Defective spokes; maybe it wasn't your imagination.

Werehatrack said:

From this site:

http://www.climbonline.org/news/recalls.shtml

we have:

Quoted message said:

January 8, 2006

Widespread Spoke Failures
Bike shops are being forced to build hundreds
of replacement wheels each week because spokes
in stock wheels are failing. The problem is
currently found in bikes costing up to $600
from makers such as Fuji, Giant, Jamis, Pacific
Cycle, Raleigh, Specialized, Trek and others.

The scope of the problem is still uncertain,
according to a cover story in the trade magazine,
Bicycle Retailer & Industry News. Bikes made for
the above companies in various Chinese assembly
plants received wheels laced with defective spokes.

The spokes are breaking in the middle and/or
rusting. It's suspected that cost-cutting by a
Korean company resulted in substandard wire being
supplied to spoke manufacturers. According to the
magazine, tests show that the spokes have nickel
and molybdenum contents far below normal levels.

The faulty spokes may have N, Z or S stamped into
the round head or no insignia at all. If you have
a 2004 or '05 bike in which the spokes begin
rusting or breaking, check with the shop where
you bought it.

As far as I can tell, there is no actual recall in the works, but the
fact that the problem has been identified in the trade press would
seem to indicate that the bike manufacturers are aware that there's an
issue.

I just replaced a rear wheel on a bike from Pacific Cycle for this very
reason. 3 broken spokes in less then 2 weeks.