Originally Posted by
MassiveD
I'd never go to 32 on any 700 c, though people have gone a lot lower than that. Just don't see the point, or the point to having different counts. I get the idea, why people think it is a good idea, but I don't want to shave a few spokes that much. My current 700c wheels have 40 spokes on them, but as I say, I never broke a straight spoke on any bike, so going up to a 40 count was mostly for fun.
Fair enough point on straight spokes, but the price difference isn't that significant, so I kinda view it the same as you do on spoke count.
I should have noted that I have 26" wheels as well. I think 32 up front is plenty, and if you're getting a set built there's no reason to have the same spoke count on front and back. Yes it's only a few grams, but why when you know the front wheel takes less abuse? I went in to building a wheelset with the mindset of a balance. I could have gone with overkill (40 spoke count triple butted with phil wood hubs) but it just isn't necessary. . . . I may have splurged on some velocity CB hubs and I'm glad I did : ) more for my own vanity than anything else.