How to Fix a Bicycle Spoke

If you've broken a spoke on your bike, either you're riding hard or your bike is getting old. Either way, you need to fix it fast. Ignore it, and the entire wheel could fall apart. This fix is usually easy unless the broken spoke is next to the rear sprockets. In that case, a bike shop will need to help you remove and reinstall the rear sprockets.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Set Of Three Tire Tools (tire Irons)
• Replacement Spoke
• Tire Pump
• Adjustable Wrench
• Spoke Wrench

1. Take the wheel off the bicycle, and remove the tire and inner tube from the rim, following the steps in How to Change a Bicycle Tire, "Removing the old tire."

2. If there is a plastic band around the rim, underneath the inner tube, remove this as well.

3. 

   Remove both pieces of the broken spoke from the rim. Save the nut, or nipple, from the end of the spoke. Take the broken spoke to a bike shop and buy a replacement that is exactly the same length as the original.

4. Starting at the wheel hub, insert the new spoke into its hole from the proper direction. Study the adjacent spokes and follow the pattern you see.

5. Thread the new spoke through the existing spokes and insert the end of the spoke through the hole in the rim.

6. Screw the nipple into place at the end of the new spoke. Using the spoke wrench, tighten the nipple until the spoke tension is similar to that of the surrounding spokes.

7. Reinstall the tire, inner tube and wheel according to the steps in How to Change a Bicycle Tire, "Installing the new tire."

Tips & Warnings

• Save both pieces of the broken spoke. You will need to purchase a replacement that is exactly the same length as the original.
• A spoke wrench and tire tools aren't expensive. Once you own a few basic tools, you might be surprised how quickly you can master common repairs.

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