Spoke Question

[sone]

I recently purchased a Scott Addict from a local shop and have been thoroughly enjoying riding ever since until tonight when I’ve had a couple of spokes break.
My question is this are spokes like tyres and it’s just tough luck like or do I go back to my supplier and ask for a replacement.
Ok I’m a bit of a lard arse at 14st but I don’t remember any particular deep pot holes I hit.

Cheers
Steve

[Scabutz]

It's not right. Probably wasn't tensioned properly when built. If you replace the broken ones others will just break later on. Take it back.

14st is nothing. Unless you've been clanging pot holes or jumping.

[Matt_N]

Not sure exactly wheelset you have but most likely laced and then machine tensioned.

Could be off from that or they've lost a bit of tension whilst in storage etc. Should've been checked as part of the post sale / pick up check, I'd take it back to the shop and get them to replace spokes and tension check both wheels.

[gazza285]

I'm not a big fan of the modern trend for low spoke counts, the tension in the spokes always feels too high for me, especially on the rear drive side, and it's not like another four or eight spokes is going to tip the scales much.

[Gruffy]

It's aerodynamics rather than weight. Spokes are surprisingly disruptive for their tiny mass, exacerbated by being moving parts.

[gazza285]

I race cyclocross, aerodynamics are not really a concern, broken spokes would be a concern though.

Aerodynamics isn’t a good enough excuse to remove enough spokes to render the wheel liable to failure, I’ll stick with my hand built 28 spoke wheels, and suffer the aero loss.

[Gruffy]

Haven't had a spoke go yet, over 50,000km of hard riding on 2 bikes and 4 wheelsets, all with mid/low spoke counts. It's all about appropriateness for the riding you're doing. As above, it does sound like the wheel wasn't correctly tensioned when you bought it.

[sone]

Took the wheel back in today, dealer is either repairing or replacing, foc so all is good.

[Scabutz]

gazza285 said:

I race cyclocross, aerodynamics are not really a concern, broken spokes would be a concern though.

Aerodynamics isn’t a good enough excuse to remove enough spokes to render the wheel liable to failure, I’ll stick with my hand built 28 spoke wheels, and suffer the aero loss.

In this case though it's a build issue rather than a fundamental flaw. I weigh more than the OP at optimum race weight and I'm running a 20 spoke front, 24 rear carbon wheel and have never had a spoke go.

[ClassicMercs]

The rear on my Ridgeback hybrid broke a fair few spokes in the first couple of years. And I was way over the 14st quoted. Was weight a factor ?
Back on the same bike again recently as weight is back up again. Not a single issue in the last couple of months / 1k miles.
Suspect it was various issues arising from the original build combined with weight - and in fact now considering if its time to change the wheels due to heavy rim wear.

[Scabutz]

ClassicMercs said:

The rear on my Ridgeback hybrid broke a fair few spokes in the first couple of years. And I was way over the 14st quoted. Was weight a factor ?
Back on the same bike again recently as weight is back up again. Not a single issue in the last couple of months / 1k miles.
Suspect it was various issues arising from the original build combined with weight - and in fact now considering if its time to change the wheels due to heavy rim wear.

I have been enjoying summer and currently 18 st :-( Still riding around on the same wheels and no spoke breaks.

If the wheels are old they will start going eventually and once a couple go the rest will follow. On a brand new bike weight really shouldn't be a problem unless you are 20st+