Ann Phillips wrote: <Ok, now onto wheels. I've got this pair of high flanged campy hubs laced up to Martano rims. Everything I've read in the archives tells me not too get too excited when tensioning, that overtensioning these wheels can be the death of them. The spokes on the Martanos are shot, I'd like to lace them up to some other low flange hubs I've got and will probably use Wheelsmith 14g spokes. Does this sound ok? How old are these wheels?>
Ann - If those are really light rims as some Martanos were (they made three weights as I recall, and mostly you saw them in the late 70s early 80s) or even if they are not, don't use 14G spokes. They are much too strong for sewups esp. light ones, and you will likely either distort the rim or maybe pull through. I only build with 14-15 and 14-17 spokes these days. Note they are still 14g where it counts but can absorb the bumps without pulling through the rims. I've been building all my wheels for the last 15 or so years with 14-15 on the drive side and 14-17 on the left ( to overcome the disparity in tension due to wheel dish) and front. Plenty strong enough for use with any light rim. Now if you are building tandem wheels on Super Champ model 58s that is another story....
PS - Why not use those cool Campy large flange hubs?
Bob Freeman
Seattle