titanium spokes: if you had to build one wheel with them, which would you use?
 

suppose you had the opportunity to buy 32 ti spokes at a good deal.
also suppose you're about to build a wheelset for a general use city bike, both wheels being 32 spoke.
finally, suppose you're building the front with a radial pattern, the rear with a three cross.

question: where would you use the ti spokes (front or rear), and why?
the hubs in question are 32h formulas, the rims are 32h (obviously) alex da28.

tia.

Rotational weight makes a larger difference in the rear, correct?

I doubt I'd be able to tell the difference anyways.

yes, that's what i was thinking. however, i was also thinking that with a "softer" feel, ti spokes would feel weird in the back...
idunno.

8(

are they the right length for either?

I wouldnt use for either.

DW

they have to be ordered; the length will be dependent on which i build.
the deal only applies to one set unfortunately, so i have to choose.

front especially if its going to be done radially

i wouldn't use ti spokes for a race bike, much less a general use city bike.

reasoning?
(not arguing, just curious)

WHY
(not arguing, just curious)

man, don't start that here...
sheesh.
steel is real rhetoric kinda lost everyone's interest circa 2001.

well, to be fair my comment was based on folks i've seen come through my shop and who i've talked to that ran titanium spokes. pretty much every one i've talked to who uses them has had a broken spoke within a year. also almost every one who's had them for more than a year wishes they'd just gone with steel.

more importantly, i can't imagine any benefit to shaving a couple grams off the spokes when your rims weight 480g a pop.

admittdely though, my experience with ti spokes is indirect and someone who's actually used them would know more than i. maybe dw can add to this.

1) it's not about the weight in this instance (is it ever really about weight?).
2) i know people who've ridden them on mtb as wheel as road, and with no issues. hell, campy builds on ti.

i'd put the Ti in the front, because for general riding you're more likely to break a rear spoke due to drive torque and more weight back there. if you can only get 32 (not 36) you won't have any spares, and it'd be more convenient to find a replacement steel spoke.

the front should have less weight on it therefore less chance of front breaking.

false alarm... i was supposed to be able to get them for 1.00, i was just informed i can't anymore-- the price is now 1.75, no longer worth it.
for those concerned, i'll likely be using dt revolutions.

i'm sad. true story.

You should be plenty happy with the revolutions I have those on my wheels and I frequently do stupid things and have yet to need a truing on my wheels.

word.

i was stoked about the ti, though.

+10 on the revoultions, I have them on my new wheels and they have been excelent thus far

What are ti spokes for if not weight? Are they stronger than steel?

i was hoping for inexpensive ti spokes for the same reason i chose a titanium quill stem over an aluminum one (which would've been lighter):
quality of the ride.
from what i've been told, ti spokes offer a silky ride, and are far more forgiving (this becomes noticeable as concurrent mileage increases, and when used with high tire pressure).
they also (supposedly) offer lower rotational weight, but i suppose this only comes into play on the rear.
the lower weight was a nice bonus, but not a motivating factor.

Ti spokes have to be tensioned really high to make a strong wheel. So any gain you may try to get from the inherent properties of Ti will be negated by the high tension.

If you are looking for the ultimate spoke, get the Sapim CX-Ray. Same weight as Ti, higher fatigue resistance, more areo, and readily avaliable.

They may not look as cool as a ti-dyed Union Spoke, but they will last longer and you can go with normal spoke tension when building.

interesting. i'll look into them (as ti is no longer an option).

ed: no way. $3.00 per spoke isn't happening.

Get Sapim Lasers. I run them and they are ever so slightly heavier, and not as fatiuge resistant. But IMHO they are better than DT Rev's which is at a similar price point.

because DW said so, thats more than enough reason to me.


and if you are doing it just for simple weight reduction, just take a poop before you ride, you and your bike would be lighter than if you just had the ti spokes.

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