General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Broken Spoke Rss Feed  
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2014-10-19 6:00 PM

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Member
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Carbondale, Illinois
Subject: Broken Spoke
I broke a spoke on my rear wheel the other day. I was in a time crunch to get my workout in, so I just threw it on the trainer and finished my workout. Since then, I've done several other workouts on the trainer with the broken spoke taped to its neighbor. Since the trainer spoke supports my weight instead of the wheel, is there any reason I can't continue to ride on the trainer like this until I get a chance to fix/get it fixed?


2014-10-19 7:42 PM
in reply to: drfoodlove

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Extreme Veteran
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Westchester, NY
Subject: RE: Broken Spoke
Throw out the wheel. Get a new one.
If you get the spoke fixed, it will blow out on you again. Not soon, but at the worst time.
Just get a new wheel.
2014-10-19 8:01 PM
in reply to: drfoodlove


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Subject: RE: Broken Spoke
Well, I wouldn't toss a wheel after one blown spoke. But if you replace it and you blow it again, then its time to start thinking about a new wheel.

As you your question . . .even though the weight is on the skewer, I wouldn't risk it. I honestly don't know if you're doing more damage to your wheel, but why chance it?
2014-10-19 8:29 PM
in reply to: drfoodlove

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Subject: RE: Broken Spoke

Take it to the shop, cheap to fix.  

2014-10-19 9:18 PM
in reply to: #5061254

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Expert
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Austin, TX
Subject: RE: Broken Spoke
Go ahead and get the spoke fixed. You will otherwise continue to get the wheel more out of true or round. It may start to rub on your brakes.

I have never heard of throwing out a wheel due to a broken spoke. I've broken spokes before and continued to ride the same wheel for years after getting it fixed.
2014-10-19 11:04 PM
in reply to: #5061292

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Veteran
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Cloverdale, BC
Subject: RE: Broken Spoke
If you break one spoke get it fixed. If you break a second spoke on the same wheel then get the wheel rebuilt. However, if the price of a rebuild is close enough to the replacement cost of the wheel then toss it and get a new wheel.


2014-10-19 11:04 PM
in reply to: drfoodlove

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Master
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Kailua, Hawaii
Subject: RE: Broken Spoke
I think it's worth trying to understand why the spoke broke.

for example, sometimes it is due to corrosion at the crosspoint (usually rear wheels). Or it could be a corroded nipple/spoke connection.

sometimes they break from hitting a hole or rock or some uneven stress.

If I get a broken spoke, I look at where it broke, and take a magnifying glass and examine the break. Since I live in a corrosive environment, usually the salt air is to blame. In some cases, I have opted to toss a wheel and buy new. But when it's a Zipp race wheel, well I look a bit closer ;-)

but yes, if only 1 spoke broke, easy to put one in and true it up.
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General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Broken Spoke Rss Feed