Ok choice of title is a bit corny...Anywho, longish post.

Could you guys help me with a recent reocurring problem with my wheel? I'm clueless when it comes to this & any help is appreciated.

First, I have a 2004 Giant OCR1 & same wheels that came with the bike at the time.(i think)

A few weeks ago, as i pulled into my driveway, one of my back spokes popped. Ok, that was fine, took it to my fave bike shop & the guys fixed it. No problems whilst biking in all gears etc.

Today, I planned a ride with a friend round Kings Park to do some hills. Toodled in to the bike shop to borrow thier loo & headed off. About 10min down the road I heard something similar to a pop/twang. Thought nothing of it for a few min as it could have been anything. Then realized it was the back wheel. poeeoyyyyy..to be polite.

I walked back to the bike shop-about 1.5km, no big deal- and asked the gent(gent we trust) about having it fixed, fine ok.

Here are my two questions:

1-Since I bike about 200km+/week, would simply replacing the spoke be a good idea or a bad idea? How many more times would you allow it to happen before buying a new wheel or wheels?

It's by pure fluke that it's happened towards either the end or the beginning of my ride. I don't know about you but i'd rather not have this happen in the midst of one of my 50km rides where there's no public transport & ian's still at work with his bike.

2-What can you tell me about Mavic Alesium wheels? They're $399(Aus) a pair.

My dilemma is-we're planning on eventually visiting Canada sometime this year and the money would be well spent on a ticket but I also wonder if I need new wheels?


Help! Thanks guys

C