Wheel building - spoke length

Hi,

I am about to build a pair of wheels using Novatec hubs (751SB front, 082SB
Rear, both 36 holes), Mavic XM317 (non-disc) rims. I prefer to lace cross-3
for the front, mixed Crow's Foot (cross-2 non-drive side, Crow's Foot drive
side) for the rear, using DT Champion spokes.

I tried to figure out the correct spoke lengths using spocalc.xls, Mavic's
and DT's spoke length calculators (all available on Internet), but they all
produce different results!

Could anyone help to me to figure out the correct spoke lengths?

Many thanks!

Alex

P.S.
Hubs spec
http://www.novatec.com.tw/novatec/en...ow.php?sid=100
http://www.novatec.com.tw/novatec/en...ow.php?sid=101

spocalc.xls
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/rinard/spocalc.xls

Mavic's spoke calculator
http://www.tech-mavic.com/tech-mavic/uk/calcul.htm

DT's spoke calculator
http://www.dtswiss.com/SpokesCalc/Calculator.aspx

Dee Yeah wrote:
Hi,

I am about to build a pair of wheels using Novatec hubs (751SB front, 082SB
Rear, both 36 holes), Mavic XM317 (non-disc) rims. I prefer to lace cross-3
for the front, mixed Crow's Foot (cross-2 non-drive side, Crow's Foot drive
side) for the rear, using DT Champion spokes.

Why would you bother to lace with a crow's foot pattern? Unless you just
think it looks cute, there's no point as it doesn't offer any structural
advantage over 3x lacing and reduces the number of leading/trailing
spokes. There's also not much point in mixing the rear wheel pattern
like that, as it just complicates the lacing without providing any
advantage. If you're going to lace the front 3x, lace the rear the same
way. If you want something cute to look at, lace the front with crow's
foot, as at least it won't be any significant disadvantage there.

Thanks for your advice. But forget about the lacing pattern, any thoughts
about the different results on different spoke length calculators?

"Brian Nystrom" wrote in message
...

Why would you bother to lace with a crow's foot pattern? Unless you just
think it looks cute, there's no point as it doesn't offer any structural
advantage over 3x lacing and reduces the number of leading/trailing
spokes. There's also not much point in mixing the rear wheel pattern like
that, as it just complicates the lacing without providing any advantage.
If you're going to lace the front 3x, lace the rear the same way. If you
want something cute to look at, lace the front with crow's foot, as at
least it won't be any significant disadvantage there.

In article ,
"Dee Yeah" imdee_yeah @ hotmail.com_NO_SPAM wrote:

I am about to build a pair of wheels using Novatec hubs (751SB front, 082SB
Rear, both 36 holes), Mavic XM317 (non-disc) rims. I prefer to lace cross-3
for the front, mixed Crow's Foot (cross-2 non-drive side, Crow's Foot drive
side) for the rear, using DT Champion spokes.

I tried to figure out the correct spoke lengths using spocalc.xls, Mavic's
and DT's spoke length calculators (all available on Internet), but they all
produce different results!

Could anyone help to me to figure out the correct spoke lengths?

In your situation I would measure the dimensions of the
hubs and rims, then calculate the spoke lengths from first
principles. Another approach is to calculate the radial
spoke length with the spoke calculator, buy them, lace
them in, then measure the other spoke length(s). Measure
by putting in a spoke of known length and going from there.

--
Michael Press

Michael, thanks for your advices.

I ran through all the measurements again and calculated the radial spoke
length and cross-checked with those calculators. It turned out that there
have been some mistakes on my measurement which led to the calculated spoke
length differences.

Now, it's all set. As a wheelbuilding beginner, I can't wait to start
lacing the very first wheelset of my own.

"Michael Press" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Dee Yeah" imdee_yeah @ hotmail.com_NO_SPAM wrote:

I am about to build a pair of wheels using Novatec hubs (751SB front,
082SB
Rear, both 36 holes), Mavic XM317 (non-disc) rims. I prefer to lace
cross-3
for the front, mixed Crow's Foot (cross-2 non-drive side, Crow's Foot
drive
side) for the rear, using DT Champion spokes.

I tried to figure out the correct spoke lengths using spocalc.xls,
Mavic's
and DT's spoke length calculators (all available on Internet), but they
all
produce different results!

Could anyone help to me to figure out the correct spoke lengths?

In your situation I would measure the dimensions of the
hubs and rims, then calculate the spoke lengths from first
principles. Another approach is to calculate the radial
spoke length with the spoke calculator, buy them, lace
them in, then measure the other spoke length(s). Measure
by putting in a spoke of known length and going from there.

--
Michael Press

Dee Yeah wrote:
I am about to build a pair of wheels using Novatec hubs (751SB front, 082SB
Rear, both 36 holes), Mavic XM317 (non-disc) rims. I prefer to lace cross-3
for the front, mixed Crow's Foot (cross-2 non-drive side, Crow's Foot drive
side) for the rear, using DT Champion spokes.
I tried to figure out the correct spoke lengths using spocalc.xls, Mavic's
and DT's spoke length calculators (all available on Internet), but they all
produce different results!
Could anyone help to me to figure out the correct spoke lengths?
P.S.
Hubs spec
http://www.novatec.com.tw/novatec/en...ow.php?sid=100
http://www.novatec.com.tw/novatec/en...ow.php?sid=101
spocalc.xls
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/rinard/spocalc.xls
Mavic's spoke calculator
http://www.tech-mavic.com/tech-mavic/uk/calcul.htm
DT's spoke calculator
http://www.dtswiss.com/SpokesCalc/Calculator.aspx

You might reconsider and use 3x for best durability. There's no
technical reason or advantage to depart from 3x in this case.
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org/
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

On Jan 21, 8:07*pm, A Muzi wrote:
Dee Yeah wrote:
I am about to build a pair of wheels using Novatec hubs (751SB front, 082SB
Rear, both 36 holes), Mavic XM317 (non-disc) rims. *I prefer to lace cross-3
for the front, mixed Crow's Foot (cross-2 non-drive side, Crow's Foot drive
side) for the rear, using DT Champion spokes.
I tried to figure out the correct spoke lengths using spocalc.xls, Mavic's
and DT's spoke length calculators (all available on Internet), but they all
produce different results!
Could anyone help to me to figure out the correct spoke lengths?
* P.S.
Hubs spec
http://www.novatec.com.tw/novatec/en...ow.php?sid=100
http://www.novatec.com.tw/novatec/en...ow.php?sid=101
spocalc.xls
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/rinard/spocalc.xls
Mavic's spoke calculator
http://www.tech-mavic.com/tech-mavic/uk/calcul.htm
DT's spoke calculator
http://www.dtswiss.com/SpokesCalc/Calculator.aspx

You might reconsider and use 3x for best durability. There's no
technical reason or advantage to depart from 3x in this case.
--
Andrew Muzi
* www.yellowjersey.org/
* Open every day since 1 April, 1971

Alex, I agree with Andrew on this, especially when you are building
your first set of wheels. I built a lot of 3x (either 36, 32, or 28
hole) until I got very comfortable with the basics. I would also
advise against using alloy nipples; the negligible amount of weight
they save is not worth the possible problems in maintenance and
durability, IMHO.

Dee Yeah wrote:
Michael, thanks for your advices.

I ran through all the measurements again and calculated the radial spoke
length and cross-checked with those calculators. It turned out that there
have been some mistakes on my measurement which led to the calculated spoke
length differences.

Now, it's all set. As a wheelbuilding beginner, I can't wait to start
lacing the very first wheelset of my own.

Remember to line up the hub label with the valve hole or the puncture
fairies will haunt you from here to eternity...

That's indeed a good advice! I'll keep that in mind. Thx!

"Tosspot" wrote in message
...

Remember to line up the hub label with the valve hole or the puncture
fairies will haunt you from here to eternity...

Andrew, thanks for your suggestion. In fact, I might have been misled by
some online info about "the strongest rear wheel lacing", which claims that
the mixed Crow's Foot (2x non-drive, Crow's Foot drive) being the one.

Having dug up more opinions from other cyclists on various forums, I've
convinced there has been NO solid proof on the strength of such mixed
lacing. Now, I'm going to stick to 3x both front and rear.

Hands Of Stone, thanks for your tips on alloy nipples. I'm going to use DT
Champion 2.0mm with brass nipples. Actually this would be my touring
wheelset and therefore, durability and easy-maintenance while on the road
are both my concerns too. That's also the reason I lace a 36 spoked
wheelset, instead of more popular 32.

Alex
..
"Hands Of Stone" wrote in message
...

On Jan 21, 8:07 pm, A Muzi wrote:

You might reconsider and use 3x for best durability. There's no
technical reason or advantage to depart from 3x in this case.
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org/
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

Alex, I agree with Andrew on this, especially when you are building
your first set of wheels. I built a lot of 3x (either 36, 32, or 28
hole) until I got very comfortable with the basics. I would also
advise against using alloy nipples; the negligible amount of weight
they save is not worth the possible problems in maintenance and
durability, IMHO.