Q: Wheelsmith Spokes

A while ago I noted a thread in which a number of individuals ripped
into Wheelsmith spokes as having some sort of elasticity in which the
spoke instead of increasing in tension as the nipple is turned in the
final tensioning, merely stretches and the tension doesn't change.

Sounded like a bit of a load but....

I had purchased some of these spokes (on sale - I'm cheap) prior to
seeing the thread and didn't use them (mostly because I am basically
lazy) but now I have a wheel project in front of me and I was wondering
if there really were an issue as described in the prior thread.

TIA

D'ohBoy

D'ohBoy wrote:
A while ago I noted a thread in which a number of individuals ripped
into Wheelsmith spokes as having some sort of elasticity in which the
spoke instead of increasing in tension as the nipple is turned in the
final tensioning, merely stretches and the tension doesn't change.

Sounded like a bit of a load but....

I had purchased some of these spokes (on sale - I'm cheap) prior to
seeing the thread and didn't use them (mostly because I am basically
lazy) but now I have a wheel project in front of me and I was wondering
if there really were an issue as described in the prior thread.

TIA

D'ohBoy

I send you some pix of WS spokes...all of the same length but are also
all different lengths, after they failed and stretched...no mas WS for
me, thanks.

Qui si parla Campagnolo wrote:
D'ohBoy wrote:
A while ago I noted a thread in which a number of individuals ripped
into Wheelsmith spokes as having some sort of elasticity in which the
spoke instead of increasing in tension as the nipple is turned in the
final tensioning, merely stretches and the tension doesn't change.

Sounded like a bit of a load but....

I had purchased some of these spokes (on sale - I'm cheap) prior to
seeing the thread and didn't use them (mostly because I am basically
lazy) but now I have a wheel project in front of me and I was wondering
if there really were an issue as described in the prior thread.

TIA

D'ohBoy

I send you some pix of WS spokes...all of the same length but are also
all different lengths, after they failed and stretched...no mas WS for
me, thanks.

Crap. Anyone want to buy some WS spokes?

For 32 hole Centaur/Chorus/Record or Ultegra rear 3x - dirt cheap!

Thanks, Peter.

D'ohBoy

Peter White uses them on his wheels:
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/spokes.asp

"Richard Utt" wrote in message
t...
Peter White uses them on his wheels:
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/spokes.asp


Similarly, Mike Garcia of Oddsnendo wheels uses wheelsmith spokes too:

http://oddsandendos.safeshopper.com/20/cat20.htm?987

This is interesting. Wheelsmith spokes have always been held in high
regards. I wonder whether this is a bad batch? I remember when there was a
hoopla over the quality and consistency of DT spokes too.

bfd wrote:
"Richard Utt" wrote in message
t...
Peter White uses them on his wheels:
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/spokes.asp


Similarly, Mike Garcia of Oddsnendo wheels uses wheelsmith spokes too:

http://oddsandendos.safeshopper.com/20/cat20.htm?987

This is interesting. Wheelsmith spokes have always been held in high
regards. I wonder whether this is a bad batch? I remember when there was a
hoopla over the quality and consistency of DT spokes too.

Interesting to note in the chart at the bottom of Mr. Garcia's page you
linked to that the 14/15 DB spokes are ~10% lower in stiffness
(relative to a 14ga spoke) than all the others.

Hmmmmm......

D'ohBoy

"D'ohBoy" wrote in message
oups.com...
A while ago I noted a thread in which a number of individuals ripped
into Wheelsmith spokes as having some sort of elasticity in which the
spoke instead of increasing in tension as the nipple is turned in the
final tensioning, merely stretches and the tension doesn't change.

Sounded like a bit of a load but....

I had purchased some of these spokes (on sale - I'm cheap) prior to
seeing the thread and didn't use them (mostly because I am basically
lazy) but now I have a wheel project in front of me and I was wondering
if there really were an issue as described in the prior thread.

TIA

D'ohBoy


The worst are the XL spokes with 1.5mm centers. The DB-15s are pretty bad
this way too. Using the XL spokes is fine, just don't expect to get a wheel
higher than 85 or 90kg per spoke at finished tension. Higher than that, and
the they'll start behaving like their (deserved) reputation. . .

All Sapim spokes for me these days. Their super skinny spoke called Laser
never has "stretch" problems, and the bladed CX-Ray is the best thing going.
.. . most expensive too, but pretty freakin' nice to build with and
exceptional resulting wheels. . .

Wheels by BFWG wrote, in part:

All Sapim spokes for me these days. Their super skinny spoke called Laser
never has "stretch" problems, and the bladed CX-Ray is the best thing going.
. . most expensive too, but pretty freakin' nice to build with and
exceptional resulting wheels. . .

Use the Sapim Laser and DB 14/15 too, usually, but got a great "deal"
on the WS 14/15's at Nashbar. Usually buy them from ThorUSA (never
invested in CX-Rays) and the prices there are better than I've found
anywhere else.

D'ohBoy

On 28 Jul 2006 08:38:20 -0700, "D'ohBoy" wrote:


bfd wrote:
"Richard Utt" wrote in message
t...
Peter White uses them on his wheels:
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/spokes.asp


Similarly, Mike Garcia of Oddsnendo wheels uses wheelsmith spokes too:

http://oddsandendos.safeshopper.com/20/cat20.htm?987

This is interesting. Wheelsmith spokes have always been held in high
regards. I wonder whether this is a bad batch? I remember when there was a
hoopla over the quality and consistency of DT spokes too.

Interesting to note in the chart at the bottom of Mr. Garcia's page you
linked to that the 14/15 DB spokes are ~10% lower in stiffness
(relative to a 14ga spoke) than all the others.

Hmmmmm......

D'ohBoy

Dear D'oh,

There's nothing odd about the Wheelsmith spokes having a lower
stiffness than the other brands on the chart.

The stiffness, as the note at the bottom of the chart says, is
calculated from the square of the diameter of the narrowest section.

So the calculated stiffness must be less when the center span of the
Wheelsmith spokes is narrower.

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

wrote:
On 28 Jul 2006 08:38:20 -0700, "D'ohBoy" wrote:


bfd wrote:
"Richard Utt" wrote in message
t...
Peter White uses them on his wheels:
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/spokes.asp


Similarly, Mike Garcia of Oddsnendo wheels uses wheelsmith spokes too:

http://oddsandendos.safeshopper.com/20/cat20.htm?987

This is interesting. Wheelsmith spokes have always been held in high
regards. I wonder whether this is a bad batch? I remember when there was a
hoopla over the quality and consistency of DT spokes too.

Interesting to note in the chart at the bottom of Mr. Garcia's page you
linked to that the 14/15 DB spokes are ~10% lower in stiffness
(relative to a 14ga spoke) than all the others.

Hmmmmm......

D'ohBoy

Dear D'oh,

There's nothing odd about the Wheelsmith spokes having a lower
stiffness than the other brands on the chart.

The stiffness, as the note at the bottom of the chart says, is
calculated from the square of the diameter of the narrowest section.

So the calculated stiffness must be less when the center span of the
Wheelsmith spokes is narrower.

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

Carl:

Thanks for assuming I am an idiot. In this case, you are wrong. I was
referring to the THREE 14/15 SPOKES FROM DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS SHOWN
IN THE CHART. OF WHICH, WHEN NORMALIZED TO A 14 GA NON-BUTTED SPOKES,
THE WHEELSMITH HAD ABOUT 10% LOWER RELATIVE STIFFNESS.

CHEERS BACK AT YA.

D'ohBoy, who tires of your smarmy "charm"