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I got a Trek Lync5 commuter bike about six months ago. Since then, I've had three different incidents where spokes have popped as I was riding. Each time, two or three spokes have failed. Some have been at the nipple and some have been at the hub. My riding pattern includes a daily commute to work and gym (total about eight miles) on roads and improved trails. The bike store says I'm just too big for the bike, at about 230 lbs, but I don't think this explains the problem. I've never had spokes break before, and now on this bike it's happened three times in just a few months of riding with a pretty easy usage pattern.
What could be causing the spokes to break so often? I need to fix this problem asap because it's making my commute very expensive and unpredictable!
I got a Trek Lync5 commuter bike about six months ago. Since then, I've had three different incidents where spokes have popped as I was riding. Each time, two or three spokes have failed. Some have been at the nipple and some have been at the hub. My riding pattern includes a daily commute to work and gym (total about eight miles) on roads and improved trails. The bike store says I'm just too big for the bike, at about 230 lbs, but I don't think this explains the problem. I've never had spokes break before, and now on this bike it's happened three times in just a few months of riding with a pretty easy usage pattern.
What could be causing the spokes to break so often? I need to fix this problem asap because it's making my commute very expensive and unpredictable!
Really? 230# is too heavy? That is hard to believe. The specs on the wheels from the TREK website are limited regarding the wheel construction but I do see 32 spoke 3x construction which "should" suffice for commuting unless you are aiming for every pothole. Otherwise, I would get the wheels re-tensioned. These wheels were most likely machine built and shipped without human hands doing any followup fine tuning.
I agree with the re-tensioning advice. If it's a 32 spoke wheel, you can't go more than 3x (and you'd need new spokes anyway). This may sound obvious, but make sure of 2 things: that those spokes are "interlaced" and that if the hub has alternating chamfering, that the spokes are in the right way. It sounds like you are getting a lot of movement at the flange.
The bike store says I'm just too big for the bike, at about 230 lbs
Is that the same store where you bought the bike? If so, I'd have to ask why they sold you a bike who's wheels are not up to your weight. Regardless, they should really stand behind what they sold you.
230 is on the heavy side but nothing that a standard commuting wheel should have trouble with. So sure, like the others say, see about re-tentioning but you really shouldn’t have to – the shop should correct this issue IMO.
Is that the same store where you bought the bike? If so, I'd have to ask why they sold you a bike who's wheels are not up to your weight. Regardless, they should really stand behind what they sold you.
230 is on the heavy side but nothing that a standard commuting wheel should have trouble with. So sure, like the others say, see about re-tentioning but you really shouldn’t have to – the shop should correct this issue IMO.
Best of luck
Quote:
Originally Posted by trlhiker
Go to another shop if he won't help you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by locolobo13
Ditto on going to another shop. Retensioning or having a pro retension your wheel is a start. After that discuss getting a new wheel.
Of course you could always get a new bike. But I would go to a shop where you felt like you would get good service to buy the new bike.
If the wheel is 3x (3 cross), and properly built, then they should stand up to your weight easily. I repeat, EASILY. If these are factory wheels, and you bought the bike from a bike store, then I think we can assume the spokes are properly interlaced. They may not be properly tensioned. With new(ish) spokes and rims, if I started to see breakage, the first thing I would look at would be the spoke tensioning. A round of retensioning spokes all the way around would not be out of place.
But you know, what you say, about the shop saying you are too heavy for the wheels? THAT raises red flags in my mind, that whomever said this was blowing you off. I don't care if the spokes are 14g straight spokes, at 3x you should have no problems with a properly built wheel. Maybe the whole wheel is UNDERtensioned - this might cause breakage like you describe.
Maybe the wheels were built with an off-brand set of spokes (highly unlikely, but JIC), and the batch used was faulty. Maybe the spokes on this wheel were damaged somehow. IDK, all these alternate explanations are all conjecture. I'm not there looking at your wheels, nor talking to your bike shop mechanics. The KISS explanation is like I've said - the wheel needs some proper attention paid to truing and tensioning. No more than that (and maybe a few new spokes).
Finally got a response from the bike store. They say they tensioned the spokes at my tuneup a few months ago (after the first spoke breaking incident but before the second and third). They're going to swap out the wheel with a 36-spoke wheel that they think will hold up better. Not sure that the wheel itself is the problem - all the discussion seems to be indicating a spoke tension issue. But I suppose if they think this will fix the problem then I'll give it a try.
Finally got a response from the bike store. They say they tensioned the spokes at my tuneup a few months ago (after the first spoke breaking incident but before the second and third). They're going to swap out the wheel with a 36-spoke wheel that they think will hold up better. Not sure that the wheel itself is the problem - all the discussion seems to be indicating a spoke tension issue. But I suppose if they think this will fix the problem then I'll give it a try.
These are my night riding wheels, 36 3x 14 straight gauged for Clydesdales. I've got 40 lbs on you - these would be overkill for someone your weight.
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