1000km on this wheelset, I have started snapping spokes. Apparently, the spokes on my wheels are cheap and nasty, and my LBS has advised me to have them rebuilt with better spokes if I break any more. Sounds like this will cost in the region of R700 for both wheels. Would this be a good option, and if so, what spokes should I get? Can I shave weight off my wheels this way, have heard that I can. While I'm at it, should I upgrade hubs? Other option I guess is to buy another wheelset, but would rather ride this bike into the ground and then buy another, better bike. Maybe in a year or so. Should I just put better spokes on and carry on like that? So many questions, I sound like you Slowbee!!!

Wednesdays we ride 5pm. Usually meet at corner of Irene and Helderberg College Roads in Somerset West, or down at the Lord Charles traffic light. Depends on the route we're riding. pm me if you want to join. Going today too I hope so if you are keen...

Corenza

Will keep the pics coming. Slowbee, nothing lucky about it, you live down the road from me so come with next time!

...and minedumps for mountains.

Would be hard to eat that harvest, even if it were something edible. That field went on forever!

We got permission, and thanked him afterwards, so it's all good!

Thought that would be your answer!