Traditionally track bike riders usually used 36/36; 32/36 if lighter guys;
36/40 if heavier guys; and occassionally a 32/40 but that was usually on
road and mostly in England.
First you have to differentiate "riding" on the track for exercise, or
racing type performance with jumps, standing starts, sprints, etc.
A MA2 rim is a clincher, and NOBODY road clinchers on the track years ago.
PERIOD!
The older clinchers were made with taper protectors (strips) and would give
an uneven response while riding because of the thick and thin of the rubber.
A track tire is more even thickness in the strip so the control, feel , and
response is more accurate for performance.
Only in these last few years are they letting people ride/race with
clinchers on the track as the clinchers have become higher pressure and
performance oriented.
Riders seek out the clinchers that are a rubber base and not silcone base so
they are not slippery on the banking.
Rolling around on a flat type cement or asphalt track is a big difference
than a steep board oval, so when I tell you this keep in mind where and how
you will ride.
The old MA2 is softer old technology material.
The new aero type rims and materials are far stiffer and stronger so you can
use less spokes and be plenty rigid.
Look at all the 3 & 4 spoke wheels of today.
If you will ride around for a regular paceline and training sessions without
cavorting about aggressively, then you can get away with 32 and maybe even
28 spokes, but I would stick with 36 and 3 or 4 cross as good general riding
wheels for long lasting and trouble free riding.
Be careful on tire pressure selection, too. The older rims have to get the
right tires to hold the bead and have high pressure so they won't blow off.
That's why the newer rims of standard cross sections and the matching tires
may be adviseable to look at before assembling MA2's
Get your retro look but remember safety and get performance, too.
Ted Ernst
Palos Verdes Estates
CA USA
> The road bikes I own have either 32 or 36 small flange hubs with three
> cross and 14/15 double butted stainless steel spokes. I have never bent a
> rim on the roads I ride with a weight of 150 plus pounds. I have broken a
> spoke here or there but only on wheels that had straight gauge spokes and
> were built by someone other than myself.
>
> For an average rider like me using high flange hubs what would have been
> the recommended spoke count for a track bike used on the track ? Can I get
> away with a 32 spoke count and Dt 15/16 db spokes cross three ? Have the
> spokes improved sufficiently over older stuff that I can safely build up
> this kind of a light wheel for mostly track use ? I also plan to use Mavic
> MA 2 rims if I can still find them.
>
> Garth Libre in Miami Fl USA