Spokes. Whats the big deal? Aren’t they all the same? Why write an article on this? All valid questions that I will attempt to answer.
As a pro wheel builder I am daily custom cutting spokes to various lengths on my Morizumi spoke cutting and threading machine. I take meticulous measurements of every rim I plan to use, to determine the correct ERD ( effective rim diameter). Then I make equally exacting measurements of the hubs I will be using to determine the precise spoke length for those specific wheels. These numbers get plugged into very sophisticated online software that I couldn’t work without, and out spits the correct spoke length for those unique numbers.
Here’s what the formula looks like for such calculations.
Well before this I have already given some necessary thought to what type of spoke will be best for the wheels I am building. I might use a completely different model of spoke for the rear wheel than the front wheel. Taking advantages of the characteristics of each spoke model to help maximise the performance and ride quality of each wheel.
Over the decades I have used spokes from several well known and respected spoke manufacturers. Names like Robergel, Pym, Berg Union, Stella, Alpina, DT Swiss and Sapim.
Each of these companies made very high quality spokes that had slightly different characteristics. In the early days of building I predominately built with Robergel spokes from France, and to this day they are still my all time favourite spoke. They had some rare and very desirable properties that I have not found in any other spoke since. They were exceptionally light weight, yet had impressive strength and the ride quality was sublime. Many professional bike riders used them through out their careers and won many races on them.
In the late 1970’s I switched to DT Swiss spokes and I found them to be very consistent and of excellent quality yet I realised that they didn't quite have the magic of the Robergels that had become increasingly difficult to obtain. Nonetheless I was building excellent wheels with DT Swiss and they proved to be a very good choice.
For a long number of years I was predominately using the classic double butted spoke and it served the purpose just fine. Millions of wheels have been built with double butted spokes with no issues.
The next significant change in spoke design was the introduction of the bladed spoke. Aerodynamic considerations in bicycle design were really taken into consideration for each new improvement and spokes came under the same magnifying glass. Could they be improved to make us go faster? Apparently so! The birth of the bladed spoke heralded promises of improved aerodynamics and therefore greater speed. At first I admittedly was slow to embrace them. But after awhile I started to see how they could make for better and even stronger wheels with a speed bump as well.
Spokes like the Sapim CX Ray eventually became ubiquitous in the pro peloton and for good reason. They were incredibly light, incredibly strong and they were much faster than the double butted spokes they replaced. They also didn’t require any modifications of a standard hub spoke hole.
Being made of high quality 18/8 stainless steel meant they provided a great ride quality as well. This is more important than some might think. If you are a pro bike racer who regularly competes in road events longer than 250 klm’s you start to appreciate the importance of a degree of compliance and comfort in your wheels! Its not all about ultimate stiffness! It’s a delicate balance between speed, light weight, ride quality and a lively feeling when you are climbing and sprinting.
All these positive ride quality attributes will be felt in other cycling disciplines as well, like gravel riding and MTB riding.
The steel spoke has not gone without its challenges though. Many have tried to steal its crown! Carbon fibre spokes are getting a lot of attention right now and materials like ultra high molecular weight polyethylene are also being tested by curious cyclists who are looking for the next big thing.
At the moment I personally feel that the reign of the steel spoke will be with us for awhile. It has the right balance needed to provide all the things required for a great set of wheels no matter what your favourite cycling discipline happens to be.
One factor that doesn’t get much press is the issue of safety. A high quality stainless steel spoke will last a very long time, and they rarely ever break if the wheel was built at the correct tension and also has even tension.
In my many years of wheel building I have only had two spokes break! Considering how many decades we are talking about, that’s not too bad!
So, if we happen to get into a discussion about wheel design you’ll probably hear me extolling the virtues of those high quality bladed stainless spokes. I’ve built many wheels with spokes like the Sapim CX Ray and CX Sprint ( its slightly stouter brother) and they have a wonderful ride quality and I never worry about whether or not they will go the distance. They also seem to pair very well with carbon rims which bring their own unique ride characteristics to the table.
Steal is real as they say and I think its here to stay for a long time to come.
Sapim was founded by Herman Schoonhoven in 1918. They’ve been busy making great spokes for more than a century now.