S
Skuke
Guest
On a recent ride, I broke a spoke nipple just under the head where it rides against the rim eyelet
(rear wheel). No biggie, I just opened the brake and continued with the ride for another 25 miles or
so. I stopped at the LBS on the way home and bought a nipple.
When I took the rim tape off, there was a bit of corrosion around most of the nipples and that
concerned me a bit. Anyhow, I replace the one broken nipple and while truing the wheel, another
nipple broke also just under the head. I had a spare and replaced the second nipple. Then a third
broke! So I go back to the LBS and buy 32 nipples as I plan to now replace them all. While removing
the nipples, a 4th breaks! I noticed that they were only failing on the drive side and the ones
successfully removed had the anodizing worn off where it contacts the eyelet (to be expected). I'm
guessing that micro fractures started in the contact area and propagated from there.
Some info for those of you who will want to know: Wheelsmith alloy 15ga nipples, Wheelsmith
14/15(?)ga double butted spokes, Mavic UB Reflex 32 hole rims. Built about 8 years ago, now has
aproximately 13k miles and has had virtually zero maintainance since (minor trueing 2-3 times).
Campy spoke prep was used in the inital build. Although this time, I only had Phil Wood bottom
bracket grease and used that. I weigh about 130-135 pounds and ride primarily in the SF bay area.
When caught in the rain, I do NOT remove the tires when I get home to "properly" dry out the wheels,
rim tape...
I'm perfectly satisfied that they have lasted 8+ years and am just curious if that is the usual life
expectancy of alloy nipples. I am a little concerned that they might have popped like a broken
zipper on my ride though. Less load, but should I have front wheel concerns? I'm complacent and lazy
enough that I don't want to rebuild the front wheel unless I really have to!
TIA, Skuke
(rear wheel). No biggie, I just opened the brake and continued with the ride for another 25 miles or
so. I stopped at the LBS on the way home and bought a nipple.
When I took the rim tape off, there was a bit of corrosion around most of the nipples and that
concerned me a bit. Anyhow, I replace the one broken nipple and while truing the wheel, another
nipple broke also just under the head. I had a spare and replaced the second nipple. Then a third
broke! So I go back to the LBS and buy 32 nipples as I plan to now replace them all. While removing
the nipples, a 4th breaks! I noticed that they were only failing on the drive side and the ones
successfully removed had the anodizing worn off where it contacts the eyelet (to be expected). I'm
guessing that micro fractures started in the contact area and propagated from there.
Some info for those of you who will want to know: Wheelsmith alloy 15ga nipples, Wheelsmith
14/15(?)ga double butted spokes, Mavic UB Reflex 32 hole rims. Built about 8 years ago, now has
aproximately 13k miles and has had virtually zero maintainance since (minor trueing 2-3 times).
Campy spoke prep was used in the inital build. Although this time, I only had Phil Wood bottom
bracket grease and used that. I weigh about 130-135 pounds and ride primarily in the SF bay area.
When caught in the rain, I do NOT remove the tires when I get home to "properly" dry out the wheels,
rim tape...
I'm perfectly satisfied that they have lasted 8+ years and am just curious if that is the usual life
expectancy of alloy nipples. I am a little concerned that they might have popped like a broken
zipper on my ride though. Less load, but should I have front wheel concerns? I'm complacent and lazy
enough that I don't want to rebuild the front wheel unless I really have to!
TIA, Skuke