I just got a set of tubular Campy/Record wheels with red Fiamme rims for my Competition. Both 36H. The back looks normal, but the front the spokes are straight, like a wagon wheel, with no crossing over. What's with that? They don't match, but the front makes a really nice musical sound when I bump it into things.

radially laced. I think its more aerodynamic maybe:?

Ah, that must explain the whistling sound as the air whips past by pot belly faster than before.

More aerodynamic? hardly. It was a nice attempt at that though.
It also save weight (maybe a gram or two per wheel) since that lacing
pattern uses the smallest spoke lenght to get from hub to rim.
I have a set of GP4s with radial front, and radial non drive side rear, drive side cross 3!
now thats an interesting design.
and whatever you do, don't radially lace drive side of rear wheel.

btw All hub manufacturers considered radial spoke pattern to void the warranty.

marty

IIRC, radial lacing makes for a stiffer wheel. Not stronger, stiffer. Ride one on a bumpy roady and it will not be smooth. The cross pattern allows bumps to be absorbed somewhat.

Yea, everything I read about radial lacing seems to make my bargain wheelset not such a good deal. I guess I'll have to learn to build a wheel finally or risk hurting my fancy Italian wheel.

A radial front wheel is not the end of the world. Just have the wheels tensioned and trued. They should last for several miles.

That's not true. When Shimano sells it's 105 radially laced front wheel, are you saying the hub in not warrantied? Many manufacturers sell front radially laced wheels. All Phil Wood hubs are warrantied for radially lacing.

If you radially laced older hubs that were not designed to handle radially lacing, it did void the warranty. But, nowadays hubs are designed for radially lacing.

There is nothing wrong with radially laced front wheels, unless the hub isn't designed for it. The front wheel does not have the torsional load that the rear wheel encounters, unless you have disk or hub brakes.

As for the harsh ride, I believe this in nonsense. Read Sheldon's (pbuh) article about this. If you can feel the difference, I am amazed.

Lou,

Given we are talking about C&V and Fiamme Red label rims I wasn't talking about current Shimano or
Phil wood factory built wheels.
So, let me clarify. In vintage hubs (i.e. Campy Super Record, Nuovo Record ) a radial spoke pattern
would void the warranty.
But I agree, for a front wheel it shouldn't cause concern.

Marty