Spoke breaks

psycholist-<< I've got a set of Ritchey WCS wheels that I bought on a closeout from Nashbar

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

<BR><BR> << In the last month, spokes have suddenly started popping like mad. I'll get one

replaced and a week later another one will go. >><BR><BR>

Breaking spokes is a symptom of an 'ill' wheel. On a new one, it means that it wasn't built right.
On an older one, it means the rim is not round or flat anymore so the tension is way erratic,
meaning one or more places have a spot where the spoke will break, kinda like a clothes hanger that
you bent back and forth, back and forth. New rim and spokes, a rebuild is what ya need.

Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535 vecchios.comvecchios.comOpen ↗ "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

psycholist said:

I've got a set of Ritchey WCS wheels that I bought on a closeout from Nashbar about three years
ago. They've been awesome wheels for training. They've got great hubs, the OCR rim at the back and
heavier-gauge spokes. They're not stupid-light or anything and I've used them for training wheels.

In the last month, spokes have suddenly started popping like mad. I'll get one replaced and a week
later another one will go. The wheels probably have 25,000 miles on them and the last 5,000 have
been on some rather harsh, tar and gravel surfaces. Do I just need to have the wheels rebuilt with
all new spokes or is something else going on? Is this normal for a rather conventional set of
wheels with this kind of age/mileage? (Shoot, they're even breaking on roller-rides.)

Which spokes are breaking? I had very good luck with my own Ritchey wheels until the chain got
inside my cassette on a really bumpy course. That scored the outboard spokes, and I lost six of 'em
on a single lap during a 24 hour race. Amazingly, the wheel held together until I finished the lap
(not pretty, but it got me to the line).

Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles habcycles.comhabcycles.comOpen ↗ Home of the $695 ti frame

"psycholist" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've got a set of Ritchey WCS wheels that I bought on a closeout from Nashbar about three years
ago. They've been awesome wheels for training. They've got great hubs, the OCR rim at the back and
heavier-gauge spokes. They're not stupid-light or anything and I've used them for training

wheels.

Quoted message said:

In the last month, spokes have suddenly started popping like mad. I'll

get

Quoted message said:

one replaced and a week later another one will go. The wheels probably

have

Quoted message said:

25,000 miles on them and the last 5,000 have been on some rather harsh,

tar

Quoted message said:

and gravel surfaces. Do I just need to have the wheels rebuilt with all

new

Quoted message said:

spokes or is something else going on? Is this normal for a rather conventional set of wheels with
this kind of age/mileage? (Shoot, they're even breaking on roller-rides.)

Bob C.

As much as I brag on my Pro wheels, it is nice to see I'm not the ONLY one riding them!

If I can get 25000 miles out of mine before they start breaking spokes, I'll be tickled pink.

I'd at least start with all new spokes.

Mike

On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 08:41:30 -0500, "psycholist" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I've got a set of Ritchey WCS wheels that I bought on a closeout from Nashbar about three years
ago. They've been awesome wheels for training. They've got great hubs, the OCR rim at the back and
heavier-gauge spokes. They're not stupid-light or anything and I've used them for training wheels.

In the last month, spokes have suddenly started popping like mad. I'll get one replaced and a week
later another one will go. The wheels probably have 25,000 miles on them and the last 5,000 have
been on some rather harsh, tar and gravel surfaces. Do I just need to have the wheels rebuilt with
all new spokes or is something else going on? Is this normal for a rather conventional set of
wheels with this kind of age/mileage? (Shoot, they're even breaking on roller-rides.)

Bob C.

Possibly wheel truing over the 25000 miles has tightened the spokes more than loosened them, have
you tested spoke the tension?

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I've got a set of Ritchey WCS wheels that I bought on a closeout from Nashbar about three years
ago. They've been awesome wheels for training. They've got great hubs, the OCR rim at the back and
heavier-gauge spokes. They're not stupid-light or anything and I've used them for training wheels.

In the last month, spokes have suddenly started popping like mad. I'll get one replaced and a week
later another one will go. The wheels probably have 25,000 miles on them and the last 5,000 have
been on some rather harsh, tar and gravel surfaces. Do I just need to have the wheels rebuilt with
all new spokes or is something else going on? Is this normal for a rather conventional set of
wheels with this kind of age/mileage? (Shoot, they're even breaking on roller-rides.)

classic symptons of spokes that were not stress relieved. All the spokes are on the verge of
breaking. Eventually all the spokes will break. Instead of replacing the spokes one at a time, your
best bet is to rebuild the wheel with new spokes. Make sure the person who re-builds your wheels
understands what stress relieving is and why it needs to be done. If you want, you can learn how to
do this yourself by getting a copy of 'The Bicycle Wheel' by Jobst Brandt.
---------------
Alex