Originally Posted by
unisk8r
if you run a front brake, does braking have any substantially disadvantageous effect on a radial wheel and/or the bike as a whole?
Its only relevant with a disk brake or other type of hub brake, because the stopping force is transfered from the tire, to the rim, through the spokes to the hub. You should not radial lace a wheel with a hub brake. With a rim brake the force goes directly from the tire, rim, to brake, so the lacing pattern is irrelevant.