deacon mark

I am planning on building a wheelset of White Ind hubs rear and front 28 24 radial front. I am going to use Velocity rims and then going to spokes the price of aero is huge. I used basic DB before they are fine no issues but thought this time to go all out for the aero. Not so much for the aero but just the bladed stuff is cool and maybe easier to deal with on windup. I have never had windup issues with regular DB spokes as I lube the heck out of them but the difference is price is either like $60 compared to $150 for aero.

So tell me to swallow the pill or do you have a good source for cheaper spokes, or I am I crazy and should just use the regular DB competition spokes makes no difference? Wheelsmiths might even be cheaper than the swiss spokes. Give me some advice and maybe some thoughts on the Velocity arrowhead O/C rim. I like this and it worked in my previous build great but they tell the O/C is just not a great seller and sort of out of style. I know there are some good builders here would love the hear their thoughts. I build for myself and fun I really enjoy this work.

Jeff Wills

If it's for fun, then regular double-butted spokes will be fine. If you're losing time trials by 5 or 10 seconds, then I'd say you should step up to bladed spokes after you've done everything else to optimize your aero profile.

Shimagnolo

I have 2 bikes with Synergy OC on the rear, and one with Aerohead OC on the rear.
The Aerohead's are on White Ind rims.
I swear by them. It makes a *huge* improvement in NDS tension.
I built all the wheels.

deacon mark

agreed on the tension that is why I do it. Butthe rep said the new stuff it is not needed and I just don't get that since the dish has to be done.

byte_speed

Please elaborate. I thought the difference in drive side spoke tension vs. NDS was caused by the angle of the spokes (i.e. the hub) rather than the spokes.

Wicker

The OP also talked about using off-center rims, near the end.
I'm curious as to why OC rims are not more common. It seems more natural to make up some dish on the rim, rather than having such very different spoke tensions on the rear. I will probably give them a shot next time to see what the difference is, but it just really limits rim selection.

FastJake

I wouldn't pay an extra $90 for aero spokes that will have almost no benefit. If you want aero wheels, get an aero wheelset. A 24/28 set with (basically) box section rims isn't going to be that aero no matter what you do with it.

I have not yet tried the OC rims, but it sure seems like a good idea.