Busted spoke question?

Greetings fellow cyclers... I am new to cycling and these forums and was looking for a bit of help. I've recently purchased a mountain bike (Marin Pioneer Trail) and have been riding it for about two months now. I brought it to my bike shop yesterday to get a 30 day check up and adjustment (I know.. I procrastinated.. lol) and they had to repair two broken spokes in my rear tire. They said it was probably due to some bumpy riding and the fact that I'm a big guy (250 lbs/ 5'9"). They said just watch for potholes and take it easy.

Today I went for a ride and as luck would have it I sped through a fairly large crater in the street and I heard a popping noise. I checked the rear tire and found one spoke was broken and just hanging there. I happened to be next to a car mechanic and asked one of the mechanics to cut it off so that I can ride back to my nearest bike shop which as luck would have it had closed early. I'm wondering... is it a big deal to ride with one less spoke for a day or two until i can get to the bike shop? Also when I spin the rear tire it starts to slow down near the point where the spoke was damaged (and removed ultimately).

Thanks in advance for all replies

ummmm. you are a big guy and basically the wheels are not up to the job. You could probably do with a much stronger wheelset. speak to your lbs about a strong suitable set. im only a lightweight so dont want to offer advice on heavy duty wheelsets. spokes should not be popping constatnly though unless you hit something.

Spokes not only support your weight, but also are used to true the wheel (keep it straight in the frame). Breaking a spoke has made the wheel no longer be straight. You did not mention what kind of bike you ride, but if it is a mountain or cruiser type, the wheels should be designed to take a beating. If it is a road bike with skinny wheels, those are not designed to take on pot holes. I recommend to talk with the LBS about the problem.

I ride a lot on urban roads, and seldom hit a pot hole. You may just have to watch for the pole holes, but the LBS and also tell you that.

Ken Kifer site will tell you how to install a spoke, true wheel, adjust seat height etc geat stuff

http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/

I carry tools, and extra spokes on board. When I break a spoke on the road it takes only minutes to replace it.

Good luck with your Marin bike with alloy rims. I weigh 280 and have broken lots of 0.078" spokes and three alloy rims in the last two years -- one 36 spoke Alessa, one 32 spoke Mammoth, one 36 spoke Mammoth. Now have Sun Ringle BFR on rear. My next bike is gonna be a Worksman with thick steel rims and 0.120" spokes. http://worksmancycles.com/shopsite_s.../cruisers.html

Sounds like you definitely need a new wheelset. If you've had this much trouble already, it's probably never going to get better with those wheels. You can find a pretty good built up wheelset for like $200. Look at something with Sun Rhynolite rims or similar... something made for Downhilling. Otherwise, you're going to be spending your life in at the LBS getting spokes replaced.

In your experience, is the Rhynolite a much stronger rim than the Big Fat Mammoth??

Dieselis is 5-9, 250 bs. I am 6-3 270, and have broken two Mammoth aluminum rims with 0.078" spokes in the last two years. I was astonished at their failure in use riding on paved shoulder of highway. I do not ride offroad.

My next bike will be Worksman with thick steel rims and 0.120" spokes.