One of the spokes on my road bike snapped today, at the hub end. The bike and wheel are less than a year old and have only done 760km since new. I would expect that if the spoke was simply replaced more would follow which is unacceptable to me. Should I be looking for a replacement wheel under warranty?
I don't think it follows that replacing one spoke means the rest go. I would replace the broken one, true it up and crack on.
One snapped spoke is unfortunate. I'd get it replaced under warranty and see what happens. If any more snap I'd be looking for a replacement wheel or rebuild under warranty.
Crikey.. my 35kg kid just totally wrecked a brand new rim in 3mo.
Just replace the spoke and crack on.
Thanks guys,I'll go about seeking a replacement spoke and true as a warranty job then monitor.
If the spoke has snapped it’s likely due to not maintaining the wheel. I’d be surprised if you get anything under warranty.
When did you last check spoke tensions and ensure the wheel was true?
you're seriously going to try to warranty a spoke after a year?
Less than a year, but I share your sentiment. Lot depends on proximity to the shop, relationship with the shop, how oddball the spoke is and the mechanical ability of the op though.
I would suggest this is just par for the course/wear and tear.
Hopefully they'd fix a new spoke for you, but I wouldn't think you'd get a new wheel
I doubt it will be covered by warranty. If you have a good relationship with the shop they might do it as goodwill but I'd expect to bite the bullet and pay £15 or so for a wheel true and new spoke if it was me
If the spoke has snapped it’s likely due to not maintaining the wheel. I’d be surprised if you get anything under warranty.
When did you last check spoke tensions and ensure the wheel was true?
You have a preventive maintenance program for spoke tension? 😲 You must have a rubbish wheel builder. According to Facebook recently, the first set of wheels I ever built are 6 years old. They've never seen a spoke key since.
However, one broken spoke is firmly in shit happens territory. If you get a few over the next few weeks or months, then you have a reasonable claim.
Wow.
Now way in the world I’d be asking for a spoke on warranty, the odd broken spoke happens, particularly if you don’t check tension from time to time.
If you have a good relationship with your LBS they’ll sort it out for free, if you don’t expect £20 for a spoke and a true. And that’s not bad value at all.
i'm always surprised wheel sets aren't more often supplied with a couple of spare spokes (my hope hoops were 10 yrs ago)
Absolutely agree Klunk.
I’d let a customer get to three broken before thinking about a new wheel or rebuild.
On a bike less than a year that we sold my boss would would just fix it free of charge.
The cause of the spoke snappage is important as to whether they're liable for warranty or not.
Should I be looking for a replacement wheel under warranty?
haha. No.
Assuming it wasn't damaged it's deffo a warranty replacement of the spoke.
Assuming no external damage spokes break due to fatigue, and shouldn't fatigue after 760km. 'Maintenance' is irrelevant. Quite possible that it's just a flaw in the one spoke though, in fact quite likely imo. I had a Dura Ace spoke break at the thread end (less than three years old...should have been a warranty job but..) - replaced it and the others have been fine for 1000s km more.
For some reason though lots of shops do seem to consider things like this non-warranty so you may have to eat it up and never take your custom to the shop in question again. You wouldn't accept a frame snapping after 760km, why should you accept a spoke?
I got both wheels rebuilt with new spokes under warranty on my 2002 Trek 1000 road bike by the shop I bought it from after multiple spokes on the rear wheel snapped one after another.
I've still got it and it's now on its 4th set of wheels.
snapped a chunk out of a large flanged wheel hub once replaced under warranty 3 spokes gone.
I'd say it's a warranty (unless there's signs of abuse on the bike).
You have a preventive maintenance program for spoke tension? 😲 You must have a rubbish wheel builder. According to Facebook recently, the first set of wheels I ever built are 6 years old. They’ve never seen a spoke key since.
I don’t..... and I also wouldn’t be trying to claim for a broken spoke from a warranty either if one happened to snap.
i’m always surprised wheel sets aren’t more often supplied with a couple of spare spokes (my hope hoops were 10 yrs ago)
My Hunt Trail Wides were supplied with spare spokes and a spoke key. Handy as I broke a spoke on the front wheel just last week, the wheel being just over a year old.
Only problem was the wheel needed truing so it went off to my trusty LBS. I just put it down to “one of those things”.
a snapped spoke under warranty? you can buy a spoke for less than £2 and replace and true the wheel yourself and that's probably less than the cost of taking the bike to the shop. loads of how to videos on the net on how to do it and you'll have learned a valuable skill along the way.
that said, when i worked in a bike shop we used to get people returning their new bike months after purchase because it had a puncture and they weren't expecting to have to pay to get it repaired or replaced
An important question is where did the spoke break because this might tell you something about the likelihood of more breaking.
At the elbow, at the nipple or in the middle?
An important question is where did the spoke break because this might tell you something about the likelihood of more breaking.
At the elbow, at the nipple or in the middle?
Didn't get far on the original post, did you? 🙂
One of the spokes on my road bike snapped today, at the hub end.
Just replace the spoke.
Or if you can't, take it to the shop (either where you bought it, or one you normally use) and ask them to replace it. Price dependent on what they've to do.
Is this satire ?