On Sat, 29 May 2004 17:35:10 -0400, "Roger Zoul"
wrote:

Dan Daniel wrote:
:: On Sat, 29 May 2004 12:26:08 -0400, "Roger Zoul"
:: wrote:

:::
::
:: I'd get the wheel rebuilt first. Spokes shouldn't break in the first
:: place.

How/where does one do that and what does it entail?


If you want to learn more than most people ever need to know about
wheel building, head over to rec.bicycles.tech and look through the
archives

Even without looking over posts, I'd suggest that you go to that group
and post a description of your wheel- hub, rim, spokes, age, where it
came from- and describe what has been happening to the spokes and what
they recommend.

Anyway, to get a wheel rebuilt, first you need to find someone who
knows what they are doing! The best bet is to have a new set of spokes
put in- $20 or so- and have them build it up right. There's a definite
process to get solid results, and when someone has the knowledge and
the skill, you will get a wheel that will last years or decades
without any breaks.

Or do it yourself!

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html

The owner of the LBS (another lady, not the hot lady) told me that she
thinks I ride uphill in too high a gear, putting a lot of stress on the rear
wheel. I do generally tend to shift down as I go up a hill, but I also
follow the cadence, trying to keep it at or above 60.

Is she feeding me hooey?

::

Well, to give her the benefit of the doubt, I don't know what kind of
wheel you have. Maybe you have one that is at the limit of its design
because of your weight, and that your hill technique is pushing it
beyond its design limit.

Yeah, right....... How was that for diplomacy? Look, if it is a
'normal' wheel in any way shape or form, she is full of it. A
well-built bicycle wheel will not have spokes break from pedalling
forces per se. Racers can generate much more force than you, I
imagine, and they don't have spokes breaking on them every time they
crunch up a hill. Head on over to r.b.tech and ask about her comment.