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View Full Version : Double-butted or Straight-Gauge Spokes?

joe
October 22nd, 2002, 04:40 PM
My rear wheel needs to be rebuilt and I am trying to decide between going with 14/15 double-butted spokes or plain 14 gauge spokes.

I'm having someone build the wheel with a Sun Rhyno Lite rim on my old LX hub. I weigh about 210 and this wheel is going on an aluminum hardtail, so wheel strength is far more important to me than saving a bit of weight.

So the question is, which makes for a stronger wheel? Does the added flex in the double-butted spoke really result in a wheel that is less likely to break under a sudden load or does that flex just fatigue the spokes (or is it some of both).
gungywump
October 22nd, 2002, 04:56 PM
The wheel will probably be fine with DB.
Go 3 cross.
Use brass nipples not aluminum.

If you are usually hard on eqiupment however (not a smooth rider) go with the straight guage.
johnnyt
October 22nd, 2002, 06:16 PM
Stay straight young man...I had the double butted ones and tacoed the wheel in 4 weeks. The weight savings is not significant enough to justify having to buy a new wheel when you break this one.
knucklebuste
October 22nd, 2002, 08:26 PM
Jesus, I diddn't realize there was so much rocket science involved in spokes. Hold on, I gotta check what I got. Peace, Knuckle
Mt.A TODD
October 22nd, 2002, 09:19 PM
>:( Oh No, for the love of God! Please don't act like a freak over your spokes! They are probally black, and that is all you need to be concerned about!

Joe, go straight, brass nipples.
splat
October 22nd, 2002, 09:53 PM
And they are probably very clean black spokes
joe
October 22nd, 2002, 10:19 PM
yes, black spokes, black brass nipples, black rims.
knucklebuste
October 22nd, 2002, 10:24 PM
Actually I'm taking off my spokes now. I'm going to have the spokes and nipples powdercoated flat black. Knuckle
johnnyt
October 23rd, 2002, 08:49 AM
I have the pbo spokes on the front and boy are they spanky. The only problem is they are too wide to fit my cyclometer magnet onto. They are super strong and light though and do absorb a bit more shock then the steel spokes.
knucklebuste
October 23rd, 2002, 08:59 AM
What is a double butted spoke? Knucklefruitcake
joe
October 23rd, 2002, 09:02 AM
Double-butted spokes are thinner in the middle of the spoke than they are at the two ends. They weigh less and flex a bit more than straight-gauge spokes.
Triple_B
October 23rd, 2002, 01:28 PM
Joe,

Get the straight. I got a good deal last year on a Rhyno Lite with double butted 14/15 spokes last year. Taco'd my front wheel in about 3 weeks.

I'm also 210lbs and have been riding on my Rhyno Lite XL's with straight 14 gauge spokes and have had one problem.

Ride On!