My dear Doland,
If more spokes don't equal a stronger wheel one might conclude it makes no difference. There are designs with just 1,2 3, 4 and even believe it or not zero spokes out there. As I recall only the 3 and 4 spoke carbon wheels gained any commercial viability.
<<debunked the myth that more spokes = stronger wheel.>> It is no myth from my experience. It's not the spoke count that matters; it is the spoke count and everything else. Gauge, style, material, rim, dish flange design, and of course construction details and tension that make a strong wheel. If you have to true a 36 holer less than a otherwise equal 32 spoke wheel a fair man might conclude a 36 hole wheel is stronger. Taking away structural material does not necessarily make a wheel stronger (i.e. double butted spokes) but it can improve certain characteristics but can also adversely effect other characteristics like stiffness. This is important for some, less important for others.
The modern aero deep dish rims that use 20 spokes or less are plenty strong with a low spoke count. But look at those massive (and heavy ) rims. The rims are incredible for brute strength and stiffness and simply require less spokes. Now resistance to rim cracking and longevity seem to be a problem in my shop compared to traditional wheels; so their is a trade off there.
As far as breaking spokes. Properly selected components for intended use and properly built wheels don't break spokes in normal use. They can with advancing years but the rims usually wear out first from my experience. For racing and fun you can always cheat the odds and go a little lighter but durability suffers.
<<Date: Wed, 7 Mar 2007 16:03:18 -0600 From: "Cheung, Doland" <CheungD@bv.com>
Subject: RE: [CR]Wheel trouble
I think modern wheels have pretty much debunked the myth that more spokes = stronger wheel. I've yet to need to true my OT Campy modern marvels that are 24/28 (I think).
However, regarding traditional wheels, I've noticed that my old 32 holers required more trueing than my 36 holers. Less so with tubulars than clinchers, but that could be mileage related. I almost never break spokes, unless some a** sticks a pedal in my wheel. And I only weigh 135 pounds, give or take.
Doland Cheung SoCal--
-----Original Message----- From: loudeeter@aol.com
I hear these "if you are over xxx pounds", you should/should not ride xxxx wheels. I weigh 220 pounds. I ride 28, 32, and 36 spoke wheels with no problems with rims down to 280 grams. I have bikes with OT wheelsets that are super light, 20, 24 spoke. I've never had a problem with the wheels warping. I have broken a few spokes, although no more than a few in the past six years of riding. >>
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