Originally Posted by radical_edward
No, he will build you a radial wheel if you race and are light enough for it to be a good idea, or if one of his existing customers vouch for you. If you build 'exotic' lacing patterns for every fashion victim that walks in through the door, who gets blamed once spokes start flying and rims start cracking around the nipples?
Conservative, yes. Making a comfortable living off non-retail wrenching, yes. Wrenched at world cup level, yes. Moronic, no.
Moronic? Are you saying he won't make radial non-drive side? That is indeed moronic. The non-drive side normally doesn't carry enough tension to transmit force to the rim. Therefore as the wheel winds up you needlessly stretch and slack the spokes. They are superior in every aspect and he is either a moron or a luddite.
It sounds like he is stuck in 80s. Rims have come a long way since then. Radial isn't exotic these days and the stiffness it creates is more important for a heavier rider then a lighter one. I've owned plenty of radial mtb wheels and none of them have ever been a problem and I don't baby my mtbs. They simply hold up better then cross spokes wheels do.