Spoke Calculator(s) vs. reality ???
#1
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 114
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Spoke Calculator(s) vs. reality ???
Hi
I´m about to respoke a rear wheel with Campagnolo Veloce Hub and Mavic CXP 22 rim.
The spokes I´ve taken from the wheel (drive side) are 295mm long measured from beginn of thread to the point where the spoke begins to bend.
I tried with the DT Swiss Spoke calculator and it gives me 288/290mm (DS, NDS).
Same values (+/1mm with the calculator of Mavic)
Where the original spokes wrong or what´s the explanation?
Same issue with another wheel with DT Swiss rims, hubs, spoke (R1.1 single, 240, aerolite) made from another shop in anoher country.
I have a spoke I replaced (an aerolite) and this is 291mm.
The DT Swiss calculator gives me 285mm for the same drive side.
What´s up?



Thanks a lot!
I´m about to respoke a rear wheel with Campagnolo Veloce Hub and Mavic CXP 22 rim.
The spokes I´ve taken from the wheel (drive side) are 295mm long measured from beginn of thread to the point where the spoke begins to bend.
I tried with the DT Swiss Spoke calculator and it gives me 288/290mm (DS, NDS).
Same values (+/1mm with the calculator of Mavic)
Where the original spokes wrong or what´s the explanation?
Same issue with another wheel with DT Swiss rims, hubs, spoke (R1.1 single, 240, aerolite) made from another shop in anoher country.
I have a spoke I replaced (an aerolite) and this is 291mm.
The DT Swiss calculator gives me 285mm for the same drive side.
What´s up?




Thanks a lot!
#2
mechanically sound
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,610
Likes: 87
From: Dover, NH
Bikes: Indy Fab steel deluxe, Aventon cordoba, S-works stumpy fsr, Masi vincere, Dahon mu uno, Outcast 29 commuter
From my experiences wheelbuilding in the shop: the best way to get the length right is if you have an actual spoke from the wheel. Sometimes on new builds, the spokecalc gives me wrong measurements (which usually isn't evident until the wheel is at least half laced). One possible cause of discrepancy in your case could be the lacing pattern.
#4
How many cross? I've used Spocalc for a few years, and every time I've had the wrong length spoke, it's because I've looked at the wrong number of crosses on the output. Other than that, it's been perfect.
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Jeff Wills
Comcast nuked my web page. It will return soon..
Jeff Wills
Comcast nuked my web page. It will return soon..
#5
just ride

Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 375
Likes: 0
From: Philadelphia
Did you actually measure the rim or just pick the rim off the menu offered by the DT Swiss calculator ?
From my experience the DT swiss calculator menu does not reflect the actual diameter of Mavic rims.
To measure actual diameter cut the elbows off of two spokes such that they are the same length. Thread nipples on such that the end of the spoke is flush with the bottom part of the slot in the nipple (fully engaged but so you can still tighten it more if you have to). Lace them into two rim holes 180 degrees from each other. Measure the gap and add twice the spoke length. Now enter this into the DT Swiss calculator. It's always worked for me.
From my experience the DT swiss calculator menu does not reflect the actual diameter of Mavic rims.
To measure actual diameter cut the elbows off of two spokes such that they are the same length. Thread nipples on such that the end of the spoke is flush with the bottom part of the slot in the nipple (fully engaged but so you can still tighten it more if you have to). Lace them into two rim holes 180 degrees from each other. Measure the gap and add twice the spoke length. Now enter this into the DT Swiss calculator. It's always worked for me.
#6
Mavic does not give their rim diameter in the same measurement of ERD that the spoke calculators use. I have no idea why.
I've never had an issue with Spocalc giving me a wrong length, but I always measure and doublecheck my hub's dimensions vs. their database.
I've never had an issue with Spocalc giving me a wrong length, but I always measure and doublecheck my hub's dimensions vs. their database.
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72 Frejus (for sale), Holdsworth Record (for sale), special CNC & Gitane Interclub / 74 Italvega NR (for sale) / c80 French / 82 Raleigh Intl MkII f&f (for sale)/ 83 Trek 620 (for sale)/ 84 Bruce Gordon Chinook (for sale)/ 85 Ron Cooper / 87 Centurion IM MV (for sale) / 03 Casati Dardo / 08 BF IRO / 09 Dogma FPX / 09 Giant TCX0 / 10 Vassago Fisticuff
72 Frejus (for sale), Holdsworth Record (for sale), special CNC & Gitane Interclub / 74 Italvega NR (for sale) / c80 French / 82 Raleigh Intl MkII f&f (for sale)/ 83 Trek 620 (for sale)/ 84 Bruce Gordon Chinook (for sale)/ 85 Ron Cooper / 87 Centurion IM MV (for sale) / 03 Casati Dardo / 08 BF IRO / 09 Dogma FPX / 09 Giant TCX0 / 10 Vassago Fisticuff
#7
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 114
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Hi
Lacing is 3x both sides.
As for the ERD should be ok CXP 22 -> 599mm.
I´ve found the same value everywhere.
The Mavic calculator where I entered the rim type gave me almost same values as the DT one, out of 1mm or so.
The campy veloce hub I measured roughly and the given sizes look ok.
Meanwhile I ordered the spokes a little longer that advised by the calculators and a little shorter than the curent ones (ordered on line, I need the wheel soon and little time to browse for shops which would have to order the spoke aso)
It´s not a huge investment (competition spokes) and I hope in the worst case to be able to recycle the spokes intended for the NDS on the DS.
Another funny thing is, the currently used spokes are the same length both sides - I didn´t want to believe it but I measured and compared them more times.
The wheel was built years ago by a VERY experienced builder but some 600km from where I live now.
Either he let a youngster do the job or he was in a hurry ...???
Now let´s see what happens.
Thanks for all contributions, present and future.
Lacing is 3x both sides.
As for the ERD should be ok CXP 22 -> 599mm.
I´ve found the same value everywhere.
The Mavic calculator where I entered the rim type gave me almost same values as the DT one, out of 1mm or so.
The campy veloce hub I measured roughly and the given sizes look ok.
Meanwhile I ordered the spokes a little longer that advised by the calculators and a little shorter than the curent ones (ordered on line, I need the wheel soon and little time to browse for shops which would have to order the spoke aso)
It´s not a huge investment (competition spokes) and I hope in the worst case to be able to recycle the spokes intended for the NDS on the DS.
Another funny thing is, the currently used spokes are the same length both sides - I didn´t want to believe it but I measured and compared them more times.
The wheel was built years ago by a VERY experienced builder but some 600km from where I live now.
Either he let a youngster do the job or he was in a hurry ...???
Now let´s see what happens.
Thanks for all contributions, present and future.
Last edited by PNB; 09-01-08 at 12:07 AM.
#8
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,152
Likes: 0
Used Jobst Brandt's book to build my wheel. Back then there wasn't any fancy "calculator," it was pencil and paper. Worked first time, never had a single broken spoke, 15 years and counting.
#9
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
Hi
I´m about to respoke a rear wheel with Campagnolo Veloce Hub and Mavic CXP 22 rim.
The spokes I´ve taken from the wheel (drive side) are 295mm long measured from beginn of thread to the point where the spoke begins to bend.
I tried with the DT Swiss Spoke calculator and it gives me 288/290mm (DS, NDS).
Same values (+/1mm with the calculator of Mavic)
Where the original spokes wrong or what´s the explanation?
Same issue with another wheel with DT Swiss rims, hubs, spoke (R1.1 single, 240, aerolite) made from another shop in anoher country.
I have a spoke I replaced (an aerolite) and this is 291mm.
The DT Swiss calculator gives me 285mm for the same drive side.
What´s up?



Thanks a lot!
I´m about to respoke a rear wheel with Campagnolo Veloce Hub and Mavic CXP 22 rim.
The spokes I´ve taken from the wheel (drive side) are 295mm long measured from beginn of thread to the point where the spoke begins to bend.
I tried with the DT Swiss Spoke calculator and it gives me 288/290mm (DS, NDS).
Same values (+/1mm with the calculator of Mavic)
Where the original spokes wrong or what´s the explanation?
Same issue with another wheel with DT Swiss rims, hubs, spoke (R1.1 single, 240, aerolite) made from another shop in anoher country.
I have a spoke I replaced (an aerolite) and this is 291mm.
The DT Swiss calculator gives me 285mm for the same drive side.
What´s up?




Thanks a lot!
Now with 3cross I get 295/296 (DS/NDS) - which s longer than what I have in the hand...
#10
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 226
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From: Antwerp, Belgium
Bikes: commuter, racer, ATB,
I have used the SAPIM spoke calculator for many different rims. I always ended up with perfect spoke lenghts.
All distances should be measured and double checked with great care. Then nothing can go wrong. The most difficult part is to measure the rim's diameter, as it may not be a perfect circle in it's non laced condition. Measure the rim at different spots and calculate an average.
All distances should be measured and double checked with great care. Then nothing can go wrong. The most difficult part is to measure the rim's diameter, as it may not be a perfect circle in it's non laced condition. Measure the rim at different spots and calculate an average.
#11
__________________
72 Frejus (for sale), Holdsworth Record (for sale), special CNC & Gitane Interclub / 74 Italvega NR (for sale) / c80 French / 82 Raleigh Intl MkII f&f (for sale)/ 83 Trek 620 (for sale)/ 84 Bruce Gordon Chinook (for sale)/ 85 Ron Cooper / 87 Centurion IM MV (for sale) / 03 Casati Dardo / 08 BF IRO / 09 Dogma FPX / 09 Giant TCX0 / 10 Vassago Fisticuff
72 Frejus (for sale), Holdsworth Record (for sale), special CNC & Gitane Interclub / 74 Italvega NR (for sale) / c80 French / 82 Raleigh Intl MkII f&f (for sale)/ 83 Trek 620 (for sale)/ 84 Bruce Gordon Chinook (for sale)/ 85 Ron Cooper / 87 Centurion IM MV (for sale) / 03 Casati Dardo / 08 BF IRO / 09 Dogma FPX / 09 Giant TCX0 / 10 Vassago Fisticuff
#12
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 622
Likes: 1
From: Auburn, WA
Bikes: 2006 LeMond Croix de Fer, 2005 Kona Dew Deluxe
Just make certain your nipples are the same. Most calculators assume a 12mm nipple. I rebuilt some old MTB wheels from the early 1990s that were built with 16mm nipples. I ordered exactly the same length spokes as previous along with new 12mm nipples. The build was "ok", but many spokes had a thread or two showing when it was all done.
#14
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 114
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As afterthought I ordered the spoke NDS almost the same length as the original ones (just 1mm shorter = 294mm) and 292mm for the DS.
I just have to find the time to pick them from the post office (easier said than done) probably on coming Friday.
Then I´ll let you know - should anyone out there be interested at all.
Something I learnt: measure the rim by yourself!
Kind regards from the Alps Republic!
I just have to find the time to pick them from the post office (easier said than done) probably on coming Friday.
Then I´ll let you know - should anyone out there be interested at all.
Something I learnt: measure the rim by yourself!
Kind regards from the Alps Republic!
#15
I'm trying spocalc but going crazy trying to figure it out. My hub is not listed. It is a track hub with some spacers, so having trouble figuring out some of the measurements with the cone, washer, nut.
My main issue is that I'm reusing my hub, but have switched from Mavic Open Sports to Mavic Open Pros. Not sure if my old spokes are the same length that I'll need...
**Figured everything out via spocalc. Ah, the joys of wheelbuilding
Last edited by nayr497; 10-09-08 at 10:22 PM. Reason: found out







