Nipples, 29er spokes,

[D Vader]

The nipples on my 29er ( Hardtail) rear wheel keep breaking.

I don't think they are over-tightened.

Am I too heavy ( 82kg)? Hope not.

These are alumin nipples. Are they too soft? What is a better/stronger and reasonably affordable option?

And no I have not tried milkbalm or vitE cream.

Edited November 25, 2010 by D Vader

[AndreZA]

Get brass nipples (for the wheels) and all will be well. Except that you will probably gain 20-30gr per wheel.

[crasher]

Brass should be the answer but maybe get JB at yellow sadddle to check out if there is not some other reason why they are breaking as they should last a couple of years before they start to break.

[D Vader]

Thanks!

[Bike Mob]

Did someone say Nipples?

[AlsDad]

Newsflash

Dr. Calvin Rickson, a Professor of Sports Medicine at Texas A&M University has invented a cycling bra that keeps women's breasts from jiggling and bouncing, and prevents the nipples from pushing through the fabric when cold weather sets in.

 

At a news conference, after announcing the invention, a large group of men took Dr. Rickson outside and kicked the sh!t out of him.

 

(Sorry, can't help you with your spokes! )

[Johan Bornman]

The nipples on my 29er ( Hardtail) rear wheel keep breaking.

I don't think they are over-tightened.

Am I too heavy ( 82kg)? Hope not.

These are alumin nipples. Are they too soft? What is a better/stronger and reasonably affordable option?

And no I have not tried milkbalm or vitE cream.

 

Aluminium nipples break routinely. They have a limited lifespan and just break. Brass nipples on the other hand, have a virtual unlimited lifespan.

 

However, sometimes alu nipples do break quicker than they should and this is because the spokes are too short for aluminium nipples. For the nipple to last a bit longer, the spoke has to protrude from the end of the nipple, or at least, be completely flush with the top of the nipple inside the rim. If it is a couple of mills too short, it would effectively translate to a spoke with an aluminium end. This doesn't work, as you pointed out.

 

The remedy is brass nipples. Alternatively, you can keep your alu nipples and make each spoke 3mm longer so that it protrudes past the nipple. Of course this will weigh more, but hey, you still have "alloy nipples", don't you?

 

The irony is that an alu nipple is lighter than a brass one but requires longer spokes to compensate for their weakness and they end up weighing the same as a brass nipple.

 

American Classic wheels have alu nipples and they've taken this concept to the extreme and their alu nipples actually have a shoulder extension that requires 3mm longer spokes. I don't see these break.

 

I scratch my head.