New Wheels or New Spokes???

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by svaihingen [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

I have a bike with some Shimano wheels - I believe the number 500 is in the name.
I've read reviews about people having trouble with an inordinate number of broken spokes.

The wheels look like these: rei.com785636Open ↗

I've had three broken spokes during the past three weeks - two in front - one in back.

Should I think about just getting a whole new set of spokes - and replacing them all - cheaper than getting new wheels. Or does this warrant new wheels? Or should I wait it out and wait until I have lost several more spokes before taking drastic action?

The reason you are breaking spokes because these were poorly made, then ridden. That results in deformed rims, erratic tension and broken spokes. Find a local wheelbuilder that can design a wheelset specifically for you and your riding style. Like 5700 hubs, DT, Velocity, Mavic rims, DT spokes. built well, of course.

Hi svaihingen, can I ask what weight you are and have you done many kms/miles on these wheels [IMG]/img/vbsmilies/smilies/smile.gif[/IMG]

about 200 lbs.
I don't keep track of my miles. Wheels are three years old.
If I were to guess - maybe 3000 - 5000 miles.

I think your wheels/spokes are just getting old. Do they still spin smoothly and quietly? I believe that they use a cone and bearing hub, which are easy to maintain and long lasting (if maintained well).

There are quite a few wheels around for the same price as the 500's, and that suit your weight. FWIW, I am currently using Prolite Bracciano wheels which are very nice wheels and about the same price as the 500's (I think???). They weigh 1480gms as a wheelset, have 27mm aero rims, and sealed EZO bearing hubs (very low maintenance).

So, I guess I am saying that there are better wheels out there than the 500's but I believe that the 500's are a long lasting wheelset [IMG]/img/vbsmilies/smilies/smile.gif[/IMG]

svaihingen ,

Unfortunately, once you begin to break spokes it is usually it gets worse, and they break with greater frequency. Break a single spoke (depending on where it's located, front, rear, drive side, non-drive side) and the wheel still might last a long time, assuming it is replaced properly by a wheelbuilder. After breaking a second spoke the expected life of the wheel just dropped dramatically, maybe another 500-1000 miles remaining on it's life (your mileage my vary, a LOT). Once you break a 3rd spoke the wheel likely needs to be replaced very soon and you need to break open the piggy bank.

I have no direct experiece with the wheels you have listed, but factory built wheels with very entry level components such as these are not worth rebuilding. The problem, relates to the trend listed above. The reason the life expectancy drops so rapidly as the number of broken spokes increases, is that it causes a sudden and violent change in spoke tension. This actually causes aluminum rims to bend, if only slightly. Now, even with uniform spoke tension, the wheel will not be true. Or, if it is true and round, it will have significant spoke tension imbalances, and that is the death nell of any wheel.

How much do you weigh?
How many miles per month do you do?
What kind of road surfaces will you ride?
Will you race? If so what kinds of events (crits, RR's, TT's)?
Do you have any events (like centuries) that are targets for next season?

Those are always usefull questions when considering a new set of wheels.

Hope that helps.

Mark