Originally Posted by
furballi
Plenty of titanium weld rods. Why not Ti spokes and market them as "stronger", "lighter", and "make you go faster"? Hmmm...let's move on to the nipples...brass is too old school. Expect to pay at least 3x premium to shave 40% off the mass of the spokes.
Brass nipples might be "old school", but they certainly do not corrode and seize real easy like aluminum nipples. The self lubricating proerties of brass also helps make wheel building easier. Aluminum threads can gall easily and seize on you even when new. Just not the best place to aplly weenienes, IMO, specially if you ride a lot in wet conditions.
Chombi