Following a recent tune-up on a Trek Madone SL 5.2, the Bontrager rear wheel has experienced a spoke failure. This type of spoke breakage on Bontrager wheels, particularly those with a lower spoke count or paired spoke designs, has been a documented issue. The failure may be due to a variety of factors, including incorrect spoke tension from the factory, a design flaw, or a bad batch of spokes. When a spoke breaks, it can cause the wheel to go out of true and may lead to further failures if not properly addressed by a skilled mechanic who can re-tension and true the entire wheel.
Published: February 18, 2026
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