Spoke count and wheel strength
01-08-10, 06:27 PM
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Spoke count and wheel strength
Pretty much a general fact that more spokes = a stronger wheel, but that can't be the only factor, can it? The higher end Shimano wheels all have low spoke count but they don't post a weight limit anywhere... what gives?
01-08-10, 06:32 PM
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Weight limits are kindof silly actually. You could be a heavy guy riding on very smooth roads with large tires and be fine. Or you could be a very thin guy trying to use the wheels offroad and break the wheels.
01-08-10, 06:42 PM
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The Shimano wheels with low spoke counts have very strong rims laced to excellent hubs. There are no short-cuts.
01-08-10, 06:44 PM
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rim strength, spoke butting and how high and balanced the spokes are tensioned as well.
rim strength and spoke tension: stronger rim allows for higher spoke tensions. wheels with higher tensioned spokes have less 'slack' where a spoke has zero tension when loaded.
spokes that go 'slack' will fail quicker from metal fatigue because of the constant loading unloading cycle.
when spokes are tensioned too high, the rim can fail because the spokes will pull through the eyelets, cracking the rim.
spoke butting: butted spokes allow the spokes to 'stretch' more before the spoke goes 'slack' reducing the highs and lows of the loading cycle.
balanced spoke tension: wheels built with a better balance in spoke tension will last longer because the loading cycle is evened out further between the neighbouring spokes.
rim strength and spoke tension: stronger rim allows for higher spoke tensions. wheels with higher tensioned spokes have less 'slack' where a spoke has zero tension when loaded.
spokes that go 'slack' will fail quicker from metal fatigue because of the constant loading unloading cycle.
when spokes are tensioned too high, the rim can fail because the spokes will pull through the eyelets, cracking the rim.
spoke butting: butted spokes allow the spokes to 'stretch' more before the spoke goes 'slack' reducing the highs and lows of the loading cycle.
balanced spoke tension: wheels built with a better balance in spoke tension will last longer because the loading cycle is evened out further between the neighbouring spokes.
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Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
01-08-10, 07:25 PM
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Stronger (which usually means heavier) rims allow for fewer spokes without reduced strength. Look up the weight of the low spoke count Shimano wheels and you'll realize why it's sometimes better to just have more spokes.
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01-08-10, 10:17 PM
#6
Making a kilometer blurry
There are more factors than should be mentioned in this thread. Luckily, you don't have to precisely match wheel strength with a given application. Either you end up with a wheel that you keep until the braking surface wears to nothing, or you replace every couple years. Neither is the end of the world. I have an over-built front right now (32h Deep V) that I'm starting to get sick of, as it enters its 5th year of full-time training and racing.
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