WheresWaldo

So the upgrading is going well. Still waiting on hubs for new wheel build. In the meantime, I installed a temporary front wheel, very different than the 40 spoke 3x stock wheel. It is a 28 radial spoked wheel built by Mike Garcia of OddsAndEndos. As I said, it is only temporary so at this point I am not concerned with longevity. What I did notice right off the bat was that Aero profile rims and radial spoking seemed to have stiffened up the front end. So much so that the ride seems a bit harsh.

I was wondering what others, who have ridden or are riding, radial spoked wheels felt it did for them with regard to:I am still considering the spoke pattern I will be using on the wheels. My winter single bike is 1x front (all heads in), 3xDS/2xNDS rear. On the tandem I am currently considering conventional 32 hole 3x rear, but the front is still open. Front hub is also 32 hole.

As an aside, swapping out the front wheel dropped the Cannondale's weight to under 35 pounds. It seems that with a front and rear wheel swap, along with the fork swap and brake swap I will meet my self imposed challenge of dropping 5 pounds off the total bike weight.

gregm

Just to check -- the comparison was with the same tire at the same pressure?

-Greg

TandemGeek

Is has nothing to do with the spoke pattern, but everything to do with what I suspect is a significant change in the weight/mass of the front wheel. A lightweight wheel will not dampen road vibration as well as one with more mass, thus it feels more lively and, perhaps, 'harsh'.

WheresWaldo

Of course it wouldn't be, but I generally run tire pressures so low that I am at the verge of suffering snake bite punctures on any type of hole. This is a holdover from riding tubulars all the time, just don't need as much pressure to 1. hold the wheel on the rim and 2. support the weight. Still it was harsh riding.

Thinking about your comment, I am going to agree. Was fixated on spoke pattern and not so much on the entire wheel mass. That's why its good to ask questions here, a new set of eyes can mean so much. Thanks.

Just for the sake of building something more traditional I think I am going to go 2x front wheel spoke pattern, haven't built a front wheel that wasn't radial or 1x in more than 15 years. I know that with radial or 1x I can put all the heads in increasing bracing angle and contribute to lateral stiffness, but aesthetically too many spokes looks goofy to me laced radially.