Re: [CR] Double-butted spokes?

(Example: Framebuilding)

Date: Sat, 03 Nov 2007 09:31:00 -0400
To: C R List <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
From: "John Betmanis" <johnb@oxford.net>
Subject: Re: [CR] Double-butted spokes?
In-Reply-To: <97958EAC-1305-402D-9310-D68DA5F59963@sisuhome.com>


At 10:53 PM 02/11/2007 -0700, Mark Buswell wrote:
>I'm building up a set of wheels for my 1981 Merckx and was wondering:
>When did double-butted spokes first come into common use?

They were around over 100 years ago. All high end bikes had them in 1981, although straight gauge spokes seem to have been the norm in the U.S. at that time, even on expensive bikes. Perhaps it was thought they make stronger wheels for heavier riders, but everything I've read in the subject claims the opposite.

John Betmanis
Woodstock, Ontario
Canada