re: [CR]What is the history of racing high spoke count wheels?

(Example: Production Builders:Peugeot:PY-10)

Date: Tue, 03 Jan 2006 20:30:53 -0500
From: "Harvey M Sachs" <sachshm@cox.net>
To: biankita@earthlink.net, Classic Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: re: [CR]What is the history of racing high spoke count wheels?


Garth Libre asked about spoke counts... When I started racing and riding in the early 60s, British bikes were generally still 32/40 front-rear, at least the ones we saw or heard about in Texas. Everything else was 36/36, whether US, French, or Italian. I don't think 32/32 became common until the late 70s or 1980s; I remember feeling that I was taking a chance w. 32 spoke wheels and light rims in the mid-70s for my wife.

harvey sachs mcLean va

What is the classic approach to spoke counts on racing bikes? It's funny but over time my eyes notice more and more details that used to just pass me by. Now I am seeing that there is a definite difference on overall visual impact between a 32 spoke wheel and one which is 36. Were 36 spoke wheels popular during the 70's and 80's for racing use?

Garth Libre in Miami Fl.