Hey Team,
the spokes on the rear wheel appear to be bent into position (see photos). The wheel is on a Riese & Müller Load75 HS e-cargo bike with an Enviolo hub. I’ve never seen spokes shaped like this before and am wondering if it’s normal for this kind of hub/rim configuration. While riding, the bike does feel a bit ‘floaty’, but at first I thought that may just be due to the cushy suspension frame. There are no obvious sounds coming from the wheel area and as far as I can tell, the wheel is not massively out of true (but I haven’t been able to measure it).
Any thoughts/recommendations?
by srslyth00
4 Comments
take it to a shop and have them test the tension, it looks very loose!
I wouldn’t doubt the lacing pattern too much, it does seem like like the spokes might not be tensioned enough, that will result in spokes bent like that. The fact that this is a rwd electric cargo bike with a lot of weight on the back wheel and disk brakes will put quite a bit of force on the spokes on the rear. Get a spoke tension meter and retrue the wheel with the recommended spoke tension.
Looking at the way the spokes cross each other in 2 separate patterns – and without seeing the whole wheel – I wonder if the spoke pattern is different each wheel side? Eg 2-cross on non-drive & 3-cross on drive side. Unusual but not ‘incorrect’. You can count how many times a spoke crosses another to see what 2 & 3 cross means. Each pattern should be consistent and symmetrical (for that side). I only build 3 cross (both sides) – but know there are other options.
This lacing pattern definitely looks non-standard and “unique” but not necessarily incorrect… it’s kinda cool!
The bent spokes appear possibly loose? If so, it’d be worth just checking the spoke tension across that whole wheel. Get everything snug and then confirm it’s in dish, true and round with a good even “twang” tone from all spokes. Ride on!