Originally Posted by
SquidPuppet
1. incorrect. FACT, freight is more than 13 Euros flat. Plus the exchange rate bumps the freight up to over $16.00
I just got a shipment of spokes from Rose. Shipping was €13.17. At the current exchange rate that is $15.48. FACT: Close enough to €13 and not quite $16 shipping.
Originally Posted by
SquidPuppet
3. He still has to buy nipples somewhere. You left that out of your "Math". Most LBS want at least a dime
So $6.40 plus some tax is going to break the bank?
Originally Posted by
SquidPuppet
4. Even if your $46.00 number was right (it isn't), 46 - 30 is 16, not twelve.
If you are going to accuse me of "making things up", don't do it yourself. 64 spokes from your source is $25.60. Shipping on purchases over $25 is $8 so the total comes to $33.60. Using whole number, $46-34 is $12.
Originally Posted by
SquidPuppet
So yeah. OP can Shop at one place, (DansComp) save over $30.00, get same day shipment, speedy stateside delivery, get nipples included, and custom length spokes. Or he can do it your way. Buy unnecessarily robust spokes, waste, $20.00, then have to shop for nipples at another place. He'll spend at least six bucks there, plus another freight charge.
$12 became $16 then became $20? And my math is fuzzy?
Originally Posted by
SquidPuppet
Why are you fabricating false numbers to support an illogical argument?
Right back at you. You keep bringing up how much "heavier" Alpines are over other spokes. Yes, they are heavier...by 7 g per wheel. I'm not sure many people would notice. They are also much more durable. Most people might not notice that aspect either but they would certainly notice fewer broken spokes.
Originally Posted by
SquidPuppet
I weigh 165 lbs. Should I over spend and build my non-tandem bike cruising wheels with tandem hubs because "They build a stronger wheel"? Of course not. A pair of regular hubs will last my lifetime, and longer.
Say what? Now we are talking about hubs? First, hubs, like rims, have little to nothing to do with wheel strength.
All the strength of a wheel is in the spokes. That people can get by with the weak spokes they usually use is something of a miracle in my eyes.
So you weigh 165 lbs. How much does danmyersmn weigh? What does he what to use the wheels for? Since we've been in this pissing contest, I missed this post...sorry danmyersmn
. He might want to use the wheels for touring.
For that application Alpine III are an excellent choice. For other applications, they won't hurt anything.
Originally Posted by
danmyersmn
I realize some of this is probably bordering on common knowledge for most of you but this is my first time through this and I don't have any history to rely on. I don't have a frame to put these wheels into but I will eventually find the correct vintage frame for them. If I go with the Alpine's I have a stronger wheel in case I pick up a touring frame. The downside there is I picked a pretty narrow rim and it may not be the best fit for a touring frame either.
And, because I didn't answer your question, I wouldn't worry too much about the rim, danmyersmn. I don't build with heavy rims for any application...touring, road or mountain bike. There is no need. Heavy rims are just heavy. They don't add much to wheel strength. The reason I suggested a different rim is for a shorter spoke.
As for all the above brouhaha, I'm sorry we got so far out into the weeds. For your front wheel, the double butted spokes would be perfectly adequate since you can't get the Alpines in 299mm (or 300mm) length. Front wheels are inherently stronger so you can get away with less spoke strength. I tend to build everything with the Alpines because of my weight and the way I ride. I find it to be cheap insurance.
However, for the rear wheel, and especially a possible touring wheel, the Alpines will pay for themselves. I have close to 5000 loaded touring miles on my Alpine spokes without spoke breakage and nearly 17,000 miles on the ones I used for commuting. The only reason that the commuting ones are ones I "used" to use is because the rims wore out and I rebuilt with a different rim.