I understand the advantages and disadvantages of the radial spoke pattern on a front wheel. The most important disadvantage seems to be the greater risk of hub fracture, especially with hubs not rated for radial spoking, and somewhat with any used hub.

But how about steel hubs? It seems to me that even the cheapest steel hub's spoke flanges would be far more resistant to fracture than any aluminum alloy hub. I have a set of 36-spoke 27" wheels from a 1970's Royce Union 10-speed. These wheels have Shimano chrome-plated steel hubs. The hubs are in good condition, having seen very little use. I'm thinking about replacing the weak, slippery Araya steel rims with new aluminum 26" or 700c rims. I'd like to lace the front wheel radially, and believe I'd be safer with this old steel hub than with most new aluminum hubs. The few extra ounces of weight from the steel hubs is unimportant to me.

Darron