1 broken spoke - still safe?

[bornfree]

Is a bike safe to ride with 1 broken spoke?

The bike in question is a Trek Road/racing bike with a 60cm (23.6in)
frame.

Here's a picture http://i18.ebayimg.com/08/i/000/e7/8c/d103_1.JPG

The seller says "small dent on frame near headset (visable in photo)"
- can you see it? I can't make it out.

Thanks!!

 

[Mark T]

bornfree writtificated

> Is a bike safe to ride with 1 broken spoke?

It's cheap to fix. If you ride on it then other spokes will break and
it'll eventually become unrideable. If you're just wanting to ride it
back from the sellers address then it should be fine.


> The seller says "small dent on frame near headset (visable in photo)"
> - can you see it? I can't make it out.

I'd be worried that it had hit a car. Ask the seller if it's had any
crashes, then if you find it has obvious crash damage you can walk away
(long as you're picking the bike up).

Bikes with punctures/broken spoke/other easily fixable stuff often goes
for a lot less than it should do. Could be a bargain.

 

[Nick]

Mark T wrote:
> bornfree writtificated
>
>> Is a bike safe to ride with 1 broken spoke?
>
> It's cheap to fix. If you ride on it then other spokes will break and
> it'll eventually become unrideable. If you're just wanting to ride it
> back from the sellers address then it should be fine.
>
>
>> The seller says "small dent on frame near headset (visable in photo)"
>> - can you see it? I can't make it out.
>
> I'd be worried that it had hit a car. Ask the seller if it's had any
> crashes, then if you find it has obvious crash damage you can walk away
> (long as you're picking the bike up).
>
> Bikes with punctures/broken spoke/other easily fixable stuff often goes
> for a lot less than it should do. Could be a bargain.

 

[Nick]

Mark T wrote:
> bornfree writtificated
>
>> Is a bike safe to ride with 1 broken spoke?
>
> It's cheap to fix. If you ride on it then other spokes will break and
> it'll eventually become unrideable. If you're just wanting to ride it
> back from the sellers address then it should be fine.
>
>
>> The seller says "small dent on frame near headset (visable in photo)"
>> - can you see it? I can't make it out.
>
> I'd be worried that it had hit a car. Ask the seller if it's had any
> crashes, then if you find it has obvious crash damage you can walk away
> (long as you're picking the bike up).
>
> Bikes with punctures/broken spoke/other easily fixable stuff often goes
> for a lot less than it should do. Could be a bargain.

Yep broken spokes are to be expected. My Trek has already broken 2 and
it is less than a couple of years old.

As for the headset... I would guess you aren't thinking of paying much
£50-£100? and it is steel, so all you really need to check is that the
bike rolls straight, I would try riding no hands but maybe someone who
knows what they are talking about will have better advice.

You should also check the gears index and don't skip.

 

[Rob Morley]

In article <325ede1a-6d9b-4e31-a495-8e58cfe79c58
@v32g2000prd.googlegroups.com>, bornfree
[email protected] says...
> Is a bike safe to ride with 1 broken spoke?
>
Not if it's a tri-spoke wheel.

> The bike in question is a Trek Road/racing bike with a 60cm (23.6in)
> frame.
>
> Here's a picture http://i18.ebayimg.com/08/i/000/e7/8c/d103_1.JPG

Shouldn't be a problem in the short term, assuming you're just wanting
to ride it home, although if the breakage was caused by impact damage
then the rim might need replacing. If the spoke broke because it was
chewed by the chain then there might be others about to fail.
>
> The seller says "small dent on frame near headset (visable in photo)"
> - can you see it? I can't make it out.
>
Go up vertically from the very front of the downtube bottle cage, and go
forward about an inch - it looks like it may be creased (hard to tell
with the fuzzy picture - it may just be the way the light is catching
it, paint loss or a result of the JPEG compression). Ask him for a
close-up photo - if it's just s little ding where the bars have hit the
side of the top tube then it shouldn't be a problem, but if it's deep or
has sharp edges it could be cause for concern.

 

[Rob Morley]

In article <[email protected]>, Nick
[email protected] says...

> Yep broken spokes are to be expected.

Only with poorly built wheels, or those that have been subjected to
excessive stress.

> My Trek has already broken 2 and it is less than a couple of years old.
>
> As for the headset... I would guess you aren't thinking of paying much
> £50-£100? and it is steel, so all you really need to check is that the
> bike rolls straight, I would try riding no hands but maybe someone who
> knows what they are talking about will have better advice.

It says damage to the frame near the headset. The front end could have
been pushed back by a heavy impact and the bike could still roll
straight, in fact up to a point the extra trail will make it more stable
no-handed. If you suspect frontal impact damage you need to check the
bottom of the downtube for bulging just behind the head tube, also that
the head tube is parallel with the seat tube and that the head tube,
seat tube and rear dropouts are straight relative to each other.
Ideally you want to take the forks out to check them for alignment too.
>
> You should also check the gears index and don't skip.
>
Usually just a question of adjustment or lubrication. Wear can be
checked by looking at derailleur slop, sprocket hooking, chain stretch.

 

[Nick]

Rob Morley wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>, Nick
> [email protected] says...
>
>> Yep broken spokes are to be expected.
>
> Only with poorly built wheels, or those that have been subjected to
> excessive stress.

Perhaps, but the rear wheel on this level of bike normally breaks spokes
for me.


>
>> My Trek has already broken 2 and it is less than a couple of years old.
>>
>> As for the headset... I would guess you aren't thinking of paying much
>> £50-£100? and it is steel, so all you really need to check is that the
>> bike rolls straight, I would try riding no hands but maybe someone who
>> knows what they are talking about will have better advice.
>
> It says damage to the frame near the headset. The front end could have
> been pushed back by a heavy impact and the bike could still roll
> straight, in fact up to a point the extra trail will make it more stable
> no-handed.

Surely If the bike is stable and turns ok no handed. It is probably ok
to ride.

> If you suspect frontal impact damage you need to check the
> bottom of the downtube for bulging just behind the head tube, also that
> the head tube is parallel with the seat tube and that the head tube,
> seat tube and rear dropouts are straight relative to each other.
> Ideally you want to take the forks out to check them for alignment too.

I have riden bikes where I have creased the downtube as you explain. I
rode the bike for a year or so after doing this. I wouldn't chose to do
it but the main thing about alignment is surely that the bike rides ok.

Or is there another problem? I mean the steel frame won't fail
catastrophically will it?

>> You should also check the gears index and don't skip.
>>
> Usually just a question of adjustment or lubrication. Wear can be
> checked by looking at derailleur slop, sprocket hooking, chain stretch.

Gears also skip due to the rear derailleur/hanger being bashed which
normally means a new part.

 

[Phil Cook]

Nick wrote:

>Rob Morley wrote:

>> It says damage to the frame near the headset. The front end could have
>> been pushed back by a heavy impact and the bike could still roll
>> straight, in fact up to a point the extra trail will make it more stable
>> no-handed.
>
>Surely If the bike is stable and turns ok no handed. It is probably ok
>to ride.

Until the crack makes it all the way through....
--
Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"

 

[Mark T]

Nick writtificated

> Surely If the bike is stable and turns ok no handed. It is probably ok
> to ride.

To a point, but it may be the start of a crack. The forks might be
suspect as well - I wouldn't like a steerer to go. It would also reduce
the value of the bike by scroodles.

 

[bornfree]

On 7 Apr, 14:56, Rob Morley <[email protected]> wrote:
> In article <325ede1a-6d9b-4e31-a495-8e58cfe79c58
> @v32g2000prd.googlegroups.com>, bornfree
> [email protected] says...> Is a bike safe to ride with 1 broken spoke?
>
> Not if it's a tri-spoke wheel.
>
> > The bike in question is a Trek Road/racing bike with a 60cm (23.6in)
> > frame.
>
> > Here's a picturehttp://i18.ebayimg.com/08/i/000/e7/8c/d103_1.JPG
>
> Shouldn't be a problem in the short term, assuming you're just wanting
> to ride it home, although if the breakage was caused by impact damage
> then the rim might need replacing. If the spoke broke because it was
> chewed by the chain then there might be others about to fail.
>
> > The seller says "small dent on frame near headset (visable in photo)"
> > - can you see it? I can't make it out.
>
> Go up vertically from the very front of the downtube bottle cage, and go
> forward about an inch - it looks like it may be creased (hard to tell
> with the fuzzy picture - it may just be the way the light is catching
> it, paint loss or a result of the JPEG compression). Ask him for a
> close-up photo - if it's just s little ding where the bars have hit the
> side of the top tube then it shouldn't be a problem, but if it's deep or
> has sharp edges it could be cause for concern.


How much is it worth at the moment, and how much would it be worth if
it were fixed?

 

[Roger Merriman]

bornfree <[email protected]> wrote:

> Is a bike safe to ride with 1 broken spoke?
>
i would say so, though i'd ride it to the local bike shop.

my ebay bike, old red had a few missing spokes, seem to be fine for
slowly rolling around but i'd not put it under any strain, ie i'd get
the wheel fixed pronto.

> The bike in question is a Trek Road/racing bike with a 60cm (23.6in)
> frame.
>
> Here's a picture http://i18.ebayimg.com/08/i/000/e7/8c/d103_1.JPG
>
> The seller says "small dent on frame near headset (visable in photo)"
> - can you see it? I can't make it out.
>
if it's steel probably not a issue, if it's alu i'd be more warry.
> Thanks!!

roger
--
www.rogermerriman.com

 

[Ivan Ardon]

Maybe it's just me, but is the headtube straight and are the forks pushed
slightly back?

Ivan

 

[Dan Gregory]

Ivan Ardon wrote:
> Maybe it's just me, but is the headtube straight and are the forks pushed
> slightly back?

I think you're right...

 

[Rob Morley]

In article <[email protected]>, Ivan Ardon
[email protected] says...
> Maybe it's just me, but is the headtube straight and are the forks pushed
> slightly back?
>
You can't really tell from a photograph because different lenses and
angles can introduce a variety of distortions. This one's so small and
fuzzy it's hard to see the edges of anything anyway, but it looks
straight to me.

 

[Rob Morley]

In article <[email protected]>, Nick
[email protected] says...
> Rob Morley wrote:
> > In article <[email protected]>, Nick
> > [email protected] says...
> >
> >> Yep broken spokes are to be expected.
> >
> > Only with poorly built wheels, or those that have been subjected to
> > excessive stress.
>
> Perhaps, but the rear wheel on this level of bike normally breaks spokes
> for me.
>
Cheap machine-built wheels, so not brilliantlyly built - it's usually
easy enough to fettle them into a reasonable state when they're new,
although cheaper components do place a limit on durability.
>
> > It says damage to the frame near the headset. The front end could have
> > been pushed back by a heavy impact and the bike could still roll
> > straight, in fact up to a point the extra trail will make it more stable
> > no-handed.
>
> Surely If the bike is stable and turns ok no handed. It is probably ok
> to ride.

But would you want to buy it if it was bent and possible falling apart?
>
> > If you suspect frontal impact damage you need to check the
> > bottom of the downtube for bulging just behind the head tube, also that
> > the head tube is parallel with the seat tube and that the head tube,
> > seat tube and rear dropouts are straight relative to each other.
> > Ideally you want to take the forks out to check them for alignment too.
>
> I have riden bikes where I have creased the downtube as you explain.

That's not a crease, it's a ripple - it doesn't necessarily indicate
that the frame has been seriously weakened, just that it's had a frontal
impact and its geometry is compromised.
> I
> rode the bike for a year or so after doing this. I wouldn't chose to do
> it but the main thing about alignment is surely that the bike rides ok.
>
> Or is there another problem? I mean the steel frame won't fail
> catastrophically will it?

A crease has a sharp edge that can act as a stress raiser, leading to
subsequent failure of the tube. It's not usually catastrophic, although
if you don't notice a crack it can propagate to the point that it fails
suddenly under high load - do you want to take the chance?
>
> >> You should also check the gears index and don't skip.
> >>
> > Usually just a question of adjustment or lubrication. Wear can be
> > checked by looking at derailleur slop, sprocket hooking, chain stretch.
>
> Gears also skip due to the rear derailleur/hanger being bashed which
> normally means a new part.
>
True, except that steel hangers are pretty easy to realign.

 

[Rob Morley]

In article <b5bb64ef-c2bc-442c-a378-
[email protected]>, bornfree
[email protected] says...
>
> How much is it worth at the moment, and how much would it be worth if
> it were fixed?
>
It's worth as much as you want it, or more if you get outbid. I
might pay £100 for it and fix it for 30p (assuming the frame damage is
really just cosmetic and everything else is in good nick) but I'd only
buy it if I wanted to use it so resale value would be irrelevant.