broken spoke...help pls!

[andre_ct]

just got a call from my bro now, and he noticed he got a broken spoke in his rear wheel....BAD timing for tomorrow's WCE ride

not sure when it broke, but i dont suppose he should ride like that?

 

i got an old wheel here...so will it be compatible with his gearing or wot? .... it's a 7 speed...he has an 8 speed shimano rsx

 

he's gonna see if he can replace the spoken from another wheel tho

[Chrispy]

If the wheel is not buckled too much, just remove the spoke for now.

[WillemT]

i guess it's a 32 spoke wheel?? I weigh 103 kgs and partly because of that I break a spoke or two some times. I've rided with four broken spokes at a time and it really isn't a problem, they were all on different places on the wheel. Two were broke waiting to be replaced and then another 2 broke on the same ride, I actually heard them snap. Got them sorted out now.

 

If you have v brakes, the wheel will maybe drag a bit more than usual, if it's the case just slack up the rear v-brake, you rely more on the front in anyway. If you have discs then it's no problem...

[andre_ct]

yeah 32 spoke...

well he is gonna take one from the front to the back, then use a different front wheel for tomorrow

 

i also broke one last sunday...got that sorted already tho

 

i think it's time i also do my own maintenance

[Slave]

I know it's a bit late for the application, but usually a broken spoke or two is not a biggie. You can usually ride a bit if the wheel is not badly buckled and it will not usually create any problems for you.

 

It is however, advisable to replace broken spokes as soon as possible.

 

I have purchased a bunch of extra spokes and replace them as soon as they break, if I am not out on a ride when they do let go. Will normally finish my ride and then do the replacements immediately I get back home.

 

One of the reasons I prefer wheels with loads of spokes. (More even weight distribution).

[Johan Bornman]

Andre, by now you guys have discovered that a spoke isn't a spoke. One borrowed from a front wheel won't necessarilly fit ina a back wheel and vice versa.

 

Slave, you make cycling sound like an ordeal. Keeping bunches of spokes in reserve and replacing them as soon as you return is not the  norm. Have someone help you with a proper wheel build and kiss goodbye to broken spokes.  

 

The more spokes in a wheel or, the stiffer the rim, the less the effect of one broken spoke. However, modern malleable stainless spokes are so durable that you needn't choose and design wheels based on if and when you break spokes.

 

If you read Riaan Manser's book Around Africa on my Bicycle you'll find the best account possible on the effects of poorly built wheels.

 

 

[Slave]

JB. Cycling can be an ordeal when your equipment needs constant TLC.

 

But, 'tis a labour of love this cycling thing.

 

Spokes don't break all the time, but metal fatigue is something that happens to older geriatric rides like mine. I find that regular periodic maintenance carried out when something does need attention is far better than fixing heaps of things at some future date.

 

One spoke that breaks means that all the others take an extra bit of strain, which in itself is not a problem for a short duration. Longer term problems arise if we don't attend to the problem sooner.

 

I have not broken a spoke in about a year now, but went through a stage where one broke after the other and I ended up replacing quite a few.

 

I guess it helps if you know what tension the things are supposed to be and this will save others from breaking. I guess being as heavy as I am also puts some extra strain on the spokes and since galvanised spokes only have a limited life span, they had reached the end of theirs.

 

No, cycling is not an ordeal, it's when one spends more time fixing than riding that it becomes less fun. Besides, I like to potter about in the garage.

 

Come winter, I'm going to pimp my ride. Total respray, regrease and replace bearings, and get the bike looking cool for my sub 3 attempt at next years 94.7. (At lease if I fail in my effort at this, I'll look good trying.)

 

 

 

[andre_ct]

Andre' date=' by now you guys have discovered that a spoke isn't a spoke. One borrowed from a front wheel won't necessarilly fit ina a back wheel and vice versa.[/quote']

 

well we learnt the hard way...but the front to rear move worked as a temporary solution

he is yet to fix it tho

[Johan Bornman]

Spokes don't break all the time' date=' but metal fatigue is something that happens to older geriatric rides like mine. I find that regular periodic maintenance carried out when something does need attention is far better than fixing heaps of things at some future date.

 

[/quote']

 

Metal fatigue happens on new bikes and older bikes. It is just that the older ones start to fail from fatigue.

 

You cannot prevent metal fatigue with periodic maintenance.

 

 

 

One spoke that breaks means that all the others take an extra bit of strain' date=' which in itself is not a problem for a short duration. Longer term problems arise if we don't attend to the problem sooner.

 

[/quote']

 

Not so. One broken spoke does not put enough stress on the adjacent spokes to make them break quicker because one broken spoke relieves strain on adjacent spokes.

 

A broken spoke simply makes the wheel wobble.

 

 

 

I guess it helps if you know what tension the things are supposed to be and this will save others from breaking. I guess being as heavy as I am also puts some extra strain on the spokes .

 

You guessed wrong.

 

 

and since galvanised spokes only have a limited life span' date=' they had reached the end of theirs.

 

[/quote']

 

All spokes have a limited lifespan, but you're right if you mean that galvanised steel spokes have a shorter lifespan than modern stainless ones.

 

One doesn't wait for winter to grease hubs. You grease hubs when they need grease.

 

 

[Slave]

 

One doesn't wait for winter to grease hubs. You grease hubs when they need grease.

  

 

Correct. As part of my service plan, I usually take the bike to bits in Winter and grease everything anyway (unless there is a problem in between,in which case, I sort it out at the earliest opportunity).

 

Some may say this is a little extreme, but the cost of grease is cheap enough and it is a good excuse to potter about in the garage.

 

It is also a good opportunity to check for signs of wear or find parts that need replacing before my season gets underway.

 

Being the poefter cyclist that I am, I rest in winter 'cause I hate the cold. I also rest a lot in summer 'cause I hate riding in the rain.

 

Once again, you hit the nail on the head. galvanised spokes have a shorter lifespan that stainless and yes, metal fatigue begins immediately after manufacture.

 

It is the evidence of metal fatigue that only manifests itself later on, like when the spokes start to break.

[andre_ct]

 

You grease hubs when they need grease.

 

 

so when do u know hubs need grease???

 

and wots the difference in rolling resistance when it comes to the older bearings to the newer closed bearings?

[Johan Bornman]

Knowing when to grease your hubs is something that comes with experience. I take the wheel by the skewer and spin it. The bearings and I then talk to each other and exchange information. I can feel roughness, I can hear rumbling or a whoosh. I can sense that there is still some seal and lubrication drag or not.

 

The best way is to find a brand new boutique wheel and spin it. Immediately afterwards take a crappy old entry level wheel that's seen better days and spin that. The difference should be obvious.

 

A gritty wheel needs new bearings. A wheel that just spins and spins and and spins has good bearings but is approaching too dry. A smooth wheel with some perceptable drag is just right.

 

Eventually you'll be able to judge without the comparison.

 

Try it, you'll understand what I'm talking about.

 

 

[andre_ct]

A gritty wheel needs new bearings. A wheel that just spins and spins and and spins has good bearings but is approaching too dry. A smooth wheel with some perceptable drag is just right.

 

i'd actually prefer the wheel that just spins and spins