how hard is it to replace all spokes on a bicycle wheel

[CCCA]

A couple of spokes broke on my front wheel awhile ago, and I replaced them.  However,  I noticed the rest of them have little corrosion spots so I'm guessing that they will all eventually break at some point.  I'm wondering how hard it is to replace all the spokes on the wheel. 


If I do so, should I take all the spokes off at once or take one old one off and replace it with a new spoke at the same time.  The latter seems easier as it will keep the wheel more or less in true.  My previous bicycle experience is just replacing tubes and tires. 


thanks

[GuitarStv]

One at a time is easier.  You just follow the old lacing pattern and you're good to go.  You can do the truing in your bike's forks using a zip tie or brake pads to judge how true the wheel is if you're careful.  Replacing spokes isn't particularly difficult, but it can be kinda time consuming until you get the hang of it.

Make sure you have the proper size spoke wrench, and replace the spoke nipples as you replace the spokes.  If your spokes are rusty, the old nipples are probably in bad shape too.

[lthenderson]

I agree with the previous person, one at a time is much easier. The next time one breaks, I would replace it and then replace any others that look questionable one at a time so that you get the wheel true between spokes replacements. Its one of those skills that is takes time for the first couple but gets easier the more you replace.

[CCCA]

thanks for the advice. 


Maybe one more question, does the kind of spokes I buy matter?  I'm not a performance biker, and this is for a flat-bar road bike, basically a commuter with very occasional longer road rides of 20-30 miles. 

[GuitarStv]

Plain 14 gauge (2mm) stainless steel spokes work fine and are cheap.  Get brass nipples because the aluminum ones have a tendency of corroding and getting stuck into place.

[robartsd]

Spokes tend to wear out at the elbow where the spoke is connected ot the hub. The metal here gets fatigued over time from the tension changing as the wheel goes around. Ensuring that the elbow is tight up against the hub (use washers if needed) and the spoke has sufficent tension (the absolute variation in the tension is dependent on geometry, load, and riding style; however, an undertensioned spoke has a much higher relative variation in tension leading to more fatigue).