Four cross spokes for cross wheels?

I've just completed the build on my first cross bike and have put
cross tires on my 32 hole training wheels. These wheels are holding
up fine although the fire roads in this area are a little rough on
'em.

I am going to build a new set of wheels so that I don't have to switch
the tires on these wheels from road to cross. And this leads to my
questions.

Since I'll be buying new hubs, should I go ahead and get 36 holes?
And if so, should I lace them four cross? I plan to use Record hubs,
DT swaged spokes and Velocity Aerohead rims (with the OC version in
the rear).

I'm not concerned with weight but greatly value durability. I may
race the occasion cross event but this bike was built as an
all-arounder and is ridden on and off road. The frame and fork are
lugged steel and I weigh 170 lbs. Your comments and suggestions are
appreciated.

Thx, Dave

Since I'll be buying new hubs, should I go ahead and get 36 holes?

I'm not concerned with weight but greatly value durability.
I weigh 170 lbs.

Since you are buying new hubs, get a 36 hole rear and 28 hole front. You are not too
heavy for 32 hole but it is true that 36 spokes make a much stronger 700c rear wheel. The
weight of four additional spokes (plus a tad more wind resistance) is a very small
trade-off. At the very least, you'll have piece of mind. Twenty-eight hole front wheels
are very strong, too.

Dave

Three-cross is enough.

Dave

On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 14:32:55 +0000, Dave S wrote:

Since I'll be buying new hubs, should I go ahead and get 36 holes?

Yes

And if
so, should I lace them four cross?

4 cross will be a little crowded on a low-flange hub with 36 spokes, but
it is possible. 3-cross should be just as strong, and a bit lighter.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | When you are up to your ass in alligators, it's hard to remember
_`\(,_ | that your initial objective was to drain the swamp. -- LBJ
(_)/ (_) |

"Dave S" wrote in message
om...
I've just completed the build on my first cross bike and have put
cross tires on my 32 hole training wheels. These wheels are holding
up fine although the fire roads in this area are a little rough on
'em.

I am going to build a new set of wheels so that I don't have to switch
the tires on these wheels from road to cross. And this leads to my
questions.

Since I'll be buying new hubs, should I go ahead and get 36 holes?
And if so, should I lace them four cross? I plan to use Record hubs,
DT swaged spokes and Velocity Aerohead rims (with the OC version in
the rear).

I'm not concerned with weight but greatly value durability. I may
race the occasion cross event but this bike was built as an
all-arounder and is ridden on and off road. The frame and fork are
lugged steel and I weigh 170 lbs. Your comments and suggestions are
appreciated.

Thx, Dave

Before you go get all excited about 36 hole wheels, ride bigger tires. I'm
riding 34c tires now, don't have any problems with my rims, and outweigh you
by 10-15#.

If you're not racing, and have the clearance, aren't there 29" tires that'll
fit?

IMO a well-built 32 hole wheelset is going to be plenty. Those aeroheads
are tough rims.

If you insist on using a 36 hole rear hub (I'd still go 32 in the front)
stay 3X.

Mike

Dave S wrote:

I've just completed the build on my first cross bike and have put
cross tires on my 32 hole training wheels. These wheels are holding
up fine although the fire roads in this area are a little rough on
'em.

I am going to build a new set of wheels so that I don't have to switch
the tires on these wheels from road to cross. And this leads to my
questions.

Since I'll be buying new hubs, should I go ahead and get 36 holes?
And if so, should I lace them four cross? I plan to use Record hubs,
DT swaged spokes and Velocity Aerohead rims (with the OC version in
the rear).

I'm not concerned with weight but greatly value durability. I may
race the occasion cross event but this bike was built as an
all-arounder and is ridden on and off road. The frame and fork are
lugged steel and I weigh 170 lbs. Your comments and suggestions are
appreciated.

4x with only 36 spokes gives a rather oblique entry angle into the rim.
This spoking pattern was very popular among European road racers for
years though (they thought the extra crossings made the wheel more
durable).

Basically there's no real advantage, and at least one definite
disadvantage, over a 3x pattern.

On Mon, 20 Oct 2003 17:05:06 +0100, Zog The Undeniable wrote:


4x with only 36 spokes gives a rather oblique entry angle into the rim.
This spoking pattern was very popular among European road racers for
years though (they thought the extra crossings made the wheel more
durable).

Basically there's no real advantage, and at least one definite
disadvantage, over a 3x pattern.

There is one minimal advantage of 4x, in that for a given rim, the spoke length
for essentially any hub is the same. I'm building a pair now -- waiting
for some parts, actually, and the front with an ancient campy high-flange
hub takes the same spoke length as the rear nexus internal-gear hub at
2 cm wider flange diameter, for 4x.

But still, I wouldn't use it for low-flange hubs. 3-cross is fine.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | There is always an easy solution to every human problem - neat,
_`\(,_ | plausible, and wrong. --H.L. Mencken
(_)/ (_) |

dasams- I am going to build a new set of wheels so that I don't have to
switch
the tires on these wheels from road to cross. And this leads to my
questions.

Since I'll be buying new hubs, should I go ahead and get 36 holes?
And if so, should I lace them four cross? BRBR


Sure 36h, why not? But three croiss...4 cross doesn't help anything and may
have the spoke at the flange overlay a lot of the hub flange..

dasams I plan to use Record hubs,
DT swaged spokes and Velocity Aerohead rims (with the OC version in
the rear). BRBR

Aerohead rims for cross?? Not a good idea, IMO-too light.


Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

mikes- IMO a well-built 32 hole wheelset is going to be plenty. Those
aeroheads
are tough rims.

If you insist on using a 36 hole rear hub (I'd still go 32 in the front)
stay 3X. BRBR

Don't get 'insist' on 36h..for cross racing and using Aeroheads, a VERY light
rim..

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

mikes- IMO a well-built 32 hole wheelset is going to be plenty. Those
aeroheads
are tough rims.

If you insist on using a 36 hole rear hub (I'd still go 32 in the front)
stay 3X. BRBR

Don't get 'insist' on 36h..for cross racing and using Aeroheads, a VERY
light
rim..

My contention is that a well-built 32-hole wheelset is plenty, but if the OP
REALLY wants a 36-hole rear wheel, he should stay with the 3 cross lacing.
Sorry for the confusion. That's what happens when I type and (try to) think
at the same time.

Mike

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"