Mixing
How many spokes for a single speed road bike?
Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP
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I want to buy a handbuilt wheelset from a local bike shop and I am in front of the decision of how many spokes I want to put on front and rear wheel.
The application of the wheelset is a singlespeed bike, to be used mostly on paved road (I have another wheelset for gravel) by an 80Kg rider. The rear wheel is going to be built with a track hub with a White Industries freewheel.
I was thinking of lacing 32/32, but then I read the following on Sheldon Brown:
If you have the same number of spokes front and rear, either the front wheel is heavier than it needs to be, or the rear wheel is weaker than it should be.
Does this still hold on modern rims/hubs? What's the number of spokes recommended for my setup? Do all combination make sense or only some of them? For instance, is 28 front/32 rear ok?
wheels single-speed spokes wheel-building
asked Aug 14 at 12:13
Alessandro Cosentino
7582819
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
I want to buy a handbuilt wheelset from a local bike shop and I am in front of the decision of how many spokes I want to put on front and rear wheel.
The application of the wheelset is a singlespeed bike, to be used mostly on paved road (I have another wheelset for gravel) by an 80Kg rider. The rear wheel is going to be built with a track hub with a White Industries freewheel.
I was thinking of lacing 32/32, but then I read the following on Sheldon Brown:
If you have the same number of spokes front and rear, either the front wheel is heavier than it needs to be, or the rear wheel is weaker than it should be.
Does this still hold on modern rims/hubs? What's the number of spokes recommended for my setup? Do all combination make sense or only some of them? For instance, is 28 front/32 rear ok?
wheels single-speed spokes wheel-building
asked Aug 14 at 12:13
Alessandro Cosentino
7582819
Depends -- what do you think looks most sexy? Some folks like 16-spoke wheels, some like 48.
– Daniel R Hicks
Aug 14 at 13:13
@DanielRHicks My assumption is that I want to optimize on performance/safety, not sexyiness.
– Alessandro Cosentino
Aug 14 at 13:26
1
How much would eliminating 8 spokes save you? Spokes weigh on the order of 6 grams. Would you notice 48 grams? And, yes, there's a savings in wind resistance, but it's very, very small.
– Daniel R Hicks
Aug 14 at 14:53
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
I want to buy a handbuilt wheelset from a local bike shop and I am in front of the decision of how many spokes I want to put on front and rear wheel.
The application of the wheelset is a singlespeed bike, to be used mostly on paved road (I have another wheelset for gravel) by an 80Kg rider. The rear wheel is going to be built with a track hub with a White Industries freewheel.
I was thinking of lacing 32/32, but then I read the following on Sheldon Brown:
If you have the same number of spokes front and rear, either the front wheel is heavier than it needs to be, or the rear wheel is weaker than it should be.
Does this still hold on modern rims/hubs? What's the number of spokes recommended for my setup? Do all combination make sense or only some of them? For instance, is 28 front/32 rear ok?
wheels single-speed spokes wheel-building
asked Aug 14 at 12:13
Alessandro Cosentino
7582819
I want to buy a handbuilt wheelset from a local bike shop and I am in front of the decision of how many spokes I want to put on front and rear wheel.
The application of the wheelset is a singlespeed bike, to be used mostly on paved road (I have another wheelset for gravel) by an 80Kg rider. The rear wheel is going to be built with a track hub with a White Industries freewheel.
I was thinking of lacing 32/32, but then I read the following on Sheldon Brown:
If you have the same number of spokes front and rear, either the front wheel is heavier than it needs to be, or the rear wheel is weaker than it should be.
Does this still hold on modern rims/hubs? What's the number of spokes recommended for my setup? Do all combination make sense or only some of them? For instance, is 28 front/32 rear ok?
wheels single-speed spokes wheel-building
asked Aug 14 at 12:13
Alessandro Cosentino
7582819
edited Aug 14 at 12:47
asked Aug 14 at 12:13
Alessandro Cosentino
7582819
asked Aug 14 at 12:13
Alessandro Cosentino
7582819
asked Aug 14 at 12:13
Alessandro Cosentino
7582819
7582819
Depends -- what do you think looks most sexy? Some folks like 16-spoke wheels, some like 48.
– Daniel R Hicks
Aug 14 at 13:13
@DanielRHicks My assumption is that I want to optimize on performance/safety, not sexyiness.
– Alessandro Cosentino
Aug 14 at 13:26
1
How much would eliminating 8 spokes save you? Spokes weigh on the order of 6 grams. Would you notice 48 grams? And, yes, there's a savings in wind resistance, but it's very, very small.
– Daniel R Hicks
Aug 14 at 14:53
add a comment |Â
Depends -- what do you think looks most sexy? Some folks like 16-spoke wheels, some like 48.
– Daniel R Hicks
Aug 14 at 13:13
@DanielRHicks My assumption is that I want to optimize on performance/safety, not sexyiness.
– Alessandro Cosentino
Aug 14 at 13:26
1
How much would eliminating 8 spokes save you? Spokes weigh on the order of 6 grams. Would you notice 48 grams? And, yes, there's a savings in wind resistance, but it's very, very small.
– Daniel R Hicks
Aug 14 at 14:53
Depends -- what do you think looks most sexy? Some folks like 16-spoke wheels, some like 48.
– Daniel R Hicks
Aug 14 at 13:13
Depends -- what do you think looks most sexy? Some folks like 16-spoke wheels, some like 48.
– Daniel R Hicks
Aug 14 at 13:13
@DanielRHicks My assumption is that I want to optimize on performance/safety, not sexyiness.
– Alessandro Cosentino
Aug 14 at 13:26
@DanielRHicks My assumption is that I want to optimize on performance/safety, not sexyiness.
– Alessandro Cosentino
Aug 14 at 13:26
1
1
How much would eliminating 8 spokes save you? Spokes weigh on the order of 6 grams. Would you notice 48 grams? And, yes, there's a savings in wind resistance, but it's very, very small.
– Daniel R Hicks
Aug 14 at 14:53
How much would eliminating 8 spokes save you? Spokes weigh on the order of 6 grams. Would you notice 48 grams? And, yes, there's a savings in wind resistance, but it's very, very small.
– Daniel R Hicks
Aug 14 at 14:53
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
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oldest
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up vote
5
down vote
If you have the same number of spokes front and rear, either the front wheel is heavier than it needs to be, or the rear wheel is weaker than it should be.
In general, that's still true.
The rear wheel generally is subjected to much greater stresses than the front wheel - the rear wheel normally supports about 60% of the combined weight of the rider/bicycle combination along with all of the power transmission.
The only time a front wheel is normally subject to greater stresses than the rear wheel is under braking, where the front wheel takes most of the stress. But braking is normally a fairly smooth force that is less stressful than bearing weight over bumps or the peak stresses of transmitting power from the pedals to the road. And for rim brakes at least, the stress on the wheel is a lot less as there's no torque on the hub and spokes like there is on the rear wheel, where power is transmitted from the chain to the road via torque through the hub and spokes.
Note that was likely written before disk brakes. Disk brakes change things because the braking force has to be transmitted through the hub and spokes to the rim. So you don't want to to have a 32-spoke 3-cross rear wheel with a 20 or 24-spoke radially-laced front disk brake wheel (pretty much a normal configuration for my rim-brake road bike 32/3x rear, 20-24/radial front).
But I suspect with a front disk brake, a 32-spoke 3-cross rear paired with a 28-spoke 2-cross front would be fine.
Overall, though, having a few extra spokes on the front wheel isn't going to matter much. If I could save $50 or more by buying an off-the-shelf 32/32 over a custom-built 32/24, I'd personally use the money on something more useful than a few less ounces of spokes.
answered Aug 14 at 12:42
Andrew Henle
61535
Thanks! As I said, I am going to use rim brakes, so I am not concerned with disk brakes at all :) Does the fact that I am riding a singlespeed setup have any impact on the considerations you made?
– Alessandro Cosentino
Aug 14 at 12:51
@AlessandroCosentino Single-speed doesn't really matter - and riding fixed rear would add more stress to the rear wheel.
– Andrew Henle
Aug 14 at 13:09
How does fixed gear add stress?
– ojs
Aug 14 at 14:51
@ojs How does fixed gear add stress? Try stopping pedaling on one after you get going...
– Andrew Henle
Aug 14 at 16:44
This adds mental stress to inexperienced riders, but for the wheel it isn't much different from pedaling forward or coaster brake.
– ojs
Aug 14 at 18:44
 |Â
show 1 more comment
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
5
down vote
If you have the same number of spokes front and rear, either the front wheel is heavier than it needs to be, or the rear wheel is weaker than it should be.
In general, that's still true.
The rear wheel generally is subjected to much greater stresses than the front wheel - the rear wheel normally supports about 60% of the combined weight of the rider/bicycle combination along with all of the power transmission.
The only time a front wheel is normally subject to greater stresses than the rear wheel is under braking, where the front wheel takes most of the stress. But braking is normally a fairly smooth force that is less stressful than bearing weight over bumps or the peak stresses of transmitting power from the pedals to the road. And for rim brakes at least, the stress on the wheel is a lot less as there's no torque on the hub and spokes like there is on the rear wheel, where power is transmitted from the chain to the road via torque through the hub and spokes.
Note that was likely written before disk brakes. Disk brakes change things because the braking force has to be transmitted through the hub and spokes to the rim. So you don't want to to have a 32-spoke 3-cross rear wheel with a 20 or 24-spoke radially-laced front disk brake wheel (pretty much a normal configuration for my rim-brake road bike 32/3x rear, 20-24/radial front).
But I suspect with a front disk brake, a 32-spoke 3-cross rear paired with a 28-spoke 2-cross front would be fine.
Overall, though, having a few extra spokes on the front wheel isn't going to matter much. If I could save $50 or more by buying an off-the-shelf 32/32 over a custom-built 32/24, I'd personally use the money on something more useful than a few less ounces of spokes.
answered Aug 14 at 12:42
Andrew Henle
61535
Thanks! As I said, I am going to use rim brakes, so I am not concerned with disk brakes at all :) Does the fact that I am riding a singlespeed setup have any impact on the considerations you made?
– Alessandro Cosentino
Aug 14 at 12:51
@AlessandroCosentino Single-speed doesn't really matter - and riding fixed rear would add more stress to the rear wheel.
– Andrew Henle
Aug 14 at 13:09
How does fixed gear add stress?
– ojs
Aug 14 at 14:51
@ojs How does fixed gear add stress? Try stopping pedaling on one after you get going...
– Andrew Henle
Aug 14 at 16:44
This adds mental stress to inexperienced riders, but for the wheel it isn't much different from pedaling forward or coaster brake.
– ojs
Aug 14 at 18:44
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
5
down vote
If you have the same number of spokes front and rear, either the front wheel is heavier than it needs to be, or the rear wheel is weaker than it should be.
In general, that's still true.
The rear wheel generally is subjected to much greater stresses than the front wheel - the rear wheel normally supports about 60% of the combined weight of the rider/bicycle combination along with all of the power transmission.
The only time a front wheel is normally subject to greater stresses than the rear wheel is under braking, where the front wheel takes most of the stress. But braking is normally a fairly smooth force that is less stressful than bearing weight over bumps or the peak stresses of transmitting power from the pedals to the road. And for rim brakes at least, the stress on the wheel is a lot less as there's no torque on the hub and spokes like there is on the rear wheel, where power is transmitted from the chain to the road via torque through the hub and spokes.
Note that was likely written before disk brakes. Disk brakes change things because the braking force has to be transmitted through the hub and spokes to the rim. So you don't want to to have a 32-spoke 3-cross rear wheel with a 20 or 24-spoke radially-laced front disk brake wheel (pretty much a normal configuration for my rim-brake road bike 32/3x rear, 20-24/radial front).
But I suspect with a front disk brake, a 32-spoke 3-cross rear paired with a 28-spoke 2-cross front would be fine.
Overall, though, having a few extra spokes on the front wheel isn't going to matter much. If I could save $50 or more by buying an off-the-shelf 32/32 over a custom-built 32/24, I'd personally use the money on something more useful than a few less ounces of spokes.
answered Aug 14 at 12:42
Andrew Henle
61535
Thanks! As I said, I am going to use rim brakes, so I am not concerned with disk brakes at all :) Does the fact that I am riding a singlespeed setup have any impact on the considerations you made?
– Alessandro Cosentino
Aug 14 at 12:51
@AlessandroCosentino Single-speed doesn't really matter - and riding fixed rear would add more stress to the rear wheel.
– Andrew Henle
Aug 14 at 13:09
How does fixed gear add stress?
– ojs
Aug 14 at 14:51
@ojs How does fixed gear add stress? Try stopping pedaling on one after you get going...
– Andrew Henle
Aug 14 at 16:44
This adds mental stress to inexperienced riders, but for the wheel it isn't much different from pedaling forward or coaster brake.
– ojs
Aug 14 at 18:44
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
5
down vote
up vote
5
down vote
If you have the same number of spokes front and rear, either the front wheel is heavier than it needs to be, or the rear wheel is weaker than it should be.
In general, that's still true.
The rear wheel generally is subjected to much greater stresses than the front wheel - the rear wheel normally supports about 60% of the combined weight of the rider/bicycle combination along with all of the power transmission.
The only time a front wheel is normally subject to greater stresses than the rear wheel is under braking, where the front wheel takes most of the stress. But braking is normally a fairly smooth force that is less stressful than bearing weight over bumps or the peak stresses of transmitting power from the pedals to the road. And for rim brakes at least, the stress on the wheel is a lot less as there's no torque on the hub and spokes like there is on the rear wheel, where power is transmitted from the chain to the road via torque through the hub and spokes.
Note that was likely written before disk brakes. Disk brakes change things because the braking force has to be transmitted through the hub and spokes to the rim. So you don't want to to have a 32-spoke 3-cross rear wheel with a 20 or 24-spoke radially-laced front disk brake wheel (pretty much a normal configuration for my rim-brake road bike 32/3x rear, 20-24/radial front).
But I suspect with a front disk brake, a 32-spoke 3-cross rear paired with a 28-spoke 2-cross front would be fine.
Overall, though, having a few extra spokes on the front wheel isn't going to matter much. If I could save $50 or more by buying an off-the-shelf 32/32 over a custom-built 32/24, I'd personally use the money on something more useful than a few less ounces of spokes.
answered Aug 14 at 12:42
Andrew Henle
61535
If you have the same number of spokes front and rear, either the front wheel is heavier than it needs to be, or the rear wheel is weaker than it should be.
In general, that's still true.
The rear wheel generally is subjected to much greater stresses than the front wheel - the rear wheel normally supports about 60% of the combined weight of the rider/bicycle combination along with all of the power transmission.
The only time a front wheel is normally subject to greater stresses than the rear wheel is under braking, where the front wheel takes most of the stress. But braking is normally a fairly smooth force that is less stressful than bearing weight over bumps or the peak stresses of transmitting power from the pedals to the road. And for rim brakes at least, the stress on the wheel is a lot less as there's no torque on the hub and spokes like there is on the rear wheel, where power is transmitted from the chain to the road via torque through the hub and spokes.
Note that was likely written before disk brakes. Disk brakes change things because the braking force has to be transmitted through the hub and spokes to the rim. So you don't want to to have a 32-spoke 3-cross rear wheel with a 20 or 24-spoke radially-laced front disk brake wheel (pretty much a normal configuration for my rim-brake road bike 32/3x rear, 20-24/radial front).
But I suspect with a front disk brake, a 32-spoke 3-cross rear paired with a 28-spoke 2-cross front would be fine.
Overall, though, having a few extra spokes on the front wheel isn't going to matter much. If I could save $50 or more by buying an off-the-shelf 32/32 over a custom-built 32/24, I'd personally use the money on something more useful than a few less ounces of spokes.
answered Aug 14 at 12:42
Andrew Henle
61535
answered Aug 14 at 12:42
Andrew Henle
61535
answered Aug 14 at 12:42
Andrew Henle
61535
answered Aug 14 at 12:42
Andrew Henle
61535
61535
Thanks! As I said, I am going to use rim brakes, so I am not concerned with disk brakes at all :) Does the fact that I am riding a singlespeed setup have any impact on the considerations you made?
– Alessandro Cosentino
Aug 14 at 12:51
@AlessandroCosentino Single-speed doesn't really matter - and riding fixed rear would add more stress to the rear wheel.
– Andrew Henle
Aug 14 at 13:09
How does fixed gear add stress?
– ojs
Aug 14 at 14:51
@ojs How does fixed gear add stress? Try stopping pedaling on one after you get going...
– Andrew Henle
Aug 14 at 16:44
This adds mental stress to inexperienced riders, but for the wheel it isn't much different from pedaling forward or coaster brake.
– ojs
Aug 14 at 18:44
 |Â
show 1 more comment
Thanks! As I said, I am going to use rim brakes, so I am not concerned with disk brakes at all :) Does the fact that I am riding a singlespeed setup have any impact on the considerations you made?
– Alessandro Cosentino
Aug 14 at 12:51
@AlessandroCosentino Single-speed doesn't really matter - and riding fixed rear would add more stress to the rear wheel.
– Andrew Henle
Aug 14 at 13:09
How does fixed gear add stress?
– ojs
Aug 14 at 14:51
@ojs How does fixed gear add stress? Try stopping pedaling on one after you get going...
– Andrew Henle
Aug 14 at 16:44
This adds mental stress to inexperienced riders, but for the wheel it isn't much different from pedaling forward or coaster brake.
– ojs
Aug 14 at 18:44
Thanks! As I said, I am going to use rim brakes, so I am not concerned with disk brakes at all :) Does the fact that I am riding a singlespeed setup have any impact on the considerations you made?
– Alessandro Cosentino
Aug 14 at 12:51
Thanks! As I said, I am going to use rim brakes, so I am not concerned with disk brakes at all :) Does the fact that I am riding a singlespeed setup have any impact on the considerations you made?
– Alessandro Cosentino
Aug 14 at 12:51
@AlessandroCosentino Single-speed doesn't really matter - and riding fixed rear would add more stress to the rear wheel.
– Andrew Henle
Aug 14 at 13:09
@AlessandroCosentino Single-speed doesn't really matter - and riding fixed rear would add more stress to the rear wheel.
– Andrew Henle
Aug 14 at 13:09
How does fixed gear add stress?
– ojs
Aug 14 at 14:51
How does fixed gear add stress?
– ojs
Aug 14 at 14:51
@ojs How does fixed gear add stress? Try stopping pedaling on one after you get going...
– Andrew Henle
Aug 14 at 16:44
@ojs How does fixed gear add stress? Try stopping pedaling on one after you get going...
– Andrew Henle
Aug 14 at 16:44
This adds mental stress to inexperienced riders, but for the wheel it isn't much different from pedaling forward or coaster brake.
– ojs
Aug 14 at 18:44
This adds mental stress to inexperienced riders, but for the wheel it isn't much different from pedaling forward or coaster brake.
– ojs
Aug 14 at 18:44
 |Â
show 1 more comment
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Depends -- what do you think looks most sexy? Some folks like 16-spoke wheels, some like 48.
– Daniel R Hicks
Aug 14 at 13:13
@DanielRHicks My assumption is that I want to optimize on performance/safety, not sexyiness.
– Alessandro Cosentino
Aug 14 at 13:26
1
How much would eliminating 8 spokes save you? Spokes weigh on the order of 6 grams. Would you notice 48 grams? And, yes, there's a savings in wind resistance, but it's very, very small.
– Daniel R Hicks
Aug 14 at 14:53