Can I ride on 15 spokes instead of 16?

Asked by: Rob Khan

Yes – but its still something you have to fix, and sooner rather than later. The adjacent spokes on that side are now carrying more stress and could break sooner. Front wheel carries less than half the load total, but its more important in steering and braking and balancing.

Is it better to have more or less spokes?

However, difference that is very easily noticed is durability, reliability and strength of a wheel. Wheels with 36 and more spokes can carry more load, are more durable and easier to (keep) true. Even in case a spoke breaks, they don’t come out of true very much and can get a rider home.

Does more spokes mean a stronger wheel?

Spokes: Material that connects the hub and rim. The number of spokes will vary between front and rear wheels, the rear often featuring more spokes to improve strength and stiffness. More spokes typically means a stronger wheel but that comes with a weight penalty.

How many spokes can you ride without?

Most mechanics advise on replacing the wheel if more than 3 spokes are broken. But at the very least, replace the four spokes, re-tension and re-true the wheel and test the bike. If the spokes continue to break, it’s best to change the wheel.

Can I ride with a missing spoke?

The missing spoke is going to put pressure on the others, and it will cause bigger problems if you don’t replace it. If you are already on the trail, ride on, but if you are home and notice a broken spoke, you should replace it before you ride again.

Does number of spokes matter?

Is there a significant difference made when it comes to the number of spokes a car wheel has? In truth, the number of spokes a wheel has barely makes any difference really. The impact on the wheel’s weight, strength and aerodynamic performance will be minimal at best.

How many spokes should a bike wheel have?

Number of spokes



Conventional metallic bicycle wheels for single rider bikes commonly have 24, 28, 32 or 36 spokes, while wheels on tandems have as many as 40 or 48 spokes to support the weight of an additional rider.

What are the strongest bicycle spokes?

Berd PolyLight Spokes: A Significant Change to Bike Wheels



UHMWP is the strongest material on the planet on a per-weight basis. Its popularity stems from its extremely light weight and famous resistance to abrasion, impact, corrosion, and UV damage.

Does bike wheel size affect speed?

Push bikes with larger wheels can go faster than the ones with smaller wheels because the radius of the wheel is larger they are also more stable at higher speeds.

Why do most rims have 5 spokes?

Cast wheels generally have five spokes due to their engineering design. A 5 spoke wheel is strong enough to support the weight of the car and yet not disturb the harmonics of the wheel. In 5 spoke wheels, any one spoke has two directly opposing spokes that will reduce the effect of torsional vibration.

How often do bicycle spokes break?

A rule of thumb is that if you’ve had more than 5 spokes break, it’s possibly time to consider a new wheel or new bike altogether.

What to do if a bike spoke breaks?

Quote from video: So it might actually be easier take the whole wheel to your local bike shop. And get them to use their expertise. To help you buy a replacement spoke.

What happens when you break a spoke?

Quote from video: Right yeah so that's because you're probably running up at a factor of safety of about one. So what's happening is you're getting fatigue failure. Because you kept riding on the remaining spokes and

How many spokes should a mountain bike have?

There is no standard number of spokes. Different wheels for different purposes and with differing materials and thicknesses vary in spoke count. However, 24, 28 and 32 are common numbers.

Is 24 spokes enough for gravel?

Most gravel wheelsets have between 24 and 32 spokes. Consider upping your spoke count if you take in more technical terrain, load up your bike with bags or are a heavier rider. You might also want to take serviceability into account too.

How many spokes should a mountain bike wheel have?

Lighter mountain wheels will typically run 24-28 spokes per wheel, a stronger trail or all-mountain wheel will likely use 28, and the burliest of wheel systems generally use 32 spokes. These aren’t hard and fast numbers, but generally, more spokes means stronger and stiffer.

How many spokes do you need for touring?

For single bikes, 36 spokes per wheel is a good number. Tandems can go as high as 48 spokes per wheel.

How many spokes does a 26 inch bike have?

BICYCLE WHEEL SPOKES FOR STANDARD 26″ WHEEL SCHWINN BIKES AND OTHERS 10 – 5/8″ THIS IS A COMPLETE SET OF SPOKES FOR 26″ TIRE SIZE / WHEELS. THEY WILL FIT MANY WHEELS OF MANY BRANDS, YOU GET ALL 36 SPOKES WITH NIPPLES, THEY ARE SIZE 10 – 5/8″ LONG.

What are the advantages of spokes in a wheel?

Advantages of spoke wheels



This makes spoke wheels cheaper to buy than alloys. Cheaper and easier to repair: Since spoke wheels are simple and durable, they can be easily repaired. No specialized equipment is needed to repair them and there are many repair service providers in the market.

How many spokes should a mountain bike wheel have?

Lighter mountain wheels will typically run 24-28 spokes per wheel, a stronger trail or all-mountain wheel will likely use 28, and the burliest of wheel systems generally use 32 spokes. These aren’t hard and fast numbers, but generally, more spokes means stronger and stiffer.

Does spoke length have to be exact?

No. A millimeter too long is fine, if the effective rim diameter (ERD) is measured very accurately (but it may not be measured accurately enough).

How do I choose spoke length?

Quote from video: The first consideration for the rim is simply the number of spoke holes count them and make sure it is what you wanted and it matches your hub.