A customer brought in the front wheel of an EA90SLX for repair.
This is the one I mentioned before in the Easton wheel repair post—the one I figured would be coming in soon.
↑Looks like one spoke is missing.
This spoke is a Sapim Race straight-gauge model, so I can source it from the Japanese Sapim distributor.
Getting sidetracked here, but I get asked occasionally: "Why don't you make Nomu Lab wheels with straight-spoke compatible hubs?"
There are mainly two reasons I don't.
One is that CX-RAY straight spokes aren't in the regular stock of the Japanese distributor.
If I'm going to build wheels with straight spokes, stable supply of CX-RAY is essential.
If I could get black straight CX-RAY, it would really speed up repairs of pre-built wheels... but that's not the case.
The other reason is "it forces a specific building pattern."
Take a 24-spoke rear hub—it almost always can only be built in a 4-4 pattern (or equivalent) or a 4-0 pattern (or equivalent).
With straight spokes, you could tension them over 200 kgf without worrying about spoke neck failure.
But the rim's limit is usually around 100-130 kgf anyway, so you can build wheels safely with traditional bent-spoke nipples without the added risk.
So wouldn't it be better to use bent spokes in a 4-6 pattern instead?
That's why I don't feel drawn to straight-spoke hub designs.
That said, it's different for more specialized designs.
Asymmetrical 2:1 spoke patterns bring left and right spoke tensions dramatically closer together, but the reason I don't sell them hand-built is that spokes on the non-drive side break off too easily.
With 2:1 spokes, I think straight spokes are necessary.
The tangent was longer than the main story. Sorry about that.
Something pretty rough is waiting in the end though.
The hub and rim are in a state that really needs a good cleaning (← that's my euphemism for dirty), so after replacing the spoke, I'm thinking of giving them a proper wash.
I thought I would, but then I found a spot where the nipple had eaten through the rim, so I confirmed it was time to retire. You did good work.
This is the one I mentioned before in the Easton wheel repair post—the one I figured would be coming in soon.
↑Looks like one spoke is missing.
This spoke is a Sapim Race straight-gauge model, so I can source it from the Japanese Sapim distributor.
Getting sidetracked here, but I get asked occasionally: "Why don't you make Nomu Lab wheels with straight-spoke compatible hubs?"
There are mainly two reasons I don't.
One is that CX-RAY straight spokes aren't in the regular stock of the Japanese distributor.
If I'm going to build wheels with straight spokes, stable supply of CX-RAY is essential.
If I could get black straight CX-RAY, it would really speed up repairs of pre-built wheels... but that's not the case.
The other reason is "it forces a specific building pattern."
Take a 24-spoke rear hub—it almost always can only be built in a 4-4 pattern (or equivalent) or a 4-0 pattern (or equivalent).
With straight spokes, you could tension them over 200 kgf without worrying about spoke neck failure.
But the rim's limit is usually around 100-130 kgf anyway, so you can build wheels safely with traditional bent-spoke nipples without the added risk.
So wouldn't it be better to use bent spokes in a 4-6 pattern instead?
That's why I don't feel drawn to straight-spoke hub designs.
That said, it's different for more specialized designs.
Asymmetrical 2:1 spoke patterns bring left and right spoke tensions dramatically closer together, but the reason I don't sell them hand-built is that spokes on the non-drive side break off too easily.
With 2:1 spokes, I think straight spokes are necessary.
The tangent was longer than the main story. Sorry about that.
Something pretty rough is waiting in the end though.
The hub and rim are in a state that really needs a good cleaning (← that's my euphemism for dirty), so after replacing the spoke, I'm thinking of giving them a proper wash.
I thought I would, but then I found a spot where the nipple had eaten through the rim, so I confirmed it was time to retire. You did good work.