Measure Spoke Length Without Removing Spokes?
09-05-15 | 01:25 PM
#1
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 392
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From: Yreka, CA, US
Bikes: Fuji Aloha, ...
Measure Spoke Length Without Removing Spokes?
I've got the most perfectly true and reliable road wheels -- which is surprising since they were dirt cheap -- that are perfect for 19-23mm tires. Since I'm well over the clyde' limit and since many of the charity rides and centuries around me include patches of road with more vaguely filled potholes and expansion gaps than surface along with super coarse chip seal, I'm intending to move to 23-25mm wide rims.
I'd love to be able to reuse the hubs and bladed spokes from my existing wheels since 20/24 hole hubs and CX-Rays are pretty pricey. That means ascertaining the ERD of the existing wheels. Since one can calculate the hub dimensions easily on an installed hub, I simply need the spoke lengths. I'm stumped as to how to determine that without removing a spoke; and I do not what to mess up what is now a perfect wheel by trying to remove and reinstall one of the few spokes.
Am I missing a trick? Or, is it futile?
I'd love to be able to reuse the hubs and bladed spokes from my existing wheels since 20/24 hole hubs and CX-Rays are pretty pricey. That means ascertaining the ERD of the existing wheels. Since one can calculate the hub dimensions easily on an installed hub, I simply need the spoke lengths. I'm stumped as to how to determine that without removing a spoke; and I do not what to mess up what is now a perfect wheel by trying to remove and reinstall one of the few spokes.
Am I missing a trick? Or, is it futile?
09-05-15 | 02:22 PM
#3
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Joined: Mar 2008
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I use two of those drawing tools for drawing perpendicular angles, run them out along a flat surface to measure the diameter of the inside/hubwards face of the rim. After that, it doesn't take that much to guesstimate the thickness of the hubwards rim wall and decide on a sufficiently accurate ERD.
09-05-15 | 02:53 PM
#5
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: St Peters, Missouri
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Honestly, if it was my bike, and I was worried about popping spokes on rough roads, I'd invest in a second set of rough road wheels for that purpose.
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09-05-15 | 04:16 PM
#6
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 22,676
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From: CID
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
I've got the most perfectly true and reliable road wheels -- which is surprising since they were dirt cheap -- that are perfect for 19-23mm tires. Since I'm well over the clyde' limit and since many of the charity rides and centuries around me include patches of road with more vaguely filled potholes and expansion gaps than surface along with super coarse chip seal, I'm intending to move to 23-25mm wide rims.
I'd love to be able to reuse the hubs and bladed spokes from my existing wheels since 20/24 hole hubs and CX-Rays are pretty pricey. That means ascertaining the ERD of the existing wheels. Since one can calculate the hub dimensions easily on an installed hub, I simply need the spoke lengths. I'm stumped as to how to determine that without removing a spoke; and I do not what to mess up what is now a perfect wheel by trying to remove and reinstall one of the few spokes.
Am I missing a trick? Or, is it futile?
I'd love to be able to reuse the hubs and bladed spokes from my existing wheels since 20/24 hole hubs and CX-Rays are pretty pricey. That means ascertaining the ERD of the existing wheels. Since one can calculate the hub dimensions easily on an installed hub, I simply need the spoke lengths. I'm stumped as to how to determine that without removing a spoke; and I do not what to mess up what is now a perfect wheel by trying to remove and reinstall one of the few spokes.
Am I missing a trick? Or, is it futile?
09-06-15 | 11:12 AM
#8
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Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 392
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From: Yreka, CA, US
Bikes: Fuji Aloha, ...
I'm planning on moving to either 25mm front and 28mm back or 28mm all 'round. And I know that I can just barely squeeze 32mm commuter slicks on my existing rims/brakes/frame. The reason I wish to move to wider rims is that they give an increase in air volume for any given tire as compared with narrow rims. And, since I'm moving to larger tires for speed on the chip-seal and comfort on partially patched potholes, more air in a given width is a winner.
09-06-15 | 11:25 AM
#9
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2014
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From: Yreka, CA, US
Bikes: Fuji Aloha, ...
Code:
Zerolite Road Comp 700C Wheelset 8/9/10 Speed
*Handbuilt: 700C Alloy Clincher Wheelset
*Rims: Vuelta 30mm profile pinned 6061 alloy with CNC sides
*Spokes: Vuelta aero plain gauge C45 steel with brass nipples
*Lacing: Front 3 cross / Rear 3 cross (F24HxR24H)
*Hubs: Vuelta road with sealed loose ball bearings
*Extras: Vuelta alloy quick release skewers and nylon rim strips
*Compatibility: Shimano/SRAM 8/9/10 speed
*Colors: Black
*Weight: Front 884g/Rear 1151g = Pair 2035g
I've not gotten a response from customer support on the specific dimensions. Not that I'd expect support for a wheelset that cost me less than $100 delivered!
09-06-15 | 11:40 AM
#10
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 392
Likes: 1
From: Yreka, CA, US
Bikes: Fuji Aloha, ...
I've got the most perfectly true and reliable road wheels -- which is surprising since they were dirt cheap -- that are perfect for 19-23mm tires. Since I'm well over the clyde' limit and since many of the charity rides and centuries around me include patches of road with more vaguely filled potholes and expansion gaps than surface along with super coarse chip seal, I'm intending to move to 23-25mm wide rims.
I'd love to be able to reuse the hubs and bladed spokes from my existing wheels since 20/24 hole hubs and CX-Rays are pretty pricey. That means ascertaining the ERD of the existing wheels. Since one can calculate the hub dimensions easily on an installed hub, I simply need the spoke lengths. I'm stumped as to how to determine that without removing a spoke; and I do not what to mess up what is now a perfect wheel by trying to remove and reinstall one of the few spokes.
Am I missing a trick? Or, is it futile?
I'd love to be able to reuse the hubs and bladed spokes from my existing wheels since 20/24 hole hubs and CX-Rays are pretty pricey. That means ascertaining the ERD of the existing wheels. Since one can calculate the hub dimensions easily on an installed hub, I simply need the spoke lengths. I'm stumped as to how to determine that without removing a spoke; and I do not what to mess up what is now a perfect wheel by trying to remove and reinstall one of the few spokes.
Am I missing a trick? Or, is it futile?
[MENTION=251447]ThermionicScott[/MENTION] , [MENTION=197614]fietsbob[/MENTION] , [MENTION=114951]dabac[/MENTION] , [MENTION=20548]JohnDThompson[/MENTION] : Thanks!
The trick that the complete moron (me) who posted this question failed to think about was to check the manufacturer's replacement parts list!!! Doh!
Spoke Front: Aero Plain Gauge 3.0mm X 284mm Black With Brass Nipple
Spoke Rear Non-Drive: Aero Plain Gauge 3.0mm X 283mm Black With Brass Nipple
Spoke Rear Drive: Aero Plain Gauge 3.0mm X 281mm Black With Brass Nipple
Spoke Rear Non-Drive: Aero Plain Gauge 3.0mm X 283mm Black With Brass Nipple
Spoke Rear Drive: Aero Plain Gauge 3.0mm X 281mm Black With Brass Nipple
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