Wheels

[jobob]

If I had to order wheels again I might reconsider the bladed spokes, which I have. The bike gets blown around in a strong cross wind more than I'd like.

Really? I didn't think the bladed spokes you have were wide enough to make a difference. Shows you what I know.

(I stuck with the round spokes simply to appeal to my retrogrouch aesthetic)

[SadieKate]

I've got bladed Sapim CX-rays but the blading is so small you have to squint to see it.

I don't notice it at all. Now the blade on my Ritcheys . . . you betcha.

[jobob]

I think that's what Ms. Hund has.

But she's petite so maybe the wind blows her around more.

[SadieKate]

Thanks for voicing that.

Hey, I have lost 7 poundolas since last you saw me.

[jobob]

Eh, we'll take care of that at Thanksgiving.

[SadieKate]

Eh, we'll take care of that at Thanksgiving.

I will force you to go running with me.

[jobob]

I will force you to go running with me.

Oh good luck with that.

[dachshund]

It's quite possible that I've just been riding in more windy conditions lately, now that I think about it. Also, I'm on a bike that's several pounds lighter than my Bianchi. MY weight hasn't changed much, so that can't be part of the equation.

I'm glad to hear that the Sapims might not be an issue after all. Good, I can check that off my Mystery List.

[mauisher]

Thanks, everyone for the advice. I live in a place with lots of wind and find that bladed spokes are bad for me in gusty crosswinds, so they're out of the running for me. When peddling in 20 mi plus cross winds I can really feel them push me around. I have better luck with the round spokes on my present Easton rims.

I'll explore all the options you've suggested. Mahalo (thanks in Hawaiian!)

[aicabsolut]

I've got bladed Sapim CX-rays but the blading is so small you have to squint to see it.

I don't notice it at all. Now the blade on my Ritcheys . . . you betcha.

I have cut myself on some bladed Ritchey spokes trying to mount a difficult tire. They don't mess around.

[indysteel]

Good luck on your tour. Be sure to post a report(s)!

[ridebikeme]

Ahhh Velocity does indeed have some great color choices! I too, have a ti bike that I tend to give some color. For the past three years, I have used orange... so this year I built a set of wheels with the Aerohead rims in orange... definitely gives the bike some pizazz HA!]

[Eden]

Really? I didn't think the bladed spokes you have were wide enough to make a difference. Shows you what I know.

(I stuck with the round spokes simply to appeal to my retrogrouch aesthetic)

I have bladed spokes on my race bike. I don't think they make any difference as far as blowing around in a cross wind goes - and I'm little so I know what its like to be involuntarily moved several feet sideways....

I still would be very careful about choosing them for a cross country trip - they can be hard to obtain and hard to fix. Though I've only broken a spoke once (it was damaged when someone crashed into me in a race, I was assured it would be fine by a wrench..... I've learned to not trust him when he says something won't break - he's a very good mechanic though... - I've never otherwise broken any spokes - even loaded touring) I wouldn't want to take that kind of chance on a trip where I might be in the middle of nowhere.

When I did break that spoke it was at the end of the season and I was unfortunately on a charity ride rather than at a race (there would be spare wheels at a race). When I tried to at least true the wheel a bit to finish the ride I found that the spoke nipples were funky too.... so the only thing I could do, other than to accept a ride back, was to open the brake all of the way --- and I mean all of the way, I had to release all the cable tension from the bolt too, and ride the last 20 miles with no front brake.

I didn't go to the largest shop in the world to get the wheel fixed, so it was no surprise that they didn't have any of these particular spokes (the wheel is a Shimano DA) and it took a week or two to get it back. Since it was the end of the season and I ready to hang up the race bike I didn't mind, but I would have been very disappointed if it had been in the middle of a big tour.

[SadieKate]

We're talking about Sapim CX-ray spokes which are not what most people think of as "bladed" spokes. I've ridden this type of bladed spoke on wheels for 20+ years with no problems. It is the wider one in Mavics, etc., that are funky.

http://www.sapim.be/index.php?st=pro...40&detail=aero

[Eden]

We're talking about Sapim CX-ray spokes which are not what most people think of as "bladed" spokes. I've ridden this type of bladed spoke on wheels for 20+ years with no problems. It is the wider one in Mavics, etc., that are funky.

http://www.sapim.be/index.php?st=pro...40&detail=aero

To tell the truth I've never really taken that good a look at the spokes on my race bike.... They aren't as funky wide as something like a Ksyrium, but they are quite different... Shimano wheels have the spoke nipples on the hub rather than at the rim. I think that they can use fewer spokes if its done that way?? Love the wheels, but I definitely wouldn't use something so proprietary where there would be any problems with getting them fixed.