The rims of a bike can suffer if some spokes break. Luckily, even if a spoke of your bike breaks, you can continue your route and perhaps you have time to get home, although we do not recommend that you continue for a long time because the balance of the wheels is already broken and you may have a fall or can break the whole wheel. The case is true with the e-bikes as well, so here we are laying the reasons for the breaking of the spokes that is true for all kinds of e-bikes.
How do bicycle spokes work?
The spokes of the wheels are an essential part of the bicycle, although we do not usually give them the importance they deserve. The bike’s spokes help support the rider’s weight and also keep the rims and wheels from deforming. Thanks to the spokes, spoked wheels are just as strong as solid wheels (but weigh a lot less, which is great for a bike that’s super efficient and easy to pedal).
The most curious thing about bicycle spokes is that, although it may not seem like it, they compress and tighten while we pedal to transmit the force we make to the wheels. And if they are not well adjusted, we can have some surprises that we do not expect.
Main causes of broken spokes on the bike
When spokes break on a bike, it’s usually not due to just one factor. There are many causes that can cause spokes to break, such as the weight that the bike supports, the tension, the diameter of the wheels, the terrain the bike is going through if it is damaged, bumps or falls, etc.
- excessive weight
Each bicycle model supports a maximum load. If we exceed it, the resistance of the bike and the spokes of the wheels can be overloaded, and they can even break. Some bikes have a maximum weight load of 90kg, 100kg or even 120kg. Keep in mind that we should not carry more weight than indicated by the manufacturers. The spokes help each other to prevent the ones in contact with the ground from having too much pressure and breaking. Therefore, it is important that they are well placed, to distribute the weight and pressure every time we pedal.
- Improper tension
When making bike wheels, the spokes are tightened with high tension and prepared so that the bottom of the wheel does not bend. And what happens if the tension is not correct? Whether there is too little or too much tension on the spokes, they can break. In addition, all the spokes of the bike must have the same tension to prevent them from suffering more force than they should and for which they have been designed or they will break. It is recommended that the spokes have the tension they need, no more, no less. This is measured with a tensiometer, it should not be done by eye because we will not apply the tension accurately.
- Bike spoke material fatigue
Typically, radius fatigue occurs when the material (in this case, typically aluminium) degrades. As wheels rotate many times, any small defect, even a shallow one, can stress the spoke material. With fatigue, the spokes do not break suddenly, but if it happens for a long time, it will end up producing a crack and then the spokes will break. So that this does not happen, it is necessary to take into account the guarantee times indicated by the manufacturers, although in daily life, the fatigue of a material also depends on whether they suffer excessive weight loads, the use that is given to them, etc. Also, if the bike is, for example, ten years old, it is advisable to change some of the most critical components.
Now that you know what are some of the reasons why bicycle spokes can break, get down to work and check your bicycle so that everything is correct, especially if it is an electric bicycle.
As Hovsco ebikes are getting more and more popular, these are also environmentally friendly. You may think about how these bikes are eco-friendly. Let us discuss this further.
Why electric bikes help reduce pollution
Every day we see more bikes on the street and people who use them in their daily lives. The bike sector has been growing for some time and many of them are already electric. But what impact does the use of electric bicycles have on the environment and greenhouse gas emissions?
Growth of the electric bicycle sector
In recent years, the sale of ebikes is increasing in many European countries. This increase has been related in part to the global COVID-19 pandemic, as many people have reconsidered and changed their preferences. Thus, the desire to lead a healthier life and spend more time outdoors has led to this increase in bicycle sales. In addition, electric bicycles are experiencing continued growth that has never been seen before.
The year 2020 was an extraordinary year for the bicycle sector. And according to the 2021 study of the Association of Brands and Bicycles of Spain (AMBE), the bicycle market has continued to grow in turnover by 10.76%, which is equivalent to 2,887.90 million euros. This is 33.8% of the total sports market! Do you want to know the most curious? Ebikes continue to grow at a good rate and are consolidating as the leading category of bicycles. In addition, the number of companies that are already dedicated to cycling has grown by 6.78%.
Given all this increase in the use of the bike, it is normal to ask ourselves this question: is the electric bicycle a good means of transport to help reduce pollution?
This is without taking into account that electric bicycles improve the environment and people’s quality of life because they have lower levels of noise and light pollution than other vehicles with a combustion engine such as cars, motorcycles, trucks, etc.
It is always a good time to get on the bike and pedal towards a better future for all!
