Bike Pittsburgh

repeatedly busting spokes

so, in the last 15 days, i've popped 3 spokes on my rear wheel, cog side. this is getting to be a pain in the behind.

now, i've gone about 350 miles in the past week, but three spokes just seems like a bit much. is this a symptom of a bigger issue? should i consider getting a new wheel, or maybe just rebuilding the current one? might there be something wrong with the wheel or hub or something else that's causing the spokes to bust? the first two were right near the reflector, and shop guys commented on that fact both times, but the most recent one was on the (radially) opposite side.

two is a coincidence. three is a pattern. what options have i got and what should i look for?

RE: repeatedly busting spokes

Google Jobst Brandt and stress relief (or reliefing)

Typically more than one spoke breaking means they are all going to go. (unless you dumped a chain in which case replace the spokes that are nicked.) Luckily the fix is pretty easy.

Better yet, get a copy of his book, _The Bicycle Wheel_.

RE: repeatedly busting spokes

going a bit further, look on the inside of your driveside wheel and check for spoke damage from a chain... seems like a good mechanic would have pointed that our right off the bat though... the only time i've broken spokes in the rear has been from chain spoke damage

RE: repeatedly busting spokes

If you don't find and damaged spokes from a chain jumping between the cassette and spokes, you are probably looking at a new wheel, or at least relacing the spokes.

Most spoke breakage can be attributed to too little tension. A spoke under little tension goes through a much higher variation between being loose when at the bottom of the wheel and tight when at the top. Image this happening thousands or millions of times with all the stress being placed at the J-bend.

A really light rim and a heavy load or poor roads can also cause spoke breakage.

If the hub and rim are in good shape and of decent quality, getting the wheel relaced with new spokes could be a good option. Labor costs are going to be at least $30, probably more as the old spokes need to be removed and new ones installed. Spokes prices are around 75 cents for straight gauge and $1 for 2.0-1.8-2.0 double butted spokes, which in theory and usually in practice provide a nicer ride and longer spoke life.

Are your spokes black? There was a run of bad black spokes a year or so back, most of these spokes broke in the middle, which is not terribly common with non-defective spokes.

Doing some of the work yourself will save some cash.

In one of those odd twists of fate, I've never broken a spoke, or tacoed a wheel.

RE: repeatedly busting spokes

Eric's got it.

If you're looking to rebuild your own wheel, there are tons of resources out there. Sheldon Brown comes to mind, as does a wheelbuilding ditty I wrote a few months back. Wheelbuilding 101.