Spoke Lengths - Round Up or Down?

[Johnsqual]

Hello,

I've been measuring up for a set of wheels I want to build.
I put some measurements through a few different online calculators, and got odd numbers for both front and rear: 299 and 303.

Since most spokes seem to come in increments of even numbers( 296-298-300,...), would I be OK if I just round down by 1mm?

I read somewhere that stretching of the spokes means it is OK to round down by 1mm or so.

Any thoughts?
Thanks, Johnny

 

[bikenrrd]

Re:

It's generally better to round down spokes, rather than round up. If you round up you might run out of thread!
This is unlikely for a mm either way and you could probably round up or down, but I also round down.

Interestingly (or not), Sapim Race come in even lengths and Sapim Laser come in odd lengths. I'm not entirely sure why. They are different gauges, so it might be as a way of identifying them.

 

[Johnsqual]

Re:

Thanks! Off to the LBS it is then...

That's weird about the SAPIM spokes.

 

[stringfellow1946]

Normally there is only 2mm difference between the front & the Rear Drive side.
the Rear Non drive side is the same length a the front.
On your calculations 298 & 302 there is 4mm difference!!

 

[Johnsqual]

Re:

It is a flip flop hub, and the hubs are from different
Manufacturers, so I suppose that's why the measurements came out so different.

 

[gazza285]

Re:

Round down and 14mm nipples, to cover the thread, just in case they show?

If it is a hollow extrusion rim I tend to round up, as the slight excess is hidden in the rim.

 

[Ian Raleigh]

I remember going to my LBS to order 36 SS spokes for a wheel and the guy
started to tell me I should buy a new wheel and not mess about stripping and
rebuilding a wheel, far cheaper to buy a new wheel he said!! I asked do you
sell Mavic GP4 rims and Campagnolo SR hubs, He looked pretty puzzled!!

He then said how many spokes!