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I had a bad day. My bottom bracket ( a hateful e13 thing) was tightening itself so stopped this lunchtime to clean grease and sort that out. Fine, thought I, it only needs to last today and tomorrow. Then as I rode out this afternoon, I heard a ping and realised my front wheel had snapped a spoke.
I have two choices :
1) Family day tomorrow and sort the bike out later
2) ride it as it is and sort it out later
I'm a bit of a biffer and clatter down some of the rocky stuff - it's a DH bike so I kinda figure that's what they're for. I don't do drops of more than a few feet. The spoke snapped right by the nipple if that matters (don't they always?)
So WWSTWD?
Make sure all other spokes are tensioned up and go for it.
How many spokes remain?
If the spoke broke at the nipple it may be that the spoke path was not properly set and/or the wheel was not properly stress relieved. Other spokes may also be fatigued and at risk of breaking.
I've had a spoke missing on my bike for maybe a year, and ridden it..... HARD.
It's on the rear mind you. 🤔
Ride it but dial it back a bit?
We had a two rear spokes ( out of 36)go on the tandem part way thru a road tour - wheel was a bit wobbly but it got us another 50 miles or so until I could get spokes to fix it
You’ve got another 31 or possibly 35 left, you’re fine. Would go any more than one on the front though. Have ridden with 4 missing on the rear (chain through itself into the wheel) and survived without reigning it back too much
Take it to gravity lab in tignes Les lac. In tignes currently and They bled my mates brakes changed gear cable and fitted new chain overnight for very reasonable price. If you’ve only been in the bike park try some of the enduro trails - i regret not doing so sooner, mainly as I was having so much fun in the bike park.
Thanks all - I know I probably could get it fixed, and I know Gravity Lab quite well - but this was late on Friday - I don't want to spend a couple of hours taking it to Tignes and collecting it. I'm erring on the side of caution and I'll not ask the 31 remaining spokes to do the work of 32, just in case. I've been here for a month so I think for the sake of a few hour's riding, it's just silly...
Appreciate the input.
True the wheel and keep riding.