Bladed Spokes - Yea or Nay?
05-04-11, 08:16 PM
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Bladed Spokes - Yea or Nay?
27mm or 30mm rims in aluminium?
I'm a flatlander, 170# rider, looking for that elusive 'all-rounder' for training/century use around Omaha. There is a dizzying array of options from many vendors who appear to be very reputable: Boyd, November, PSIMET, ROL, & Williams in the $400 to $600 market.
I'm a flatlander, 170# rider, looking for that elusive 'all-rounder' for training/century use around Omaha. There is a dizzying array of options from many vendors who appear to be very reputable: Boyd, November, PSIMET, ROL, & Williams in the $400 to $600 market.
05-04-11, 08:21 PM
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I'm using a 60mm carbon wheelset with bladed spokes I got for around $500 that I use for most of the time unless I know it is really windy. They're a carbon clincher with an aluminum brake wall.
05-04-11, 08:32 PM
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30mm and Bladed Spokes
I have both, Kinlin 270 and 300, which I assume are your choices. Both have bladed Sapim CX-Ray spokes. The 270s seem to have better braking, but I like the 300 (30mm) better. The braking is still great, but not quite as good as the 27mm. Different builders, different hubs, but no idea why the braking would be different.
One small point: depending on your spoke choice, not all shops will carry the bladed brand. I live in Tucson with some great shops but a couple never even heard of Sapim CX-Rays. That could be important if you every break one (like I did).
Best of luck. Can't imagine you going wrong with either one.
One small point: depending on your spoke choice, not all shops will carry the bladed brand. I live in Tucson with some great shops but a couple never even heard of Sapim CX-Rays. That could be important if you every break one (like I did).
Best of luck. Can't imagine you going wrong with either one.
05-04-11, 08:56 PM
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The quality of the build is far more important than the parts used. Ask the opinions of other experienced riders who have some miles on each of the wheels you're considering.
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05-04-11, 10:05 PM
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Bladed spokes can be nice for calm days or if the wind is directly ahead or behind you. Also, with some of the thicker bladed spokes (like Ksyriums) it can help to eliminate wheel flex and sturdy up the wheelset.
However, anytime you hit crosswinds the bladed section of the spoke may as well be twisted as it's hitting the wind at a very unaero angle. This is one of the reasons why a Ksyrium, even with the bladed spokes, remains a very unaero wheel.
The CX Ray spokes and DT Aerolites have a very small ovalized profile, enough to feel sharp (especially when stress relieving a wheel) and that smaller cross section (.9mmX2.3mm) makes it so that at higher yaw angles the spoke isn't adding to your aero drag.
However, anytime you hit crosswinds the bladed section of the spoke may as well be twisted as it's hitting the wind at a very unaero angle. This is one of the reasons why a Ksyrium, even with the bladed spokes, remains a very unaero wheel.
The CX Ray spokes and DT Aerolites have a very small ovalized profile, enough to feel sharp (especially when stress relieving a wheel) and that smaller cross section (.9mmX2.3mm) makes it so that at higher yaw angles the spoke isn't adding to your aero drag.
05-05-11, 07:48 AM
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Bladed spokes look cooler and make you feel faster.
It does not matter if they work.
It does not matter if they work.
05-05-11, 08:31 AM
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No use double butted I live in flats of Illinois but lots of wind. Built my own set of Velocity wheels with db spokes. Cheaper I ride as fast or faster, dropped 1.25 pounds off bike and now the wind is much less a problem.
05-05-11, 08:55 AM
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I have a set of Vuelta wheels that I am very happy with. I have hit a number of pot holes and they are still true. IMO they are really good for their price:
https://cgi.ebay.com/VUELTA-CORSA-SUP...item4cf6d9f59b
https://cgi.ebay.com/VUELTA-CORSA-SUP...item4cf6d9f59b
Last edited by SactoDoug; 05-05-11 at 11:53 AM.
05-05-11, 11:31 AM
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im in the same position, i am building up a pt with my assault rims but the stock spokes are dt revolution and was thinking of using bladed in the rear and round in the front
05-05-11, 01:11 PM
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I'm currently rebuilding some wheels to new rims. I chose to rebuild with with DB spokes again as I simply couldn't justify the extra $100 just for spokes. Plus, I've enjoyed riding on really stiff wheels, and going to cx-rays or aerolites would have been a sacrifice there too. I'd have saved some weight, but whatever.
When it comes time to build my wife a set of wheels, I'll probably go with cx-rays to save the 90 grams or so because at her weight she'll never have a problem with wheel stiffness.
I ride with a strong Cat2 (recently finished 11th in a local P,1,2 race) who races on 28 DB spokes and shallow rims. They sure don't seem to be hurting him too much. Racing well has SO much more to do with strategy, position and smarts than it does about aero vs. db round spokes.
-Jeremy
When it comes time to build my wife a set of wheels, I'll probably go with cx-rays to save the 90 grams or so because at her weight she'll never have a problem with wheel stiffness.
I ride with a strong Cat2 (recently finished 11th in a local P,1,2 race) who races on 28 DB spokes and shallow rims. They sure don't seem to be hurting him too much. Racing well has SO much more to do with strategy, position and smarts than it does about aero vs. db round spokes.
-Jeremy
05-05-11, 01:33 PM
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If you are riding within the Omaha city limits, I would go with a lighter rim with the undulating hills. Outside of the city limits it is flatter as you well know and bladed spokes wouldn't hurt. I really like my Mavic Open Pros on my Felt. They are not very light, do not have bladed spokes but are very sturdy making them excellent for training/centuries. I have Shimano RS10's on my Synapse and I really cannot feel an added benefit of the spokes being aero at higher speeds...
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