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2 broken spokes - 50 miles from home

Am I right to be annoyed that I have two broken spokes after having a reputable shop fix 1 broken spoke a few days ago?

I'm out doing a tour, tomorrow is the last big day - 45ish miles. The rear end felt a little squidgey coming out of the woods this evening. I figured I was low on air but No! Two new broke spokes (rear wheel, drive side, broke off in the J bend, holes are right next to each other).

I got to practice using a fiber fix - and truth be told we aren't really doing anything rough, so I imagine things will be fine. But... Dang, I wish the shop would have told me the tension was off and I was going to break more - I would have brought another fiber fix!

Btw: fiber fix is a neat little hack. But a PITA to install on the drive side. What finally worked for me was: make a 'clean' end by cutting the end I messed up trying the first time. Then, reenforcing the end with super glue and some tape (so the end would hold together while forcing it through the hub hole). A bright light and a tiny Leatherman squirt were required.

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  • Forgive me if I seem naieve, I'm not a hardcore 'offroad' biker but I like to think I go through some questionable forest paths and outright rough it a bit following little paths without proper consideration, trying to take the odd 'shortcut' .. I have ended up barrelling through blackberry-overgrown paths and other narrow sections, even taking some strong branches into my wheels before I could react to the terrain, but I've never broken a spoke, ever. What the heck are you doing?! :) Sounds fun!