Technical Help Request - Spokes

I've not broken anything for a change. Terrifyingly, I've been appointed the most experienced cyclist on the forthcoming tour and have been asked to come up with a list of spares.

Playing it safe and including spokes, but I've no idea how to replace a spoke / true a wheel. Do any of you have a spare wheel to experiment on and the time to run me through the process?

Can pay for time with beer.

I've built a few wheels and tbh that's usually easier than truing one with a lot of wobble all over it - it can be a real fucking pain. Especially if it's an old wheel where half the nipples are frozen and the spokes snap before moving.

One thing to remember, though I'm sure you've thought of it, is that every hub and rim combination will want slightly different spoke lengths, so make sure the riders bring the right ones (and two lengths for the back).

Yes, nothing is ever simple is it.

I'm just thinking worst case scenario to get the wheel rideable again, perfect truing isn't going to be an option.

Yes, nothing is ever simple is it.

I'm just thinking worst case scenario to get the wheel rideable again, perfect truing isn't going to be an option.

It depends how it goes out of true in the first place - if a spoke breaks (and that shouldn't happen unless it's an old wheel or bearing too much weight) then you can just keep riding for quite a while, but the second spoke will break that much easier, then the third... I did once ride a wheel until 8 spokes had gone, then it finally failed catastrophically. But you don't have to stop right there and then to replace one spoke, anyway.

But in that case you should be able to just put a new one in and tighten it up, though as I mentioned before, when one spoke goes then chances are the rest of the wheel is a bit fucked as well, and you will not have much fun trying to adjust the other spokes there.

If a wheel gets bent in a collision then the rim itself may need bashing back into shape first, and you can literally just whack it against the corner of a wall repeatedly, or stand on it or whatever needs doing.

I think the idea is that if the rim deviates to one side, and the spokes on that side are tight (and the other side are loose), then the spokes are contributing to the misshapenness and you can adjust them accordingly. However, if the spokes are loose on the side the bend, and tight on the other side, it tells you that the rim itself is holding the bend.

Drive side rear spoke is the one you don't want to break. Get all wheels (particularly rear) used on the trip checked over, rebuilt, whatever. Get every rider to organise spare spokes for their own bike, on threat of leaving them on a rainy mountain if they fail to do this.

I have had recommended to me using Sapim Strong spokes on the drive side of your wheels, especially for carrying loads. Seriously consider using something like these (or the Alpinist one DT do).

Replacing all other (not drive side rear) is relatively easy. You can leave the wheel on the bike, the tyre on, and just lace the spoke into the hub and nipple. Turn the bike over to check the truing.

We have a support car so extra weight isn't a problem. I might just hope really hard that a driveside rear doesn't go, then everything will be fine.

What is the nature of this "tour", anyway? In most cases I would never expect spokes to fail, no way.

It's this: http://4c4charity.co.uk/

I'm only paranoid because I've been put in charge of deciding what spares to take. They're being supplied at cost price on a sale or return basis and we have a car, so not really a problem on either the cost or weight front.

I've had a spoke fail once. True story.

hah

I keep breaking spokes all the time. On a wheel I built really badly. There's the clue: get a builder to check your wheels over before you ride.

Maybe take a ccouple of spares in the care? Wheels I mean, as well as spokes.

As it's coming at cost price we definitely need a couple of spare Ksyrium sets and I feel I'll be breaking both my wheels right near the end.

(not sure this will work)

there are tutorials for replacing spokes and wheel building on you tube, a 5 minute view of one of those would be most informative
don't forget your spoke key / spanner all those spokes will be useless with out the gadget to tighten loosen them with !