Mavic crossride spokes keep loosening off

sparkyork

Hi all

The last two rides I've done have resulted in my rear wheel getting some loose spokes, the front is always ok, just the back.
Rims are mavic crossride probably a few years old now.
I'm riding a Specialized epic and wiegh about 14 stone,my last rides out have involved some rough terrain at dalby forest and a rough section on the north York moors, I'm gunning about getting the wheels trued and tensioned which I have not had done yet, do you guys think if the rims were properly tuned then they should be fine or are they struggling with my fat backside lol

supersonic

If they are tensioned correctly they should stay put for their usage. Though a warped rim is hard to get right.

I'd take to a shop for a look: I recommend York Cycleworks if you are in York.

sparkyork

Will take them in cheers, I was wondering with them only been 24 spoke that they might be a bit weak, but someone told me that the square spokes are more than capable, how much should a true and tension cost on average?

supersonic

About a tenner per wheel on average.

madmole

Obviously were not built with enough tension. Pretty typical for Mavic wheels I'm afraid. Too few spokes and looks over function

I seem to be rebuilding lots of them lately due to broken spokes and the spokes for the older ones are very hard/impossibke to get (even from mavic)

For the 0.005% extra aerodynaimcs they give 50% more grief

sparkyork

ahh so am i better off ditching them for a wheel with more spokes or should a retension sort em out

stubs

Had a problem with loose spokes on my well battered Crossride rear would tension and true wheel next time out riding and it was all saggy again. Turned out it was the rim cracking and the spoke nipples were pulling through the rim. Get it checked out could be nasty if the rim goes pop.

sparkyork

omg cheers stubs, ill get york cycle works to give it a once over and retrue, then if it happens again i might just use em for tarmac riding, shame really i thought i was using a half decent rim aswell, and i dont steam downhill n that im a very conservative rider!

stubs

I wasnt too bothered the rear rim bust it was about 5 years old, had done about 15,000 miles and I got the pair for £106 off Merlin so I reckon it doesnt owe me anything. The front is still fine and still being used. As for the back I must stick it in the clssifieds just in case anyone wants a spare hub the bearings are still sweet as a nut.

sparkyork

in your opinion then so long as the rim isnt cracked they should be a good rim?
if you rate the wheel still and wanna get rid of the hub and spokes iill take em off you :-)

stubs

Yes still think its a good wheel the guy at Merlin I spoke too said it was the only one he had ever heard of so is probably a manufacturing fault. Butchered quite a few wheels in the past but never cracked one like that. It used to be quite common in the days of V brakes to go through a rim in a year.

Its a funny thing but the spokes are probably worth more than the hub as they are rare as rocking horse poo. Send me a PM and we can discuss price.

madmole

I've seen several with split rims and/or the nipples pulled out. Must admit I'm not impressed with them. They are not that light either

If you want a better wheel thats cheaper the Hope II's with Mavic XC717 rims on DT revs at a high tension. Nice and light, cheaper and stronger

supersonic

Hope Pro 2 on 717 is cheaper than Crossrides?!

madmole

It it if you build them yourself and hunt around. If you want cheaper then go XT or some cheaper hope hubs

supersonic

You must be getting trade then lol. I can't find a Pro 2 rear for cheaper than £105. You can get a piar of Crossrides for £140!

Though I do agree that a good handbuilt set are better, and XT are cheap at Merlin. Crossrides are OK, but have the flaws.

madmole

The poor mavics also extend into their more expensive and road wheels as well. basically all the flat bladed sets

In the road wheels, Shimano flat blades seem better, especially as the nipples are at the hub end which lowers the effective rotating weight. Mind you I've seen them break spokes, but what do you expect with only 12 radials to a wheel

On a mountain bike with large forks and thick tyres I personally think air resistance from spokes is the least of your worries. Go traditional 32 or 36 double butteds in a 3 cross and you wont go far wrong

shefbiker

I had exactly the same thing - every ride a loose spoke or two on the rear wheel. several trips to the LBS, then I gave up and started retensioning it myself. eventually it got to the point that the spoke would not even tension sufficiently to true the wheel, and it just drew the nipple through the rim.
at lease it did foster a new found interest in wheel building though!
i shan't be buying any more crossrides.

Time.to.ride

How ab out the new crossrides are they any better i just ordered some

supersonic

They are ok for the money. Just keep checking them (as you should any wheel really).

Time.to.ride

ps mine are 120 from merlin.

madmole

Decent wheels dont need checking accasionally, The wheels on my FS are now 5 years old and have NEVER been straightened or retrued and they get used a lot (50 miles at weekends lately and for riding down steps, small jumps etc) these are Revolutions on XC717 rims, a supposedly lightweight combo

Well built wheels do not need to be retrued

supersonic

They do need checking incase you whack a rock and flat spot, which will make the spokes go slack in certain areas. Or the rim may start to fatigue after time, or a rock may damage a spoke. I agree that a well built wheel will not need retrueing in normal use, but you can't just fit and forget. And any bad landing can warp the rim.

Bikes should always be checked from time to time in many areas to prevent problems getting worse.

NEVER been straightened or retrued

How do you know they are still that way ;-)

madmole

Because there is no wobble at 40 mph downhill on the road and a quick look down when on the straight is enough to see even a small buckle. Dings and damage would be visible when cleaning.

supersonic

Well, to me that is checking them lol. Cleaning is certainly a good time to inspect stuff.