Smaller Wheel = Fewer Broken Spokes?

[stever1957]

Am I correct in thinking that a switch from a 28" to 26" wheel bike will result in fewer broken spokes?

 

[tommie]

Don`t think it makes much difference really,

the 28" will `roll` slightly easier.

 

[Woosh]

Am I correct in thinking that a switch from a 28" to 26" wheel bike will result in fewer broken spokes?

No, the risk is about the same. Better quality control / wheel build = less risk of broken spokes.
Spokes work in traction. If one of them gets loose, you have one chance out of 36 that the loose spoke is at the wrong place at the wrong time when you ride over a lump, it'll get compressed and snap at the elbow.
So don't let them get loose. If you hear any squeak or rattle from the wheel, check your spokes and tighten up any loose one.

 

[stever1957]

Thanks for the replies.

 

[cwah]

To get less broken spokes just buy a casted wheel

 

[DynatechFan]

Why are the spokes breaking? Changing wheel size seems an extreme measure to fix the problem

Well built wheels are incredibly strong but things like the chain going behind the cassette (and poor tension already mentioned) are not good

To get less broken spokes buy a hand made wheel from a good builder

 

[stever1957]

Why are the spokes breaking? Changing wheel size seems an extreme measure to fix the problem........

I'm not changing wheel size to fix the problem; I just happen to be switching from a 28" wheel ordinary bike to a 26" wheel electric bike.

The spokes are breaking on my present bike because I weigh half a ton and have strong legs

 

[Jonah]

Theoretically the smaller the wheel the stronger it can be but it mostly depends on quality of components and build.

 

[stever1957]

Theoretically the smaller the wheel the stronger it can be but it mostly depends on quality of components and build.

I was theorising (more like guessing, to be truthful) along those lines.

Thanks very much.

 

[DynatechFan]

The spokes are breaking on my present bike because I weigh half a ton and have strong legs

Touche

I run an off road tandem with "normal" 26 inch 36 spoke wheels - not 48 spoke tandem specific or anything fancy. These are 3 cross construction (about the strongest) and straight spokes (Butted would be more resilient, Sapim strong would be stronger) and a stiff pinned rim (again welded would be stronger). I built them myself to the top of the recommended spoke tension for the rims and they are (touch wood!) fearsomely strong

Are the spokes breaking at the elbow or the nipple? You can sometimes alleviate spoke breakage at the nipples with longer nipples, theoretically spreading the load transfer over more spoke

 

[stever1957]

I'm afraid I don't know my nipple from my elbow, but the spokes are breaking at the hub rather than the rim.

We'll see what happens with the electric bike and the smaller wheel.

Thank you very much.

 

[flecc]

Theoretically the smaller the wheel the stronger it can be

The designers of these weren't listening.

 

[DynatechFan]

Usually a spoke has an elbow at the hub end (unless its a whizzy racing wheel with straight pull spokes) and its the commonest place for them to break because it usually the weakest part of the system. The nipple is the little brass thingy out by the rim that is used to tension the spoke and true the wheel

 

[egroover]

Crossfire-e spokes I have found break at the nipple (rim) end, about 1mm or 2mm into the nipple in my experience, always on the cassette side for some reason

 

[mike killay]

Do loose spokes break?
If so how.
If you go over a bump, the spoke cannot push upwards because the nipple is in a hole, not fixed.