Got a pair of specialized roval wheels, and given them a good 12 months of hammer all round the lakes, in the peaks and local gnar. Spoke tension has gone on a few rear spokes (I’m on 150mm out back), and had to have one replaced. Now 2 more have gone. They just spin in the frigin hub. Am I missing something? J bend spokes don’t do that yeh yeh. What do you do with your fancy wheels then? Advice please. I don’t intend on buying new wheels until I get a new bike with big wheels ( exact size to be decided), which is a long way off ( I hope).

Hold them with a pair of pliers. Cover jaws with electrical tape first.

However your nipples have probably seized, so you’ll be cutting the spokes.

You can buy spoke gripper things to stop them spinning whilst you tighten the nipples.

wwaswas tell me more about the spoke gripper thing. njee20 you may be right! They have a fancy dt Swiss spoke lock thing going on (prob locktight)

I did as wwaswas said. Took the tyre and rim tape off and added some wd40 to the nipples to help a couple of slightly seized ones.

Did a search for spoke grippers and they’re pricey. I’d go for the flat pliers with tape approach for a one off.

Park do DT swiss funny spoke key and flat spoke grippers for about £8 each on Ebay

Any chance of a link suburbanreuben, that eBay search is bringing up notning

I’m guessing the op has round spokes that are spinning. Personal is use some pliers carefully but as above prob stuck in place

Was gonna say, seen bladed spoke holders – the Bontrager key ring one is nice, but not seen a tool for holding flat straight pull spokes?

Any chance of a link suburbanreuben, that eBay search is bringing up notning

Here you go. I bought mine off this fella.Nice quick delivery!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360960051936?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/291035290268?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Though they’re cheaper here:

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/park-tool-bsh4c-bladed-spoke-holder-prod24916/

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/park-tool-sw5-spoke-wrench-for-dt-swiss-torx-spline-prod29455/

SJS also have cheaper options…

They’re for bladed spokes, not straight pull.

Poo, yes mine are just plain old round spokes. Why the f##k don’t they have a square/hex end at the bloody hub? A loose spoke on a expensive wheel set can’t make it a right off’?

At worse a new spoke and nipple so only a few pounds
You can try adding tension to the spoke by bending it while turning the nipple