3 spokes in 50 miles - Help!

smithy05

I have now broken 3 spokes in the last 50 miles of riding. The first two went on my carbon Planet X wheels. I wasn't surprised that once the first spoke went, another went in these wheels.

However, on my way to work today, back on my original wheels that came with the bike and can't have done much more than 1000 miles, the spoke went in the rear on these wheels too! On the drive side again.

Is there something on the frame/cassette/skewers that could be causing it? Seems weird that its two wheel sets now.

On all occasions, I can't recall hitting a pothole.

Lastly, can I ride the wheel to the nearest bike shop with a bust spoke? Today I walked 3.5 miles with the broken wheel, but would I have been ok to ride it slowly?

ugo.santalucia

Wheels are designed to carry a given load, if you exceed it by a lot, they can break. Spokes also break for lack of tension, which basically has the same effect as excessive load. Tension is what gives strength to a spoke, hence to a spoked wheel.

Moral, either you are very heavy for your wheels, or they are undertensioned

cycleclinic

Under tensikned probably. Had a px wheel come in at the weekend for the same thing. Spokes replaced it and got it stright and then measured tension on this rear wheel. Around 700N Ds whichnis not enough. Raised the tension but the guy had been riding for while on spokes tensioned thks way. More will break for sure.

Moral is spokes need to properly tensioned, stretched/bedded in, stress relieved then re tenioned as a tension drop is seen then the wheel is fit for riding. Whoever px get to built there wheels dont seem to do this so well.

If spoke are breaking get the wheels rebuilt properly or get new wheels.

smithy05

Guess I must have just been unlucky with both wheels being under tensioned then.

Would i be ok riding it to a bike shop with a broken spoke?

cycleclinic

probably but dont mess about get it rebuilt properly where spokes have broken others are sure to follow.