B
Bruce & Lois Nelson
Guest
Are you sure the original spokes were inserted correctly? If the heads were
in the countersinks, they would break at the spoke bend.
Bruce
"GLitwinski" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Bought a Windsor Tourist steel frame touring bike from Bikes Direct
earlier
> this year for $590. It's a Fuji Touring by another name. The gear shift
> train is Shimano Tiagra/Deore, brakes Tektro, frame chrome moly (which I
> wanted and which severely limited my choices), tires Kenda Euro,
> wheels/spokes/hubs no-name. Comes with plenty of braze-ons for fenders
> (which I wanted and added) and with an Al rack with stainless hardware.
It's
> a heavy beast, just under 30 lb. fully outfitted with
> fenders/rack/speedo/kit bag/cage/Tektro suicide brake levers I added. I
> added clipless pedals to replace the standard clip type, too. I wanted an
> all weather, tough, smooth riding touring bike and that's mostly what I
got.
> I have about 400 miles on it now.
>
> The one bad thing about it is that it came with real **** no-name spokes.
I
> have broken five spokes on the rear wheel on three different rides (2 + 2
> +1). This was with just the rider on the bike, no extra load. Had the
broken
> spokes professionally replaced each time and the wheel trued after first
> instance and trued/tensioned after the second. All breaks were on hub side
> and all were at the flare that goes against the hub. No breaks where
breaks
> almost always occur, at the bend. The spokes are clearly ****. Showed the
> broken spokes to two bike shops and no one had ever seen such a break.
> Finally, after blowing $42 on repairs, I had the wheel rebuilt with DT
> 14/15/14 tapered spokes for $80.
>
> I contacted Bikes Direct about the problem. They said the spokes were not
> defective, but they would replace them with same type if I sent the wheel
> back. Considering that I would end up with the same problem, in my
> estimation, and just be out shipping plus time, I passed.
>
> Anyway, I wish I had just respoked the thing after the first breaks. Given
> how the spokes broke, it was clear, in hind sight, that the spokes were
bad.
>
> Live an learn. At least now I have a rear wheel I can rely on.
>
> Would I buy another Windsor Tourist? Sure, but I'd respoke the back wheel
> immediately...or even better, have BikesDirect do it pre-sale with DT
> tapered spokes at my cost.
>
> Other than the spokes, I like the bike a lot and would change nothing.
>
> - GRL
>
>
in the countersinks, they would break at the spoke bend.
Bruce
"GLitwinski" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Bought a Windsor Tourist steel frame touring bike from Bikes Direct
earlier
> this year for $590. It's a Fuji Touring by another name. The gear shift
> train is Shimano Tiagra/Deore, brakes Tektro, frame chrome moly (which I
> wanted and which severely limited my choices), tires Kenda Euro,
> wheels/spokes/hubs no-name. Comes with plenty of braze-ons for fenders
> (which I wanted and added) and with an Al rack with stainless hardware.
It's
> a heavy beast, just under 30 lb. fully outfitted with
> fenders/rack/speedo/kit bag/cage/Tektro suicide brake levers I added. I
> added clipless pedals to replace the standard clip type, too. I wanted an
> all weather, tough, smooth riding touring bike and that's mostly what I
got.
> I have about 400 miles on it now.
>
> The one bad thing about it is that it came with real **** no-name spokes.
I
> have broken five spokes on the rear wheel on three different rides (2 + 2
> +1). This was with just the rider on the bike, no extra load. Had the
broken
> spokes professionally replaced each time and the wheel trued after first
> instance and trued/tensioned after the second. All breaks were on hub side
> and all were at the flare that goes against the hub. No breaks where
breaks
> almost always occur, at the bend. The spokes are clearly ****. Showed the
> broken spokes to two bike shops and no one had ever seen such a break.
> Finally, after blowing $42 on repairs, I had the wheel rebuilt with DT
> 14/15/14 tapered spokes for $80.
>
> I contacted Bikes Direct about the problem. They said the spokes were not
> defective, but they would replace them with same type if I sent the wheel
> back. Considering that I would end up with the same problem, in my
> estimation, and just be out shipping plus time, I passed.
>
> Anyway, I wish I had just respoked the thing after the first breaks. Given
> how the spokes broke, it was clear, in hind sight, that the spokes were
bad.
>
> Live an learn. At least now I have a rear wheel I can rely on.
>
> Would I buy another Windsor Tourist? Sure, but I'd respoke the back wheel
> immediately...or even better, have BikesDirect do it pre-sale with DT
> tapered spokes at my cost.
>
> Other than the spokes, I like the bike a lot and would change nothing.
>
> - GRL
>
>