Bugger - Fulcrum 3 spoke kaput

biondino

Hey all,

As I left work tonight I heard a rattle from my back wheel and on investigation, discovered that one of the spokes on the drive side of the wheel is loose and useless, and no amount of turning the nipple makes any difference.

Nothing's noticeably broken, so I guess it must either be the nipple or the thread in the rim. Obviously I'm hoping it's not the latter as these aren't cheap wheels!

Oddly, the wheel is about as true as it's ever been - there are 14 spokes on the drive side and 7 on the non-drive, and the other 13 seem to be doing a fine job (I rode 6 miles on the bike without feeling anything out of the ordinary at all). But I imagine it's not a good thing to do. So what do people advise? I have my relay race in 11 days and a sportive the week after and I want to have a fully functioning bike for them! All thoughts and advice welcome.

shoulder_of_orion

try turning both nipples at the same time

_Brun_

There aren't any threads in the rim are there?

You may be in luck anyway, since I was smart enough to get hold of some spare Fulcrum 3 spokes before my wheels suffered a similar fate. I also have extra nipples, which is something I thought I'd never get to boast about. Confess I don't have much idea what the process actually involves, other than it makes use of a special magnet.

I can bring stuff along to the Morpeth on Friday if you're gonna be around? If you prefer attempting to sort it sooner, my week's clear after tomorrow evening.

always_tyred

Wow, so the rim didn't spontaneosusly separate from the hub then?

You are about to learn the problems with prebuilt wheels. It will be repairable, but there will be tears and you'll have to cancel that city break. Same with any decent kit though.

il_principe

Get down Sigma Sport (or your nearest Fulcrum LBS where they have decent mechanics and know Fulcrum). It's not a big job to sort really, and I'm sure if you explain the time issues they'll get you sorted!

biondino

Thanks all, especially Brun, though I can't get it sorted this week due to commitments/being away for the weekend.

I'll call Sigma tomorrow and see what they can do. I guess they could also give the bike a service?

I rode home on it today - rattly rattly! I found I had little faith in the bike even though the wheel was, unbelieveably, even truer than it was before.

In the off chance I can't get it fixed by the 27th - would anyone here consider lending me a decent back wheel, Shimano compatible? I can promise to *try* not to break it! If so, pm me - I lent my spare bike, with new Fulcrum 5s, to my mate the other day and I'd rather not have to ask him for it back.