Washing my bike I’ve noticed the head has broken off an alloy nipple

Relieved it hadn’t pulled through the rim but what a pain to replace. Hope it’s a one off, anyone else had this?

That’s a spare on the left, broken one on the right

Yup, all (*) alloy nipples corrode and do that in time in the U.K. Winter road salt makes it happen faster. Once one goes others usually do too.

(Just relaced two wheels with brass nipples for this reason).

(*) Sapim apparently have a high end alloy nipple with special anodising that lasts a lot longer

Yep. No place for alloy nips if you ride all year. Brass every time for me.

Think I will replace the broken one for now. When another goes I’ll replace them all with brass

Spokes too short too?

Where one has gone there will be more.As you true the wheel you’ll find them soon enough.

Having spoken to someone who knows a bit about wheels and has replaced alloy nipples with brass in more than a few wheels I’m rather resigned to the fact you lot are right and my nipples are doomed. Bollocks 🙁

I’m sure your bollocks will be fine (if you stop playing with them).

I had four go within a month, then nothing for a year. The back wheel has started making the tell-tale creaking noise again though!

(if you stop playing with them)

Never going to happen 🙂