Broken spoke on my bike? Wheel is difficult to move?

Question

I have a road bike. I was riding and was stopped at a light. the light turns green and I pedal then i hear a loud noise. I pull over and see that one of my rear wheel spokes came apart. My rear wheel was very difficult to move and felt as if my brakes were being applied but they weren't. I already took it to my LBS to get the spoke repaired and I have to pick it up this Saturday when i get paid. Is that one spoke the reason why the rear wheel can barely move? the wheel was all wobbly too. I don't know much about repairing bikes. thank you.

Answer 1

The fewer spokes you have the more the wheel will be affected by a broken one. Some older road bikes have 32 or even 36 spokes per wheel and one broken spoke will not affect the wheel as much. I once rode most of a criterium race with one broken spoke without any problems but my wheels had 36 spokes. When the number of spokes is reduced, individual spokes are under higher tension so that if one fails the wheel will be pulled out of true by the remaining spokes

Answer 2

Yes...one broken spoke can cause the wheel to wobble back 'n forth - a LOT! If a wheel doesn't turn perfectly true, the brake pads will rub also.



You didn't state the make or model of your bike. If it has an 8, 9 or 10 speed cassette & you continue breaking spokes, consider a stronger set of wheels. Something like these...

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_566766_-1___204727



A full 36 spokes per wheel & a deeper V-Pattern in the double wall.

Answer 3

It sounds like your bike was well overdue some maintenance. Most people buy bikes, and never look at them until something fails. Sound familiar?

My son raced BMX for 24 yrs , and reached World level. His bikes were checked before , and after EVERY race meeting.And he still managed to break things .

Most people that just ride a bike , never check crank bearings , headset bearings , chain tension,spoke tension, lubrication, etc.

Like all machines , they need regular maintenance. takes very little time.

Answer 4

yes and no

if multi spokes 1 should not make it act like that

it sounds more like several of the spokes had become loose

but the less spokes your rim style has the more it will affected by 1 being broke

Answer 5

get a bike mechanic to replace your bike spokes---find cheap ones in pricepoint.com---

Answer 6

the shop would say if they could not make the bike rideable

yes one spoke can do that

and yes replacing that spoke will fix it , if tha twas the cause