Bicycle Mechanics - SRAM S30 Sprint Spoke Tension

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goatalope
10-01-11, 04:55 PM
I recently bought SRAM S30 Sprints. Like them a lot. Have about 150 - 200 miles on them, and want to retension them to perfection.

I have the Park truing stand and tensionmeter. Built a bunch of wheels with round spokes, but still figuring out how to true wheels with bladed spokes. The card that came with the tensionmeter lists a lot of different sizes for bladed steel spokes...how do I know which size my spokes are? They are Sapim CX Sprint. The info from SRAM doesn't seem to list the spokes' dimensions. Sapim lists CX Ray sizes, but not CX Sprint. And this website - http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/wheel-tension-measurement- lists CX Ray as 2.1 x 1, but the Sapim website - http://www.sapim.be/index.php?st=products&sub=spokes&category=3959&id=3340&detail=aero - seems to give a few different measurements, none of which is 2.1x1. Can I just measure them?...I just doubt I can measure tenths of a mm.

Any easy answer? Am I overthinking this?

FBinNY
10-01-11, 05:31 PM
yes, you need to measure the spoke with an accurate caliper, unless someone can either find a reliable spec, or if they have them can measure theirs.

Once you have the dimension you can use your tension meter to measure the tension.

As to whether you're overthinking this, you might be. These are new wheels, and following the rule that you shouldn't fix what ain't broke, you shouldn't mess with them unless you have a reason. Just having put 200 miles on them isn't one.

If the wheel is now mis-aligned and you do need to work on it, aero spokes are easier in a way because they make spoke twist obvious. There are two approaches, you can improvise or buy a slotted tool to hold the spoke while you turn the nipple, or you can let it twist, feeling for when the nipple is actually turning on the spoke, then wind it back straight. This is a learned feel sort of thing, but not hard once you get the feel.

Many builders hate aero spokes because they twist so easily, but as I said at least the twist is visible and easy to manage.